This article originally appeared at our sister publication, Big Picture.
CREATED TO HONOR the performances of top athletes and artists, the eye-popping graphics on the following pages also embody another kind of award-worthy performance: the work of the people who created and installed them. In each example, a wide-format PSP battled nature, tight deadlines, and more to cover a massive outdoor arena in vivid ink. Whether setting the stage for the best in sport or the best in show, their work exemplifies what it takes to be a champion in the wide-format printing space.
A3 Visual
Los Angeles
Known as “The Greatest Stadium in the World,” Los Angeles’ Memorial Coliseum has seen the likes of US Presidents, Olympians, and one of the biggest events in NASCAR. Returning after last year’s inaugural event, the 2023 NASCAR Busch Light Clash brought in thousands of fans and thousands of square feet in signage. Produced by A3 Visual for the second year in a row, the PSP fabricated a wide range of banners and other print graphics for the event, “capturing the spirit and enthusiasm of this year’s race,” says Bryan Weber, EVP of Sales and Marketing at A3 Visual. Due to the immensity of the stadium – 78,000 seats to be exact – A3 had a lot of room to work with. Using UV-printed stretchable jersey mesh banners, these larger-than-life displays maximized value for in-person attendees and viewers tuning in worldwide. With a variety of EFI Vutek printers (5R+, 3R, and H5 models) the team created an immersive experience with print materials such as 4-mm coroplast signs to help guests navigate the space, 13-ounce white vinyl tents and flags, and more graphics using Samba textiles and 3M 180-10 CV3 w/matte lamination.
Tip: Even if they aren’t televised, a big event is likely to be broadcast in one form or another. Lend some thought to how graphics will look not just in person, but also on screen.
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Sleek Signs
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Sleek Signs printed and installed promotional graphics throughout Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, for the annual Grey Cup festival celebrating the Canadian Football League (CFL) championships. However, covering 10,000 square feet of glass for these two downtown skyscrapers (McCallum Hill Centre Towers I and II) was the greatest challenge. “We had nine installers total on the towers in rotation working 16-hour shifts pre-dawn to sunset for seven days,” says Carl Weger, president/CEO.
This breakneck pace was required to meet a tight deadline: less than a month from the date the job was awarded. Overall, the company spent more than 500 hours on design, production, logistics, and installation (including seven days “on the glass,” Wegner notes). With access to a single swing stage, the team could work on only one building at a time. They also had to contend with interruptions. “We had to stop for the farmers market twice,” he says, adding that a folk festival also robbed the team of a “perfect-weather weekend.”
Graphics were printed on an HP Latex 3100 series wide-format printer on Flexcon window perf.
Tip: Prevent an early bottleneck by ensuring you have the right design files for the job. In this case, vector graphics guaranteed scaling the art would not be a concern. Rather, the chief challenge was ensuring the printed sections would allow for stretch and accommodate any application errors.
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Yotta Sky Group
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Award shows need to encapsulate all the work, energy, and excitement of the people and performances they honor. For Premios Juventud, an awards show celebrating Spanish-speaking actors, musicians, and other celebrities, Univision Televisa needed something special. So, the media company partnered with Yotta Sky Group to wrap 492 square feet of stage graphics and backdrops for their presentation featuring Natti Natasha, Wisin y Yandel, and Daddy Yankee. “The graphics transformed the stage from ordinary to unforgettable. The [live] presentation is still being talked about today. Talk about a show-stopping performance,” Yotta Sky Group’s director, Jose Gutierrez, says.
Fighting massive winds and the rapidly changing tropical climate, the Puerto Rican PSP installed the graphics onsite in an oceanfront location. Stage graphics were printed on Avery Dennison MPI 1105 Cast Vinyl Film using a Canon Colorado 1650 roll-to-roll UV LED printer and laminated with Mactac PermaColor FloorGrip 6-mil textured laminate. Hexis Ecotac vinyl and Arlon Series 3420 overlaminate were used for the back walls.
Tip: Unstable weather is perhaps the most obvious example of why installation work is inherently unpredictable, but it is far from the only one. Plan for the worst by building expectations for unexpected delays into your process.
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