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<\/a>\n(All case history photos by Sarah Toupin.)<\/p>\n
But it was her selection of substrates that would set her apart from other signage providers in an area that is hit with some pretty severe Canadian climate conditions, including lake-effect wind and snowfall from Lake Ontario.<\/p>\n
(At right: Original photo by Sarah Toupin digitally direct-printed on 3mm Dibond in the Brushed Silver color and finished with stainless steel standoffs.)<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted a material that would be very unique,\u201d said Toupin, who said she \u201cstumbled upon\u201d aluminum composite material. \u201cI got to know Dibond\u00ae and just loved the quality. Its outdoor capabilities would allow it to withstand fluctuations in our weather. I loved Dibond\u2019s light weight yet sturdiness. I knew it could withstand the wind and snow bouncing off signs. It also offered several fabrication options, including straight cutting, rounding the material and forming it into three-dimensional shapes. \u201d<\/p>\n
Dibond is a rigid, durable aluminum composite material consisting of two pre-painted sheets of .012-inch aluminum bonded to a solid polyethylene core \u2013 a unique composition that makes it approximately one-half the weight of aluminum. Dibond, the flattest panel on the market, offers a superior surface for direct digital printing and screen printing as well as mounting graphics. Dibond provides excellent durability in outdoor applications and won\u2019t bow or oil can. Dibond is available in 12 standard colors, including six metallic shades. Dibond is stocked in sheet sizes ranging from 48-by-96 inches to 60-by-120-inches and in thicknesses ranging from 2mm to 4mm.)<\/p>\n
Discovering Dibond allowed Toupin to push her small business plan by specializing in outdoor signage, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to become an expert in outdoor signage,\u201d said Toupin, whose company (www.sarahtoupin.com<\/a>) is focused on providing premium quality outdoor art and signage. \u201cThe more I learned about Dibond \u2013 including its manufacturing process and printing process as well as the brand\u2019s reputation \u2013 I really shifted my energy into using this product to fill a niche for outdoor business-to-business signage. This product is perfect for printing photos, business logos and graphics. It can be bent, shaped and cut with curves. To me, Dibond is the ultimate substrate. Its possibilities are beyond limitless.\u201d<\/p>\n Toupin landed her first business-to-business job in September 2012, when she was hired by the Black Prince Winery in Picton, Ontario, to update the image of its royal namesake on the winery\u2019s outdoor monument signage.<\/p>\n (At left: Image of the Black Prince Winery’s royal namesake digitally direct-printed on 3mm Dibond Brushed Silver.)<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Sarah came across our sign, the prince was looking dreadful; he was fading and peeling,\u201d said Geoff Webb, principal\/general manager, the Black Prince Winery, of the previous image painted on metal. \u201cThe sign had lasted through 10 Canadian winters but had taken a beating. It wasn\u2019t nearly as good as what we\u2019ve got now.\u201d<\/p>\n Toupin used Adobe Illustrator software to manipulate the winery\u2019s high-resolution PDF file of the prince\u2019s image, which was digitally direct-printed with an Oce Arizona GT 350 UV flatbed printer onto a sheet of Dibond in the Brushed Silver color and the 3mm thickness. The 18-inch by 24-inch sign featuring the image of the Black Prince was cut with a CNC router.<\/p>\n Black Prince Winery personnel installed the new Dibond sign directly over the fading image of the prince. (Toupin also offers installation services with stainless steel standoffs.)<\/p>\n \u201cThe faded pocked-mark prince was covered over with the beautiful shining prince that you see now,\u201d said Webb. \u201cHe went from ugly one day to a great example of his former self the next. \u2026 I\u2019d definitely use this product again. We were very happy with the service and product that Sarah provided. It all worked out well. The sign has withstood our winter weather very well. We expect this sign to be as good as the last one if not better.\u201d<\/p>\n (At right: Sarah Toupin sells holiday ornaments and door decor printed on Dibond in her Etsy store.)<\/p>\n \u201cI started selling these ornaments for the 2012 Christmas season but soon realized that they weren\u2019t just for Christmas,\u201d said Toupin, who now offers a variety of seasonal and year-round ornament and door d\u00e9cor sold via her on-line Etsy store (www.etsy.com\/shop\/sarahtoupininc<\/a>).<\/p>\n Her latest consumer offerings \u2013 colorful garden stakes printed on 3mm thick Dibond in the Brushed Silver color \u2013 will be debuted at the Sarah Toupin Inc. Booth No. E229 at the National Home Show & Canada Blooms March 15-24 at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto.<\/p>\n \u201cDibond also is perfect for creating these eye-catching home d\u00e9cor pieces,\u201d said Toupin. \u201cIt\u2019s so lightweight but sturdy. It\u2019s the best construction possible. The ink adhesion on Dibond is great. I just love this material.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nThe Black Prince Winery (www.BlackPrinceWinery.com<\/a>), a 12-year-old winery located in Ontario\u2019s Prince Edward County, is named after the Black Prince, the eldest son of England\u2019s King Edward III, who also was named Edward but died before his father. The Black Prince disguised himself in battle by wearing black armor. An image of the Black Prince created from a portrait was positioned atop the winery\u2019s monument signage. The Black Prince also graces the labels of the winery\u2019s bottled offerings.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nIn December 2012, Toupin expanded her outdoor offerings to include circular holiday tree and door ornaments in the 3-inch, 5-inch and 7-inch diameters \u2013 featuring both English and French greetings printed on 3mm Dibond in the Brushed Silver color and targeted to meet the seasonal home d\u00e9cor needs of the mass-market consumer.<\/p>\n