Best of the Best: Top Shops Product Spotlight

Rank 24
Solar Imaging
Gahanna, OH
www.solarimaging.com

One of the best projects that we were contracted to do this year was the environmental graphics for Eclipse Studios' new building. This project allowed us to really create some wonderful images and turn their stark walls into colorful works of art. On this project we were we given the chance to create displays in three major areas of the building: the lobby, the lounge area, and the long hallways leading to their photography studios.

Click to view larger image of gallery images.

The biggest challenge was the 28-foot tall walls throughout the studios and getting big enough graphics that fi­t into their budget and also fi­lled the walls. To overcome this, we used a plethora of their photographs for large stand-off wall graphics and murals. For the main mural in the entrance to the studio, we used the Macbeth color chart and dropped in images using the same colors in the chart to create a more interesting mural that integrated not only the tools of the photography trade, but images they have captured.

Along with the large mural, the stand-off graphics down the long, white hallways we produced accomplished three major issues. The fi­rst to add color and power to the walls, the second to showcase the studio's work and the third to allow for the versatility to update the images on a regular basis and keep the look fresh during the year and years to come.

In the third area, their lobby, we used high quality prints mounted to quarter-inch sintra and french cleates to give a dimensional affect to the wall. Mimicking the look of their marketing materials, we were able to create a dimensional wall mural that still gave the versatility to be changed when needed and still have the modern look that the studio was looking for.

All in all, it was a fantastic project to be involved with. We were given wonderful images to work with and the freedom to really create a unique environment. The project exceeded everyone's expectations, and in the end, we came in under their budget!

Rank 25
Road Rage Designs
Spring Grove, IL
www.roadragedesigns.com

Click here to view larger image of the early design.

Our best and probably most challenging project over the past twelve months was wrapping the World's Largest Beer Can. It is owned by a private individual who collects the world's largest things. He actually found the can on e-Bay, and before it became the World's Largest Beer Can it was actually the largest "Full Throttle" can in the world, and was used by Coca-Cola to advertise the product during Superbowl XL (2006). (The commercial featuring the Full Throttle can is available to be seen on YouTube under "Full Throttle Superbowl XL Commercial").

We met with the owner of the can 18 months before we actually brought it into the shop for the wrap, and met with him to figure out how to prepare the can. At the time, he and his buddies were wondering what to do with it, and wondering if we could wrap it.

After a lot of hard work to clean it up and remove the paint from the Full Throttle logos, he brought it to us for the wrap. He wanted it wrapped like his father's favorite beer—Old Style.

Click here to view design stages.

We were in contact with Pabst (who now owns Old Style) and we received the original artwork for the can, including the PMS colors, the bar code, the fluid ounces...everything.

The wrap was printed on our Mimaki JV-3 130 SP2, using SS2 inks on Avery 1007 EZ RS, and laminated with Avery DOL1000 on our GBC Artic Titan laminator.

The hardest part of the wrap was deciding where to start, but once we got the first panel down the wrap actually went very quick. The wrap even includes a "born on date" on the bottom of the can. The owner left it with us for two weeks, and folks came from everywhere to have their picture taken with it. We were also contacted by CBS 58 (a Milwaukee TV station) and FOX 6 (another Milwaukee TV station) for interviews.