Author Archives: Doug

Step and repeat backdrops can be hard boards or more traditional banners.

Boards versus banners: Which is right for your event?

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When it comes to designing and ordering a backdrop for your upcoming event, you have a great deal of options. These products are customizable, so you can make a lot of changes to the design and the structure to make sure they work for you.

One question that we get quite a bit is whether a simple banner is good enough, or if it’s worth investing in a board as well. The board refers to a hard, plastic foam-core backdrop, as opposed to the softer vinyl or fabric banner that most step and repeats are made from.

Boards
For a more “permanent” setup, you can order a hard board that can be attached to a wall. The images are printed on vinyl sheets, which are then hand-laid onto the hard backdrop. This is ideal for press conferences and other events where you need an absolutely perfect wall for your pictures. It’s also great if you have regular red carpet events at the location. These boards start out at 5 feet wide and 8 feet tall, but they can be made over 100 feet wide if needed.

Step and repeat backdrops are available as banners or as stiff boards. Backdrops are available as banners or as stiff boards.

Banners
A traditional vinyl or fabric banner is the most popular option, since it’s so versatile. These banners are equal to the boards in terms of print quality, but because they aren’t attached to a hard surface there’s the possibility for some wrinkling. However, they come with a system that keeps them tight, so wrinkles are kept to a minimum. These banners are great for “pop-up” events where set up is for a limited time.

Whether you’re looking for a board or a banner, Sign Art Etc has got it covered! We ship backdrops anywhere in the U.S., and our dedicated team is ready and waiting to help you design the perfect solution for your event. Contact us today to get started.

Providing leis for your guests to wear will help to set the scene for a tropical wedding.

Give your wedding a tropical flavor, wherever you are

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If you’re dreaming of palm trees, sun-kissed beaches and tropical flora, why not incorporate it into your wedding? Even if you’re landlocked, you can easily turn your big day into the tropical wedding of your dreams with these ideas.

Use leis as gifts for your guests or as decorations
Leis are floral garlands that are often presented to visitors of Hawaiian islands. Providing each reception guest with a lei is a nice way to welcome them, and it also adds to the atmosphere when everyone is wearing one. Another option is to use the leis as decorations, draping them on chairs at the reception or church pews in the ceremony. You can buy assorted leis in a variety of colors.

Turn the bar into a tiki shack
For the cocktail hour and reception, add decor to the bar area that will give it a tropical, Hawaiian feel. Oriental Trading has a section devote to luau decorations. If you’re really feeling ambitious, you can order thatched roofing from the experts at Tiki Shack Importer.

Hawaii is one of the most romantic places on earth, so why not give your wedding a Hawaiian theme? Hawaii is one of the most romantic places on earth, so why not give your wedding a Hawaiian theme?

Give every cocktail a splash of color
When it comes to cocktail hour, think colorful. Liquor.com has a list of 10 colorful cocktails that are perfect for the tiki bar, like a Mai Tai, a Rum Rangoon or The Quetzal. Add pineapple, little umbrellas and other colorful additions as garnishing.

Create a tropical backdrop
A backdrop for picture taking customized with tropical imagery of your choosing will make your wedding photos even more memorable. You can opt for the traditional repeating pattern or use one large graphic, like a beach scene or a tropical rain forest. You can upload your own image to the Sign Art website, or you can select from the many pre-made templates.

Aloha and congratulations!

A step and repeat backdrop can help establish your brand at your product launch.

Preparing your product for launch

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Whatever type of business you’re in, a product launch is an exciting event that lets you stir up interest in a new item. It’s all about marketing, and getting the word out. No matter how great your product is, a good launch is critical to get people onboard.

Types of product launch events
For many companies, a product launch is a red carpet event. The press is there, there are presentations, and people pose in front of a photo backdrop with the company logo on it. Depending on your industry and the nature of your product, the launch could take on a few different forms:

  • Press conference or media event: You can organize a media-facing event and focus on the members of the press who are invited. This can also accompany a press conference.
  • Trade show: For a business-to-business product, it might make more sense to hold the launch at a trade show, where members of your target industry will be meeting and networking.
  • Gala or fundraising event: If you’re a nonprofit or you cater to nonprofits, you could launch your product at a charity event.
  • Consumer event: If your product is more consumer-focused, you could hold your launch at a public place, such as a sporting event, festival or concert.

Your presentation can vary depending on these types of events. What you don’t want to do is hold one product launch that is supposed to meet all of these target groups. Your presentation needs to focus on the audience, so if you’re holding launches at different types of events, make sure to adapt your approach to suit each one.

Custom photo backdrops
One thing that does not change, however, is the importance of customized signage for your photo opportunities. The step and repeat is a mainstay for product launches because it provides a strong branding presence. You and your team can use the banner for photo opportunities, letting partners, consumers and colleagues pose in front of it. Since the banner features your logo, it will help to generate awareness when the image shows up in photos.

This makes the presentations stand out, so consumers at a public event or professionals at an industry gathering will see your logo from a distance. Think of it as a beacon to draw attention to your brand. In addition to bringing people closer, a well-made backdrop gives your product launch a professional look. Whether it’s at a red carpet event or an industry show, your product will look impressive.

For more information on creating your own unique backdrop, contact Sign Art Etc. Our team can help you create a beautiful banner to launch your next product.

Sign Art Etc can help you plan your nautical-themed wedding.

Nautical Wedding Theme Ideas: Plan a Shipshape Wedding

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Few things are as romantic as setting sail on the open water. If you and your spouse-to-be love the ocean, a nautical theme is a wonderful fit for your wedding. The Sign Art team has some tips on how you and yours can set sail with a perfect, salty day.

Use colors inspired by the ocean
Navy and white are a great combination for a nautical color scheme. You can also incorporate sea green and other shades of blue. Bride Box suggests using yellow with navy and white for a splash of color.

Tie a fisherman’s knot at the altar
They call it “tying the knot,” so why not tie an actual knot? You and your partner love the ocean, so you can learn to tie a fisherman’s knot together and perform it as part of the ceremony.

Use props inspired by the sea
Old lobster traps and life preservers can be reused as decorations or even escort cards. Driftwood crafts like these sailboat figures from Stephanie Hunter are cute and easy to make.

Boat shoes for the groomsmen
For a fun take on wedding attire, have the groomsmen wear matching boat shoes instead of dress shoes, without socks of course. It’s a little more casual, but it’s still a fantastic look, and it fits the theme perfectly.

Create a banner
You can design the perfect custom photo backdrop for your big day. Even if you’re landlocked, you can design a step and repeat banner with a nautical theme to help set the scene. Your guests later can have fun taking photos in front of  it.  You can upload your own images or our helpful staff can walk you through it.

Step and repeat banners come in many sizes and design styles.

What to Look for in a Step and Repeat Design

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A step and repeat design can provide a quality backdrop for a wide range of events, such as birthdays, weddings, product launches and charity galas. If you’re ordering a custom backdrop online, it’s best to have a basic understanding of what to look for in these products, so you know you’ll have the best banner for your event.

Materials
Most are made from either vinyl or fabric. While vinyl is a more affordable option, the shiny nature of the material can give back more of a glare in some photos. This can also depend on the overall design of the banner and the lighting of the venue. Vinyl can also wrinkle a bit.

Fabric, while more expensive than vinyl, will not give off any glare. In addition, this material won’t wrinkle at all.

Step and repeats can be made from fabric or vinyl. Step and repeats can be made from fabric or vinyl.

Design
Custom backdrops can include repeating logos like a traditional step and repeat, or one large image that takes up the whole banner. The ink that you use can reflect the flash back in some situations, depending on the material. The more white space you have, the less likely this will happen, since the ink is more reflective than the backdrop.

How big should the logo be?
For customers creating a step and repeat with the standard series of repeating logos, you want to make sure the logos are the right size, particularly for group shots where the camera will be at a farther distance. The typical size of a logo should be between 9 to 11 inches wide or for more boxy logos, 5 to 7 inches tall.

For professional printing, customized designs, affordable pricing and quick turnaround, visit Sign Art Etc! The Sign Art team is ready to design and create the perfect custom banner for your event.