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Month: July 2016

Which Nameplate Substrate is Right for You?

At Hallmark Nameplate, nameplate production includes labels and overlays that don’t need embossing or extensive engineering, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t serve a powerful purpose with many applications. Compared to some of our graphic overlays, nameplates offer faster production and lower pricing, without sacrificing an ounce of quality or consistency.

With more than 55 years of experience in the industry, we’re always thinking of all the options you have when it comes to designing your next nameplate. When it’s time to begin working on your next project, our team will be able to walk through the entire development process with you to ensure that your nameplate is created to suit your specific needs and applications.

There are five substrates available to make your next nameplate, but which one is right for you? We’re here to provide all the information you need to answer that question, and answer it correctly. Here are all of the options for our nameplates, in what capacities they are available—you’ll be giving us a call in no time:

Substrate: Polycarbonate (Lexan)

Lexan has a wide temperature tolerance, which allows it to withstand the elements. Similarly, it has an available flammability rating from ULVTM-2 to UL94V0. In the event of high heat or fire, Lexan can stand the heat, and will still be able to provide information for the users of your product. It can also be made with thickness form .005” to .025”. Depending on how you want your nameplate to look, you can create a polycarbonate nameplate with a gloss, velvet, or matte finish. Whether you’re looking for something for indoor or outdoor applications, Lexan is a viable option.

Substrate: Polyester (Mylar)

If you are looking for a substrate that has a lot of built-in resistance, Mylar may be the substrate for you. It is one of the best substrates for chemical and UV resistance, which makes it applicable to many industries that may be exposed to the sun’s harmful rays, or harsh chemicals that your business may use on a regular basis. It is available in thickness from .003” to .010”, and can be made with a gloss or matte finish. Not only is it highly customizable, but it is also highly functional! Whether your business is indoors or outdoors, Mylar substrates work for you.

Substrate: Vinyl

What is most unique about vinyl is that it’s available in a rigid or flexible state. Additionally, it has a wide range of thickness, from .004” to .030”. If you are looking for some great aesthetic options, you can create a vinyl nameplate with a gloss or matte finish. As it stands, vinyl is most suitable for indoor applications; however, it can be made to withstand the UV exposure of an outdoor job by applying a UV over-laminate, which is an available option here at Hallmark Nameplate.

Substrate: Paper

Looking for a nameplate (or label, in this situation) to add pizzazz and quality to your flyers, box labels, and inserts? Look no further than Hallmark Nameplate for your next label design! These labels are available in 60-pound to over 100-pound paper stock, so you have plenty of options when it comes to quality of your labels, and their durability. Paper labels may seem like something simple, but by working with our design and color experts, you’ll receive labels that are equally as cared for as even the most complicated nameplate project. Taking your labels to the next level will be a decision you won’t regret.

Substrate: Aluminum

Aluminum is certainly one of the more “rugged” substrates to use for your next nameplate, which makes them suitable for indoor and outdoor applications. It is available in thicknesses that range from .003” to .032” to suit your every need. All of Hallmark’s aluminum sheets are pre anodized. This certainly adds to the durability of this substrate! Finishes are available in matte or mill as well, which could add the finishing touch on your next nameplate.

The options available for your next nameplate project are aplenty, but that doesn’t mean that the decision-making process has to be confusing for you. We are leaders in the industry and make it our mission to walk you through the entire length of your project. Hallmark Nameplate won’t leave you wondering which substrate is best. To get the ball rolling on your next project, contact us today!

The Psychology of Colors in Hallmark Products

At Hallmark Nameplate, we can handle your project from conception to completion. A hugely detrimental part of the process of completing your project is design, and there’s no doubt that we can handle that too. Recently, we discussed color theory, and how we use that to ensure that your products look as best as they can.

We’ve employed a full-time colorist with full understanding of the color theory, and specializes in color design, matching, and quality control. By doing this, Hallmark Nameplate can ensure that a professional in the design sector is ready and able to detect any dips in quality, using tools that are capable of measuring any variance in the color spectrum.

Now that we’ve discussed both branding and color theory, it’s time to fill you in on something that combines the best of both subjects: colors in relation to psychology and branding. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to understand how and why we design for our clients the way that we do. Color decisions may seem trivial, but the truth is that the hues you choose to incorporate into your designs with Hallmark Nameplate have a huge influence on how your brand is perceived by the common consumer. Here’s what you need to know about the psychology behind your favorite colors:

Primary Colors

Red is overall, a physical color, with its power coming from the fact that it is the longest wavelength. It is no doubt an attention-grabber, which is why it is used in traffic lights and traffic signs. In fact, looking at the color red stimulates and raises the viewer’s pulse, which can lead to the “fight or flight” instinct. While it’s true that is an attention-grabber, too much of it can be perceived as not just demanding, but aggressive.

Blue is considered an intellectual color, or the color of the mind. It’s very soothing to look at and affects us mentally, which is totally different from the way we interpret the color red. There is a differentiation between strong blues and soft blues: strong ones will stimulate clear thought, while lighter blues calm the mind and aid in concentration. Blue in general is often the color of clear communication, so it is relatively popular not just in design, but also as a “favorite color” in the general population. The flipside to this interpretation is that it can be perceived as cold, unemotional, or unfriendly.

Yellow is an emotional color; the wavelength is long and highly stimulating, which is why it is one of the strongest colors, psychologically. Using the right yellow to fit your design will lift spirits and esteem, and it is often thought of as the color of confidence and optimism. There must be a balance, however. The wrong tone in relation to other tones in a color scheme can increase fear and anxiety. Our color experts at Hallmark Nameplate know how to use this color precisely.

Secondary Colors

Orange is a combination of red and yellow, so it is stimulating in the same physical way as red and also emotionally, as with yellow. It allows us to focus our minds on physical comfort, such as food, warmth, and shelter. If used with black, however, it could be taken negatively, as deprivation. If there is too much orange in a design, it could suggest a lack of serious intellectual values.

Green is representative of balance, and strikes the eye in an interesting way. When you look at the color green, your eyes do not have to adjust. This helps the color green be perceived as more restful than other colors. As the center of the color spectrum, it truly allows for balance, which is very important in design! Think about it: the environment around us is home to various green hues, so it’s completely natural for us to feel relieved and reassured by the color.

Violet, or purple, is primarily spiritual in nature, and it has the shortest wavelength out of all colors. Looking at it encourages deep contemplation, or mediation. It even has associations with royalty and communicates high quality, so if you’re looking to portray yourself as a leader in an industry, this is definitely a good option when it comes to design. Additionally, because it is the last visible wavelength before the ultra-violet ray, it is often associated with time, space, and the cosmos.

These are only a few of the options you have available when it comes to designing your new project with Hallmark Nameplate. If you’re looking to work with the leaders in the industry and create a beautiful, functional nameplate, graphic overlay, membrane switch, or other electronic need, contact us today!

Printed Circuit Board Basics

Hallmark Nameplate has an electrostatic discharge-controlled manufacturing facility to provide you with through-hole, surface mount, or mixed-PCB assembly services. You may need a PCB, or printed circuit board, for your business or product, and if you’ve come to us to make it happen, you’ve certainly come to the right place! But the best way for you to realize the true care we put into our circuit boards, it’s important to first understand exactly how they work and how that influences their function and capabilities.

The truth is that printed circuit boards are one of the key components of electronics. Here’s what you need to know about PCBs like those made at Hallmark Nameplate:

What is a printed circuit board?

While they most often go by printed circuit boards (and they go by PCBs at Hallmark Nameplate), they are also called printed wiring boards or printed wiring cards by others. Before they were invented, it took a labor-intensive process of point-to-point wiring just to create a circuit. As a result, there were frequent failures at wire junctions, and shorter circuits because wire insulations would eventually crack due to age.

An advancement that propelled the creation of PCBs into the future was wire wrapping, which is done by wrapping a small gauge wire around a post at each connector point, which resulted in a gas-tight connection. These connections are not just highly durable but proved to be much easier to change. Shortly thereafter, electronics began to make a shift from vacuum tubes and relays to more silicon and integrated circuits. This was great for production, because not only did the size of electronic components decrease exponentially, but so did the cost. The common buyer looked more and more to electronic products, which lead those looking to meet this demand to reduce the size and manufacturing costs. They began looking for better solutions, which lead to the birth of the PCB.

How do you make a printed circuit board?

To describe it in a very relatable way, a printed circuit board is made up of many layers, like a cake or a lasagna. The alternating layers of different materials are bound together with heat and adhesive, which creates a single entity.

The middle, or base layer, contains the substrate which is usually fiberglass. Having a solid core allows the PCB to be rigid and adds to its thickness. Keep in mind that there are also flexible PCBs that are built on high-temperature plastic. The thickness of the printed circuit boards can vary, and Hallmark Nameplate is very accommodating of the qualities you will need for your project.

Typically, the next layer around the substrate is thin and made of copper foil; this is laminated to the circuit board with heat and adhesive as well. Most of the time, this copper layer is applied to both sides of the substrate. One common term in the industry is a “double-sided” or “two-layer board” which refers to the number of copper layers (two) in the PCB design. The number of copper layers can be as little as one or as many as 16, or more! Another feature that varies is the thickness of each copper layer. Each ounce per square is translatable to about 35 micrometers, or 1.4 thousandths of an inch of copper thickness.

The third layer is called the solder mask layer, which provides the color of the PCB, often green. The solder mask layer is placed over the copper layer to insulate the copper traces from accidental contact with things such as other metals, solders, or conductive bits. Preventing solder jumpers is just one part of what this layer is relied on for – it also helps the user to solder to the correct places, which can be tricky or even impossible without the use of the solder mask layer.  While it is often green, it is possible to have a solder mask in virtually any color, so don’t worry about the aesthetics; Hallmark Nameplate has you covered—or should we say, “colored.”

The final layer is called silkscreen, and it is usually the layer that has letters, numbers, and symbols that make for the easiest assembly possible. There are also other types of indicators that allow anyone using the printed circuit board to understand what goes where, or otherwise how to use it. Similar to the solder mask layer, the silkscreen layer is often white but can be customized with any ink color. Keep in mind, however, that it is not common to have more than one color on each PCB.

Understanding the different elements of a PCB board is helpful when deciding what exactly you need for your business. When it comes to quality, you won’t find anyone better than Hallmark Nameplate to work with you on your project, from design to completion. Contact us today to get your PCB started today!

The Influence of ANSI Standards

When it comes to the foundations of good business and good products, quality and set standards are what separates good business from a great business. At Hallmark Nameplate, our products meet many industries and government-set standards, including that of the ANSI, or American National Standards Institute. Sure, this means that our products, from nameplates to circuit boards to box builds, are of the highest quality, but what does keeping up with these standards mean for groups that shape industries, such as young, emerging professionals, companies, government, organizations, and/or consumers?

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What is ANSI?

The ANSI is considered the voice of the United States standards and conformity assessment system, and works diligently to empower its members and constituents like Hallmark Nameplate to strengthen the nation’s marketplace position in the global economy, while at the same time helping to assure the safety and health of consumers and the protection of the environment.

This institute is massive and is populated by many, but for good reason: it is responsible for the creation, spreading, and use of thousands of norms and guidelines that impact businesses in every sector, including where we at Hallmark Nameplate lead.

What’s more, ANSI is actively engaged in accreditation, which involves assessing the competence of organizations determining conformance to the standards they create.

How do these standards influence different groups?

  • Young Professionals and Students: In order for industries like Manufacturing that are home to Hallmark Nameplate’s products to succeed in a global market, it’s important to properly educate and train the next generation of professionals. If they understand the importance of standardization from a young age, they will become truly energized leaders who prioritize the highest industry standards.
  • Companies (That’s us!): The most successful companies in any industry acknowledge the way that conforming to the highest standards affects their products and services, which in turn leads them to further successes. It is, in fact, a business tool that Hallmark Nameplate manages in the same way that they manage safety, quality control, intellectual property, and environmental policies. Not only that, but a high level of standardization leads to lower production costs. All of this helps our products reach further than ever before because meeting standards set by ANSI and other organizations lead to our products meeting the standards in other countries too.
  • Government: There’s no denying that standards and conformity assessments impact many aspects of life in the United States. Without them, we would not have a sound national economy. Many government agencies have a need for standards, regulation, policies, and operations. There are public-private standards partnerships which provide a networking opportunity to discuss and work through standards issues and to provide and receive input on specific issues.
  • Organizations: If you are a trade association, or other standards developing group, those who are and seek to be members look to you for guidance on how to properly run their business according to the developed standards. Meeting national priorities is the end goal, and there is no denying that standards and conformity activities help you and your members meet their goals.

    In the U.S. marketplace, standards and conformance lead to successful industries. Similarly, to the benefit of companies, this should be treated as a tool just like quality control, safety regulations, intellectual property, and environmental policies. They also, in the same way, that they benefit Hallmark Nameplate, benefit organizations, and industries as a whole by lowering costs all-around. Let’s not forget the competitive advantages of being able to say that your products and services conform to regulations!
  • Consumers: This may seem like a no-brainer, but buying from businesses that adhere to voluntary standards means that you’re not only investing in an honorable business but also that your products are of a higher quality and will exceed your own personal performance standards. Not only that, but only the highest quality and industry-compliant products are used widely in the realms of public health and safety, and so this benefits you exponentially! Products are more reliable, and consumer confidence is boosted. 

It’s clear that regulations and standards established by those who are a part of the American National Standards Institute are good for business, and Hallmark Nameplate is living proof of that! Our dedication to these standards is just as clear as our dedication to keeping our employees safe and our customers pleased with the products we create and manufacture to serve their many purposes. Whether you are a young professional, other business, a member of the government, implementing organization, or consumer, adhering strictly to standards provides a benefit to you all. If you’re looking to start your next project, from nameplate to box build, and are looking to work with a leader in the industry that is founded by great products and standards, contact us at Hallmark Nameplate today!