The controlp.io blog

Print, design, and
the business of branding.

Featured Design tips · 8 min read

The 7 deadly sins of banner design (and how to avoid every one)

Seventy percent of the banner artwork that lands in our pre-press queue has at least one of these seven problems. Fix them and your print comes out looking 10× better — every time.

SM
Sofia Mendes
April 14, 2026
Read article
Vehicle wraps

How we wrapped a fleet of 12 Tesla Model Ys in 10 days

A behind-the-scenes look at our largest Tesla fleet project to date — planning, materials, and what we'd do differently.

MR
Marcus Rivera · 12 min read · Apr 11
Design tips

Business card design: the 2-second rule

If someone can't grasp your name, profession, and contact info in two seconds, your business card is working against you.

SM
Sofia Mendes · 6 min read · Apr 8
Materials guide

Choosing between 13oz, 15oz, and 18oz vinyl banners

The difference isn't just weight — here's when each material is worth the price bump.

JW
Jeremy Waters · 5 min read · Apr 2
File prep

CMYK vs RGB: what's the deal with color for print?

Why your screen-perfect blue shows up as purple on a banner — and how to fix it before uploading.

SM
Sofia Mendes · 4 min read · Mar 28
Case study

How a local bakery tripled weekend foot traffic with one sign

Sometimes the difference between 40 and 120 walk-ins is a sign that actually makes people stop.

JW
Jeremy Waters · 7 min read · Mar 22
Small business

The yard sign campaign playbook for local service businesses

Placement, quantity, message, timing — what we've learned from printing 40,000+ yard signs.

JW
Jeremy Waters · 9 min read · Mar 18
Design tips

Perforated window graphics: when they work and when they don't

Perfect for storefronts, tricky for cars. Here's when to use one-way perforation and when to go with other options.

MR
Marcus Rivera · 5 min read · Mar 14
Industry news

3M just launched a new premium cast vinyl — here's what we think

We tested the new 2080-HD on a Model S. Initial impressions after one month: excellent.

MR
Marcus Rivera · 6 min read · Mar 8
Design tips

Design rules for A-frame signs that actually stop traffic

Six feet away, moving at 15 mph, with 2 seconds of attention — can your sign be read? If not, here's why.

SM
Sofia Mendes · 5 min read · Mar 3

Subscribe for the print newsletter

One email a month. Design tips, case studies, and occasional shop discounts. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.