BIG Images News

BIG Images [sort of] wins Best-of Award

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-11-21T11:44:28-08:00

BIG Images receives the coveted 2008 Best of San Luis Obispo Award in the Printers category by the prestigious and well-known U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)

The U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) was kind enough to inform BIG Images that it has been awarded the prestigious “2008 Best of San Luis Obispo Award in the Printers category.” Yeah! Go BIG Images!

Actually, the USLBA just wants to sell us a plaque for $79.94 that says we won an award. An award that they appear to have made up :) The fun thing about this is they allow anyone to customize the text that appears on the plaque. So, in celebration of BIG Images winning this best-of printers “award” I am giving you, the reader, a chance to use our access key to print your very own best-of award. Just go here and fill in the form. If they ask you for an award code just type in 9A27GKC. Then, on the next page, note the “corrections” you want to make to the plaque. In moments your very own “2008 Best Of…” award will be on its way to your doorstep! Hehe...have fun :)

Just for fun, here is the “official” press release announcing BIG Images award.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Big Images Receives 2008 Best of San Luis Obispo Award

U.S. Local Business Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

WASHINGTON D.C., November 20, 2008 -- Big Images has been selected for the 2008 Best of San Luis Obispo Award in the Printers category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2008 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)

U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USLBA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USLBA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Local Business Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Local Business Association
Email: PublicRelations@USLBA.net
URL: http://www.USLBA.net

###

Ben Lawless gets published

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-09-24T09:16:58-07:00

Ben Lawless is published in Screen Printing

If you pick up the latest issue of Screen Printing from ST Media Group, you’ll find an article by our very own Benjamin Lawless nestled on page 48. The article is actually a reprint of his “7 Steps to Effective Large-Format Graphics series” combined with his article, “Image Size and Resolution.”

Screen Printing is a monthly trade magazine that covers all types of screen printing technology, as well as related print methods such as wide-format digital printing, which just happens to be BIG Images’ specialty. Celebrating it’s 55th year in print, they’ve become a trusted source of information for the screen printing industry.

So, pick up the latest copy of Screen Printing today, and check out Mr. Lawless’s column. That would make his mom very proud.

Static Cling Window Graphics

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-09-17T09:35:08-07:00

Static Cling Window Graphics

Entice new customers and enchant passersby with big, bold and colorful Static Cling Window graphics, available with full-color printing services from BIG Images. Static Window Cling is temporary, safe and quite affordable. Companies like Gap and Express have already realized the benefits of temporary window cling graphics. If big-box retailers are using quicker and less expensive marketing tools, why can’t you? Set the trend amongst your competition instead of following it.

In this shifting economy where the old methods are beginning to lose their magnetism, smart retailers and point-of-purchase marketers are looking for the next trends. It’s easy to see the baby boomers are ebbing out and the Millennials are on their way in. Now is the time to find new marketing solutions and get the attention of this new generation of customer, and Static Window Cling is a perfect

Hope Worldwide Mural

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-09-01T09:10:48-07:00

A big image for Hope Worldwide

While not exactly a big image in BIG Images’ traditional sense, this past weekend Jon Beebe helped create a big image for Hope Worldwide.

The big image (mural, actually) is the work of Beebe Hargove. In 2006 she design and helped Hope Worldwide execute a large mural at Garfield Elementary in Santa Ana. They liked it so much she was invited back to create another :)

Mural designed by Beebe Hargove and painted by a group of volunteers for Hope Worldwide.

Beebe Hargrove, along with a group of volunteers, painted this new mural on a 12’ x 16’ handball court at the school. If you want to see more pictures check out Jon Beebe’s time-lapse of the mural creation, as well as his gallery of the day.

Image Size and Resolution

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-08-11T11:34:21-07:00

File size requirements for large format printing are a bit different than for small format. And, like most things, acceptable standard files are different from printer to printer. Here at BIG Images, although we accept many file formats, there is one kind of file that tends to work very well with our workflow, and that's the incredible TIFF.

The standard file we accept is

a flattened TIFF
saved at 150 ppi (lower ppi will work depending on size of the graphic and distance the graphic will be viewed from)
embedded with the Adobe RGB 1998 color space
saved with LZW compression
saved at the physical size it'll be printed

I know, I know; that's a lot of details, acronyms and geekiness, but that's just the biz. A major reason we accept files this way is because…

Over-the-street banners

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-07-31T14:42:38-07:00

Announcing Over the Street Banners!

BIG Images’ over the street banners are the perfect way to spread excitement about your upcoming event! They’re a great solution for announcing:

Festivals
Concerts
Local Fairs
City Events
Farmer’s Market
Theater Productions

Over the Street Banners garner the attention of drive-by and walk-by traffic. As a proximity-marketing tool they raise the public awareness of your event and keep it top-of-mind.

Benefits of Over the Street Banners

Naturally wind-resistant
Naturally weather resistant
Bold & vivid full-color graphics

BIG Images’ street banners are created specifically for the outdoor environment. They are waterproof, capable of withstanding rain and dew. They are also bright and vivid, staying colorfast even in the harshest sunlight.

Our mesh banner is naturally wind resistant. This offers a few benefits: increased safety because wind can pass through the entire surface area of the banner, and better readability because there are no wind-slits interrupting the image.

BIG Images’ years of experience and industry contacts allow us to quickly and inexpensively produce banners that meet the strict sign regulations of your city.

Gallery of BIG Images street banner media

Think Plaid visits BIG Images

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-07-29T16:58:12-07:00

The Think Plaid team, from Danbury, Connecticut stopped by while on their Plaid Nation Tour.

The Plaid Tour is a two-week road tour, where Plaid travels from market to market and visits brands, bloggers, fans and other agencies. The tour is meant to be a rolling demonstration of some of the latest social media tools and a celebration of creativity. In most markets, they schedule "tweet-ups," gathering together social media, marketing and internet workers from the area for a (real world) social gathering.

Today they stopped by, explained their use of media and the social internet, showed us their rig, and spent the afternoon soaking up the San Luis Obispo sun at Firestone Grill.

iii Design moves in!

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-07-29T16:50:09-07:00

Those superstars of imagination over at iii design have moved in with us at 767 Francis Avenue, and it's a nonstop design and printing party!

BIG Images and iii design have worked on several projects before, so it was a natural fit for us to work in the same space. Much like Voltron, our combined force is unstoppable.

So if you walk into our shop and find yourself facing six more people than you were expecting, along with a bunch of plants and a Webby, don't be alarmed. We're just being totally awesome.

Marketing high and low

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-07-31T10:18:00-07:00

Set your business apart

When most people think of the marketing tools BIG Images offers they think of posters or some other form of eye-level marketing. But the world of large-format marketing is much broader than the customers’ eye-level. If you really want to make an impression you have to look both up and down.

Most customers use BIG Images’ products to market at the eye-level. Posters, banner stands, window graphics; all these get displayed at the eye-level. But this is a very competitive space! By making wise decisions about placing marketing materials, you can inexpensively remain at the forefront of every potential customer’s mind.

The New BIG Images

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-06-05T16:10:55-07:00

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…

How do you make a birthday banner?

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-08-04T16:59:00-07:00

Here is how you create your personalized birthday banner

When we released the Birthday Banner Creator a couple of months ago, we had a feeling it’d be pretty big news. After all, we’ve never found anything similar so easy to use. Saying Happy Birthday in such a big way has also never been so light on the checkbook.

Just to show you how easy it is, we made a quick three-step guide to birthday banner bliss!

Tools for Web Site Design on Windows

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-05-27T13:11:21-07:00

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

Personalized Birthday Banners at Banner Works

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-02-07T13:27:14-08:00

Create personalized birthday banners online

BIG Images has been hard at work on Banner Works — its innovative online designer. In particular we have been adding many free templates for birthdays and parties. You will find a plethora of free birthday banner templates to start designing from. Start creating your own customized birthday banner today!

How to make a birthday banner at Banner Works

You can create a birthday banner using our free birthday banner templates as a starting point. Browse through our banner templates to get ideas. After finding one you like click “Edit” to customize the banner template to your hearts content. When you’re done simply save it for later, or print it with BIG Images. Its that easy to create personalized birthday banners!

Many of our customers have already created personalized birthday banners in Banner Works. Here are some of their creations:

Create birthday banners for those special birthday years, such as 70th birthday party, turning 40th birthday party, 60th surprise birthday, or 50th birthday celebration. And one of our customer’s favorites: old fart banners.

Advantages of BIG Images’ Banner Works

There are many advantages to using BIG Images’ Banner Works. We designed it with the computer novice in mind, so it is easy to use. Your edits are in real-time so you get immediate feedback. You can save your design to continue editing later, and print it when you want. And perhaps the most fun advantage is our fully customizable birthday templates — every aspect can be personalized for your party.

Banner Works is free to use, so check it out by browsing our birthday banner templates and try creating your own! You don’t even have to sign up to start designing!

Personalized Birthday Banners

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-05-20T14:13:40-07:00

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.

Stretching your trade show dollar — Drayage

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-04-19T17:34:00-07:00

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…

Window Graphic

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-04-20T17:32:27-07:00

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

In this picture you see window-mounted perforated graphics on BIG Images storefront. From the outside all you can see is the printed image. From the inside it looks like mild window-tinting — you can see through the print as if it was not there.

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

Tips on Web Site Design

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-04-18T10:28:59-07:00

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:

an order-of-magnitude less expensive than their more established competitors
are more reliable
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.

Large Presentation Charity Checks

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-02-20T09:49:00-08:00

Presentation Charity Checks

BIG Images announces large dry-erasable presentation checks.

BIG Images announces the availability of custom printed full color dry erase checks as an addition to its standard line of products. This products is designed as an inexpensive solution for presentations and publicity events to present money, awards, and donations. With the dry-erase laminate as an available option the product is durable and reusable, saving money and needless waste.

Available for immediate download are 7 presentation check templates. These 7 basic styles, designed at 18" x 36", can be used as starting points when designing your checks. All templates are provided in Adobe Illustrator CS1 “.ai” format. You will need Adobe Illustrator, or a program that can read the .ai file type, in order to edit the check templates. The usual caveats apply — these templates are provided as is, for BIG Images customer’s use only.

Available immediately, this reusable product is recommended for the following applications:

Publicity events.
Presentations.
Donations.
Awards Ceremonies.

To learn more about BIG Images dry-erasable checks visit the dry-erase check product page.

Mesh Banner

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-03-15T09:20:00-07:00

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.

One of BIG Images’ mesh banners being installed at the National Historic Park in Guam.

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

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

Textured Wallpaper

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-03-01T09:04:00-08:00

Custom full-color textured wallpaper

Textured vinyl media for interior signage, wall coverings, murals, and interior decoration.

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

This latest solution for indoor graphics is engineered for eco-solvent printers, so it is naturally fade-resistant and waterproof. This collection of textured/embossed media is perfect for applications such as indoor signage, murals & wall coverings. Derived from the rigorous specifications in the wall covering industry, this wallpaper is designed to stand up in high traffic areas and for ease of installation & removability. This 20 oz. weighted material is rated for CFFA TYPE II durability and passes most critical smoke & flame criteria for indoor applications. BIG Images’ wallpaper is available in the following embossed textures: Cabretta, Pique, Mache, Plaster, Suede, Pebble Sand, Satin Mystical, and Canvas.

Pictured are 8 of the available textures, from right to left they are: Cabretta, Pique, Mache, Plaster, Suede, Pebble Sand, Satin Mystical, and Canvas

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

Indoor signage (ex: hallways, stairwells, and high-traffic areas.)
Wall coverings (ex: Office Lobby).
Murals.
Retail signage (ex: behind the counter and entryways).
Residential interior decoration.

Congratulations Designer Sleeves!

beebe@big-images.com — 2008-01-11T11:11:41-08:00

Congratulations Designer Sleeves!

I love my job! BIG Images often gets to work with companies just starting out, companies that find themselves at the ground level, releasing innovative new products.

Recently we worked with VRS Marketing to produce tradeshow graphics for their booths at the Consumer Electronics Show and MacWorld. They’re a small local company based here in San Luis Obispo County, but they have some revolutionary ideas.

When they debuted their new laptop bags this week at CES, the world’s largest consumer electronics trade show, none of us had any idea they would do so well; amid the chaos and fanfare they have garnered the attention of NBC, Tech Digest, and many online blogs covering the show. Here’s what one reviewer had to say about the new laptop bags…

Year-end Exercises

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-10-19T08:49:46-07:00

As with anything worth doing, constant improvement is the only way to success. As the 2007 tradeshow season comes to a close, I felt it would be wise to discuss a few methods you can employ to help make 2008 an even more effective trade show season. Serious reflection on your company’s performance this year will allow you to improve next year. You can trim the fat. Turn your weaknesses into strengths. Turn your strengths into industry-dominating forces…

Step 7 to effective large-format graphics: Plan Ahead

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-10-16T16:01:26-07:00

As in all things, a plan is the only way to minimize disaster. It will save you time, and it's really the only way to ensure you stay within your budget. Although this is the last part of this series, and even though it's a bit of a "no duh!" this is perhaps the most important tip of them all.

Great Color : Equipment

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-10-15T13:47:06-07:00

Great color comes after investing in great equipment and after establishing a habitual workflow that you are willing to maintain.

A large part of BIG Images value to our customers is our predictable and repeatable processes. However, our process is only as good as the files that we recieve from our customers. And that’s where you come in. Responsibility for great color begins the moment an image is captured. That places quite a burden on our customers to maintain their own workflow for predictable color results. So I offer you these thoughts to help start you off towards a more consistent digital workflow.

First and foremost you have to count the costs. Great color comes after investing in great equipment and after establishing a habitual workflow that you are willing to maintain. While the current state of technology does not give us great color for free there are a few products that can really help…

The move is complete!

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-10-01T09:17:12-07:00

BIG Images’ move is complete!

We are now located at 767 Francis Ave., San Luis Obispo Ca 93401.

Doing Business in San Luis Obispo

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-09-26T09:19:20-07:00

Looking at the big, global picture

Ken Pettit and Jon Beebe were featured in the business section of the Tribune talking about business in San Luis Obispo

We were recently asked by our local newspaper what obstacles we encounter doing business in San Luis Obispo and what are we doing to overcome them. Here is our answer to their question…

BIG Images is Growing

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-09-14T11:44:19-07:00

We’re expanding…

A few days ago we signed the lease on a new building! We’re so excited about the news and have been so busy making preparations that this months’ BIG Images Newsletter has been postponed. Have no fear, though — we’ll return next month with some choice words about all this craziness we call “enriching the lives of our readers.” But, for now, let’s talk about the new shop!

BIG Images is moving 3 blocks south to 767 Francis St, San Luis Obispo, Ca 93401. Click here to view this map on Google Maps.

Our new home is at 767 Francis Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. For those of you who don’t know where that is, it’s only three blocks south from our current shop. Above is a screenshot of Google Maps showing our old location compared to the new one. Click here to view this map on Google Maps.

BIG Images is moving to a new building about 2.5x larger. Here an electrician is installing a new sub-panel. BIG Images will be fully moved by October 1, 2007.

We’re growing into a building roughly 2.5 times larger than our current building. That means we can finally hire more people and get that equipment we’ve had on our wishlist all these months.

All this craziness should be done and we’ll be completely moved in by October 1, 2007. Don’t worry: there will be no interruption to our regular workflow. See you there!

Step 6 to effective large-format graphics: Placement

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-08-28T08:40:56-07:00

Consider Where Your Large-Format Graphic will be Placed

The environment your graphic is going into is very important. In fact, it’s at least as important as its fellow rivals: subject matter, selling point, imagery and layout. And there is an implicit responsibility given to those who advertise: with every ad, poster, banner, or car wrap you produce, you are contributing to the environment around it. I’m not necessarily talking about whether you use green materials (that’s an entirely separate topic). This is about how your graphic adds or subtracts from the experience of your audience in that area…

Cover Your Assets

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-08-25T08:38:31-07:00

War Stories from the Trade Show Floor — Cover Your Assets

Everyone remembers when Obi Wan Kenobi said to Luke Skywalker “You will never see a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.” He was, of course, talking about Mos Eisley, the spaceport on Luke's home planet of Tatooine. However, had Obi Wan been in the trade show industry, I'm fairly certain he might have instead said “There is but one more wretched hive of scum and villainy, New York City’s Jacob Javits Convention Center”.

You see, several years ago I was managing the installation of a million dollar booth at Javits. Out of all the union run-ins I encountered at that show, this one stands out as the most bizarre…

Adobe RGB vs sRGB

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-08-20T18:26:52-07:00

Over the course of the next few months I will be writing about color, offering some insight into what BIG Images likes to see in computer files, and why. This month I am discussing the difference between two color spaces: Adobe RGB and sRGB.

One of the most oft-debated topics I hear (and take part in) regarding color is which color space to use for images. Before I continue, let me just say that I do not intend to answer this question for all time, but I will offer you the opinion of a professional printer, and tell you why I believe as I do.

BIG Images prefers files in the Adobe RGB color space.

Keep in mind that BIG Images is all about getting the best possible print that technology can offer. To do this we need the best possible input into our workflow. Simply put — the more color you give us, the more we can print. This is why BIG Images prefers files in the Adobe RGB color space (there are a few exceptions, but those are beyond the scope of this article). Adobe RGB is simply larger than sRGB, allowing more color information to be stored in an image. To illustrate this I have included a visual comparison of Adobe RGB and sRGB. The white, outer shape, is Adobe RGB and the smaller shape inside it is sRGB. This demonstrates that Adobe RGB is physically larger and can capture more color information than sRGB…

Step 5 to effective large-format graphics: Visualizing the final product

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-07-17T16:59:54-07:00

When dealing with large-format graphics, there is always one problem that consistently rears it's ugly head: many people can't visualize what the graphic will look like. Most often, it is just too difficult to wrap your brain around the actual size of the graphic. Most computer monitors are between 17" and 24", whereas almost all large-format graphics are 3' x 5' or larger. Sure you can squint at your monitor from across the room, but that can't possibly give you a decent sense of scale when it comes right down to it.

In previous months, I've discussed the importance of legibility and simplicity in large-format design. Unfortunately, without a decent perception of size, you're taking a crap shoot with your marketing campaign. You see, whether it's a client, a boss, or employees and freelancers, everyone involved in your marketing efforts needs to have the same idea for the impact it will have. Particularly if you're dealing with a large-budget marketing campaign, the entire crew should be able to speak using the same visual vocabulary.

Trade Show Preparation, Plan B

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-07-16T16:50:27-07:00

Let's face it: the tradeshow environment is not a zen garden. There, you will never find balance and peace. Instead, you'll find situations like the Samsonite luggage commercial of old. You know the one: hulking gorillas crash into suitcases with all their might, shredding its contents.

I've seen and heard of all manner of horror stories from the show floor, and they can be truly grisly. 'Bob the tattooed flowerist' drives over your case of graphics while delivering the ferns you ordered. FedEx decides your booth needed a vacation — why else would its last known location be Palm Beach, Florida?

…most of the problems that arise at a trade show are small, but if left unchecked, the sum of them will create overwhelming stress.

The point is nothing ever goes as planned. So, what then? What can be done in advance to minimize the inevitable? You plan for disappointment and heartbreak, and in short, you develop a Plan B. Luckily for you, I've been there, and I've found two objects that will save your hide almost every time.

The first is what I call a Contingency Kit. It's simply a large tool box with the following in it:

Large Format Printing for the rest of us

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-07-13T14:11:44-07:00

Large Format Printing has not been on the scene for very long. Outside of a few key industries, the benefits of a company like BIG Images are not immediately obvious to the uninitiated. In this article I am going to describe how a few of BIG Images’ clients have recieved invaluable solutions to their printing needs.

Preserving the Past

An old photo panorama, circa 1920, preserved through BIG Images digital printing process

BIG Images only prints with water-proof and light-resistant inks. Our photo-paper is equally strong, able to withstand fading and preserve its whiteness for years. This enabled a customer of ours to preserve a turn of the century panorama for future generations. Our customer had an old photograph that had been taped together from many smaller photographs. We were able to help them create archival quality, fade resistant prints for everyone in the family, preserving their heritage for future generations. This project was completed using our 10.5 mil photo paper, our uv-blocking luster laminate, and 1/2” thick black gator board for a rigid backer.

Interior Decoration

BIG Images’ printing methods offer a low-cost way to create custom wall-coverings. As an example, one of our customers wanted to decorate her children’s bedroom doors. She brought us images of Elvis and Marilyn Monroe, which we were able print full size, as large as her doors. She was then able to simply apply these large stickers to the new doors for a unique look all her own. This project used our water-proof and scratch resistance adhesive backed vinyl.

Announcing the delicious:designer

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-05-14T15:51:42-07:00

At BIG Images, we’re out to prove you don’t need to shell out hundreds of dollars for fully-featured design software. Producing something worthwhile also doesn’t need to be more difficult than helping a walrus move into a skyscraper. Design is life, and it should be experienced without barrier.

Announcing the delicious:designer 2.0 — powerful design tools for common people.

For the past two years we have been hard at work developing and simplifying complex technology, specifically applications suited for design and print. And this month, we're proud to announce our greatest achievement — the delicious:designer — an easy-to-use cross-platform vector design application. Unlike most design applications, the delicious:designer runs within your web browser, allowing access to your designs from anywhere in the world.
Furthermore, it's platform-independent. That's right; design on your Macintosh, Windows, and Linux computers with equal ease and comfort. It works wherever the internet does…

Step 4 to effective large-format graphics: Use simple imagery for maximum effectiveness

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-04-13T16:53:37-07:00

Tip 4: Use simple imagery for maximum effectiveness.

You've all seen it: illegible and completely useless large-format ads that do nothing but give eyesores and headaches to everyone around. What is that poster trying to say? Why do I feel mentally and physically assaulted? How can we learn to never, ever make something like this crime against humanity again?

In previous months, I've discussed the importance of legibility in your advertisement designs. This is especially important when it comes to keeping your text short so that your message is straightforward and diluted to it's core. Well, there is a similar golden rule that applies to imagery, and it's this: Simplicity.

Cash on the ground

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-04-12T09:28:03-07:00

I’m sure you’ve all noticed the floor graphics sprinkled throughout your local grocery store. These highly effective and affordable large-format images have proven to increase sales by up to 20–30%. In fact, floor graphics have become part of the standard marketing package at many larger stores and retail chains. The market for printing these floor advertisements is projected to grow to $2 billion in the next 5 years. If your competition is not already marketing with it, they will be.

Benefits of floor graphics

With a price of $13.75/sqft the advertising opportunity is very cost-effective compared to radio, newspaper, and other more traditional methods. Floor graphics are inexpensive enough to use as short-term signage, and durable enough to use as long-term signage…

Trade Show Etiquette

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-04-10T09:20:42-07:00

So here we are; it’s April and many of you are in the thick of your tradeshow season. With that in mind, I decided to discuss what NOT to do on the tradeshow floor. Without fail, every time I attend a show, I see staff blunders, gaffes, and other faux pas. How do you set yourself apart in this rough and tumble world? Well, let me tell you.

Sitting

The tradeshow environment is a tough one. I know that. By the end of the day your entire body feels weak and numbed. I also know that the next day you’d rather have your legs amputated than stand on them, but buck up! When you’re sitting, you look lazy and less approachable. In that state, lead-generating opportunities will pass you by like grandma getting passed on the highway.

Talking with other booth staff

Remember: this is not the breakroom and you’re not at the show to talk with “Bob” from R&D. Save the conversation for dinner. Otherwise, if you’re in the middle of chumming it up, show attendees will not even try to interrupt your conversation to ask for information. The same goes for the cell phone as well; if you need to take a call, excuse yourself from the booth…

Step 3 to effective large-format graphics: Contrast is your best friend

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-03-19T13:11:25-07:00

In my last column, I discussed making your text large enough to be legible so you're sure your audience can easily read your large-format marketing materials. Well, that's only one of many aspects to ensuring legibility in your marketing efforts. This month, learn how to maximize your target audience by building adequate contrast into your designs.

Tip 3: Use contrast to ensure maximum legibility.

There is a fragile eco-system at work whenever marketing material is distributed, whether large format or small. Your message, which should be the most important part of your marketing efforts, has to coexist with and more often than not subdue, other elements vying for a potential customer's attention. Depending on the piece, the message could be in the ring with the baddest of the bad, such as other imagery, the format of the piece, surrounding space, and even the typeface the message itself is rendered in. And that war rages on way before anyone important ever actually sees it.

When it is finally glimpsed, your message finds another challenge to contend with. You see, everyone sees color differently. Our perception of color can be affected by anything from our biology to simple things like our mood and diet. Many designers don't even consider the consequences of their color choices on marketing materials, and that leaves your message completely alone, with noone to notice it. After all, if something is difficult to see, people won't bother looking at it.

And so, controlling contrast on your marketing materials turns an ignored design into…

Trade show results through design consistency

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-03-16T13:08:41-07:00

Increase your trade show results through design consistency

Feet throbbing, calves aching, staring blankly at the ceiling as I lay on my back in my hotel room; glad this was the last day of the tradeshow. It’s amazing, the simple things a numb mind will focus on, like the fire sprinkler over my bed... Tradeshows — the three ringed circus of the corporate world.

Your booth needs to communicate everything in 3 to 5 seconds.

There is one last task before I can go to sleep, however. I have to figure out what I’m going to take home. We all know tradeshows are a cacophony of chaos and these bags of cheap swag and brochures next to my suitcase are proof. This is the process (you’ll want to pay attention here):

Cheap pens, key fobs and other useless giveaways — trashed.
T-shirts and neat toys my boys will like — set-aside.
Letter openers, pocket knives and the likes — trash, airport security will make me toss ’em anyway.

So, here’s the question… how do you design in such a way as to keep your literature out of the hotel room trash can? The answer is simple but implementation is not.

In order to save your marketing materials from a recycle-bin fate…

Color Perception and the Human Body

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-03-18T13:06:37-07:00

Part 1: Color Perception and the Retina

figure 1a. Human retina as seen through an opthalmoscope

The retina of the eye is formed by a layer of cells lining the inside of the eye. It is viewable through the pupil of the eye and is the object of interest when an optometrist examines the eye with a light. Along with the many blood vessels running through the layer, two discrete spots are discernible from this vantage point: the fovea and the blind spot, or optic disk (See Figures 1a, b). The fovea is also referred to as the focal point. It is this slightly indented region, containing high concentrations of cone cells, upon which the lens focuses entering light. All other areas of the retina are responsible for the perception of peripheral vision (1. Kolb, 2005, 2. Silverthorn, 1998).

The blind spot gets its name from the fact that, due to the lack of either photoreceptor (rods or cones), it is literally an area of the retina incapable of detecting light. This is the area in which the long axons of ganglion cells, which carry light information from all parts of the retina, converge to form the optic…

Color Illusions

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-03-19T10:34:50-07:00

How Color Can Play Tricks With Your Eye

Color is one of those elusive subjects; it is very difficult to communicate precisely. Many variables, from lighting conditions to the surrounding environment to the age of the viewer, have an effect on the way we perceive color. Some variables in particular change the way colors are perceived when prints become large. In this article I show you some visual aids to demonstrate how a color can be perceived differently simply by changing the surroundings.

The Luminance Illusion

Lets start with a simple grayscale example. The image below demonstrates how our perception of depth and shadow effects the way we perceive color. To be more precise, the following illusion will show how the eye perceives the luminance of an object different from the actual luminance values. Press “Play” to reveal the illusion.

The Cornsweet illusion: our eyes perceive the luminance of the top and bottom object as different, when they are actually the same luminance, or brightness.

You will see that the top and bottom grey are actually the same value! This effect is know as the Cornsweet illusion. You can read more about it here at Wikipedia.

Discounting the Illuminate

This next illusion demonstrates how the surrounding lighting environment changes the way we perceive color…

The easiest way to send files to BIG Images

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-02-08T19:21:18-08:00

BIG Images is proud to announce the release of its new FTP upload tool. This new tool, located at www.big-images.com/ftp, allows for customers to upload their files right through BIG Images web site. You do not need to own FTP software, you do not even need to understand what FTP is! Just drag your files onto the target area and they are uploaded without any more effort on your part.

There are a few technological caveats and adendums. Your computer must meet the following requirements to use BIG Images’ web upload tool:

Operating System: Mac OS X, Linux, or Windows 95 or newer
Software: Java Runtime Environment 1.4
Browser:FireFox, Safari, Internet Explorer 7, or comparable browser with JavaScript enabled

Also, as the FTP tool loads, there is one security precaution and you will be prompted to trust the page or not. You must click trust for BIG Images’ FTP tool to have access to the files on your computer, otherwise it will not be allowed to access the files that you drop onto it.

Solvent Ink vs Aqueous Ink

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-02-09T14:28:50-08:00

“Is it solvent?”

As many of our customers are aware, BIG Images produces prints on huge inkjet printers. In fact, the posters, trade show graphics, banners, and other materials offered by Wide format and Large-format printing companies depend on the same Ink Jet technology found in the office.

The Ink Jet printer is a relatively new phenomenon, replacing dot matrix only 15 to 20 years ago [1] (although the first thermal Ink Jet printer was actually invented in 1977). Two varieties of Ink Jet exist: Thermal and Piezoelectric [2], but ultimately, the principle behind the two are the same; a drop of ink is propelled from the ink head and onto the media at precisely the right time to produce a recognizable image at increasingly impressive speeds.

…a solvent printer is unique in that it heats up the media … leaving the ink embedded in the media!

While the mind tries to wrap around the possibility of such perfect timing, let's focus on what is important when purchasing a BIG image. Interestingly, it's not the manner in which the ink happens to arrive on the media, but the particular solution in which the ink is contained. Anyone who's ever tried to combine oil and water knows that the two just don't mix, because water is a polar molecule while oil is non-polar [3]. Aqueous inks are dissolved in water, a polar substance while solvent inks are dissolved in, well, solvent, a non-polar substance [4]. Paper is polar, plastic is non-polar and this is where it becomes important to the consumer.

Trying to apply a polar-based ink to a non-polar surface or vice versa achieves the same unhappy results

Sales and Marketing from the Trenches - The Sales Team

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-02-10T13:10:20-08:00

There seems to be a litany of sales/sports analogies out there. You know what I mean. They’re the stories of the greatest salesmen in history and how they compare to the Schumachers, Mannings and Woods of the world. So, in the shadows of the latest Super Bowl, I’m going to add one, or a litany + 1, if you will.

Everyone knows that sales is about money, where each sale equals so many dollars. What is professional sports about? If you said winning, well you’re partially right. From my point of view, it’s about the team consistently delivering results sponsors are willing to pay for.

The team is everyone needed to deliver results.

So answer me this: Did Peyton Manning win the Super Bowl or did the team? Who is the ‘team’? Does this term only apply to those who grace the field? If you were benched the entire game, are you part of the team? How about the support staff, therapists, masseuse, logistics and administration? Don't they also count as the ‘team’?

The reality of the matter is that the Colts could never have delivered the results without the entire team. The team is comprised of everyone needed to deliver results.

Sales is the same. A sales person might be the one to play on the field, but the entire team delivers results. I hear of many companies who shove their sales people out the door without any support or, even worse, the company doesn't deliver what the sales person sold. Customers are like team sponsors; they want results in one form or another and results is what they pay for.

Last month’s questions were aimed at you. This month let’s focus on the team.

Are you a team player?
Be honest: is your company really a team? Is everyone committed to the goal of getting results?
What can your team do better?

Remember, no one wants to sponsor a losing team. Conversely, when your team consistently delivers great results, people will talk and customers will seek you out. It's the nature of the business.

"A sale is not something you pursue, it’s what happens to you while you are immersed in serving your customer." ~ Source Unknown

Written by Ken Pettit.

Step 2 to effective large-format graphics: Font Size

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-02-13T12:18:00-08:00

Last month, I wrote about the virtues of keeping your large-format banners legible by making your message short and sweet. After all, our Three Second Rule states that if you can't visually pique the interest of your audience within three seconds, you lost the sale. Still, even with a power-packed short message on your graphic, it won't do a bit of good if your text is too small to read.

Tip 2: Size your text correctly. Keep fonts large enough to be legible.

Most large-format graphics are glimpsed at from a distance, behind the wheel of a car, or even in the peripheral vision of sidewalk pedestrians. In some cases, the Three Second Rule is stretching it. More often than not, given people’s frantic lives, if text can’t be read easily, your audience won’t even bother trying. So, why would anyone make their graphics more difficult to read? Believe it or not, some people inadvertently do, especially by making their fonts too small. This simple calculation will help you size your fonts correctly:

Height of text (in inches) = 0.035 x Distance (in feet)
Point size of text = 72 x Height of text (in inches)

So, if you know your text is going to be seen from 20 feet away, such as across a walkway to a storefront window, then you’d do well to make your smallest text at least 0.7 inch tall, or a point size of 50.4. We've already done some of the thinkwork and rustled up a bunch of standard distances, listed below:

Distance	Text height	Point size
15’	0.525”	37.8pt
15’	0.525"	37.8 pt.
20’	0.7”	50.4 pt.
30’	1.05”	75.6 pt.
50’	1.75”	126 pt.
100’	3.5”	252 pt.
500’	17.5”	1,260 pt.
1,000’	35”	2,520 pt.

The Tiff vs the PDF

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-02-12T10:08:40-08:00

In most sectors of the printing industry, Adobe's PDF file format is king. It deserves accolades, because for most applications, a PDF will reproduce art and text amazingly well while delivering a decent print-ready file in a relatively small file size. These features have made PDF a staple of the small format print industry. Although the PDF is great, BIG Images’ preferred file format for large format printing is the Tiff.

The benefits of the Tiff file format in the large format print industry are threefold:

Financial Savings
- Tiff files saved with LZW compression use anywhere from 50% to 99% less disk space than competing file formats
- The time required to open & save a Tiff is less than that of a PDF or other competing file formats
- The time & resources needed to transfer the file to BIG Images is reduced
Time Savings
- Faster processing time for both the customer and BIG Images equates to a faster turn around time
- Smaller size is faster to open, close, and transfer via FTP or email
- More predictable results mean fewer errors to chase, resulting in faster production time
Better service and product from BIG Images
- Elimination of common errors means faster production & fewer pre-press expenses. BIG Images can produce a better, more consistent product, faster.

Sales and Marketing from the Trenches - Everyone Affects Sales

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-01-15T14:30:24-08:00

Everyone affects sales

Sales is the life blood of every business and as such should be on the minds of everyone in the company. I’m not saying that all involved in your company need to be proficient sales people, just that every employee needs to be cognizant of how they affect the company’s sales directly. From CEO to custodian…each person’s contributions have an impact on sales and the net value of the company.

I am amazed at how many people I have observed who are oblivious or just don’t care about their effect on their company’s bottom line. Let me illustrate:

We ordered some typical supplies from one of our vendors the other day. We’ll call them vendor A. These are supplies that we rely on for the core of our business and without them we cannot print, and our vendor knows this. The next morning we called the vendor to get the tracking number and they confirmed that the order had shipped. Hours later, like clockwork, UPS arrived with our order — minus two items on backorder.

A couple of things went wrong here. First when we placed the order, the sales person never let us know our product was not in stock. Then the person who told us the order had shipped failed to mention two items were on backorder.

In contrast, we have another vendor, vendor B, that confirms the order while we are on the phone, then follows that with a faxed confirmation. Should there be any issues, they call us immediately.

The end result? Through consistently unreliable business communications with the first vendor we have moved the majority of our purchasing to the second vendor. Poor performance of individuals within their company caused vendor A to loose us as a customer. Each one of these people contributed negatively to vendor A’s bottom line.

…every employee needs to be cognizant of how they affect the company’s sales….

Some might say “So what?... it’s not my job.” To those I say don’t apply here, and to their executives and managers, I say get rid of them. If you don’t, you aren’t doing your job. No good can come from someone who has no concern for the customer. Think I’m kidding? The people at company ‘A’ didn't lose a sale, they lost a customer. Because of this and other incidents, company ‘A’ will lose $80,000.00 this next year and company ‘B’ will gain $80,000.00 in sales. Why? Customer service. No other reason. Company ‘A’ had a great product and great price. They didn’t have people who cared about the customer.

So here’s the lesson — Always ask yourself:

How will a customer perceive my actions?
Are my actions enhancing the customer’s experience?
Can I do better? (Hint, the answer to this one is always yes.)

Notice these questions are about you. Not your boss, not your co-worker, not your employee, they are asking you about you. By taking leadership of your own actions you are taking the first step towards exhibiting relentless customer service.

Consider this quote from Sam Walton, the founder of Wall Mart:

There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else. —Sam Walton

Next month I'll discuss the sales team.

Written by Ken Pettit.

Step 1 to effective large-format graphics: Text length

beebe@big-images.com — 2007-01-10T17:24:03-08:00

Introduction: Are your big images awesome enough?

…text should be short, straightforward, and the biggest bang for your verbage buck you can come up with.

Designing for large format digital printing is a much different ball game than small format. Yes, I know; “duh!” is what you’re thinking, but hear me out. People won’t be picking your large-format graphic up, holding it in their hands, turning it over, or scrutinizing its verbage. Instead, it’s going to be glanced at quickly from a distance, and in many cases ignored. From the first moment your work is glimpsed, you have only three seconds of a person’s attention to convey your message. We call it the Three Second Rule, because if they’re not hooked within three seconds, you lost the sale, and wasted time and money producing the graphic.

iPod Shuffles and jolly good cheer!

beebe@big-images.com — 2006-12-20T10:56:41-08:00

What do you get when you mix Apple iPods, Origami, and BIG Images Christmas cheer?

You get employee Christmas presents comprised of 2nd Generation iPod Shuffles wrapped in Origami boxes made of $100 bills.

The holiday season is a time for family, a time for warm cups of peppermint hot chocolate, and even more a time for jolly good cheer to your fellow man. We at BIG Images also believe it’s a time for rocking out in a BIG way. And so, in an effort to turn our employees from unproductive drones slaving away in the corporate mines to ecstatically overjoyed productive drones, we gave each of them a shiny new 2nd Gen iPod Shuffle wrapped in $200 origami boxes (we just had to one-up Santa Steve).

Edit: We have had an overwhelming request for the instructions to make this box — download them as a PDF here. Thanks for the diggs!

A step-by-step collage of a Second Generation iPod Shuffle getting wrapped in two $100 bill origami boxes made by Jon Beebe. This was the BIG Images Christmas present for all our employees. Click here to view a larger image of the wrapped iPod.

Digg this Story!

BIG Images Introduces new outdoor print media and better color.

beebe@big-images.com — 2006-12-19T12:03:43-08:00

BIG Images is announcing the adoption of new outdoor large format digital banner and adhesive backed vinyl that increases color gamut & product quality.

In our continuing quest to improve our large format products and services we are proud to announce the immediate release of new outdoor print media: large format digital banner and adhesive backed vinyl. Each of these improves upon the qualities of the media they replaced and offers customers distinct benefits in color quality, durability, and longevity.

Outdoor banner

Our new outdoor large format digital banner offers a higher thread-count — in fact it is the industries highest — so the banner is incredibly strong and tear-resistant. It also has one of the highest white-points on the market. In addition it is more compatible with our new ink set so the colors are brighter, the blacks are blacker, and the over-all color gamut is greater than its predecessor. Its superior white-point and darker black-point give it a dynamic range far superior to our previous banner vinyl. The smooth surface allows for tighter dot-control, thus increasing image sharpness and resolution. As always the banner is waterproof, fade resistant, and can last up to 5 years outdoors. This new banner is an ideal match for our outdoor banner stands and indoor banner stands.

Adhesive Backed Vinyl (ABV)

Our ABV has an improved adhesive for better adhesion in extreme weather and temperatures. It is also more compatible with our new ink set so the colors are brighter, the blacks are blacker, and the over-all color gamut in greater than its predecessor. The strength of the ink’s bond is great enough that it can be used without lamination to replace laminated photo paper in many situations. As always the ABV is waterproof, fade resistant, and can last up to 5 years outdoors.

The Holiday Season is coming. Is your business ready?

beebe@big-images.com — 2006-11-21T08:53:08-08:00

Every December, the “big boxes” and national chain stores suck away precious customers from small business. To whom can small business turn to remain competitive amidst the holiday season’s multi-million-dollar marketing frenzy?

Look no further than BIG Images! This December you need to maximize your sales. The most effective and inexpensive way is to breathe new life into your storefront — capture customers’ attention and pull them in.

Thousands of potential customers may pass by your storefront everyday on their shopping quests. With BIG Images as your ally you can reach out to those customers by utilizing your store front effectively. Convince them that you provide what they’re looking for. Make your message too large to ignore. Turn foot traffic into dollars.

BIG Images will help you accomplish this with the following effective products…

Dry Erase Laminate now Standard Finishing Option

beebe@big-images.com — 2006-11-14T17:39:07-08:00

Dry-Erase Laminate: Custom Dry-Erasable Graphics Increase Effectiveness and Visibility

A dry-erasable surface is now a standard finishing option on all of BIG Images print media. This option can be added to almost every type of product BIG Images offers, from Banners to Photographs, Presentation Boards to Charity Checks, and Sandwich Boards to Sidewalk menus.

A dry-erasable finish is now a standard option on all of BIG Images print media. Any type of large-format print can be finished with a dry-erasable laminate that allows for temporary marking on the write-on and wipe-off surface. The benefits include increased re-usability of the image, better communication effectiveness, and increased productivity & visibility.

Large-format print buyers want to increase the effectiveness of their marketing, trade-show, and presentation materials. For some this means having the flexibility to change and/or adjust the content at will. The possibilities offered by dry-erase laminates — to be able to change out the message daily, or to discriminately highlight areas for increased communication & marketing effectiveness — mean prints will remain more useable and flexible in the unforeseen future.

Here are some quotes from…

Ken Pettit Elected VP of SLOCAMA, on Marketing Committee for SLO Symphony

beebe@big-images.com — 2006-11-14T16:52:51-08:00

Ken Pettit, a founding partner in BIG Images, has been elected as Vice President of SLOCAMA for the third year in a row. In addition he has been invited to join the San Luis Obispo Symphony’s Marketing Committee.

In 2004 Ken co-founded SLOCAMA, the San Luis Obispo Creative and Marketing Alliance. It is a group of creative and marketing professionals and students in San Luis Obispo County. The goals of SLOCAMA are:

Inspiration: To raise the bar and inspire each other
Collaboration: To bring creative professionals together
Education: To educate our community about marketing

This year Ken continues to bolster the Marketing community by helping to lead SLOCAMA into 2007. Ken has also helped lead BIG Images’ efforts in supporting the San Luis Obispo Symphony for three years running (read more here). Ken’s continued local involvement has been an invaluable asset to the marketing community & the musical arts of San Luis Obispo.

Ken Helps M.D.A. Raise $58,000

beebe@big-images.com — 2006-10-04T13:34:00-07:00

Thank you to everyone who helped make Ken Pettit’s time at the MDA Lock-Up a success!

Thanks to our many generous customers including Molly Dawson of Data Based Marketing, Darren Smith of Compass Health, and Damien Porter of SLO Passport for their participation. Everyone's generosity helped Ken raise his bail, which funds the local chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and allows the kids to attend a week-long summer camp.

Ken Pettit Must Have Rolled Three Doubles...

beebe@big-images.com — 2006-08-24T09:44:25-07:00

Ken Pettit has rolled 3 doubles! Help bail him out of jail.

Well, I must have rolled three doubles because I’m about to be taken to jail without passing go! I’m participating in the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s San Luis Obispo Lock Up to help “Jerry's Kids®”. My bail’s been set at $1800, just enough to send three kids to summer camp. I need your help to reach my goal and earn my “Get out of Jail Free” card.

MDA serves people in our community with neuromuscular disease by providing clinics, support groups, assistance with the purchase and repair of wheelchairs, braces and communication devices, and summer camp for kids. MDA also funds research grants to help find treatments and cures for 43 neuromuscular diseases.

To find out more, click here to see my Participant Page. You’ll find plenty of information about MDA and the local services it provides so that you can see how your donation will be used. You may make your donation on-line by credit card or, print out a form to mail or fax over to me. Feel free to contact me directly at 805-781-9301 or via e-mail. And if you happen to roll the dice, come by to “just visit”.

Thank you for helping me help others.

Ken Pettit

P.S. If you don't help save my ugly mug this year, you might just find yours nominated next year.

BIG Images Promotes Renewable Energy.

beebe@big-images.com — 2005-11-19T20:05:06-08:00

Two banners donated by BIG Images to support renewable energy mounted to the solar-powered sound stage.

BIG Images is a technology company as well as a large format printer: therefore when an opportunity to help push the technological envelope of the world presents itself we jump at the opportunity. WhyNotSolar.org—an organization whose goal is "... to bridge the gap between interested individuals, donors and volunteer programs" hosted an event this past weekend promoting the awareness of alternative energies such as solar power, biodiesel, veggie-oil, and electricity for vehicles.

WhyNotSolar.org is part of a growing world of people searching for renewable energy—hoping to do their part to reduce their carbon footprint. It's international projects include an ongoing Thailand program where volunteers will, for example, help supply electricity to schools so they can run air conditioning, and promote renewable energy.

If you are interested in the opportunities available and have time, money, or encouragement to offer check them out at www.WhyNotSolar.org.

BIG Images is proud to support the pursuit of alternative energies—you should be too!

Hope Worldwide Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

beebe@big-images.com — 2006-01-16T21:00:00-08:00

One of the many murals painted by volunteers on the L.A. Day on Hope 2006. Murals that day were designed by Diana Roberts, Beebe Hargrove, Chrystal Santoyo and Ewa Pietraszak

“Everybody can be GREAT, because everybody can SERVE.” —Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“HOPE worldwide is an international charity that changes lives by harnessing the compassion and commitment of dedicated staff and volunteers to deliver sustainable, high-impact, community-based services to the poor and needy.” —From the Hope Worldwide web page

One of their many events was the LA Day on Hope and BIG Images is proud to help by providing banners and signage for the event.

The 2006 event drew 3,500 participants, including 1,500 volunteers, to 6 sites in the greater L.A. area. Activities of the day included soccer clinics provided by the Los Angeles Galaxy Soccer team, health education provided by the Children's Hospital of Orange County, and mural painting to beautify the schools' grounds.

Official Logo for Banner-Works is Complete

beebe@big-images.com — 2006-08-25T17:35:18-07:00

The Banner-Works logo designed by Benjamin Lawless

Ben Lawless, our intrepid man of miracles (the one who takes all our good stuff and makes it look a whole-heck-of-alot better), has just completed the logo for Banner-Works. What do you think? Like it? Then trust us when we say you will enjoy the experience at Banner-Works even more. Check out all our designs (including a slew from Ben himself). Treat yourself by customizing and personalizing your very own vinyl banner and then have the banner you just designed printed right here at BIG Images.

BIG Images Service Guarantees

beebe@big-images.com — 2004-01-05T10:30:59-08:00

BIG Images, in an effort to serve its customers above and beyond what is the industry norm, spells out its guarantees to you.

On Time Guarantee*	If your job is not ready by the promised date it’s free.
Satisfaction Guarantee**	If for any reason you are not 100% satisfied with your job simply return it and we will either replace it or give you a refund.

* Promised date is the date/time at which a job is ready to be shipped/picked up from BIG Images. Promised date will be provided once artwork is received and approved for printing by BIG Images, and starts only after BIG Images recieves print-ready artwork. Promised date will be e-mailed with a job confirmation.

** Satisfaction Guarantee applies to the workmanship and quality of the print(s) as can be affected by BIG Images. This guarantee does not include damage due to errors in the digital artwork (including design flaws and spelling errors), events that are beyond reasonable control of BIG Images, or that occur after the image is no longer in possession of BIG Images. BIG Images can opt to not guarantee images if they do not meet the guaranteeable file requirements.

Design Online! Banner-Works Goes Live.

beebe@big-images.com — 2006-08-18T10:07:28-07:00

The Banner-Works pencil

In sync with the vision and energy that originally founded BIG Images the company has once again turned heads with its revolutionary online design technology–Banner-Works. In an effort to serve its customers that may not have the tools, time, or expertise to create large-format artwork BIG Images is releasing its design software to its customers for free.

You're free to use it, play with it, save your artwork and return at anytime to continue editing it. When you are ready, click print, and your file is sent to BIG Images automatically.

Banner-Works gives BIG Images customers professional design tools, personal control, creative inspiration, real-time price quotes, and, most importantly, a fun and hassle free experience when working with the large-format world.

BIG Images Sponsors the San Luis Obispo Symphony

beebe@big-images.com — 2006-07-23T19:34:20-07:00

It's the best way to spend Labor Day Weekend on the Central Coast!

The San Luis Obispo Symphony Pops by the Sea Logo - Printed by BIG Images 12' 9" tall x 25' wide.

This year, 2006, marks the third year running that BIG Images has sponsored the San Luis Symphony and Pops by the Sea. The SLO Symphony, often noted for incredible marketing graphics that rival their music in quality, uses BIG Images for all its outdoor signage at the annual Pops by the Sea concert, and for the foyer banners greeting the audience as they arrive to performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center. For more information on this years Pops concert and other performances throughout the year visit their web page at http://slosymphony.com/

New Ink Solutions Increase BIG Images Color

beebe@big-images.com — 2006-07-18T11:08:28-07:00

One of BIG Images' printers - a 7 foot wide banner-printer using new outdoor-inks.

New Inks increase color gamut and image strength.

BIG Images recently completed the conversion to a new ink system for its outdoor solutions. These new inks bring a few direct benefits to our customers. These include:

• Increased color gamut—we can now produce better color encompassing about 15% more of the Pantone color range.
• Better weather resistance—waterproof and lightfast outdoors for up to 5 years.
• Increased strength—the new inks stick to the material better, meaning more scratch resistance and longer life

All of BIG Images outdoor solutions are using this new ink starting immediately.

Team Oracle Flies High with BIG Images

beebe@big-images.com — 2006-07-18T11:01:18-07:00

Team Oracle

Our DesignJet HP5000 printing posters for Team Oracle.

"My Business takes me all over the country and BIG Images' solution-based approach provides me with on-demand marketing tools wherever I am. Their streamlined processes ensure the highest quality product, on time, every time, which allows them to focus their attention on technology, research and development, and me; the customer." —Karl Koeppen, Team Oracle

Challenge:
Oracle needed an on-demand print shop to produce projects such as the 7 ft. x 10 ft. banner, capable of withstanding the rigors of the outdoor environment - sunlight, moisture, cross-country transportation, all within 20 hours.

Solution:
BIG Images utilized its custom designed production facility and inks built for outdoor use to produce this huge full-color banner in less than 20 hours. The unique reinforced vinyl banner material is designed to withstand the test of time and outdoor elements.