Hi everyone,
I’m currently reaching out on behalf of 6628, we are currently trying to get the robot to look more professional and was looking for insights and suggestions to do something like what is in the photo. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Staples/UPS/FedEX printing services is a pretty easy way to get some high-quality prints on a variety of services.
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I agree, large-format printers from those stores would work. Or call a sign shop and describe your needs.
Our last few have been single-color vinyl cut on my Cricut machine. It’s pretty economical to get really nice results, if you know how to work vector art to your advantage.
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Or get a sign shop to sponsor you! 3946 did that for a few years. (It helps that a team member’s dad worked there, though.) Not only did they do the sponsor panels, but some robot branding, pit graphics, and even some neat graphics for the tool chest/work bench. Three of the five are seen in the 2019 pic below:
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As others mentioned, search for a fedex kinkos, sign shop, or a reprographics or large format print shop in your area. But, this is just the first step.
Contact your sponsors for vector or high resolution versions of their logos if you have not already done so. Do you have a student our teacher/mentor with an interest in graphic design? This is exactly the job they’re suited for. As a professional designer, I’d design these signs using adobe illustrator, but there are cheaper/free apps out there as an alternative (I just haven’t used them so I can’t vouch for them).
Whoever is designing your signs will need to closely communicate with the rest of your design/build team to establish suitable locations to add the signs to your robot. This can be a struggle. I’ll be blunt: some folks might view signs as purely aesthetic, and may see it as a hinderance to the overall function of the robot. Remember that signage (especially sponsor signage) is part of the “bigger picture” long term sustainability of your team, and are thus an important part of your robotics program. Having said that, you’ll need to be willing to compromise to make sure your signs don’t restrict access during maintenance interfere with your ability to effectively compete. It’s a balance. Decide on a size and shape that works for everyone. Also account for holes where parts may need to protrude through the sign; I doubt your sponsor would want a complete motor sticking through the middle of their logo.
My advice: there are some larger sign shops that will do full color printing on coroplast. This is a excellent way to have a large sign area on very light, durable material. You can secure this to the sides of your robot with Velcro and/or zip ties for easy removal for maintenance between matches.
I’m sure this is more than you’d actually needed to know, but I hope you find it helpful.
On my high school team we used to get the signage printed by a local sign shop. They did it for free in return for adding their logo on the sign. I think they were usually made out of the corrugated plastic stuff that’s usually used for lawn signs.
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So your sign maker became a sponsor 
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