Home Forums Sign Making Discussions Graphic Design Help does anyone have ideas for designing digital doors?

  • does anyone have ideas for designing digital doors?

    Posted by Warren Beard on 9 January 2008 at 20:10

    Hi All

    Not sure how or if this will work out but I really would like to get some sort of digital print onto the sides of my van but not to impose on the current design so something for the doors only. Basically I feel that I need to not only get noticed but also remembered so something neutral but would still make a talking point. There is not a lot of wrapped or part wrapped vehicles in my area and think it is mainly because nobody does it around here, I think if I am noticed with this sort of wrap it might inspire some companies to contact me for something similar.

    My thoughts so far are the following to make the doors look different;

    Wood
    Grass (green would go with my logo colours)
    Straw
    A textile texture (eg: leather of cloth)
    Smarties or Jellybean (for a bright in your face print)

    or as been done by another board member

    to make it look as if there is no door and take a picture of me sitting in the seat so when viewed it appears as if the door has fallen off 😕 :lol1:

    Opinions and suggestions please :praise1:

    Cheers

    Warren

    Gavin MacMillan replied 17 years, 9 months ago 12 Members · 30 Replies
  • 30 Replies
  • Steve Underhill

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 20:16

    Take one of you on the toilet reading the paper,
    or have a dog sat on your lap steering.

    Best one like that I have seen is Amtrak’s massive artics in America, they have a picture of 2 smaller UPS wagons inside them printed on the curtain saying something like, "everyone trusts Amtrak" or something similar.

  • Richard Urquhart

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 20:29

    I would think hard first if you really want this type of work, using digital images for me are great but getting into wrapping really is best for someone that’s geared up to do this sort of work, the problems it can and will give I think out way offering it as a service as I have seen lately with re works etc etc

    I’m not being funny but you can earn more money doing 2-3 nice looking vans in 1/4 of the time a wrap can take with no come backs. This is only my thoughts and will try to stay away from supplying this sort of work for as long as possible or until I have no choice to offer this when it becomes the norm and not so many problems with material choice and laminating problems

    Rich thinking out loud
    that said the use of a digital image working with your design would look nice and I guess you don’t need to advertise full wraps
    Rich

  • Warren Beard

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 20:30

    I thought of doing something like making it look like a small child was hiding down by the pedals but thought I did not want to make it too funny as still want to try keep the van looking professional. My best thought so far is to maybe do a partial wrap of the front section to make it look like it is covered with grass (maybe the odd very small flower)

    Just not sure if that is enough to get it remembered 😕

    Thanks Steve

    Cheers

    Warren

  • Warren Beard

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 20:34
    quote Richard Urquhart:

    I would think hard first if you really want this type of work, using digital images for me are great but getting into wrapping really is best for someone that’s geared up to do this sort of work, the problems it can and will give I think out way offering it as a service as I have seen lately with re works etc etc

    I’m not being funny but you can earn more money doing 2-3 nice looking vans in 1/4 of the time a wrap can take with no come backs. This is only my thoughts and will try to stay away from supplying this sort of work for as long as possible or until I have no choice to offer this when it becomes the norm and not so many problems with material choice and laminating problems

    Rich thinking out loud
    that said the use of a digital image working with your design would look nice and I guess you don’t need to advertise full wraps
    Rich

    Hi Rich

    That’s exactly it mate, I don’t want to get in to wraps but want to be noticed and have a nice digital print so people can see what is achievable. I think to a degree that if a customer wants a digital print on his van he will expect to pay more than just letters, using this to hopefully get them to want more on their van designs than just lettering and therefor increasing the value of the job.

    It is one thing to be noticed but another to be remembered 😉 I think a small (well thought out) graphic might just be the cherry on the top!

    Cheers

    Warren

  • Karl Williams

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 20:43

    Hi Warren,

    Try this site mate for some ideas. http://www.sxc.hu/home.

    Karl.

  • Warren Beard

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 21:17

    Thanks Karl, been looking at istock for inspiration too just not sure what is going to look best and as I don’t print can’t afford to do trial and error 😕

  • Richard Urquhart

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 21:19

    Warren as is for you and your van I dont mind printing F.O.C for you as long as I can print the width i.e 715mm so if its enough I will print free you supply the Vinyl
    Rich

  • Warren Beard

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 21:22
    quote Richard Urquhart:

    Warren as is for you and your van I dont mind printing F.O.C for you as long as I can print the width i.e 715mm so if its enough I will print free you supply the Vinyl
    Rich

    Wow thanks Rich, very much appreciated and I might just take you up on that 😳 😀

    Thanks mate

    Warren

  • Graeme Harrold

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 21:39

    Taking your small child idea and moving away from the toilet, seen a few times now.

    How about going cyborg from the waist down, or make it pedal power!!!

  • Warren Beard

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 21:51
    quote Graeme Harrold:

    Taking your small child idea and moving away from the toilet, seen a few times now.

    How about going cyborg from the waist down, or make it pedal power!!!

    Like those ideas :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: Just not sure if I am that good in Photoshop 😕 :lol1:

    Not sure if the grass is going to "cut it", looks a bit strange, what do you think?


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  • Richard Urquhart

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 21:54

    In A word crap !!!
    re think I think what about dong something along the complete bottom half going up about 15 inches
    rich

  • Steve Underhill

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 22:00
    quote :

    what about dong something along the complete bottom half going up about 15 inches

    I think putting a 15 inch dong up the side will get him arrested,and the van impounded. :lol1:

  • Richard Urquhart

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 22:02

    its late doing !!!

    Using this only to give an idea on the grass thing but dont have any grass here right now


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  • Warren Beard

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 22:04
    quote Richard Urquhart:

    In A word crap !!!
    re think I think what about dong something along the complete bottom half going up about 15 inches
    rich

    Agreed 😕

    What about putting womans legs 😮

  • Warren Beard

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 22:11

    Like This?

    Not sure if it is going to have enough impact to be worth it 😕


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  • Steve Underhill

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 22:18

    Warren.
    Lose the grass idea.
    Nothing to add yet, but I have a wild imagination so will think of something.
    but grass says or means nothing, also looks like Richard says… crap.
    Sorry, I’m not being rude but It would make you look like a gardener or turf layer not a sign writer, I would wonder why you had grass on your van being a sign writer, it would be confusing for people.

  • Warren Beard

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 22:23

    I agree Steve, let the imagination run wild :lol1:

    I think the person on the door might be the best way but to think of something good (that I can do in PS :lol1: )

    cheers

    Warren

  • Steve Underhill

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 22:35

    Instead of a van seat have a gang of oompa loompas holding you up, in various poses.
    Thats not been seen before.
    Or another good one would be not to do the door, but have a picture taken lying down legs flailing behind you making it look like youre driving at 300 mph, along the side of the van.

    I woke up a bit now will think more

  • Phill Fenton

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 23:02

    Why not just digitally print your business name – you can use eyecandy effects to give it a 3d look to lift it off the van and show your clients the sort of things that are easily achieveable.

    The grass idea just doesn’t do anything for me – you’re not a Gardener so why have grass on your van (apart from the fact you want to appeal to the "Green" brigade (but bear in mind that half the population secretly abhor the green PC movement and would be put off by this sort pof opportunist slant).

    On second thoughts – why not call your business Humdinger Signs and wrap your van with a digital print of a Hummer 4X4 to appeal to the rebels amongst the population 😛

  • Warren Beard

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 23:11

    Hi Phill

    I don’t really want to change my logo as it would then be different everywhere else, all I really want to do is just add some digi print to the van that more people will notice and remember me by and also show I can supply prints (even though I don’t do it myself 😉 )

    I can’t really think of anything else beside something on the door that is neutral looking so does not take away from the "sign maker" image. The appearance of no door seems best at the moment unless I get any other ideas.

    Cheers

    Warren

  • Lynn Normington

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 23:14

    Warren I also want to put some on our’s after buying a printer over 12 month’s ago but doing your own is harder than any customer, our’s is bare 🙄 🙄

    Lynn

  • Warren Beard

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 23:22
    quote Lynn:

    Warren I also want to put some on our’s after buying a printer over 12 month’s ago but doing your own is harder than any customer, our’s is bare 🙄 🙄

    Lynn

    Ain’t that the truth :lol1:

  • Scott.Evans

    Member
    9 January 2008 at 23:55

    make the door so it looks that it has blown of but add a twist to it>>>>>>

    how about having stacks of cash stored in the foot wel. 😕

    ummmmmm

    flooding the bottom bit and ading a mini shark 🙁

    ummmmm

    having all rats and mice in you re van and on the passengers side have a giant rat sitting on the seat with his nashers out 😀

    time for me to go to bed 😀


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  • Scott.Evans

    Member
    10 January 2008 at 00:00

    one last one

    if you pop down my place ill sit my cat on you re seat and you can take a pic and get it printed for the door.

    ill have to catch him first though the last time i saw him he was wondering around the farm 😮


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  • Peter Dee

    Member
    10 January 2008 at 08:21

    Warren, right now your van looks classy, smart and business like.
    I feel you’re making the cardinal sin the same as lots of customers do – plaster the vehicle all over. What ever you add to your present design will take away the impact and look tacky.
    What next, pictures of banners, a-boards, fascias etc?
    You’ve got a good design, can’t you just leave it at that?

  • Neil Davey

    Member
    10 January 2008 at 08:56

    Got too agree with Peter on this Warren.

    When I saw your final van design I thought it was spot on, you obviously have an eye for design. And seeing as you haven’t been in the sign business for too long you’re learning fast.

    I’ve seen lots of these, you know, the plumber sat on a loo, cut away of the van interior etc, etc and yes they do look very original and eye-catching.

    But don’t spoil it with the digital thing on the doors of your van unless you can come up with a very original print and something in keeping with professional image your original design presents.

    ‘Less is more’ as the old saying goes……

    Neil

  • Warren Beard

    Member
    10 January 2008 at 09:41

    Peter / Neil

    I agree and that is why I came up with the original design as I wanted it simple and professional. My only concern is as I described above regarding not only been noticed but also remembered. I want to take as little away from the design as possible and that’s why I didn’t want to add to anywhere else except the doors (front doors) I just wanted people to remember and talk about my van as well as just notice it 😉 but as I mentioned I will only do it if I can come up with something that will blend in nicely and not take away too much from the design.

    If I can’t find anything or it looks tacky I will take it straight off.

    Cheers

    Warren

  • David Rowland

    Member
    10 January 2008 at 10:41

    i haven;t read the replies, but make the green tick nike looking thing, take that grass and ‘colorise’ it to a single range of colours in photoshop with the same colour and put it in the nike bit, make it subtle and it should work.

  • Warren Beard

    Member
    10 January 2008 at 10:45

    Hi hear what you saying Dave, maybe there is something I can do with the swoosh digitally just to enhance it a bit.

    What else could I "fill" the swoosh with ? mmmmmmmmm

    Beer ?

  • Gavin MacMillan

    Member
    10 January 2008 at 14:27

    I wouldn’t touch it. I agree with Dave about the swoosh being a sensible place to make a change, but that will then be a different colour from the rest of logo. I just don’t see it being worth it.

    You can do print, but when not supplying it yourself do you really want to push it? It’s another thing to go wrong when you’re still getting everything going. A print coming in and colours being crap / tearing or generally messing up a print an having to wait days for a replacement. These things are unlikely to happen but it can.

    You have a clean and classy design already, don’t ruin it!

    P.S. – would you only phone the plumber with the toilet seat thing on his van? It would put me of to be honest as it’s too jokey. Your design at the minute is the opposite, I’d keep it that way.

    Just my tuppence

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