Photos courtesy AG Event Graphics
By Jennifer Bowman
Ask Guy (AG) Event Graphics custom-prints large-format—and often non-traditional—graphics for displays, exhibitions, special events and other applications, from car wraps to murals. When owner Guy Langevin decided to move the company’s operations from Toronto to Point Edward, Ont., the change gave him an opportunity to take a different approach to using signage on his building to attract attention.
The building in question was conveniently located at the foot of the Blue Water Bridge, a twin-span international crossing of the St. Clair River that links Sarnia, Ont., and Port Huron, Mich. When AG bought it, however, the outside of the building was nothing special to look at.
Langevin wanted to rectify the situation and capitalize on the outdoor advertising opportunity offered by the building’s location. He decided to showcase the company’s printing capabilities and end-product offerings in the form of a gigantic wall mural, printed on vinyl coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), rather than merely relying on traditional signage for on-site advertising.
The ‘painted’ effect of AG Event Graphics’ mural was achieved by using MACtac’s Imagin RoughRap, a wall-wrapping film designed for rough surfaces.
Design
The primary intent of the mural was to draw attention to the building. With this in mind, Langevin chose a surrealist theme. He was inspired by the art of Salvador Dali, but the mural was completely original, featuring vibrant, eye-catching, symbolic imagery to spark conversation.
A large Quick Response (QR) code was also included in the mural design, encouraging viewers to use their smart phones to ‘interact’ with the wall when walking by and allowing them to find out more information.
Printing and lamination
Once he had worked out the entire design, Langevin went searching for the right material that would allow his mural to both ‘pop’ visually and stand up to harsh outdoor conditions. He felt it would need to be something new from a trusted source.
“A product representative suggested we try a wall-wrapping film meant for rough surfaces, such as brick, and other textured surfaces,” he says. “It was a new material for us, but the representative was quick to offer samples. Once we had a chance to test it, we found it to be very forgiving. We’d found our material! After ordering five rolls, we set to work on the mural project.”
The entire printing and installation process for the wall mural took approximately five days. On the first day, the graphics were printed onto the 0.05-mm (2.1-mil) thick, glossy white vinyl wall-wrapping film and laminated with an ultra-thin cast overlaminate. Designed for use with both indoor and outdoor graphics—including vehicle wraps, fleet graphics and marine wraps—the overlaminate would both enhance the mural’s visual appearance and further protect it against the elements, particularly in terms of preventing the inks from fading under the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Its durability and flexibility made it ideal for use on AG’s exterior wall mural, but it was also chosen for its compatibility with the print media.
“We always thoroughly research our applications and we know the importance of finding materials designed to work together,” says Langevin. “In my 25 years in the sign industry, I have learned it never pays to change a formula that works. Manufacturers are not just trying to sell more of their graphic products by suggesting an overlaminate that works well with a print substrate. These products are complementary in nature. And we followed the installation guide closely to ensure our mural would last.”
The entire installation process took three days, after which a heat gun was used to seal the vinyl securely into the crevices of the brick and mortar.
Installation
Next, the mural was installed on the wall of the building, which took three days.
“Even as highly experienced large-format graphic installers, we were surprised at how easy the installation of the wall-wrapping vinyl was,” says Langevin. “The fact we were able to install 7.9 m2 (85 sf) of printed graphics outdoors in three days is a testament to how forgiving this material is. It takes a great product to make a job like this work and this one delivered.”
After the graphics were installed, AG’s team went back with a heat gun to seal the vinyl securely into the crevices of the brick and mortar. This gave the entire mural more of a finished look and also protected it against water infiltration, which could otherwise jeopardize the longevity of the graphics. This was a major concern with regard to the installation of the mural, given the amount of precipitation the area sees. In fact, the installers had a difficult challenge finding the three dry days in a row they needed to complete the exterior application.
A large QR code was included in the mural design, encouraging people walking by to use their smart phones to access more information.
Performance
The planning proved worthwhile, as the mural achieved its intended effect.
“Paying attention to the little details during installation can help a graphic withstand the test of time and ensures you get the look you want,” says Langevin. “People cannot believe this mural wasn’t painted. They are excited when they find out it is a temporary graphic that we will replace yearly, without concern for residue. This way, they look forward to seeing what is coming next, since our first graphic has been such a conversation starter.”
After a year of exposure to UV rays, wind, water and extreme temperatures, the wall mural has held up extremely well. Even when Hurricane Sandy ripped off part of the building’s roof, the graphics remained unscathed. Not a single tile came loose.
“The wrap has shown great adhesion properties, as well as resistance to the elements, and I am sure it would remain resilient for years if we were not planning to replace it with a new mural annually,” says Langevin. “We will definitely be using the same material for our next mural. I look forward to continuing to keep the look of our building—and public intrigue about our company—fresh for years to come.”
Jennifer Bowman is the corporate marketing manager for MACtac Distributor Products. For more information, visit www.mactac.com/graphics.
