Category: News

How much does quality matter? The Internet provides us the ability to compare “apples to apples” and choose a lesser price or purchase from a trusted vendor. One website (that started by selling books) made searching, comparing and buying items online extremely easy.

There’s nothing wrong with being an educated consumer, that’s not what this article is about, more so it’s about understanding what you’re buying and the quality of the printed product.

We are printers, we print books, magazines, newsletters and most (not all) things paper. We also print “wide-format” which is a roll to roll printing of fabric and vinyl, our capabilities also include printing on a rigid substrate. We own a total of 17 commercial printers that have the capabilities to print a variety of quality levels. For example: our Mimaki JFX200-2513 flatbed printer provides an excellent print quality on a 4’ x 8’ board on average of 12 minutes per board. Our newest printer, VUTEk GS 3250 LX Pro, can produce the exact board in 4 minutes, at better quality resolution and it also prints white ink! Quality level does affect price, a banner to be viewed at 50’ or more has no need for the quality levels of the wall art to be installed on your office wall.

How can you determine the print quality
of the item you are about to purchase online?
You can’t!

That’s when the educated consumer in you surfaces. You can find out what equipment is being used to print your order and research the quality levels of that machine, I read online reviews, but I only trust recent reviews, the last 60 days is as far back as I go. BTW: the absence of recent reviews speaks volumes to me.

When your print must color-match your company colors, how can you be assured your printer can match it? Some printers use the “Pleasing Color” method, which is getting close to your color, but it’s not exact.

We have a 4-Step system to color match:

1. We print a color grid with swatches, that are different shades of the intended color
2. Use the Pantone color-match book to identify the correct swatch, providing the color build, AKA Pantone Color Code
3. Edit the print file in our graphics software to match the code
4. Print a test on the desired substrate, visually compare and adjust if needed to meet exact match

Print quality can be determined using numerous measuring factors, owning an array of printers, empowers us the ability to print your order to the quality level you desire.

April 10, 2018, activist group Avaaz planted 100 Lifesize cutouts on the east lawn of the White House to call attention to what Avaaz claims are hundreds of millions of fake accounts spreading disinformation on Facebook.

The exhibition went viral on news medias: CNN, Fox News, Washington Post and social media account on Twitter and even the Mark Zuckerberg owned Facebook. Spectrum News ROC tweeted a short video of the cutouts on the lawn, demonstrating how life size and realistic the promotional items are.

Heritage Printing, Signs & Displays was contacted by Avaaz to make the Zuckerberg cutouts, used in the White House demonstration. Our ability to full color print and contour cut signage is impressive. Our flatbed printer produced the 100 promotional items in 5 hours with our CNC router working simultaneously to expedite the process.

The Fix Fakebook custom cutouts were printed on a coroplast substrate, therefore technically not a cardboard cutout as being referred to in many media venues, coroplast is an excellent option for quality and value. We made cutouts to accept a wooden stake, used to plant the cutouts on the lawn, even with mild winds, the Zuckerberg’s stood tall.

The Fix Fakebook standees are 72” tall, demonstrating our ability to easily produce large cutouts for many purposes. Heritage Printing, Signs & Displays Production Manager, Brent Thompson was quoted “We produce a lot of cutouts, when I learned we were making 100 Zuckerberg’s, I knew it would go viral.”

Heritage Printing, Signs & Displays is a large format signage printer and commercial printer in Charlotte, NC and Waldorf, MD. We have produced award winning signage, displays, magazines and booklets since our inception in 1977. Our specialty is producing high quality marketing materials, in expedited time frames.

Heritage Printing, Signs & Displays General Manager, Lamar Scott have worked with the CIAA on many projects, most notably their annual basketball tournament. “For the past couple of years, I have worked with Breon and the CIAA for their Basketball Tournament and other Sports Championships. Always a pleasure brainstorming new ideas and seeing the final product, either installed or delivered. I look forward to this event every year to see what new idea he will throw my way and how to design and figure it out.” Lamar Scott.

The CIAA is one of America’s oldest athletic conferences; producing championships annually in the following sports: Men’s and Women’s Cross Country; Volleyball; Football; Men’s and Women’s Indoor and Outdoor Track; Men’s and Women’s Basketball; Women’s Bowling; Women’s Tennis; Golf; and Softball.

Of the 14 championships produced by the CIAA, its annual basketball tournament has evolved from a 2,000 seat sell out in Charlotte, NC. during the inaugural tournament, in one of the nation’s premier sporting events, attracting over 190,000 fans during the week, and now touted as the third highest attended basketball tournament among all NCAA divisions.

The CIAA tournament is the quintessential cultural experience offering official events appealing to a diverse demographic of alumni and fans, to include educational programming, community engagement, Fan Fest, Super Saturday, step-shows, concerts, and most importantly, 22 action-packed basketball games. It’s also one of few basketball tournaments in the nation that features men and women competitions in the same facility, during the same week.

Over the past 10 years, the CIAA has generated over $325 million in economic impact for the “Queen City”, Charlotte, N.C., while annually generating over $55 million for the host city. With the support of the City of Charlotte and CIAA corporate partners, the conference has secured over $20 million in scholarship dollars for its member institutions over the past 13 years, averaging $1.5 million annually.

“I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all at Heritage Printing, Signs & Displays (Esp.- Lamar Scott, whom mainly handles my account) so very much for an outstanding experience with your service. We just recently concluded our annual basketball tournament and I have seriously taken pictures of everything ordered from Heritage Printing, Signs & Displays and had to send to some of our Athletic Directors in our conference and I’ve received great feedback of everything ordered from Heritage Printing, Signs & Displays. The work isn’t only noticed by me and our CIAA staff, but also by many of those who meet it. I also very much appreciate the last-minute rush orders I may bring to Lamar, whether for pick up or to be shipped to other destinations. That’s not all… from start to finish, the whole ordering, submission, and approval process has been perfectly painless and thoroughly enjoyable. It’s very hard to find a good printing service locally. I have in the past experienced poor customer service (terse or annoyed attitude, disinterest and even being ignored); poor production practices and serious oversights/errors; lack of attention to detail; poor communication… the usual frustrations, which can be particularly trying for an event manager to deal with. You guys completely shattered my impression of what a printing service can be with an outstanding, attentive and friendly service, and a very impressive finished product. Your prices are very reasonable as well, especially considering the level of service and quality stock/finishes you offer. I am so very thrilled with all the latest work, and the whole experience, and will definitely be utilizing (and recommending!) your services in the future, both for my own and other clients’ projects. Thanks again for such a wonderful job, and for your caring attitude towards your clientele. It definitely gets noticed! Pat on the back,” Breon Hagans.