Help improving my Vehicle Graphics

[OwenTaylor]

What I do is keep a folder of vehicle graphics images to use as inspiration – could be anything from a race or rally car, motorbike, a commercial vehicle I like, even a colour combination that catches my eye. If I come across an image on the internet or if i take a photo, I’ll add it to the folder for reference.

Every so often I’ll have a look through and clear out any old or outdated designs – it’s amazing how designs that looked fresh even 6 months ago can seem old fashioned.

[Martin Pearson]

David, first thing I would say is buy Mike Stevens Book " Mastering Layout" which I think should be compulsory reading for any one in the graphics industry.
Phill has done a couple of tutorials based on it already.

I am a little worried about your post though having read this:

It was a LDV combi, Panel van. Not being overly experienced in vehicle graphics, most of my work has involved cutting some lettering, or digital print, and sticking it onto the side of the van, or car. Most have been relatively easy

Just because it is some cut vinyl lettering applied to the side of a van don’t think for one minute you can’t do a really good and creative design. There is so much you can do with just a plotter if you have the desire to learn. Digital print is just another part of the process and I personally don’t think you should be turning to it because you believe thats the only way to get a good balanced design.

Apart from buying that particular book there have been a number of other design books that have been suggested by various board members but I am rubbish at searching the forum so you will have to find those yourself.

Owen’s idea is OK but I would take it a stage further, don’t just look at vans or colour combinations you like but look at them all, try and critique each van, what do you like about it, what don’t you like, how would you have done it, would your ideas have been better or worse, you can spend as much or as little time doing this as you like. Most important thing is did it work? Did you take in the info from the van that you should have done?? Who is it, what do they do and how do I contact them??

It’s sad I know but I do this all the time when I am out and about, not just vans but pretty much all the advertising I see, maybe that’s why I’m now divorced lol but when I was out with the wife she would be doing her shopping thing and I would be wandering round the shops examining all the signs :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:

[Neil Davey]

Hi David, this is a difficult one. It’s a challenge if you’re not naturally creative and I don’t mean that in a negative way. As Martin says Mike Stevens book will be great for starters, it’ll give you a good knowledge of layout and balance. Signcraft magazine will also be a good reference for you as it’s full of great design and sign work in a variety of media. Start collecting magazine cutting of adverts that work, bookmark websites you like and start looking at and soaking up all the good work that is out there. You can then draw on all these things to inspire you to be creative. There are plenty of books available on signs and design whether it be Tattoo books or dedicated sign books.
I have to try really hard to be creative a lot of the time, sometimes failing miserably but if you can try and be a little different to the norm with fonts and colour combinations you’ll find you just get into that way of thinking.
Plenty of the stuff we do is run of the mill but now and again we get a job that we can be a little more creative with and it a hell of a lot of fun.
Hope this helps, the main thing tho is have a go, you’ve always got cmd z 😀

[David Hammond]

I have the urge to get creative… I want to. Like has been said it is good fun.

What holds me back in the installation.

I don’t want to put together a fantastic design only to not be able to install it.

Like the attached image. I wouldn’t know how to start producing it.

I assume cut the curve on the plotter and leave plenty of excess for top bottom and back?

I’ve seen the tutorials where you apply the vinyl onto all the high points of the vehicle, then heat and apply the vinyl into the recesses?

Looking at the attached van, I would probably cut the pink, and apply it, then over lay the text. (It might even be digital?)

Martin, I’ve printed jobs that could have easily been done with vinyl, either because I was lazy or didn’t have the colour in. I did some cut vinyl signs the other week and was really chuffed. Customer was happy to cos it was cheaper than I quoted. That’s prompted me to stock some vinyl.

I might have a play next week with my templates and see whether it would be possible to install. I don’t want to go punching above my weight and struggle installing, more building confidence and go from there.

[Martin Pearson]

A course would probably be a good idea for you David, something like a wrap course which will teach you all the tricks and tips you need to help build your confidence.

I can’t remember for sure now but I think I use to bite off a bit more than I could chew when I first started out, use to do a design for a customer and not even think about how I was going to install it. Made life really difficult for myself at times and probably wasted more vinyl than I should have but always managed to sort out how to do it and the customers were always delighted.
Might do things a little bit different if I was starting out from scratch again but then again maybe I wouldn’t :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:

[Andrew Murray]

The van you have pictured is an excellent example of what can be done without print, its not always needed to create a stand out design. Although going by the title of the pic, i wouldn’t be suprised if the pink has been painted on.

Its great to be creative, if the customer wants to pay for it that is! I always keep an eye on the practicality of fitting when designing.

[David Hammond]

I think I will need to look into doing a course again.

Andrew that’s my down fall, having no experience installing I am dubious of putting a design together with no idea of how it would be installed.

I have seen somewhere a course that covers designing of wraps. Can’t for the life of me think where.