Incase you missed it!

Last week we had the pleasure of sharing our holiday card secrets with NBC4's Monica Day.

Click on the link to see her experience in our studio:

Turn Happy Holidays into Happy "Who-lidays"!

From all of us here at Eclipse Corp. (Eclipse Studios, Solar Imaging and PageOne Productions) we wish you a happy new year!

Global Shop 2011!!!

Why attend GlobalShop?!?!

It provides many opportunities to connect with retail industry leaders and innovators, discovering the latest trends and technologies.

One way of doing this is by attending the various conferences and keynote speaker opportunities GlobalShop has to offer.

For further information and a detailed schedule of the various conferences offered during this time please see the provided Conference Schedule!

"Mini Who's"!

All the "Who's" down in Whoville the tall and the small...



Perhaps shrinking our employees was the most fun of all!!




For this, each mini "Who" was shot separately standing on tables, boxes, chairs or stools and shrunk down to fit into their place in the final card.







I included the last image, the "hand in hand" image to give you an idea of how tiny they were made to be.
I hope you have enjoyed the inside look into how we made our Christmas card and I hope you got as much enjoyment out of it as we had while creating it!

From everyone at Eclipse Corp. (Eclipse Studios, Solar Imaging and PageOne Productions) have a very merry holiday! :)

"Who" Dining Utensils!

To stay true to the illustrations of Dr. Seuss, our eating utensils were anything but traditional.

No forks, knives or spoons, instead we compiled everything from tools in a tool box to odd's and end's in our kitchen cabinets.




In the first picture, Patti is prepared to eat with two small gardening shovels and Craig has large serving spoons.








Stephanie is prepared to feast on her roast beast with a mini saw.























Paul and Damon sit down to feast with a drill and large serving spoons!!!

"Who" Hair Accessories!

Now once you have the "Who" hair, it is all about the accessories.


Jaclyn is wearing a headband with a leaf arrangement glued to it and her hair braided. The braid is being shaped with a coat hanger so it flips up and off to the side.

Brad has on a whimsical tall hat!














Here you see Damon festive with reindeer antlers, and Paul wearing an entire string of Christmas rope lights as a hat!


















Ashley added a gigantic bow to the top of her head, while Jane put on a headband with a teapot glued to it. If you look close you will see Ashley pouring a hot pot of coffee into the teacup atop Jane' head!

Headbands with teacups and leaves, ribbons, packages, boxes and flair!!

Anything went when it came to creating whimsical
"Who" hair!!

How to create "Who" hair & a "Who" smile!

Eclipse Studios, Solar Imaging and PageOne Productions celebrated the holidays this year by transforming themselves into "Who's". Inspired by Dr. Seuss's, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, we transformed a corporate office into a children's story book. Everything from the curvy table, which we built, to the eating utensils, anything but the traditional spoon, knife and fork, mimicked the whimsical story of the "Who's".

It was important to not only act the part but to look the part as well. So how does one transform themselves into a "Who", lets start with the HAIR!

Aside from placing things on, in and around our hair, some of us twisted and braided our own hair to create the fabulous "Who" hair. For my hair I stacked two small plastic cups on my head then gathered the hair up and around the cups. Tied it off with a pony tail holder at the top. You will also notice it accented with little packages, but we will get to the fun accessories later!



For this image, Jane is wearing a curly brown wig set into two braids tied off with red ribbons.

Ashley braided her hair around a coat hanger which she bent to comfortably fit the shape of her head. This allowed her ends to stand out straight!

Sandra, in the last picture, is wearing a traditional Cindy Lou Who wig.


The bigger and sillier the hair was the better!






It was also important to capture that famous "Who" smile. For this, some of us placed marshmallows under our top lip to push it out giving a more exaggerated smile. Joel, in the first picture, has a great "Who" smile as well as John in the last picture. Others resorted to cotton balls, as the marshmallows did melt rather quickly!

2010 ADDY's...Date to enter is approcaching fast!!

Wednesday December 1!!!

This is the date to get your entries in for the 2010 ADDY Awards!!

Entries can be dropped of at:

Brainstorm Media Wednesday Dec. 1 from 3-7 p.m



**there will be a last call for late entries on Wednesday December, 15 from 3-5 p.m at Brainstorm Media**

Chamber Announces 2010 Small Business Leader Recipients!

Chamber Announces 2010 Small Business Leader Recipients!

Thank you to the Columbus Chamber and Small Business Council for a great luncheon!

Congratulations to the honored recipients Mike Figliuolo of thoughtLEADERS, LLC in the under $1 million category, Ron Stokes, Mark Hall and Lavita Stokes of Three Leaf Productions in the over $1 million category, and Stephanie Leader of Leaderpromos.com in the $5 million category!

Small Business Forum & Leader Awards-Nov. 9!

This year the Small Business Forum & Leader Awards, hosted by the Columbus Chamber, will be held Tuesday November 9th at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

The forum will allow current business owners and industry experts to offer advice to those with less experience. Attendees will be offered the opportunity to question those on the panel as to what has worked for their businesses, what hasn't and any other lessons they have learned through the years. The panelists will also be asked to list 5 things they wish they would have known when they started their businesses.

Solar Imaging, PageOne Productions and Eclipse Studios are especially proud, as our very own leader, Jeff Burt, will be a member of the panel.

"YOU ARE HERE" Campaign!

Check out the recent install Solar Imaging completed at the Port Columbus International Airport.

As part of their "You are Here" campaign large floor graphics, small floor feet graphics and window graphics made out of an adhesive vinyl were placed all over the airport.

Here are a few images of the large floor graphic install. This graphic, impressive in person, is placed in front of passenger check-in!

Business First Fast 50 Awards

The Business First Fast 50 Awards Luncheon was today! They counted down the top 50 fastest growing companies in the Columbus area from #50 to #1.

Eclipse Corp (which includes Solar Imaging, Eclipse Studios, and PageOne Productions) is proud to be included in the list of companies receiving this award!

We placed bets for what number we would be. One person was sure we would be number 50. The majority of the guesses ranged from the thirties to the teens. But our actual number was..........

32!

Congratulations to all companies on the list!

Conway Family Business Awards

Eclipse Corp (which includes Solar Imaging, Eclipse Studios, and PageOne Productions) is proud to be included in the 2010 Conway Family Business Awards!
The Conway Center for Family Business Awards Program was established in 1998 to recognize excellence in family business and has honored more than 115 Central Ohio family businesses during its first 11 years. The 12th annual awards are scheduled for November 5, 2010. More than 115 companies have been honored during the past 11 years and represent many of Central Ohio's finest family-owned businesses.
Other businesses being honored at the 2010 event include:
Artina Promotional Products
Converse Electric
Donatos Pizza
Edwards Steel
Gummer Wholesale
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
Ohio Power Tool, Inc.
Rent-A-John Portable Sanitation
Robin Technologies
Sanese Services
Schoedinger Funeral & Cremation Service
Spartan Logistics
The Charles Penzone Salons
Velvet Ice Cream
White Castle Systems, Inc.

Prep, print, please!

Solar Imaging constantly strives to create more efficient and effective ways to serve our clients. As a high end production house we expect our work, whether it be prints, banners, table wraps, etc., to be nothing but the best.

Solar Imaging is currently reorganizing their work flow and will be developing a file preparation department. Just as every client of Solar's is unique so are the files for the jobs. Each file requires a preparation process specific to its content and also to the printer that will be processing the job. By dictating people to this responsibility it will allow the individuals running the printers to solely focus on printing the jobs. No longer, will there be time taken out to file prep and then print.

What can this do for you the client? This allows for a quicker finishing time, minimizes any delays or possible confusion by allowing the individuals to focus solely on the task at hand. The file prep department can work diligently at preparing the files which allows the printers to simply run them through their respected machines.

With a file preparation department Solar will continue to prep, print and please clients on a more efficient level!

The 2010 FAST 50

Eclipse Corp (which includes Solar Imaging, Eclipse Studios, and PageOne Productions) is proud to be included in the Columbus Business First FAST 50 Awards!

We would not be here without all of our clients. Your success is our success! Thank you for making us one of the Fifty Fastest growing companies in Central Ohio!

FAST 50 Awards Luncheon - Wednesday, October | Hyatt Regency

Installation-Ricart Used Card Factory

Recently, Solar Imaging completed an install at Ricart Used Car Factory, off Hamilton Road in Columbus, Ohio, adding a stretch banner material to an existing sign frame.

Check out a few pictures from the install!

Fort Recovery

The Ohio Historical Society, located in Columbus, Ohio recently had a grand re-opening of the Fort Recovery Museum in Fort Recovery, Ohio. A process that began over two years ago, incorporated input and ideas from both the Fort Recovery group and Native American Communities. It was important to consult both groups as the fort played a pivotal role in the history of the Northwest Territories and was the site of two major battles between the American Military and the Native Americans. The second battle, in 1793, would result in the continued expansion into Ohio for settlement and subsequently the Northwest Territory.

This revamping of Fort Recovery was no small task and Solar Imaging was glad to have been a part of it. Using mostly white sintra, white and black gator Solar printed gallery signs, intro panels and the Indian/Soldier Wall.

Here are a few pictures from the finished exhibit which opened July 11! For more information on this exhibit and other events and exhibits check out the Ohio Historical Society website.

Pelotonia 2010

Pelotonia kicked off Friday August 20th, with 4,047 riders and was a huge success!


Check out a few pics from the event featuring signage by Solar Imaging!

Pelotonia 2010- August 20-22

The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James) through innovative thinking and passionate research strive daily to find the cure for cancer. However, the lack in federal funding in 2008 led Dr. Michael Caligiuri, Director of The OSUCC and CEO of The James, to brainstorm an alternative way to get funding to sustain and foster their research efforts. While discussing his situation with colleagues at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Caliguri was enlightened of the success of the The Pan-Mass Challenge in Boston, Massachuettes, which raised millions of dollars in cancer research. He felt a similar cycling event could create at least the same amount of success in Columbus, Ohio and the grassroots bike tour Pelotonia was born. All funding for the event goes directly to the OSUCCC-James for continued research in the fight against cancer.
This year the race is taking place August 20-22 and Solar Imaging is excited to do all of the signage for the event. "This is our second year working with them and the second year of the actual event so we are very excited to have been a part of it from the beginning," states Dan Cochran a sales representative for Solar Imaging. Solar, who obtained the images from Base Art Co. a graphic design studio out of Columbus, Ohio, will be doing all directional and street signage, fabric flag work and tower banners, Start and Finish truss signage and stage signage as well.

The ride and the riders are truly inspirational and for more information please check out Pelotonia's website; here are a few facts about the race and events surrounding it:

The preliminary activities for the Opening Ceremony start at 3 pm on Friday the 20th and the bikers depart at 7 am on Saturday the 21st.
The race begins in Columbus, a duration of 180 miles, ending at State Run Metro Park in Canal Winchester, Ohio on Sunday the 22.
The race does offer a few stops along the way, 23 miles, 43 miles, 102 miles in Athens, where bikers continuing on to complete 180 miles are provided dormitories to stay in and showering facilities, and finally 180 miles where they reach the finish line.

With the opening ceremony only two days away, and already 4,023 riders registered this event is sure to be a great time and success!

Airport table top wrap images are HERE!!!

Check out these table wraps Solar Imaging, printed and installed at the Port Columbus International Airport!

Steady growth, new tech bring Solar Imaging big-name retail clients-Business First (Columbus)

Business First (Columbus)
June 25, 2010


Check out this issue of Business First that featured Solar Imaging in an article Steady growth, new tech bring Solar Imaging big-name retail clients, it focused on the expansion of Solar Imaging with the purchase of the new machines. Including quotes for current clients and Jeff Burt this article is just a glimpse into the promising future Solar Imaging has to offer.

Global Shop 2011

Its official!!

Solar Imaging is heading back to Global Shop, March 28-30 in Las Vegas!!

Check us out at booth #4736!

We will be there...will you?!?!

Solar Imaging...taking things to new heights!

Just recently Solar Imaging completed an install at the Port Columbus International Airport. Tables containing plug-ins and USB ports, were wrapped in a high-tack vinyl. The vinyl consisted of a scratch resistant laminant to allow for long term wear and tear on the table tops. These tables, placed largely in the terminals, allow passengers to hook up their lap tops and other electronical devices while they await their departure.

Aside from being extremely convenient they are aesthetically pleasing as well. The outlet boxes are attached on the under side of the tables and emit a blue glow. That combined with the colorful vinyl makes for a very eye catching piece.

The tables have already become quite a focal piece and success, according to David Saleme of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, not two days after the install he noticed in one terminal 11 out of the 12 tables were in use.

Stay tuned to the blog for a picture update!

Hot off the press!!

Thanks to everyone who came out for the open house last week. It was a great success and we hope you enjoyed yourselves as well as got a good idea of all that Solar Imaging, Eclipse Studios and PageOne Productions has to offer!

Check out the article posted by THIS WEEK Community Newspapers featuring Solar Imaging and the recent new purchases of the VUTEk and MultiCam router.

Click below for more information and an interview with Jeff Burt!

Gahanna's Solar Imaging adds $500K in equipment to Taylor Road facility

In Full Bloom and Full Swing!!

The time has come!!

After much planning and anticipation Solar Imaging, Eclipse Studios and PageOne are excited to open their doors this week starting Tuesday June 8, 9 & 10!!

Please come and enjoy a continental breakfast the morning of June 8, 9 & 10 and appetizers the evening of June 10. Explore all that Solar has to offer and learn of new and exciting opportunities to work with Eclipse Studios and PageOne Productions as well!

Introducing the MultiCam Router

Alongside the VUTEk QS3220 is another new addition the MultiCam Router. Aside from the ability to offer more unique cutting availability in less time, it too has exciting and innovative characteristic:

• Precision cutting on a 5 ft. x 10 ft. grand format table
• Ability to cut boards 2-3 inches think, including Plexiglas, gator board, styrene and foam
• Can produce 3-D lettering, a new offering for Solar
• Significant time savings: only three minutes to cut a board
• Utilizes multiple blades, digitally powered for more exact, precision cuts

For more information on what the router can do please see MultiCam Router!

Introducing the VUTEk QS3220

Solar Imaging's recent addition, the VUTEk QS3220 UV-curing printer from EFITM has many new and exciting things to offer. Here are just a few:

• Custom grand-format high definition power
• Prints on materials up to 10 ft. wide, 2 inches thick, any lenght
• Prints on more images on less sheets of material
• Prints more than twice as fast as Solar's existing capabilities
• Offers six-color printing plus white for outstanding clarity
• More colors, white variations means more innovative signage and printed materials than before

For even more information on all this machine can offer you please see VUTEk QS3220!

Business is Blooming here at Solar Imaging

Join Solar Imaging as we debut our new VUTEk 3220 and MultiCam router!!

Come see us
June 8, 9 and 10 from 7:00-9:00 A.M (Continental Breakfast)
and
June 10 4:00-8:00 P.M (Adult Beverages and Appetizers)

and get a first hand experience at all that Solar Imaging has to offer!

Business Blooming at Solar Imaging this Spring

Media Contact:
Jen Arnold

Marketing Works

Business Blooming at Solar Imaging this Spring with
New Equipment and Market Expansion

Gahanna-based custom printer's new investments provide more innovative options in less time, open up new markets and will double company revenue in two years

COLUMBUS, Ohio (May X, 2010)- Solar Imaging, a Gahanna-based wide format custom digital printer for major retailers and businesses, is growing with the addition of a wide-format (grand) digital printer and specialty cutting machine that will increase efficiencies by producing a greater volume of higher-quality products in less time. According to Solar Imaging CEO Jeff Burt, the capital investment will likely more that double company revenue from $1 million to $2.5 million over the next two years.

"With these new additions, we will be in a position to offer more capabilities to our clients and compete in new markets" Burt said.

Solar Imaging, with clients like Victoria's Secret and Bath and Body Works produces innovative, eye-catching and customer-focused store signage and printed materials. To serve these clients and support bigger, bolder and more creative projects, the new printer prints on a wider array of materials and substrates and more than one third thicker materials that before. This printer and the option of grand format will a expand Solar's capabilities and allow them to better serve their various markets which include restaurants, theatre, outdoor and day/night signage.

To celebrate this growth, Solar Imaging will host demonstrations June 8,9 and 10 to showcase the new machines and capabilities to current and potential clients.

New Equipment Means More Possibilities, Greater Efficiencies
VUTEk QS3220 UV-curing printer from EFITM

• Custom grand-format high definition power
• Prints on materials up to 10 ft. wide, 2 inches thick, any lenght
• Prints on more images on less sheets of material
• Prints more than twice as fast as Solar's existing capabilities
• Offers six-color printing plus white for outstanding clarity
• More colors, white variations means more innovative signage and printed materials than before

MultiCam Router

• For customers, the router means more unique cutting availability in less time
• Precision cutting on a 5 ft. x 10 ft. grand format table
• Ability to cut boards 2-3 inches think, including Plexiglas, gatorboard, styrene and foam
• Can produce 3-D lettering, a new offering for Solar
• Significant time savings: only three minutes to cut a board
• Utilizes multiple blades, digitally powered for more exact, precision cuts

About Solar Imaging
Solar Imaging is a wide format custom digital printer offering a range of image solutions from digital printing and finishing to all forms of environmental graphics-retail, trade show signage, point-of-purchase, custom finishing and installations. Solar Imaging is a supplier with the ability to provide custom large format digital prints on virtually any substrate, combined with unique finishing solutions, installations and fulfillment services, all under one roof. With ink options including solvent, aqueous, and UV curable with white ink technology, Solar Imaging takes projects from start to finish with exceptional results. Solar Imaging is a subsidiary of Eclipse Studios, Inc., which also includes Eclipse Studios (commercial photography) and PageOne Productions (retouching and pre-press). All three companies are housed in the same 28,300-sq.ft. facility in Gahanna, Ohio.

Grand ol' times ahead

Big things are happening here at Solar Imaging....

Stay tuned during the next few weeks for updates on all the exciting changes!!!

Best of the Best: 2010 Top Wide-Format Print Providers

Wide-Format Imaging
Premier Source for Wide-and-Grand
Format Printing

The April issue of Wide-Format Imaging features a list of the top 40 Top Wide-Format Print Providers and Solar Imaging is number 35 out of 40 companies. We are thrilled to be included and if you would like to find out more information and see what other companies were included don't hesitate to check out the article!

The 2010 Corporate Caring Awards

The 2010 Corporate Caring Awards
Sponsored by:
AEP: American Electric Power
Mills James Creative Media
VORYS Legal Counsel

This year The 2010 Corporate Caring Awards took place at the Hyatt Regency hotel, in Columbus, Ohio. Solar Imaging is proud to acknowledge that its parent company Eclipse Studios was one of the finalists. Eclipse Studios was represented in the small business category, the others being medium and large, and would like to congratulate those who won and express what an honor it was to be considered for such a prestigious award.

The Corporate Caring Awards are held to honor companies who bring a sense of community back to the community. It is important to highlight companies who do give back, especially in a city like Columbus that already has so much to offer its residents. This particular evening featured numerous awards in various categories, education, arts, environment health and human services. The article, "Why Corporations Should Care", in Business First, advises Columbus businesses on some characteristics to focus on and foster in order to thrive in the business sector.

The importance of creating a universal brand for business is top on the list and in order to achieve this one should start by blending the art and business communities together. By including non-profit organizations into the business realm it creates increased exposure for the non-profits and increases community awareness of corporate businesses. It also attracts the attention of young professionals, who seek a balance between volunteer work and corporate structure within a company.

Non-profit sectors are gaining in popularity everyday; for corporations to truly establish a brand that will thrive, achieve success and attract young hires they must find the perfect balance of both!

Employee Spotlight-Jaclyn Fisher

This week Solar Imaging would like to spotlight one of their own, Jaclyn Fischer. Jaclyn has been with Solar Imaging a little over a year and will be participating on June 5th in in the Central Ohio's Tour de Cure Ride hosted by Westerville, Ohio. The race consists of a 15, 30, 60 and 100 mile ride; Jaclyn and her team will be challenging themselves in the 60 mile ride.

For her this race means a little bit more than to some, below you will find a short Q&A illustrating the importance of this ride to her and the impact type one diabetes has had in her life.

1) What made you do the Tour de Cure?
I am doing the tour because I have had type one diabetes for 13 years and finally the time and money has become available to participate in such a great cause.
Having type one diabetes means my pancreas quit producing insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy required to live. I survive by wearing an insulin pump 24/7. Diabetes can take an enormous emotional and physical toll on people with diabetes, and their families. The more funding we get for research, the closer we come to finding a cure.

2)What is your goal for this race (short and long term?)
My goal is to receive as many donations as possible and finish the 60 mile ride in front, representing the type one community! I began training a couple weeks ago, and I hope to continue riding long distances after the ride is finished. Who knows, maybe next is Pelotonia (200mi)?

3)Is this your first race? If so, what made you want to participate in this particular one?
This is my first. I chose to participate in this event because it benefits a cause that is near and dear to my friends, family and myself.

4)Solar Imaging is also taking part in this ride, how so?
Solar Imaging is extremely excited to be providing all of the directional signage and some banner additions for the race. Solar has also donated to other American Diabetes Association events.

If you would like to make a donation, find out how to participate, or simply learn more about the ride and type one diabetes please visit Jaclyn's personal page:
American Diabetes Association : Tour de Cure


**Diabetes affects millions - The ADAs mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.**

Pictures from Nationwide Children's Hospital Project Install

The pictures from the Children's Hospital Project install on April 1 are finally here!
The majority of this 3-dimensional building was assembled, in house, and transported to the site at the Nationwide Children's Hospital building.
These images merely capture some of a process full of intricate detail and massive design.

Sowing Superwide Success- The Big Picture Trade Publication

THE BIG PICTURE
The Business of Wide Format
April 2010 issue


Leaving on a Jet Plane.
Seamlessly covering 820 square feet of textured wallpaper without damaging what's underneath can prove to be a significant challenge, as Columbus, Ohio-based Solar Imaging (solarimaging.com) discovered while working on an extensive re-branding campaign at the Port Columbus International Airport.

For the project, Solar was asked to create two wall murals, 410 square-feet each, which would be displayed in two of the airport's terminals.

"The mural project was a little bit out of the ordinary for us because we were covering existing wallpaper," says Gina Spring, sales representative for Solar Imaging. "Typically we do wall murals on just a painted drywall surface. The biggest challenge, in this case, was making sure the vinyl was going to adhere properly, because the client wasn't going to take the existing wallpaper off, and they didn't want to damage what was already on the wall."

Ryan Partnership, a promotions company with offices in Columbus, created the initial design and provided vector files for the job, which Solar color-corrected to match PMS colors.

Solar took it from there, turning to its 60-inch Mimaki JV3 with solvent inks to output onto 3M IJ8624 graphic film for textured surfaces. The murals were printed in four panels each, 205 square feet per panel. Total print time was roughly two days, Spring says, plus a 24-hour curing time for the inks. Finishing-comprising an Avery luster-finish laminate and the company's GBC laminator-took an additional day.

Solar chose the 3M file because it's specifically designed for textured surfaces, says Spring. "Because the walls that we did in the airport have a textured wallpaper on them and they weren't going to be taking in down, we had to find an adhesive-backed vinyl that stuck over top of it. It had to conform to every indentation in the wall."

Solar also executed the install work. An important lesson learned along the way was to allow more time for instillation on the back end. "Since we literally have to heat every square inch of that vinyl to have it adhere properly, it was very time consuming and we were only able to do about one mural per day," Spring says.

Solar's two person team worked four days last October during the airports "slow time"-midweek-to install the project. It's expected to be on display for up to a year.

Solar also produced 40 Vista System displays for shuttle buses, two vestibule wall murals at 200 square feet each and six fabric "column socks" that zipped up one side, and were included in our feature of soft signage ("The Soft Parade," February 2010).

Business First 3-12-10 Article

Friday, March 12, 2010
Family-Owned Business
A Conversation with Jeff Burt
President and CEO | Eclipse Studios
Business First of Columbus

Husband-and-wife team Jeff and Sandra Burt run three businesses under one roof in Gahanna – Eclipse Studios, founded in 1994; Solar Imaging, founded in 2001; and PageOne, founded in 2006. Eclipse specializes in commercial, advertising and industrial photography while Solar Imaging provides custom digital wide printing and PageOne focuses on color management services. Jeff Burt, 45, has been a professional photographer since 1986 and runs the businesses as CEO. Sandra, 44, focuses on marketing and client services. Jeff is a native of Cincinnati and has an associate degree from Antonelli’s School of Art Photography in that city. Sandra is a native of Whitewater, Wis., and graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Stout with a bachelor’s degree in clothing, textiles and design.

In getting through the recession, do you think being a family business helped in any way?

In any tough time, it’s always your family that gets you through. Not only do Sandra and I support each other through business decisions, we also count on our family of clients and employees to keep us strong and moving forward – we’re all in this together. This mentality has contributed to the strength of our business.

When you first noticed that a recession was setting in, what was your immediate reaction in terms of business planning?

The natural reaction to a declining economy is to tighten up and re-evaluate projections, goals and strategy. But instead of being reactive, we committed to be proactive. We knew we had to keep the bar high by continuing to be smart and conservative, yet progressive and aggressive with new business outreach and marketing initiatives. Instead of scaling back, we pressed forward. We recently purchased a new facility in Gahanna, which allowed us to bring all of our companies together. The appeal to clients is a solution to their own cost-cutting measures - all the resources under one roof for photo shoots, retouching, and large format printing.

You decided to not back down on marketing. What went into that decision?

We wanted to stay top of mind during the recession so we would be in a stronger position as the economy begins to recover. Fortunately, business has been steady and growing despite the tough times. We decided to focus on our strengths and move full-speed ahead. Because we've focused on marketing and new business development, we've experienced more opportunities than ever to grow and connect with more quality businesses and retailers. We have a full pipeline of new and potential business.

How did you convince clients to keep spending?

Our clients are major retailers and companies that have jobs to do. Recession or not, they need quality photography and printing services to meet their business objectives and boost sales.

You have other businesses, too. Did you embrace a similar or different plan for them?

We marketed each one as a standalone service that can be bundled with services offered by sister companies. They feed each other business.

What is the biggest business lesson you've taken away from the recession?

We have learned to stay conservative, yet proactive and focus on our strengths, especially as they relate to solutions that help companies stretch their budget. We've seen when we continue to move forward and provide strategic services, it attracts business. Moving forward, we'll continue to invest in delivering our message to companies outside Ohio's borders.

Nationwide Children's Hospital Project

We can't show you pictures until the project is installed the week of April 1, but it will definitely be worth the wait!

Solar Imaging is creating a 3-dimensional foam display for Nationwide Children's Hospital's Research III Project. The job started out as a simple display of images printed on Gator & cut out. The job has evolved into something much bigger, much better, and with much more "WOW" factor!

Global Manufacturing is producing a 3-dimensional foam building that will stand approximately 44 inches tall by 10 feet wide and be placed on a 30 inch base. Solar will face all surfaces of the foam building with Styrene. Then Solar Imaging will wrap the foam building with printed adhesive vinyl and create the ground structure for the display.

Watch for pictures to be posted the first week of April!

Global Shop 2011

Global Shop 2010 is over. Solar Imaging has shipped their trade show booth back to Ohio. But, plans are already in work to exhibit at Global Shop 2011 in Las Vegas March 28 - 30, booth #721!

Globalshop is the premier Trade show for store fixture, store display, store design and operation, visual merchandising and point-of-purchase industry professionals.

Globalshop offers retail, marketing and branding executives a place to network and exchange ideas while learning about the latest retail design and in-store innovations,products and trends.

Solar Imaging will be there next year.... Will you?

Drive Traffic to your Trade Show Booth

What makes a good trade show booth? It's not just a matter of driving people to the booth. It is also conveying a clear message so that they remember you when they leave your booth. Here are some trade show tips from Solar Imaging...

1. Know what you want your booth to say & say it clearly.
Make sure that you have a clear, concise message that is directed at your potential customer. Less is more. Fewer words can be printed in a larger font and will be read easier. Choose a simple and easy to read font so that from a distance, your message is easily read.

2. Do the images that you are featuring help tell the message that you are sending?
You want to make sure that the message is consistent. The copy and the images used in your booth should work together. You have very little time to compel someone walking by your booth to stop and learn more. Make sure that you are choosing your images wisely.

3. Are your company name & logo clearly visible?
You want to be remembered by your company name - not by your booth description or location. How will they find you after the show if they can't remember your company name?

4. Is your website featured?
This may be one of the most important messages you could include in your booth. If a show attendee is interested in learning more, they can visit your website at their leisure.

5. Make sure that your booth stands out from the rest!
You want to be noticed. You want people to remember your booth. So do something unique. Either choose colors to make your booth stand out. Choose a memorable giveaway. Draw a crowd by showing a demonstration or using an interactive display.

When it comes to comprehensive solutions that generate traffic at trade shows, Solar Imaging has it all. High quality printing, flawless finishing and top of the line hardware are just the beginning.

Solar's wide line of portable banner stands and display systems provide versatility and can be used in multiple environments from retail POP displays, trade shows and sales presentations to special events and recruiting programs.

The Soft Parade - The Big Picture Trade Publication

THE BIG PICTURE
The Business of Wide Format
February 2010 Issue

The Soft Parade - Soft Signage and Fabric Graphics evoke a tactile buying response.
In today's world of sensory overload, it's important for print providers to create graphics that will help your clients' work stand out in the crowd. Nothing may do a better job at this than printing on fabrics. Whether you opt for direct or dye-sublimation output, printed fabrics exhibit a flow and feel unlike any other materials - inviting your clients' clients as well as passersby - to not just view the graphics, but also touch them. It's a tactile experience they simply aren't afforded otherwise, which is designed to turn into a buying response.

The Big Picture has tracked down several recent projects created using digitally printed fabrics...

Sock it to me
When the management team at Port Columbus International Airport in Ohio wanted to implement an airport-wide re-branding ad campaign using a variety of different wide-format pieces, the company's ad agency knew just who to call: Columbus's own Solar Imaging (solarimaging.com). Solar Imaging specialized in retail, tradeshow, point-of-purchase, and customized finishing and installations.

For this particular ad campaign, Solar produced 40 Vista System displays (for shuttle buses), 4 adhesive-vinyl wall murals measuring 205 square-feet each, 2 vestibule wall murals at 200 square-feet each, and, of particular note here, 6 fabric "column socks" that zipped up one side.


"These column socks were definitely out of the ordinary for us," says Gina Spring, sales representative for Solar. "We are so used to doing fabric banners with a standard pole pocket that the chance to do some problem solving for the column socks - as well as testing to make sure they fit - was a refreshing change to our daily routine."

Each column sock had to be specially sewn with a heavy-duty separating zipper with exact accuracy. The socks had to be stretched just enough to ensure they would be taut around the columns. "The seamstress at our finishing partner, Banners Extreme in Columbus, showed her skills once again on the sewing part of this project. She had all six done in about a day and a half - no small feat for the amount of work she had to do," Spring says.

Solar produced the column socks using its 80-inch Durst Rho 600 Presto flatbed printer. The company direct printed onto Fisher Textiles' Symmetry Fabric using Durst's UV-curable inks and Cheetah software RIP.

"We used this particular fabric because of the stretch factor and overall look and feel of the fabric, and we used this printer because we could print in one pass without having an extra seam in the column socks," Spring says. The six column socks ranged in size from 103 inches tall x 73 inches in circumference to 110 inches tall x 78 inches in circumference. Solar performed the install in three days.

Contour Cut Contour Cup??

That's not a typo! Solar just finished a Contour Cut Vinyl order for Victoria's Secret Stores. 33,000 strips of blue vinyl cut with different product names for Victoria's Secret bras. Weeding out the center of each closed letter (a, d, e, g, o, p,...) takes time, patience, and a steady hand!

Where can Contour Cut Vinyl Letters and Decals be used?

The HOTTEST decorating style is decorative wall lettering. Customize your home or office instantly with adhesive vinyl lettering. You choose your favorite letters, words, or quotes. You choose the font, size and the color!

Vinyl lettering is also the perfect choice for use on Boats, Snowmobiles, Cars, Trucks, Vans, skateboards, windows, storefronts.

Vinyl applications are no longer limited to smooth surfaces. The newest vinyl products on the market allow vinyl to be used on concrete or other slightly uneven surfaces. The vinyl follows the curves of the surface that is is being applied to.

Indoor or outdoor, your message can be applied to virtually any surface using contour cut vinyl.

Global Shop 2010

Why Attend?

According to the Global Shop website, "GlobalShop brings you the latest in retail and store design, store planning and the best technology for the in-store experience. An Event You Won’t Want to Miss – Network with exhibitors, retail associations, leading industry publications, and thousands of other professionals doing what you do every day."

According to Solar Imaging, "Visit us at booth #4736 and we will not only show you samples of our large format digital printing solutions for retail signage. We will also happily remind you that WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS - STAYS IN VEGAS! So, come to Vegas. Attend Global Shop 2010. Have some fun. Then come back to the real world!

Everyone Has to Start Somewhere...

Solar Imaging is attempting to create a blog page AND update it regularly. Whether this proves to be successful or not is yet to be seen. We at Solar promise to do our best to make our posts informative, useful, and sometimes entertaining. On your mark, get set, go!