OK, it's been 4 years since Iv'e done window splashes mainly because it's been 4 years since I moved my family to Calgary, Alberta, Canada from Southern California - Anaheim (yes it is COLDER here). Before you ask WHY, I guess I wanted to be somewhere that had a better hockey team than Anaheim (didn't set my sights too high did I?).

Anyway, these Canadians paint their splashes on the inside of the glass instead of the outside....in the Summer as well! They don't use DayGlo watert based paints but rather (I'm guessing) a non-flourescent tempura.? Anyone? The window splashes here are more to show "The Spirit of Calgary" (cartoon cowboys, cows, Stampede etc.)in comparison to So. Cal.(more geared for sales/profit like: LIQUIDATION SALE 50% OFF!!!)
I came here with every intention on "Revolutionizing" the window splash industry in Calgary and area. Now, 4 years later, I think I am ready to learn their way. (much like pinstriping is big here and unappealing in So.Cal., I believe in time I can find a market for the DayGlo way however, it seems unappealing here & I've decided to learn how to make backwards letter on glass- oh yeh, and draw cows!!
My question is probably for the Albertans, Ontaritonians and British Columbians out there. There's a widely used "Highlight" put on most splashes(I assume to help them POP off the glass better. It is a green spray.?? What is it called and where can I find it? Also, the black outline goes down first of course (being on the inside off the window) I am assuming this is not paint or perhaps it is but in a paint "pen" form.? Or is it just wide black felt tip pen.???
I'm on the outskirts of Calgary and will be staying in my little city of Airdrie pop. 20,000 and won't venture into Calgary, at least not anytime soon, for customers.
I know some people don't like giving trade secrets to possible future competition but I figured, what the hell- lets post something.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your time.

[ January 11, 2002: Message edited by: Corey Wine ]

I lve in B.C. and it's been a lot of years since I did windows.

I did mine all in tempera on the isdie like you said.

I did the outlines in black and then colored mostly in the lines.

I always outlined in white to make the colors pop. To do otherwise made the windows very dull.

The trick is to never brush ove a dried color more than once or else you get mud in a hurry as you disolve the first color.

I've seen some use rollers with success and big speed. Adrianne is an expert at this although she paints Califirnia style.

BE SHURE THA YOU ONLY LAY THE COLRS ON...don't try to go back over an area UNTIL it is dry...otherwise, as said in a previous post...MUD!

Maybe it's time to revolutionize the "window slash" game in your area! Painting on the outside!!!
RichArt makes a waterproof Window Paint (remove with ammonia or strong dtergent...and 1Shot makes a Poster Paint (oil base) that scrapes off easly!

[ January 11, 2002: Message edited by: Si Allen ]

Much easier to do than on the inside, and it allows you to be far more creative.

Start you Pictorial,Lettering with its outline first.
I use One shot emamels only.
Give it the day set up time and then go back to do the fill ins.
Let this dry as well and go back with your white back-up.

Make sure your window is warm to the touch, Clean with Iso Alcohol first.

Never paint over the Alarm bands as you will pay for the breaking of the system.

One-Shot enamels from the inside will
give you a stronger affect in the day and at night to advertize with.
It will last for years and the customer is happy!
I have done 4'X8' panels at $500.00 each with 5 panel rows.

Not bad money for some hard labour with a bucket or two of paint.
If it's temp work then Knock off posters cut to shape or roll-aways.....is what I would recommend.

IE Big Bad Sale!)

IE Big Splash Poster!)

As I believe in open forums.

A good banner tape with your product appied to the window will work.

But still again CLEAN THE WINDOW WITH ISO!
Even if its only the areas that your going to apply the tape to!

Have you painted on Tyvek? (Pucker City!)
Screening and allowing to dry as per colour is not to bad.

But there is more quality "TY-Veks" material out there for a little more in cost.

Alway give a 1/5"-1" border around the graphics in white to trim with. (This allows you the area to apply the clear tape to.)

Even if you use 3-M foam tape on a cold winters day...It will hold up.
Do remember placement of this tape to keep the graphics to the window.

One or two pieces will not work, but every 4 inches around the perimeters of the poster will.

Good Luck!

California has tinted glass, all commercial windows (here) have a tint to them, so if you paint on the inside you loose a conciderable amount of impact, period.

On occasion I have done a splash on the inside (but avoid it in general as I cannot do special effects the way I like).

I would (personally) avoid using any enamal based paint on the inside because of fumes, if it's a restaurant the customers won't apprieciate it,and breathing the fumes is bad for your health.

You are not going to be able to do a lot of details from the inside, like Si says, you will have to do all the outlines and details first, then when it is bone dry, (I'd bring a hair dryer and long ext cord) back it with your color (carefully) then white.

I've tried spraying with clear before going on to the next layer (there we go with fumes again!) it seemed to help keep the details from shifting.

It's frustrating, I was impressed with the Tyvek guy's work, but have no experience with it so cannot comment.

If you want to introduce a California style splash to your area, then just do it the way you used to, just clear coat over the finished work with clear enamal spray.

If flouresant is too garish for them, try mixing your paints 1/2 and 1/2 with flat latex colors.

I'd be interested to hear what you end up doing.
Please post pictures so we can see what you did.

Adrienne is right about the odor problem. EVERYBODY complains and says it causes immediate headaches (???). Sissies for sure, but point well taken. Zylene and Toluolene really is a nasty odor! I have a solution which really works best!

I do the whole thing on white banner paper and hang inside with (3M ONLY) clear tape. I have a big area of town here that does not allow outside painting and have discovered this to be very effective. I measure the windows and do them here in my garage, roll them up and hang them. They take 20-25% longer to do and an extra trip to the site to hang, but well worth it. Once done, you keep the measurements on file. Removal is a snap and everybody loves them. Poster and One Shot Fluoro colors dry especially fast on banner paper, so rollup is fast and easy. I say 3M tape as the others fail in the sun quicker and the paper falls, causing the customer grief and another trip back.

Poster paints are for kids..(lol) try Cal Western's Artistic colors, the black is very opaque.

What is more of an issue that I failed to mention is the taping. Clear tape is very hard to lay out flat without getting bubbles. If I make a single horizontal run of it across the top instead of just several verticle strips, no one seems to even mention it. The ends have to be cut with scissors and be square. The vertical strips get dinged for not looking 'neat' enough, especially if there is a tear edge from the dispenser.... I know it sounds odd, but complaints matter to customers and they expect neatness, I guess. People like horizontal taping so much more? I have had them call me back to clean up the tape edges, amazingly!

Also, when I say 'poster' I mean poster enamel. Black poster is very opaque and dries more quickly than lettering. I never use poster tempera. It really warps the paper.

I use 3/4" boards, fitted neatly to the inside or the outside either with screws (only a couple) directly into the window frame (slightly skewed on an angle) or if it's to be a regular change over situation I'll use those flyscreen clips which allow you to twist sideways to release the board.

They held up great, I was able to do them in my warm shop, and removal was easy.

The reason I didn't do them again was that some clients complained that I used store bought decals instead of painting them on the glass.....guess they felt cheated.

If I was to do a lot of fast food shops again, I might do them this way.

I believe there is a promotional vinyl available for short applications.

Jee you made those fingers at the top look real.

RobC

[ January 13, 2002: Message edited by: Rob Clark ]

A

Oh, more on that idea...I remember the vinyl was semi gloss, I painted all of them with my regular window paints (Radiant temperas and acrylics) sprayed with clear enamel.
I'm sure you can paint with enamels as well.
I left a 1/2 inch border around the design, makes a natural white outline (very sharp looking).
Don't use transfer tape, or wet application, or squeegee.
Use a roller or brayer though if you need to.

I should get a roll of lo tack and play around with it.