BIG IDEAS GLOSSARY
3rd DIMENSION BILLBOARD -- An inflatable billboard
extension that adds 3D excitement to typically flat outdoor
billboards. These extensions are available in nearly every form
that a ground mounted inflatable is available in.
3D BANNER – Similar to a 3rd Dimension
Billboard, 3D Banners add sealed inflatable dimensionality to
flat hanging banners, creating excitement never seen in banner
advertising before.
AIRBRUSHING - A process of applying paint
or silkscreen inks to the vinyl, using an air compressor and
blowing the paint onto the material in a fine mist. It allows
blending of various shades and colors as well as highlighting.
Airbrushing requires a great deal of skill, and the effects
offer a high degree of realism.
ARTWORK - The painted-on or silk-screened
details applied to the INFLATABLE to produce the finished product
AIR-LOCK DOOR - A turnstile door which allows
access to and from the inside of an INFLATABLE. One type of
air-lock is a rotating model used as access to photographic
darkrooms. It allows coming and going without letting the air
escape, thereby deflating the structure.
AMP (AMPERES) - A measure of electrical current
used in rating the power requirements of an electric motor.
For instance, one blower commonly used in INFLATABLE bottles
and cans draws 5.8 amps at 110-volts.
ANIMATION - The incorporation of motion into
a GIANT INFLATABLE through the use of small motors or variations
in air pressure or timers. An example of this is a billboard
in THE THIRD DIMENSION featuring a hand holding a can. The illusion
is that the hand crushes the can; then the can re-inflates to
repeat the process. Various kinds of animation, including blinking
lights and sound effects, can be incorporated into an INFLATABLE.
BLADDER - Air-retaining shapes similar to
the chambers in an air mattress, used to create custom shapes.
Bladders are used internally.
BLOWER - The electric device which forces
cold (ambient) air into the INFLATABLE form to inflate it and
maintain the firmness of the shape. The blower does not have
blades like a regular house fan, but is of the “squirrel
cage” variety.
CFM - A measure of air volume movement; the
air flow produced by an air-moving device, such as a fan/blower,
measure in cubic feet per minute.
COLD AIR INFLATABLE – An INFLATABLE
form using a continuous flow of fan-forced ambient air, as opposed
to hot air, or helium. Cold air INFLATABLES are sewn together
and bleed off excess air pressure by design.
DEFLATION ZIPPER – Openable zippers
utilized to deflate the inflatable at the conclusion of use.
DIGITAL PRINT – Application of artwork
utilizing modern electronic printing equipment. Digital print
offers the ultimate in realism and quality. Electronic art files
are required to utilize digital print techniques.
DISPENSER OPTION - An optional feature built
into GIANT beverage container replicas (bottles, cans, etc.).
It consists of an access zipper with a two-sided zipper pull
which permit s the installation of a beverage dispenser inside
the INFLATABLE, and a small covered hole in the side of the
INFLATABLE next to the zipper which allows a dispenser hose
to be passed through the INFLATABLE and connected to a dispenser.
The final result creates the effect that the INFLATABLE is full
of the liquid being dispensed.
DOUBLE-STITCHED - Double-stitched construction
is used with double-needle industrial sewing machines that sew
a double line of stitching in one path for extra strength and
rip-resistance.
DUFFLE BAG - A soft-walled fabric carrying
case with a zipper closure and sewn-on handles and storage pockets,
used to store and transport INFLATABLES. Constructed of water-repellant,
heavy-duty canvas-type material.
GIANT INFLATABLE - A larger-than-life, realistic
replica of a product, person, character, logo, or symbol, constructed
from machine-sewn vinyl coated nylon. GIANT INFLATABLES are
inflatable and kept firm by a 110-volt electric fan/blower,
using cold forced-air pressure.
GUSSETS - Single-wall fabric reinforcements
used to form custom shapes and guide the natural tendency of
the air to form rounded shapes. Gussets are used internally.
Hz (HERTZ) - Measure of electrical frequency
for electric motors. This used to be called cycles, or cycles
per second. Most U.S. appliances operate at 60 Hz at 110 volts.
In many foreign countries, their appliances operate at 50 Hz.
INFLATION TUNNEL - A fabric tunnel or tube
which connects the fan to the INFLATABLE form. It attaches to
the fan by means of an elastic cord sewn into the end of the
tube which is stretched over a lip on the fan exhaust outlet.
INTERNAL CONSTRUCTION - The use of special
shapes and panels sewn inside an INFLATABLE to counteract the
tendency of the air pressure to assume its natural spherical
shape. An example of this would be a GIANT box which uses internal
construction to achieve the flat sides with only slightly round
corners.
MEGA-SEALED INFLATABLES – These are
sealed inflatables that are generally larger than five feet
in overall height. MEGA SEALED INFLATABLES offer a unique, cost
effective manner to deliver big impressions at a reasonable
cost in an At Retail environment.
PORTABOARD - A full-sized, free-standing portable
billboard. Portaboards comes in various sizes, the most common
being 14 x48 , the size of a standard outdoor bulletin. The
artwork on a portaboard is changeable and removable. It allows
an advertiser to take a full-size billboard and put it just
about anywhere he wants, to put his message where his market
is, indoors or out, rooftop or ground.
SEALED INFLATABLE – Inflatables that
are designed to be inflated one time and then sealed off. These
inflatables are generally smaller than COLD AIR INFLATABLES
and are often used for At Retail Promotions.
SILKSCREEN PRINTING - Process for applying
artwork using pre-cut stencils or photographic stencils. Silkscreen
printing allows a high degree of accuracy and consistent reproduction
of the same image. It is used to produce duplicates when ordered
in quantity.
STAKES (tent stakes or beach stakes) - Metal
spikes used to secure the INFLATABLE s tethers to the ground
in soft earth or tarmac surfaces. Beach stakes are special-duty
stakes with a corkscrew-like shape; used to anchor an INFLATABLE
in soft surfaces or beach sand. (Also known as sand anchors.)
STATIC PRESSURE - Measurement of air pressure
produced by a fan/blower, measured in inches of water. This
is roughly the amount of air pressure required to raise a column
of water one inch.
TARP - Tarpaulin or protective ground cloth
used to protect the INFLATABLE from soiling or damage from the
ground surface. Tarps should be used when erecting an INFLATABLE
on greasy-surfaced parking lots, on grass to prevent stains,
or especially on sand and loose dirt to prevent the fan from
ingesting debris.
TETHERS - Nylon straps used to anchor the
INFLATABLES securely to nearby solid objects or to the ground.
Many INFLATABLES have tethers around the bottom which can be
staked to the ground or weighted down. Some INFLATABLES also
have top tethers to counteract moderate winds. Tethers are usually
positioned at a 45-degree angle from the inflatable.
THERMAL PROTECTION - A temperature-sensitive
protective device built into an electric motor that prevents
the motor from over-heating due to excessive temperatures or
overloads. Most thermal protectors will stop the motor from
operating and then after a cooling-off period of about 15 minutes,
allow the motor to continue operation.
VELCRO - A hook-and-loop tape used to join
pieces of material by pressing the two pieces together. The
weaving prevents rips or tears from growing .
VINYL-COATED NYLON - A tough, puncture resistant
material made of woven nylon (called a scrim) bonded with a
vinyl coating and pressure, bonding of the two materials together.
The weaving prevents rips or tears from growing .
The vinyl-coated nylon material is measure in ounces per square
yard. It is available in singe and double-sided coatings. The
double-sided material is used when the inside of the INFLATABLE
needs to have a finished surface as well as the exterior surface.
Colors can be custom-mixed, as specified in the PANTONE Matching
System (PMS), or they can be custom-matched to samples provided.
Various metallic finishes can also be provided.
WALKABOUT COSTUME -- These “human sized”
inflatables are actually inflatable costumes powered by a small
battery pack. These vinyl or plush costumes offer ease of use,
small shipping sizes, and “air conditioning” as
part their benefits when compared with traditional costumes.
|
