So, what will the vehicle wrap really look like? How can you know when all you’ve seen is a layout on paper?
What Will the Vehicle Wrap Really Look Like?
Start by thoroughly Checking the Design Layout
What will the vehicle wrap really look like is a good question. It seems too often, customers take a quick look at the layout, and then sign off on it, without thoroughly checking the details of the layout. If there’s a mistake in color, size or typo, and not caught by the customer — that’s a problem.
Ultimately the customer is the best person to review the information on the layout for accuracy of branded colors, spelling, or contact information. As a graphics provider, we proof and correct any errors found in the layout or on artwork provided (with approval from the customer), but the customer has final approval on all artwork and content on the layout. So, it’s critical to carefully inspect the layout for the success of the project and to know to answer to, “What will the vehicle wrap really look like?”
Our TKO Graphix sales team, designers, and customer service staff share some helpful advice below on how to proof your vehicle graphics layout to avoid problems later.
Has Everyone Approved it?
Colors, fonts, and copy should be checked by the customer before printing the graphic. Furthermore, it needs to be approved by all members of the client’s team who are involved in the vehicle graphics decision. For example, a layout could be approved, printed, and installation begun only to have the president of the business stop the production and start over because it wasn’t what he wanted. He never saw the layout. No one asked him if he knew what the vehicle wrap will really look like. Believe me, it happens.
Is that a Long Bed or a Short Bed?
Another consideration is making certain you’ve given the graphics provider the correct information about the specific vehicle being wrapped. The vehicle information is very important in the design phase of your wrap. What does the designer need to know? The easy answer is – everything! This includes the make, model, color, trim options, and add-on equipment of the car or truck. One of the best ways to help the designer meet your needs, as well as your expectations, is to furnish the designer with accurate and complete vehicle specifications in a timely manner.
For example, to say you have a 2021 Ford F150 isn’t enough information. The F150 is available in at least a dozen packages from XL, XLT, and Lariat to the Platinum version. They’re available in regular cab, extended cab, two-door, four-door, and with multiple options. One design will not fit all the variations of the 2021 Ford F150, so make sure you are specific about the details of your vehicle.
If you’d like to learn more go here, FAQ: What Does a Vehicle Graphic Designer Need to Know About My Vehicle?
Know What You Want
Before beginning the design process have an idea of what you want to accomplish with your fleet graphics. Is it branding, a call to action, lead generation, or to market your unique sales position?
“Think about what’s most important for you to communicate; this is typically the company name, your logo, and a means of being contacted like your website or phone number. If there’s something special about the company that they want to promote, like 24-hour service, that would be excellent to include. Hours are probably less important because most trades work the same hours—unless people are on call round the clock, available weekends, or something unusual like that.” — 8 Vehicle Signage Experts Share Their Best Tips on Service Van Design
Add Some Color
Are your business’s branded colors being used? Be sure to not only check the color of your logo, but also the colors on other design elements and fonts. When choosing colors for your vehicle graphics, it may not be what color, but how colors of both the vehicle and your graphics contrast. Using poorly contrasted colors reduces the impact of vehicle advertising. Poorly chosen hues, designs that hide the message, and colors that don’t match your brand waste your marketing dollars.
Getting a Proof
What’s the difference between a layout and a proof? Some graphics providers use the words interchangeably. At TKO, we define a layout as the two-dimensional design either on screen or paper, and a proof as printing part of the graphic to scale in order to place it on the vehicle. It’s good to have a proof printed to check the color in real life, not just on a monitor. Light, surroundings, and the vehicle itself all affect the perception of color. By placing a scaled proof on the vehicle, the customer can get a better understanding of how the graphics will look.
Don’t Be One-sided
Check every side of the vehicle– the front, rear, and both sides. Check to see how the graphics are aligned. Do they fit the space? Is it the message you want to send and does it fulfill your purpose? Imagine the vehicle on the highway or parked at your shop, what kind of impression does it make? Before signing off be certain that the design works from every view of your fleet vehicle, because what good does a vehicle wrap do if a potential customer only sees one side of your car or truck and that side doesn’t have your contact information?
So, What Will the Vehicle Wrap Really Look Like?
If you’ve done your homework by thoroughly reviewing the design layout, and then checking it again, you’ll know the answer to what will the vehicle wrap really look like. If you’re still uncertain ask for a proof to be printed. A scaled partial proof should be enough to get the idea. There’s usually little or no need to print the entire graphic. However, that can be done for a fee.
If you’d like more on the answer to what will the vehicle graphic really look like, check this out, How to Proof Your Vehicle Graphics Layout so it Doesn’t Cost You Time and Money
If we can answer any questions about vehicle graphics, design, print, or layout, Contact Us, we know what we’re talking about – we have the proof.
TKO Graphix is a national fleet and vehicle graphics company helping customers since 1985. We provide full-service graphic design, digital printing, screen printing, graphics installation, and removal of large format graphics.
We’re a fleet and vehicle graphics company and since 1985, we’ve been helping businesses, large and small, brand their fleet of tractor-trailers, service trucks and company vehicles. Whether you have a fleet of thousands or a few vehicles, we are here to lead you through the vehicle branding process.
TKO Graphix is a Certified 3M™ MCS™ Warranty graphics manufacturer. Our installation crews are 3M Certified and are employees of TKO Graphix, not sub-contractors.
