FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Image1 is a father-and-son team-owned and operated wrap and sign company (not a franchise) that handles every phase of the process without the use of third party contractors. From design to printing to production to installation – every step of your project is done right here at our Valparaiso location by our team of experts, thereby ensuring that every step of the process is managed with the same acute attention to detail and the final result is flawless. Furthermore, we only use the highest quality American-made premium cast vinyl and over laminates, combined with the industry’s most advanced printing technology. Our installers have the industry’s highest level of accolades and our branded vinyl wrap designs are featured in magazines and win national awards.
Full vehicle wraps start at $3,000 and go up from there. We can work within any budget to design a partial wrap to compliment the vehicle’s body lines and your company’s brand. You don’t need to have a full wrap to make a large impact!
Anything and everything – just ask! We regularly wrap everything from vehicles, boats, walls, floors, windows, furniture, appliances, prosthetic limbs – you name it! Some plastics and people do not take to wrapping very well – we’ve even tried…
Image1 uses the highest quality cast vinyl which protects your vehicle for the life of the wrap. Your custom artwork is printed on one layer of vinyl which contours every crease and crevice of your vehicle. Cut vinyl is often pre-colored vinyl which requires multiple layers for multicolored projects – this leads to warping and peeling – potentially a shorter life for your graphics. Additionally, calendared cut vinyl uses much more abrasive adhesives and can be damaging to paint over time, whereas our 100% removable premium cast vinyl is guaranteed to be non-damaging when applied to OEM paint in good condition.
A vinyl wrap will sustain the condition of the paint before the wrap. It is a preference to wrap OEM/like new paint so the vinyl has a smooth surface to adhere to. Image1 strongly recommends having areas of paint that are chipping or peeling repaired by a body shop prior to wrapping to ensure a smooth installation and prevent any future paint flaking. If you’re concerned about the quality of your paint, bring your vehicle by and we’ll look at it together and discuss the options.
Image1 is able to replace sections of our customers’ damaged wraps. We keep all of our customer’s artwork on file and our state-of-the-art printers are regularly re-calibrated to enable us to match colors as best as possible. Often, customers’ insurance companies will handle the cost of any wrap replacement/damage in the event of an accident. Imaage1 recommends photographing your wrap once completed and submitting photos of it along with a copy of the invoice to your car insurance provider.
When properly cared for, wraps can last for 5-7+ years.
Vinyl wraps can be removed. The ease and quality of removal depends on the quality and type of the vinyl used as well as the care it received while in service. Image1 uses only the highest quality premium cast vinyl so properly cared for wraps will result in easy removal!
Full wraps take 3 to 5 days to complete, partial wraps take less time. Image1 prefers to hold the vehicle for an additional 1-2 days of “resting” time upon completion so that the wrap can stay inside our temperature controlled shop prior to being exposed to the harsh Midwest elements. Image1 can make special arrangements with customers who cannot be without their vehicles for that long if/when necessary.
A full wrap covers the entire exterior painted surfaces of the vehicle except for the roof in most commercial instances. A partial wrap is designed to fit part of the vehicle, usually designed around contours and body lines to best compliment the vehicle’s shape.
The vehicle must be thoroughly cleaned prior to delivering it to Image1. Not a quick “drive through the car wash” kind of clean, the jams, nooks and crannies need to be cleaned to ensure that all large dirt particles are removed from the vehicle prior to it being delivered. Image1 strongly recommends clay barring the vehicle prior to getting it wrapped as well, this removes any invisible sap particles or other paint blemishes that can’t be seen by the eye but can texturally be visible underneath the wrap if not removed. Do not apply ceramic coating.
Absolutely, in fact we encourage it! Vinyl applied to a new car is like having a protective coating for the entire car’s exterior.
Keep it clean! Regular hand-washing is recommended for vinyl wraps, at the bare minimum, keep them hosed off. If you don’t ever wash your vehicle and drive around with caked on dirt, bird poop and bug guts, those contaminants will eventually become part of your wrap permanently. Be sure to ask for our wrap care guide that contains specific recommendations.
Vector files (.eps, .ai or .psd) are the preference for our design process. If you have a .jpg file, the higher the resolution, the better. Look for files that are 5+ MB in size.
Every form of payment is accepted at Image1.
Yes! Windows of vehicles as well as store front windows can be wrapped in perforation film with options such as 50/50, 70/30, 80/20 film, this film allows you to see out of the windows while still having a graphic appear on the exterior. Commercial vans can have their windows “paneled out” with wrap film if desired as well.
Image1 uses mostly Avery Dennison or 3M, American-made premium cast vinyl for ALL projects – we never use off brand vinyl or sub-quality products.
We absolutely encourage all customers to visit us in Valparaiso to see where and how the magic happens. We’re passionate about educating people about the wrap and sign industry and would love to meet you!