Avoiding Graphic Installation Disasters

Tips and tricks to help keep your projects running smoothly.

When it comes to wide-format projects, a significant number of them don’t end when the print comes off the machine. Whether it’s a vehicle wrap, wallcoverings, billboards, or signage, installation is very likely the last step of the process.

But while you can control the prepress and the print side of production fairly reliably using automation and clearly-defined processes, installation is a different kind of beast. Every location will be different, with different considerations that can help — or hurt — the process. So, what can you do ahead of time to avoid an installation disaster when you arrive on site?

1: Plan Well

Fadi Ballut, president of Applied Graphics & Signs, and a PDAA Training and Certification instructor, notes that poor planning is one of the number one mistakes he sees causing failed installations. “The most common mistake is inadequate planning during the execution phase of both printing and installation,” he notes. “This often includes failing to account for site-specific variables, such as surface textures, lighting conditions, and environmental factors, which can all impact the final appearance and durability of the graphics.”

If you want to ensure installation will go smoothly without unexpected hiccups, then it is better to over-plan than to not have enough data.

Ballut continues, “Printers and installers should take proactive steps to verify all references and layouts against actual site measurements. This includes conducting thorough site surveys to identify potential obstacles, ensuring that all dimensions are accurate, and confirming that the materials and adhesives chosen suit the specific installation environment. Clear communication between the design, printing, and installation teams can help preemptively address any issues.”

2. Communicate

Along the same vein, it is better to over-communicate with all project stakeholders than to just assume everyone is on the same page. This includes looping in the clients, the print shop, and the team that will be handling the installation, right from the start of the project.

For many shops, the installation team may a third-party company they contract with to handle the on-site details, rather than being part of the company. Installation, after all, requires its own skill sets, and there are operations that specialize in doing nothing but wide-format installs. Ideally, especially when working with an outside contractor, the installation team use will be part of the conversation from the very beginning, rather than just being brought in at the end. If they are involved in the planning stages, they can often identify factors that might be an issue on installation day, allowing producers to mitigate problems long before they ever happen.

“It's crucial for printers to collaborate closely with installers throughout the process, particularly when dealing with rigid signage and special elements,” Ballut says. “This collaboration allows for input from both perspectives, helping to streamline the installation process and to achieve the best possible results. Effective communication and teamwork can save time and prevent costly errors.”

3: Ask Questions

While wide-format producers are most certainly asking clients for the dimensions of spaces before they even start planning the design, print, and installation process, those aren’t the only questions they should be asking – not by a long shot. In addition to getting those measurements (and don’t just take the client’s word for it — have someone on your team visit the site to take measurements and verify everything before production begins), other questions to should ask should include:

• Is the space climate controlled?
• Is it inside or outside?
• What will the weather conditions be — for installation, but also for the life of the graphics?
• What types of surfaces will be covered?
• Are there windows?
• Do those windows provide direct sunlight to the graphics?
• What time of day will the installation take place?
• If installation must happen after-hours for the business, who will be on hand to ensure the team has access to the spaces they need to access?
• What is the installation time frame? Is it expected to be completed in a single session, or over several days?

But these are just a few of the questions producers should ask. Most installers will tell you they have never been annoyed by being provided too much information — but they have all been burned by not having enough.

“My key advice to printers is to always conduct site visits and to take precise measurements firsthand,” Ballut notes. “An installer could offer this service to the printers they work with, which would help to reduce the issues in the first place, and it could be an additional source of revenue.” Relying solely on construction prints can be risky, he shares, as they are often inaccurate, especially regarding critical graphic elements. Direct measurements will ensure graphics fit perfectly and align correctly with the intended space.

4: Don’t Point Fingers

Let’s be honest, even the best-planned installations will go wrong sometimes: it is unavoidable in this business. When that does happen, and if producers want to continue to cultivate a great relationship with the top installers in their market, then they souldn’t rush in to point fingers. Instead, they should work to determine what went wrong so they can all learn, avoid similar mistakes in the future, and work with the client and install team to reprint what’s needed and correct any mistakes. Laying blame won’t solve anything. It will just create resentment — and that’s the last thing you need when it comes to having installations that will hold up and look great until the time comes to replace them.

5: Cultivate Good Relationships

Good installers are worth their proverbial weight in gold. Take the time to research all the installation service providers in your market and then go out of your way to cultivate great relationships with them. Talk to them to find out what they look for in a great printer partner, what types of information they specifically expect to have, and what resources they prefer to have available from you on installation day. Asking those questions will set you apart as a printer who understands that the job isn’t complete and the client isn’t happy unless the installation looks great — so ensuring the people you rely on to do that work enjoy working with you is a key factor in avoiding disasters down the line.

In the end, signage installation is a dynamic process with numerous, potentially challenging variables. But excellent planning and even better communication with everyone involved can mitigate many installation challenges long before they can occur. Installation day doesn’t have to be stressful – if you’re prepared well in advance.