Signwriting all surfaces!
I received a concerned call.
“We need another signwriter have to have a look at the signwriting for the next Kmart tyre and auto service rebranding. Can you meet with us asap!”
A signwriter had already completed an initial store but there been a problem getting the angles and shapes right. Getting the signwriting to wrap around the building’s corners, into the recesses and seamlessly across all the different surfaces – bricks with deeper mortar rake out, concrete render, roller doors, tilt a doors, metal clip lock cladding and everything in between – had proved difficult.
The rollout was underway. And now there was a concern to get the signwriting right!
The architects also wanted to see how the general idea of an initial one page style guide from the branding designers – that was the key art for all stores – was going to work on each individual store.
Site Survey before Signwriting
We conducted a site survey of the next store to get painted and to also require signwriting. Taking ‘square on’ photos and measurements and checking ‘the lay of the land’ in terms of accessibility for scaffolding etc. If we could get there before the painters were finished we could use the scissor lift that was already there. Getting a general look at all these different surfaces and building angles was important.
Artwork in Situ
Then it was back to the ‘drawing board’ using Photoshop and Illustrator to superimpose the designers intention over the store photos. I knew once we were able to see how the base art actually positioned over the photographs we were a long way to any problems and concerns being solved.
Getting the Go Ahead – but still nervous about the angle!
After receiving a go-ahead on artwork, further assurance was still required that the angle would be right. In order to alleviate the concerns as quickly and easily as possible, we printed a large 66° paper template about 1200 x 1200mm.
This did the trick when we met the architect (and team) onsite to start the signwriting. Using a combination of spirit level, chalkline, straight edges and the template to get the first angle right, the team stayed around just long enough to feel comfortable we could get the signwriting kicked off right!
If you would like to talk more about traditional and/or corporate signwriting for your project please call me – Kel – on 0407 289 312 or drop me a line at kel@semantix.com.au