A BIG Images photo journal—2 weeks of madness…

Because of the convenience of the internet and next-day FedEx shipments many of our customers never get to see BIG Images’ offices and production facility. Many are even unaware of the work we have put into our new facility (which almost tripled our size!) So, for the curious, here is a photo journal of our remodel and move…
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Tags: about us

Tools for Web Site Design on Windows

Some people make fun of me around here, and it’s not just because of my hair, my hygiene or the myriads of action figures I have on my desk. You see, I’m the only one in the shop with a PC back home. I know, I know; I constantly hang my head in shame. But have no fear, my fiancee and I also have an Ubuntu Linux box and a MacBook, but I do most of my freelance web work on a two year-old XP laptop. So when Jon wrote his article last month on the tools we use to maintain BIG Images’ web site, naturally it was all Mac software, and I thought I’d do a little representing and show the Windows world some love.

As with the previous month's article, I've tried to find solutions within the shareware and the free and open-source community.

Web Development Applications:

• Stylizer
  
• • $69.95
  • Live preview of sites, view changes to the page as you make them
  • Amazingly attractive UI
• CSSVista
• • Free
  • Extract and edit the CSS from any page on the internet
  • See your changes applied live in both IE and Firefox at the same time
  • Doesn't save files from within the program, you have to copy and paste it into your editor
• Aptana Studio Community Edition
  
• • Free
  • Although initially meant to be a Javascript coding program, it has great support for HTML, CSS and PHP
  • Syntax hilighting
  • Relatively attractive interface
  • Their code assist feature shows helpful hints about code as you type it
• Read the full arcticle...

  Tags: tips, technology, ben lawless, web design, software, design

Planning a birthday? Create a personalized birthday banner!

Change things up by printing a personalized banner! BIG Images has just launched the newest version of its birthday banner designer, Banner Works.

Its easier than ever — choose from one of our pre-made templates (or start from scratch). Upload photos, choose art from our vast array of clip art, customize the message, and within minutes your banner will be printing at BIG Images.

Begin creating your own by visiting the birthday banner page and clicking the "Begin Browsing" button. There is no sign-up to try it out, only when you decide to purchase.

Tags: about us, birthday, delicious, ideas

BIG Images Window Graphics — see-through window film for retail and store-front signage.

New print technology can turn any window into a sign from the outside while leaving the view unobstructed from the inside. This inexpensive media gives small business owners an edge by turning every store-front window into valuable marketing opportunities.

The Benefits of Window Graphics

With BIG Images Window Graphics any window becomes an opportunity to attract more walk-by and drive-by traffic. Window graphics are engineered so that when viewed from the outside you see the printed image. However, when seen from the inside the print disappears and you see straight through it. Its inexpensive enough to use for short-term marketing campaigns and durable enough to last for one full year outdoors.

• Make new customer-impressions from existing window area
• Does not obstruct the view through window from the inside
• Still allows for natural light to pass through
• Improves security by making it harder to see into the windows

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Tags: large format, media, solutions, products

Stretching your trade show dollar — Drayage.

So I was filling my car this weekend and it hit me, kind of like a frog who realizes he’s being boiled alive. $52.70 worth of ouch. Now, I know that prices have been going up and the American dollar is about as a strong as a wet noodle, but this weekend at the pump I finally felt it.

So, with financial ruin looming, what do we do? At work, how do we stretch our tradeshow dollar and in the process keep our heads off the corporate chopping block? Let’s begin with a concept called drayage.

For those who don’t know, ‘drayage’ is a service for moving your display from the truck to the show floor, and back again after the show. Drayage  also includes removing and storing your empty cases. It can cost anywhere from fifty cents to over a dollar per pound. So for every hundred pounds, that means you're paying $50 to $100 so someone else can transport your display.

Here are a few things that most people don’t know… Read the full arcticle...

Tags: trade show, tips, sales, ken pettit

Tools we use to maintain BIG Images’ web site

A friend of mine inquired via email: “What program did you use to design BIG Images’ website?” As I typed out my reply I realized that BIG Images is not the “normal” large format print company. I mean to say we do not just buy the Adobe CS suite because its what everyone else has; we aren’t satisfied with a solution just because it works. We experiment constantly. The workflows we develop, for example to build and maintain our web site, are very unique in our industry.

Our entire web site is home grown and maintained by BIG Images. We are major supporters of the Macintosh shareware community, as well as the free & open-source software community. Often these solutions are:

1. an order-of-magnitude less expensive than their more established competitors
2. are more reliable
3. exhibit faster and more personable customer service

Here is some of the software we use on a weekly/monthly basis to create and maintain our web site:

Web Development Tools

• RapidWeaver
  
  • $49.00
  • BIG Images’ entire site has been built and maintained with RapidWeaver for the past 2½ years
  • One of the beautiful aspects of RapidWeaver is the VERY active community at their forums. Often I can ask a question and have an answer within the day.
  • RapidWeaver has alot of plugins ($5.00 - $20.00 each) that enhance its functionality, and I have used most of them throughout the site. You can find a list of the plugins here.
  • YourHead software is one of the premier plugin developers. Their products are awesome.
• TextMate
  
  • $63.00
  • Ideal for custom html/php/javascript coding.
  • Incredibly customizable, so it adjusts to your coding style.
• CSSEdit
  
  • $29.95
  • For writing and editing css there is no better tool.
  • Instant live-previews make experimentation a snap.
  • This is also a great tool for reverse-engineering other sites to see how they created their effects.

Read the full arcticle...

Tags: tips, technology, jon beebe, web design, software, design

Mesh Banner (9 oz.)

Premium Mesh Banner for use outdoors as wall coverings, on scaffolding, and as backdrops for theater and television.

BIG Images announces the availability of custom printed, full color mesh banner, as an addition to its standard line of outdoor media.

This mesh banner is a 17-mil product made from polyester scrim base fabric impregnated with PVC. This coated construction allows for outstanding image quality and unsurpassed lay-flat properties. The lightweight substrate combined with reduced wind resistance makes it ideal for extremely large graphics being installed outdoors.



Available for immediate purchase, this product is recommended for the following applications:

• Outdoor wall coverings.
• On scaffolding.
• Murals.
• Backdrops.
• Outdoor displays.

Tags: products, media, trade show