Objective:
Design and installation of perforated storefront graphics for The Appliance Hub in San Jose, CA (a collaboration project with our senior graphic designer)
Overview:
In order to successfully achieve a multi-panel design for a storefront, specific measurements must be taken. A site visit was required, not only to measure each individual window, but the gaps between them as well, to ensure the graphics line up with enough negative space in between each panel. I like to create what I call a “measured template”, which is typically drawn up at full scale or 1/10th scale, including gaps. I’ve found this increases efficiency, as well as installation accuracy, and only takes about 15 minutes to create. The top layer (locked, of course) is the outline of all windows and gaps with opacity, so you can work on the layer underneath. The designer drops the finished artwork/image file on the layer underneath and scales to their liking. When they’re done, you can unlock the top layer and use the windows as clip masks. If designed to 1/10th scale, we just blow the final image up to 1000% in the rip software and you have a perfectly accurate window piece for installation. A final mock-up is exported for the production team, the files are printed and trimmed, and installed as individual pieces.