Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1362655
A vibrant full-vehicle wrap made of opaque vinyl. Vehicle wraps are an invest- ment, and the customer expects a well-designed outcome. (Image courtesy Front Signs - www.frontsigns.com) G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M 2 0 2 1 S E P T E M B E R G R A P H I C S P R O 1 7 have to be 100% accurate to the vehicle, but it will help you note where you measured. For more accurate notetaking, take a moment to print out the template for the customer's vehicle and write your measurements on it — this allows you to draw between two specific points. For consistency, I try to measure along body lines and between obvious parts that have minimal distortion. Horizontal measurements will be more accurate in scaling the photo because there is less distortion. Be sure to take plenty of refer- ence measurements, including windows, if they're being wrapped. Most vehicles have a natural curve that, on a flat photo, may ap- pear shorter than it is. Make sure you measure vertical spaces for reference so when you're setting up your final print files, you can be sure you're giving yourself plenty of overlap. PHOTO TAKING Sometimes people don't want to take the time to come in with their vehicle — instead, they want to send photos and measurements to save a trip. Inevitably, these photos will be at an angle, taken too high or too low, shot directly into the sun, or with some other distortion that affects the accuracy of how we scale the photo. All of these make it difficult to use the photo for proofing. Case Study SIGN HUB: PRODUC- TION THAT FILLS THE QUALITY GAP B Y G I N N Y M U M M , F R E E L A N C E C O N S U L T A N T F O R R O L A N D D G A (Images courtesy Sign Hub) N ick Ouzts has an eye for opportunity. After working at a sign shop in Florida for a few years, he and his wife Jessica moved back home to Russellville, Arkansas. Nick noticed a gap in his hometown's market- place for a sign shop focused on quality production and outstanding customer service. In 2014, they launched Sign Hub and, Ouzts says, "We've been busy from day one." Today, they are in their third expanded location with two employees, and the future looks bright. We caught up with Nick to talk about his decision to start a business from scratch, how they attracted and grew their long list of clients, and what lies ahead for Sign Hub. Q: TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU STARTED SIGN HUB. Ouzts: Just out of high school I was looking for a job, and my dad suggested I talk to my grandpa, who owned a tax business and had started franchising. I put together a little sign package for his franchi- sees with banners, coroplast signs, and decals. I worked there for many years while I completed my college education. I had wanted to be a fine artist, but wasn't sure that would pay the bills, so I pur- sued graphic design instead. When I graduated at 29, my wife and I moved to Florida, and I worked for a small sign shop in an office products store. I learned a lot there. When our son was born, we decided to move home to be near our families. We had identified that Russellville needed a sign shop that focused on the basics: quality production and outstanding customer service. In 2014, we started Sign Hub with our savings and hit the ground running. It's been a lot of hard work, but we've been busy from day one and outgrown our two previous locations. Wrap Design continued on page 19 Ouzts continued on page 18 F R E E L A N C E C O N S U L T A N T F R E E L A N C E C O N S U L T A N T has an eye for opportunity. has an eye for opportunity. has an eye for opportunity. A full wrap made of opaque vinyl material for race cars. (Image courtesy Front Signs - www.frontsigns.com)