Posted by
Lucent Ads on Wed, Feb 15, 2012 @ 10:03 PM
Stop the presses! If you're thinking about using vehicle wraps to advertise your business, now’s the time!
Here’s a couple reasons why van wraps, car wraps - even boat wraps - are one of the most effective marketing mediums available:
1) Vehicle wraps are unusual.
Vehicle wraps are still brand-spankin’ new, relatively speaking. In a world inundated by marketing messages, an eye-catching custom vehicle wrap cuts through even the most stubborn anti-marketing filters.
According to a recent study by Cox Communications / Eagle research, 48% of people polled thought car wraps were the most unique advertising they’ve seen. They immediately pop in a world full of gray... blue... white... and trumpet your brand right out where your target market is sure to notice.
2) Vehicle wraps are cost-effective and... well... effective-effective
For a fantastic price, you can be displaying your messages to the masses every time you get into the driver’s seat.
Think about it: the average American’s commute is 54 minutes, with 300+ miles driven each week.
Nancy Fletcher, President of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, recently touted the effectiveness of vehicle wraps in this statement:
"...not only have significant reach, but they also can generate extremely significant frequency of exposure among heavy commuters and vehicle drivers/passengers..."
What, exactly, constitutes “extremely significant frequency”? According to OAAA:
- More than 95% of Americans are reached by media targeting vehicle drivers and passengers.
- One vehicle wrap can generate between 30,000 – 70,000 impressions daily.
- Fleet vehicle advertising boosts name recognition 15 times greater than any other form of advertising.
- 30% of mobile outdoor viewers indicate they would base a buying decision on the ad they see.
That’s an amazing return, when you compare it to traditional media outlets!
3) Vehicle wraps are simple.
If you’re going to be driving or boating anyway... you’re using all that time on the road and it could be doing double-duty for you. It’s simple - but far from passive!
Here’s a couple of ideas to make your vehicle wrap even more effective:
- Use QR codes that people can scan when your vehicle’s at a standstill. You can embed any information into a QR code - a website, a text message, a link to a video, a Google map... The possibilities there are limitless. What’s great is that they encourage people to interact - an invaluable point towards building your brand into their long-term memory!
- Make sure you print your company name and website backwards on the front of your vehicle - conspicuously - so people can read it in their rear-view mirrors.
- Spend your prominent space with branding and message, not contact info. People will remember your name and brand - but chances are highly unlikely that anyone’s going to remember - much less call - your phone number while they’re driving by at 60 miles an hour. Give them a website that they can easily look up later, instead.
- Wrap the top of your vehicle if you’re in a location where people will be looking down on it. It’s worth it to have your info on top if your target market might glance down from a restaurant or an overhead train to see it.
- Make sure your website is compatible with handheld devices. This one gets more business owners than you might think! If your website is heavy on Flash, relies on thick graphics, or looks really clever on a computer but doesn’t open on a smartphone - you’re shooting yourself in the foot. Especially if you’re broadcasting yourself to a world where people are mobile! Pay particular attention to buying and/or action elements of your site - these are potentials for serious breakdown on handhelds.
Call or email LucentAds.com for unique and effective ideas for your vehicle wrap - 949-334-3533 - info@lucentads.com
Posted by
Lucent Ads on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 @ 10:19 AM
Recently Aktion Magazine approached us with a request to turn its Toyota FJ Cruiser into an eye-catching and effective Car Wrap with Custom Vehicle Graphics.
Aktion Magazine is a seasonal outdoor adventure magazine based in Southern California. They are dedicated to bringing outdoor news, reviews, and more to outdoor enthusiasts everywhere. They cover everything outdoors from off-roading, rock climbing to kayaking, camping and snow activities. AKTION Magazine writes reviews on new and current products and keeps you up to date with local and major events.
After learning more about Aktion Magazine and its goal to improve our world around us by supporting local conservation projects, promoting low environmental impact ways to enjoy our world, and practicing tread lightly techniques we couldn't wait to team-up and support their movement.
So we did what we do best, turning regular boring looking cars into eye-catching master pieces.
We started off with a beat-up, scratched-up silver 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser and wrapped it with Avery Dennison's Gloss White vinyl. To give it a unique look we used 3M 1080 Matte Black vinyl for the die-cut lettering.
The finished work looked like OEM Factory paint with painted on lettering. We are excited to see the growth and success of Aktion Magazine.
Keep an eye out for the Aktion Magazine’s vehicle at all major outdoor events and let us know if we can turn your idea into reality.
Call (877-LUCENT-0) or email us (info@Lucentads.com) to receive your custom vehicle graphic quote.
Posted by
Lucent Ads on Sun, Jan 22, 2012 @ 04:52 PM
It appears that LucentWraps.com has performed the first Matte Black Wrap of an Aston Martin DB9 in Southern California.
High-end vehicle owners in Southern California seem to have a very difficult time finding the right car wrap shop that can perform the installation in a professional manner. The majority of the shops offering car wraps do not employ or have a certified installer on their staff. Instead they rely on freelance and independent installers to perform the work.
The DB9 presented a challenge in terms of its unique and excessive body contours. The vehicle has oversized curves both on the rear & front fenders.
The real challenge was not to simply wrap these curves but to do so in a seamless manner without using any Primer-94 and without over stretching the material.
Lucent Wraps Avery Dennison Certified Installer Edmund achieved this goal by making sure the vinyl was placed in the correct position from the start to avoid any excess down the line.
The client also requested that the entire surface of the vehicle including the door jams, inside of the trunk panels and even the very unique door handles to be wrapped in matte black so there was no evidence of the vehicle's original silver color.
The finished work was a complete master-piece in terms of quality and craftsmanship proving once again that Lucent Wraps is truly the premier custom car wrap shop in Southern California.
To request information about matte black car wraps or any other vehicle color change wrap please contact LucentWraps.com
Posted by
Lucent Ads on Sat, Dec 24, 2011 @ 06:14 PM
What is a matte black car wrap? A car wrap is made from a special vinyl specifically designed and manufactured to be used on vehicles. Matte Black car wraps create a very unique look when applied to any vehicle.
There are many other colors for matte wraps available such as: Black, Silver, Gray, White and Green.
There are two different types of matte color wrap:
- Solid Matte Black Cast Vinyl
This type of vinyl is created by the manufacturer in a solid color form and is the best type. 3M, Avery Dennison and Oracal are three best-known brands for matte black wrap.
- Printed Matte Black and Laminated
Using a standard white cast vinyl, the color black is printed and then laminated using a matte laminate.
The first method is always the preferred one since it provides the most true matte black color. When using the second method regardless of the type of cast film used and the quality of the printer the matte black color results is never as rich and true as method one. One main reason for that is because the black is printed on a "White" substrate where as in method one the matte black is created from ground up.
There are also two different methods of installing a matte black wrap:
- The inside of the door panels, hood and the trunk are wrapped in matte black to hide the original color of the car.
- The inside panels are not wrapped and the original color of the car shows when the doors are opened.
Both of these methods are totally acceptable. Besides the obvious the only other difference is the cost. The first method is obviously more expensive as it requires more material and much more installation time to complete.
At Lucent Ads we prefer to use 3M Matte Black on all of our vehicle wraps. We also offer the pricing for both options to fully wrap all the panels or only the surface. In our opinion if the vinyl is properly trimmed and tucked the surface option is fully acceptable and it will save our clients quite bid of money, but the choice is always yours and we'll be happy to wrap all the visible surfaces.
For a free quote or to schedule an appointment please call us at 949-334-3533 or email us at info@lucentads.com
Car Wrap vehicle color change has been a huge trend in Europe for years and is finally working its way to our market. We all know that car manufacturers offer only a limited number of colors on their vehicles forcing the buyers to settle for the same old boring colors - Black, White, Silver, Red, Blue & .... you get the point.
Today's top graphic vinyl manufacturers sucha as 3M, Avery and Oracal offer over 100 different car wrap vinyl colors to choose from. Now keep in mind that a car wrap color change is not for everyone. If you're the kind of person who doesn't really care about the car you're driving then obviously spending money to change the color seems silly.
However, there are many of us who enjoy taking care of our cars since we spend a good portion of our lives traveling in them. We all buy different type of clothes, shoes, jewelry and other accessories to express ourselves, so why not customize your car to deliver the same message.
Car wraps make a great fashion statement and set us apart from the rest, but that is not all they're good for. If you lease a vehicle then you can not have it painted to the color or your choice because when the time comes to return it, it has to be in the original paint. This leaves you with the only option to wrap the car with the color of your choice.
If you purchased your car then it becomes an investment, not a good one but never the less still an investment. To perserve your investment you must keep the car in best shape possible and the first thing anyone will notice when you try to sell your car is the "Paint".
Clear Bras have been really popular over the past few years because to some extend they prevent the nasty little rocks from chipping the front-end of your car. But what about the rest of the car, like the doors, roof... they get dinged and chipped all the time.
This is where a vehicle wrap plays an important role, it will protect your original paint and increase your resale value. In the Netherlands when you purchase a BMW you get an option to have your car wrapped for $6,000 (it's a premium since the same wrap will cost you between $2,300 to $3,000) but they guarantee your car will be worth $6k more than the blue book value in three years when you decide to seel it. If it doesn't they will cover the difference.
At Lucent Ads we specialize in vehicle color change wraps, call or email us anytime for free advise and a quote. www.LucentAds.com Info@LucentAds.com 949-334-3533
Posted by
Lucent Ads on Sun, Nov 20, 2011 @ 06:52 PM
This is a question that we hear almost with every client that inquires about car wraps. The concern is; are vehicles wraps easy to remove? The answer is: YES.
If the vehicle has been wrapped with a high-quality car wrap vinyl then the removal process is very easy. All is needed is a heat source, preferably a heat gun, some experience and a lot of patience.
High-quality films made by Avery and 3M are designed to leave no adhesive residue when removed. However, it is important to keep in mind that both of these brands manufacture many different vinyl where some have very strong adhesive and are not designed for vehicle wraps, choosing the right wrap vinyl is very important.
The removal process of a vehicle wrap is also important. The wrap needs to be heated to reach a certain degree and pulled back slowly in a 45 degree angle. Using both hands with the fingers spread open so contact is made to the most of the surface of the film while pulling back. Do not yank the film. If the car wrap has been on the vehicle for more than 3 years then there is a chance that the adhesion is pretty strong, yanking the film may cause separation from the vinyl and laminate. A car wrap without a laminate is very difficult to remove.
Also, it is very important to make sure when your wrap is installed that you request NO Primer is used... There is an old school of thought that using the 3M Primer 94 on the edges is necessary to seal the vinyl to avoid separation and water getting under the film. This is not true, if the installer takes his/her time and the necessary steps to prepare the surface, install the vinyl properly and perform the post installation requirements then there is absolutely no need to use a primer.
Here is an image of a wrap we recently removed where primer 94 was used to seal the edges. You can see the nasty residue and the separation of the vinyl from the laminate.
Removing a car wrap where a primer has been used on the edges is a nightmare... This not only causes the vinyl & laminate to separate but the adhesive residue left behind is extremely difficult to remove and clean.
Many wrap shops and independent installers use 3M Primer 94 to speed-up the installation process by not performing the necessary steps for an installation that will last for years rather than months. Using the primer is like cheating on a test so you can barely get a passing grade.
It is important to keep in mind that Primer 94 is required when wrapping boats and other water crafts, but that is another blog coming soon...
To conclude if and when a car wrap is installed properly will not only give your vehicle a unique look but will also protect your vehicle's original paint resulting in a higher resale value.
We hope this article answers your question about removing a car wrap.
Call or email us with any questions or to receive a free quote for your project.
949-334-3533 info@lucentads.com www.LucentAds.com
Posted by
Lucent Ads on Sun, Nov 13, 2011 @ 03:24 PM
When it comes to Car Wraps and Vehicle Graphics there are many manufacturers to choose from. However, the top four key players in this segment are:
Avery, 3M, Oracal and Arlon
Usually the decision as to which wrap vinyl film to use is made by the wrap shop and the installer. Clients also may request a specific brand to be used on their project.
At Lucent Ads we use both Avery & 3M:
For all of our print media we use the Avery 1005 EZ RS. As an Avery Dennison Certified Installer we believe that the Avery 1005 EZ RS is the best film for car wraps. The only other film in the industry that performs very similar to this product is by 3M, but it costs about $800 more for a vinyl and laminate kit making it too expensive for most projects.
For all of our solid color car wraps we use the 3M 1080 series.
Many shops will tell you that they use 3M or other manufacturer; however the key question is which film from that particular manufacturer is being used? All manufacturers including 3M have films that cost $250 per roll to over $1000 per roll, so simply by saying that they use a certain brand name doesn't mean much.
Make sure you specifically ask for the vinyl and laminate by product number and a proof that those exact films are being used on your project.
The point we're trying to make here is that don't be fooled when a shop or an installer use the top brand names to sell you a wrap.
Yes, the material is an extremely important part of a great wrap but even the best materials in the hands of a non-certified, inexperienced installer won't last.
Please call us at 949-334-3533 (Toll Free at: 877-LUCENT-0) or email us at info@lucentads.com and we will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
Posted by
Lucent Ads on Sun, Nov 13, 2011 @ 03:16 PM
In vehicle wrap industry there are two main vinyl films used Cast and Calendered.
We are going to keep it very simple & not bore you with the details. If you are going to get your car or boat wrapped always demand a Cast film with a Cast laminate.
Advantages of cast films:
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Shrinkage is the lowest of all vinyl films because the "casting sheet," not the film itself, is pulled through the machine. Since the film has not had any stress applied during the manufacturing process it does not try to resume or shrink back to its original form.
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Durability of cast films is generally higher than that of other vinyl films due to the manufacturing method and the raw materials used.
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Cast films can be made very thin which produces a conformable product that allows application over substrates with rivets, corrugations, and complex curves. Also, once applied, this low caliper makes the graphic less vulnerable to abrasive forces.
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Cast films also maintain their color and other properties better than other vinyl films. This results in better performance of pigments and UV absorbers.
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The manufacturing process of cast films makes it easy to run small productions of special colors to match. It is relatively easy to change color during production making color matching in small batches possible.
If you want to learn the differences between a Cast & Calendered film we recommend you read this article by Molly Walters from OEM & Strategic Alliance Specialist, Digital Imaging Avery Grahics.
Posted by
Lucent Ads on Sat, Nov 12, 2011 @ 07:09 PM
Car wraps have been around for years but recently have become the most popular choice for auto enthusiasts worldwide. With over 100 color choices from Matte Black to White Gloss & everything in between, now everyone can customize their car and make it unique and one of a kind.
A custom paint job for a Matte Black color ranges between $8,000 to $10,000 but a high-quality Matte Black Wrap costs between $2,000 to $3,500.
If you purchased your vehicle a car wrap will protect the original paint from scratches, dings & everything Mother Nature can throw at you. Car wrap is easily removed and will not damage the original paint therefore greatly increasing your car's resale value.
Car manufacturers have a common list of colors to choose from and the more exotic brands have custom or limited edition paints but charge a super high premium for them. You can mix and match different wrap colors to create a truly unique look that is totally "you".
Choosing the right manufacturer and color for your car wrap is only the first step. A certified, experienced installer with a facility designated for vehicle wraps is the most important part of the wrap. A solid car wrap requires extra attention as the original color of the vehicle can not show through on the edges. Also the installation itself is extremely important to ensure your investment will last for years to come.
At Lucent Ads we are an AVERY Dennison Certified Installer and Fellers Certified Wrap Provider. We use Avery and 3M for all of our solid color wrap installations. Between these two companies they cover every color you can imagine. They will even make a custom color of your choice with a minimum order of vinyl so you can have your company's fleet or the entire family driving the only color on the road.
Car Wraps make an excellent gift and a great surprise for any occasion; Holidays, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Valentine Day, Mother & Father day.
An appointment is highly recommended as it usually takes between 2 to 3 days to wrap a car. We can arrange for a rental car during the installation and will pick-up and deliver your car if you live in Southern California.
So don't wait and call us today at 949-334-3533 or email us info@lucentads.com and let us create the most amazing custom look for your vehicle.
Posted by
Lucent Ads on Fri, Nov 11, 2011 @ 01:22 PM
Henry Ford famously said of the Model T in 1916: “You can have it in any color you like as long as it’s black.” The choice of vehicle colors has increased enormously since then and the advent of a ‘car wrap‘ has helped consumers to quickly and easily change the color of their prized 4 wheel possessions to a shade of their choosing without making it a permanent feature.
In its simplest form a car wrap involves completely covering external paintwork with a specially manufactured vinyl film that effectively ‘wraps’ the car. The car wrap can be removed at any time, returning the car to its original color and costs a lot less than a good quality re-spray. The vinyl film also protects the car from stone chips and scratches – a real bonus when it comes to selling the car.
But if you are thinking of giving your loved one’s car the ultimate in gift-wrapping this Christmas then what are the most popular colors?
To help you make a choice, Lucent Ads, Southern California’s leading vinyl transformation company has compiled a table based on the most popular customer choices and have confirmed that the top 5 car wrap colors in 2011 have been:
Gloss White Car Wrap
This looks simply stunning and is particularly attractive to high-end vehicle drivers. Using advanced wrapping films, you can take any base shade and completely cover it without any of the original color showing through.
Matte Black (The Stealth Look) Car Wrap
The demand for the Matte Black look began with the Stealth fighter, a symbol of raw, unconstrained and untouchable power. Many high-end cars replicate the aerodynamic features and styles used in aviation designs and wrapping a car in Matte Black cuts back reflected light and provides a deep, smooth stealth look.
Matte Colors Car Wrap
Whilst Matte Black is the joint most popular color, car manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes Benz and Lamborghini have started to include matt colors in their paintwork ranges. The reason for this is that the matte colors help to show off the lines of the vehicle to much better effect than gloss. It was for this reason that BMW launched their new M3 in a ‘Frozen Grey’ color option.
Leading vinyl manufacturers such as Avery Dennison and 3M have responded to the surge in demand for other matte shades by bringing out advanced matt laminates that can be applied to any of their extensive range of car wrap color change products. Each company now offers more than 100 shades as standard, which should be enough to satisfy most customers.
Chrome Car Wrap
A look that is definitely not for the faint hearted as it screams “Look at Me!!”. Apart from being the most blinging way to transform a vehicle into a Christmas tree bauble look-a-like, chrome car wraps are the ultimate challenge for any car wrapping company and a real most impossible to achieve. It is only the absolute cream of the wrap companies who can achieve this transformation as the material is completely unforgiving and requires the highest level of application skills.
The car wrap trends this year have pretty much stayed the same as in 2010 with the demand for Gloss White and Matte Black being by far and away the most popular shades. However, it is interesting to see that more and more people are experimenting with matte colors in order to transform their car into something that is completely unique and personal to them.
The possibilities are enormous as there is already a huge choice of standard colors available from the vinyl manufacturers and companies such as Lucent Ads have the ability and expertise to color-match to loved-ones desired shade. But the great thing about car wrapping is that if your aspirations change (or your loved one absolutely hates the color you have chosen for them), you can just take the car wrap off and start again.”
Prices for a high quality car wrap start at $2000
Visit our website for more information on www.LucentAds.com