The Job With $5 million on the line, it shouldn’t take much to get people to audition for the latest television music competition, X Factor. Plus, the chance to meet and perform in front of celebrity judges Simon Cowell, Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, and L.A. Reid makes the process even more intriguing.
When X Factor announced that it would be taking over the Rhode Island Dunkin Donuts Center to track down the latest talent for the show’s second season, Fox 64 Providence set out to spread the word and welcome the celeb judges in a big way. Fox 64 developed the idea to turn the skybridge connecting the Dunkin Donuts Center and the Rhode Island Convention Center into a canvas for superwide marketing. The station teamed up with fellow Rhode Islanders, print provider Graphic Innovations to output the larger-than-life window graphics.
Production Fox 64 provided Graphic Innovations with a rough layout of the design. The shop then conducted color correction, proofing, and scaling in-house using Adobe Illustrator. Cross-section proofs were produced for client approval.
With the files approved and print-ready, Graphic Innovations utilized its Seiko ColorPainter H-74s with Seiko Solvent inks to output the 100 x 20-foot graphic onto 3M Scotchcal IJ40C-20R. The graphic was printed in 20 4 x 20-inch sections.
Then, using a Seal 600 laminator, 3M Scotchcal 8519 luster overlaminate was applied to the graphic. “We needed to be sure that the graphic would be reliable outdoors, but easily removable when the event was over,” explains Jim Larkin, Graphic Innovations owner and president. Cutting was done using a Kongsberg i-XL 24 Flatbed Cutter/Router.
The install required only one installer. “Working around the weather was the ultimate challenge. The mornings were so cool, and then the afternoon sun would shine directly onto the glass, which really brought the temperature up. Plus, we had to deal with rain,” says Larkin. The graphics made it up in time to welcome the X Factor staff. The super-sized graphics served as a backdrop for the tapings during the three-day audition.
The Client Fox 64 Providence
The Players Graphic Innovations (www.graphin.com)
Tools & Supplies Seal 600 laminator, Kongsberg ixl-24 cutter, Seiko 74s, 3M Scotchcal IJ40C-20R, 3M Scotchcal 8519 luster overlaminate