Happy Holidays From Dream Image Signs!

Happy Holidays From Dream Image Signs!

Our team at Dream Image Signs want to take a moment to wish you a happy holidays! This time of year reminds us of the importance of connection, gratitude, and service. These values are the cornerstone of everything we do, not just during the holidays but all year round. 

Whether it’s creating eye-catching signs or simply offering a warm and friendly interaction, our mission has always been centred on this principle – keeping the main thing, the main thing. And for us, the main thing is you – our valued customers and team members. 

What We’re All About, All Year Long

For nearly two decades, Dream Image Signs has thrived not by chasing profits, but by building relationships and delivering excellence. Many of you have been with us for years, trusting us with your vision and goals. 

As for our dream team, we’re proud to have built a group of like-minded individuals who bring their unique skills, experiences, and hearts to their craft. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for trusting us to be part of your journey. 

Cheers to an Impactful New Year!

As we move into the New Year, we look forward to continuing to help you bring your vision to life through the art of print and signage. At Dream Image Signs, we’re passionate about creating pieces that leave a lasting impression for your business or for your personal projects.

Here’s to continuing to serve our local Alberta community with creativity, integrity, and heart in the years to come. From all of us at Dream Image Signs – Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

8 Tips for Designing Effective Vehicle Decals That Will Make Your Business Stand Out

Designing Effective Vehicle Decals That Will Make Your Business Stand Out

Vehicle decals are powerful tools for advertising your business while on the move. Whether you’re driving through busy streets or parked in a lot, your vehicle becomes a mobile billboard, casting a net to a wider audience for brand awareness. 

However, for this to be effective, the decal’s design must be well thought out. Here are key steps to help you design custom vehicle decals in Calgary that make a lasting impression and effectively promote your business.

1. Keep It Simple and Clear

When you’re designing decals for a vehicle, remember that viewers will likely only have a few seconds to absorb the message. Avoid cluttering the decal with too much information. Instead, focus on your business name, logo, and a concise tagline or call to action.

Use large, bold fonts that are legible from a distance.  The text should contrast well with the background to make it pop. The most effective Calgary vehicle decals are simple and clear, making them easier to recognize, which is key for brand recall.

2. Incorporate Your Branding Elements

Your vehicle decal should reflect your brand identity. Incorporate elements such as your logo, brand colours, and fonts into the design to ensure consistency across all marketing channels. This helps in building brand recognition and trust.

Make sure the design aligns with your brand’s personality. For instance, a playful, vibrant brand may benefit from bright colours and whimsical fonts, while a professional service might require a more polished and minimalistic design.

3. Choose the Right Placement

Where you place the decals on your vehicle is just as important as the design itself. Different areas of the vehicle offer different visibility and impact. The sides and rear of the vehicle are the most visible, especially in traffic, so focus on these areas for maximum exposure.

You may also want to consider the vehicle’s shape and size. A large decal on a van or truck will have a different impact than one on a smaller car. Think about how your design will scale and how it will look on the specific type of vehicle you’re using.

4. Use High-Quality Materials

A vehicle decal is an investment and one that you want to last. Choose high-quality materials, opting for weather-resistant vinyl that can withstand the elements, including rain, sun, and snow. This will not only keep your decals looking sharp but also protect your investment in the long run.

Consider reflective materials if you want your vehicle to be visible at night. Reflective decals can make your business stand out even in low-light conditions, improving visibility and adding a professional touch.

5. Include a Call to Action

A great vehicle decal not only showcases your business but also encourages potential customers to take action. This could be as simple as a phone number, website, or social media handle. You can also add a call to action, such as “Call for a Free Quote” or “Visit Us Online for Discounts.”

Make sure that the call to action is clear, concise, and easy to follow. Avoid overcrowding the design with too many details, as it could detract from the primary message.

6. Consider the Vehicle’s Function and Audience

Think about your target audience and how they might interact with your vehicle decal. For example, if you’re running a food delivery service, your decal should appeal to hungry customers and emphasize quick service or delicious offerings. If you’re a home improvement company, focus on reliability, expertise, and trustworthiness.

Consider how your vehicle is used as well. A decal for a delivery truck may look different from one for a fleet of service vans. Understanding the purpose of the vehicle and the audience it serves will help you design a more effective decal.

7. Test Your Design

Before committing to a full vehicle wrap or decal, it’s a good idea to test the design. Print a smaller version of your decal and place it on the vehicle to get a sense of how it will look. This will allow you to adjust the size, placement, and colours if necessary.

You can also get feedback from employees, customers, or friends to gauge their reactions. This can help ensure that your design resonates with the intended audience and is as effective as possible.

8. Work With a Professional 

A professional designer has the expertise to create custom vehicle decals in Calgary that effectively communicate your brand, message, or personal style while ensuring it aligns with the dimensions and contours of your vehicle. They understand how to use colours, fonts, and graphics to maximize visibility and appeal, even from a distance or at high speeds. 

Professionals are familiar with the technical aspects of decal production, such as selecting durable materials and ensuring proper installation to prevent peeling or fading over time. Investing in a professional ensures your vehicle decal is not only visually striking but also long-lasting and functional, making it a worthwhile choice for personal or business purposes.

Ready to design your vehicle decal that will expand your brand’s reach and bring in more customers? Contact Dream Image Signs today – we are specialists in designing and installing Calgary vehicle decals!

4 Benefits of Vinyl Car Wrapping in Calgary

Vinyl Car Wrapping in Calgary

Vinyl car wrapping is a flexible and innovative way to change the look of your car without committing to a permanent paint job. The process involves applying a thin vinyl film over your car’s exterior, which allows you to choose between different colours, finishes, and even textures. 

From a sleek matte finish to a bold gloss or even a carbon fibre effect, vinyl car wraps in Calgary make it possible – and they add more than just style. Here are some of the top benefits of vinyl vehicle wrapping.

1. Weather Protection 

Calgary’s extreme weather is as challenging as it is unpredictable. If you’re a Calgary resident, you know how powerful our summer hailstorms can be – enough to dent car bodies and chip paint. On the flip side, our winters bring sudden snowstorms, sleet, and ice. These harsh conditions can be unforgiving on vehicle exteriors, leaving them vulnerable to everything from minor scrapes to deeper scratches. 

With vinyl car wraps, owners gain a durable layer of protection that can withstand these rough elements and shield the original paint from damage. In addition to protecting against hail and snow, vinyl wraps also guard the vehicle’s original paint against prolonged UV exposure, which can cause the paint to fade. And in a place like Calgary where we see an average of 300 days of sunlight, your car stays protected!

2. Advertising Opportunities for Businesses

As one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities, Calgary is a hub for entrepreneurs and new businesses. Vinyl vehicle wrapping offers:

  • Affordable advertising – Compared to traditional billboards or transit ads, car wraps in Calgary provide a one-time cost for long-term visibility. Once the wrap is installed, there are no recurring costs, which makes it a budget-friendly option for new and established businesses.
  • Mobile branding – A wrapped vehicle turns every trip on the road into an advertising opportunity, making your business visible to thousands of people daily and giving you broad exposure in high-traffic areas.
  • Attention-grabbing design – A colourful or creatively designed wrap is naturally eye-catching on the road. This creates valuable impressions as people notice your brand’s logo, message, and colours.
  • Extended reach – Unlike static ads that are restricted to one location, vinyl vehicle wrapping reaches a diverse audience across multiple neighbourhoods and highways. This flexibility allows businesses to target both local and city-wide audiences simply by driving through different areas.
  • Customizable and reversible – Vinyl car wraps in Calgary provide businesses with the freedom to switch designs or update messaging when needed. This makes it easy to keep the vehicle’s look fresh and relevant without committing to a long-term change.

3. Cost-Effective Customization

Traditional and permanent paint jobs can be costly, and car owners feel obligated to keep the paint because of the high costs associated. Vinyl car wraps are easily changeable without damaging the original paint, offering a wide range of styles and colour options to choose from. 

Whether you’re a business looking to keep your branding fresh or a car enthusiast wanting a new look, vinyl car wraps are a low-commitment solution. With options like matte finishes, different textures, chrome, and more, vinyl vehicle wraps let you get creative. 

4. Preserves Resale Value

Vinyl vehicle wrapping is an effective way to preserve your car’s resale value by protecting its’ original paint. One of the best features of vinyl wrapping is that it requires minimal upkeep compared to other forms of paint protection. A simple wash is typically enough to keep the wrap looking clean and vibrant, without the need for special treatments or waxing.

When the time comes to sell or trade in the vehicle, the wrap can be fully removed to reveal the pristine original paint, free from the usual signs of wear and tear that often impact resale value. This fresh, well-preserved paint can make the vehicle more appealing to potential buyers, as the original colour and finish are often seen as positives. 

Professional Vinyl Car Wraps in Calgary

Investing in a professionally done vinyl car wrap is a smart choice for anyone looking to keep the paint looking pristine, get creative with custom looks, or turn your vehicle into a mobile advertisement. 

Ready to give your vehicle a fresh look? Contact Dream Image Signs today to get started. 

The Art of Vinyl Car Wrapping: How to Choose the Right Installer

Art of Vinyl Car Wrapping in Calgary

Thinking about giving your car a fresh new look or using it to promote your business? Vinyl car wraps and fleet vehicle decals in Calgary are a great way to transform any vehicle. However, before you jump in, it’s important to know that not all car wrap installations are created equal. Many car owners and businesses face common pitfalls that can lead to frustrating results.

For instance, poor-quality wraps can fade, bubble, peel, or misalign, making your vehicle look unprofessional and detract from your brand’s image. Additionally, not every company that offers car wrapping services has the expertise or uses updated materials and processes. 
With so many options for vinyl wraps and fleet vehicle decals in Calgary, it’s crucial to find the right one to avoid costly mistakes. This will help ensure your wrap looks fantastic and lasts for years. Here’s how to choose the right vehicle wrap installer for your next project.

1. Look for Experience and Expertise 

Not all vehicle wraps are created equal, and a lot depends on the installer’s expertise. Look for a company with a solid track record in vehicle wrapping. Experienced installers understand the nuances of different vehicles and know how to make a wrap look seamless while ensuring it stays intact over time. 

When looking for fleet vehicle decals in Calgary, ask about the company’s experience with business branding and commercial fleet wraps, as these wraps often require special design considerations and high-quality materials. Be wary of car detailing services that advertise vinyl car wrapping as an ‘added service’ – you want to choose a professional company that specializes in vehicle vinyl wrapping.

2. Check out Their Portfolio and Past Work

A good vehicle wrap installer will have a portfolio showcasing their previous work. When reviewing their portfolio, look for wrapped vehicles similar to yours and assess both the quality and creativity of their designs. 

Be sure to check for: 

  • Range of vehicles
  • Diverse designs
  • Finish and detailing
  • Seamless application 
  • Brand cohesion

Seeing finished wraps can give you insight into their capabilities, consistency, and attention to detail. 

3. Check Reviews and Testimonials

As much as a vehicle vinyl wrap installer can showcase their work, reading customer reviews and testimonials will give you a general idea of what it’s like to work with them and if they meet deadlines, handle issues well, and deliver satisfactory results. Look for reviews on Google, Yelp, or social media and pay attention to feedback on service, quality, and durability. 

4. Inquire About Material Quality

Regardless of how experienced the installer is, if they’re working with cheaper materials, these wraps can fade, bubble, or peel faster, which leads to higher maintenance costs in the future. 

Ask your installer about the types of vinyl they use and their recommendations based on your vehicle. High-quality materials like 3M, Avery, Drytec, and Orafol are known for their durability, vibrant colour quality, and resistance to weathering. 

5. Discuss Warranties and Maintenance

A reputable vehicle wrap installer should offer a warranty on the materials they use. Here’s what to look for: 

  • Common issues, such as peeling, fading, bubbling and other defects
  • Duration of the warranty coverage
  • Any exclusions in the warranty

Ask your vehicle wrap installer about maintenance tips or optional maintenance plans, which can extend the life of your wrap by keeping it in top condition. 

6. Get Quotes and Compare Pricing

While cost is an important consideration, companies that advertise the “cheapest service” is not always a good thing. High-quality wraps are an investment, and cutting corners to save money can lead to significant issues down the line. These “too good to be true” prices may indicate subpar standards.

Getting a clear, detailed quote from potential installers is crucial to understanding what you’re paying for. Ask for transparency in pricing, including the cost of materials, labour, and any additional services. 

Professional and Experience Fleet Vehicle Decals in Calgary

By taking the time to research potential installers, reviewing their portfolios, understanding their warranty, and balancing costs, you can make an informed decision that pays off in the long run. 
At Dream Image Signs in Calgary, we specialize in high-quality vinyl vehicle wraps and decals that not only enhance your brand’s visibility but also reflect your creativity. Contact us today for a quote on your next project.