I was approached by the Mayor of my small town. He said they have ordered in two new police cars for delivery in May and would I be interested in doing the graphics for them???
Of course I am interested, but being so new to this, and looking at the existing graphics on the cars. I am afraid!!!!! !!! They have all kinds of stripes and outlines.
Do they sell "police" graphic kits? Same question for Fire Department stuff. If so where would I start.
I could take a digital picture and post one here and then all you wizards could tell me to walk away or go for it.
Any help or advise is appreciated.
Posted by Mark Perkins (Member # 296) on :
Do a google search for police graphics it should bring up some wholesalers that offer graphic kits.
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
I imagine they want you to match the cars they already have. Taking pictures is one of the first things you will want to do anyway, & also get one or two measurements from the pics (width of a window, or a door etc.) Close-ups may be needed for detaail, but stand back for one full view shot as well (from each side, & back as needed)
Make sure the pics are as straight shots as possible, & you should be able to calculate the material required. Ask them about vector artwork for their logo, shield, or any other graphic. Also ask who did the other cars (& posssibly ask if they are, or why they are not, having the same people bid on them again, if you think that question can be worded so it doesn't alienate you from working with them)
yes, show us the pics. (are any part of the graphics reflective? Make a note of what parts are)
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
When the city my shop was in got 7 new cars to replace old ones, we presented the idea that it was time to upgrade the look.
Why just rehash what someone else has done? Do something new and exciting! It is also easier to do because you won't be matching anything so the comparison issue will not be a problem.
Have fun with this. Keep us posted.
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
Try and track down Harris Kohen here on this website. He'll have some expertise to share with you.
Posted by Gavin Chachere (Member # 1443) on :
both carried premade kits,there are a few others,but you can at least see a small portion of the stuff thats out there,what they have now may well be one of the existing screenprint on reflective kits. What you do or if you get involved depends on if its two new cars,if they are going to be put in service next to existing cars and have to match,and if they want to change their image in the first place. Also depends on who the final decision is up to....dont get in the middle of a p*ssing match between bureaucrats,and find out what the budget for marking the cars is in advance.....if they want something new give them something clean,very readable and easily identifiable and dont use 6different techniques on each vehicle because it will be lost on them.
Posted by Gary Hove (Member # 4970) on :
I have a pile of police and fire art that I have just sitting around on my computer from over the years. If I could see the design your dealing with I might have something you could use.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
This is why I love this site.
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Posted by Frank Smith (Member # 146) on :
Don't forget the great shields in the VectorArt collection.
Posted by Harris Kohen (Member # 2139) on :
Rhonda,
like someone else said, www.galls.com is the vendor MOST police departments use for pre-made graphics kits. In my opinion, theyre old and boring, any decent signmaker can do a nicer more original design and if you design it properly you can do a better quality job for a better or equal price. Keep in mind your going to have to sell to them the VALUE of your design abilities and the products you use, along with showing them how if they need to do a panel replacement due to an accident, you can do it for much less than they can buy the whole side of a kit from Galls for. If they are shopping by price only, then you might not have much of a chance since the Galls kits are inexpensive, but the quality and service isnt there, along with the fact that your installing the grpahics for the price your going to charge, them. You might need to come up with a few designs to show them and then price them out installed also offer them a break if they want to install it themselves along with a price if they want it reflective or not, thus showing how your services can be a better value for their image along with giving them more options than just a simple catalog design.
Good Luck and let us know how you make out.
PS: also offer them a quantity discount, and definitely show them how future purchases of your design can be less expensive since the design work was paid for in the first car, and now theyre just paying for the materials and the labor.
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