Our Eco Statement

At Vital Signs we are a small manufacturer of a broad range of signage products which means it is necessary for us to use vinyl products for decals and digital printing and paints, amongst other products. We are concerned about our impact on the environment and are committed to the principles of REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE.

The things we currently do are:

• Purchase vinyl products where the backing waste can be recycled
• Re-use sign panels and banners where possible
• Collect scrap vinyl and offer it to artists and students for projects ands also collect it (and other suitable waste products) for EXCHANGE Guardian Early Learning Group 
• Re-use packaging such as vinyl cores, boxes and soft plastics for the distribution and transport of our signs
• Purchase Momentum Smile Power
• Use LED fluorescent tubes - over 78 of them to light our workshop and benches
• Use low energy evaporative cooling when necessary
• Only turn on the hot water heater when needed
• Purchase 2nd hand equipment and machinery where possible and buy "built to last" equipment - our Festool Sander is over 20 years old. 
• Purchase carbon neutral office paper products where possible and recycle used paper into message pads or shred and compost
• Dispose of e-waste at authorised recycling centres
• Compost kitchen waste and keep a small veggie patch out the front for work lunches

We are always on the look out for more ways to improve our efforts so please let us know if you come across any products or clever ideas.

Vinyl Application

We are sometimes asked for tips about installing (and removing) vinyl where we are not engaged to to do the installation. In short, the only way to be sure is to engage a professional but if you want to give it a go here is our standard sheet.

SURFACE PREPARATION

VINYL SIGNS WILL ADHERE TO THE MAJORITY OF SURFACES -(REFER TO OUR FAQ ON OUR WEBSITE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION)

MAKE SURE THAT THE SURFACE IS CLEAN AND FREE OF ALL CONTAMINANTS SUCH AS GREASE, OIL, DUST, ETC. BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY VINYL. 
POSITIONING THE SIGN

BEFORE REMOVING THE BACKING TAPE OR ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE VINYL YOU MUST REGISTER WHERE ON THE PANEL THE SIGN IS TO BE PLACED.

THIS IS BEST ACHIEVED BY RULING A TOP & CENTRE LINE ON THE PAPER APPLICATION TAPE WHICH COVERS THE VINYL & RULE A CORRESPONDING TOP & CENTRE LINE ON YOUR PANEL. 

APPLICATION

SIGNS CAN BE APPLIED BOTH WET & DRY BUT DRY APPLICATION SHOULD ONLY BE ATTEMPTED BY THOSE WITH EXPERIENCE.

FOR WET APPLICATION YOU SHOULD FIRST MIX UP A SOLUTION CONSISTING OF 500ml OF CLEAN WATER WITH 1 OR 2 DROPS ONLY OF DISHWASHING LIQUID.

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT NOT TO USE ANY MORE THAN THIS AS THE SURFACE WILL BECOME TOO SLIPPERY & WILL NOT ALLOW THE MOISTURE TO EVAPORATE!

IF YOU HAVE AN OLD ATOMISER BOTTLE USE THIS TO SPRAY A FINE MIST OF THE LUBRICANT ONTO THE SURFACE. CAREFULLY REMOVE THE BACKING PAPER FROM THE LETTERING, ALIGN SLIGHTLY AWAY FROM THE SURFACE THEN PLACE THE LETTERING ONTO THE SURFACE USING YOUR REGISTRATION MARKS. FIRMLY SQUEEGEE THE EXCESS WATER & ANY AIR BUBBLES OUT WORKING FROM THE CENTRE TOWARDS THE EXTREMITIES. ALLOW APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE PAPER TAPE. ON GLASS IF USING A LUBRICANT IT’S RECOMMENDED TO ALLOW AT LEAST AN HOUR, SOMETIMES EVEN LONGER DEPENDING ON HUMIDITY & SIZE OF THE DECAL. THE SMALLER OR FINER THE DECAL THE LONGER IT MAY REQUIRE.  SOMETIMES WARMING THE SURFACE WITH A HAIR DRYER OR FAN HEATER CAN HELP. CAREFULLY REMOVE THE PAPER TAPE TO EXPOSE THE FINISHED SIGN.

Kleins Perfumery Window

This is the latest display for Kleins Perfumery in downtown Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. A really clever image for Sabé Masson done as a digital print and cut image with cut vinyl text. Kleins always put an enormous effort into their displays and it shows.

Go Doggies

The success of the great Western Bulldogs in making it into the 2016 AFL Grand Final inspired Tyler's friend Pete to commission this hand painted mural which is now famous over social media and on breakfast radio 
Tyler worked into the small hours of this morning finishing the job but as a passionate Bulldogs supporter it was more a labour of love!
Well done to Tyler and we wish the Doggies success this coming Saturday.

Mural - Dunnes Lane Coburg

This Mural in  Dunnes Lane, Coburg is the result of a collaboration between Moreland City Council and the Coburg Traders Association. The recent upgrade to the lane delivered by Moreland was seen as an opportunity to achieve one of the Association’s objectives to  “refresh and add more life and colour to Coburg”, through “small scale public art”. The Graphic Installation was co-funded and delivered by us at Vital Signs. The artwork was prepared by Sarah Borg and utilises the ‘Colours of Coburg’ palette selected by the trader’s association. Our brief was to paint the graphic design presented to us by Sarah onto a textured brick wall at 9m x 33m so we put together a team of 4 traditional signwriters and then spent a week hand painting the design. We think the job looks great and  believe it definitely meets the objectives. Here is the response from Sarah :"I have heard lots of lovely complimentary comments about the work. Vital Signs did a great job. We are very happy with the service".  

Vasette Van

We recently signed this impressively large Iveco Daily delivery van for the iconic Flowers Vasette of Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.
The brief was to make the best use of the Vasette logo over the large space available in keeping with their elegant style. The client was a little uncertain about how this would turn out since it is a new look for their vans. Here is what Cherrie said. ..."Hi Grant, I just wanted to drop you a line to say great job with the van, it looks even better than I thought it would. Thanks for your great service too".Cherrie Miriklis-Pavlou, Managing Director, Vasette. We agree that the result looks great.

 

The Welcome Mural - City Of Yarra

Mid way through 2014 we completed a mural project on the walls of Post Office place in Richmond. Designed by Reko Rennie, and commissioned by  the Arts & Cultural Services Dept. of City Of Yarra, our brief from was to turn the idea into a finished work. Drawing on traditional signwriting skills we completed the work over 2 weekends with a small team of traditional signwriters - all using paint and brushes! The people we worked with at City of Yarra Arts & Cultural Services Dept.deserve a huge amount of credit for seeing this project through over a lengthy 6 month period. The public response has been positive and so was the response from our client.

COMBI

One of our most valued clients COMBI underwent a slight re-brand when they moved to their current premises in Elwood. With the talented Luke Henley in charge of design, Anthony and Penny created a seriously cool and popular place to "feed the soul" Our brief was to create a range of signs which started with fabricated 3D steel "raw" letters treated to rust over time. Next were the hand painted and signwritten timber panels dotted around the premises and last but not least, a steel framed timber clad light box internally illuminated with LED's. The end result is a testament to their commitment to creating something spectacular - and we love that they trust us to turn their ideas into a reality!

The Boatbuilders Yard

 The Boatbuilders Yard bar and cafe, located next to Polly Woodside at South Wharf, have a huge canvas in their outdoor bar area that changes approximately every 6 months. They use an innovative program where designers are asked to submit designs to suit the site. This provides a great opportunity for them to get their work on display in such a prominent place. Our brief is to translate the design into signage that can be installed on the canvas - on site! One of our jobs of note was to print and install a design using translucent vinyl so that it lights up from the internal lighting within the building. The effect was great. Get down there for a drink and have a look!

The Union Club Hotel - Digital Print

Finished "Wallpaper" Digital Print applied to brick wall view from LHS

Finished "Wallpaper" Digital Print applied to brick wall

Work In Progress

Recently one of our long time customers, designers & illustrators Tin & Ed, approached us about a project at The Union Club Hotel in Fitzroy which involved the treatment of a 9m brick wall in their beer garden. Their brief was to supply a digital photographic print to cover this area. We printed this on super high tack print vinyl designed specifically for use on brick and hard to stick surfaces and over-laminated it with a matte clear. It took our intrepid installers a day to install after which we hand touched around the gas piping & any other little protrusions to really complete the job.

We think this has been a really successful collaboration with Glenn from The Union (happy), Tin & Ed (happy) and of course, we’re happy!

Gorski and Jones

Just recently, Meagan from Gorski and Jones Collingwood approached us to help with a bit of a re-brand of their restaurant signage in Smith Street. The brief was to sign the premises in a classic style to compliment the warm interior - something that had an ageless appeal. After Tyler had run up the layout we suggested 23k gold leaf as the medium with the main body of text highlighted with a drop black shade.

Using skills acquired in the old dart, Grant then completed the job over 3 – 4 days. Gilding requires several processes with drying time in between but with an extremely co-operative client it was one of those projects that was a real joy to be part of. Meagan from Gorski and Jones was extremely happy & we think that the end result exceeded her expectations.