Floor graphics or floor advertising is a form of visual communication and advertising that involves signage and other forms of media that can be applied to the flooring surface. Traditionally, all floor graphics in Fairfax result from printing used to create static decals affixed to a floor, although newer digital processes have added experiential optical effects and 3D objects such as mats or steps.
The four most important elements of floor graphics
Floor graphics are the best way to show a lot of information in a limited space. Floor graphics represent a data table, but on a surface. The floor graphics in Fairfax can be rectangles, squares, or circles. They can have curved edges or straight lines. They can be filled with water or sand or filled with drawings or pictures.
They work best when one combines four elements:
- Size. Size matters a lot. The more information one shows, the larger the surface has to be.
- Order. The elements of a floor graphic should be arranged in an order that makes sense to their audience.
- Consistency. In general, the more things one has to show, the more one should make sure their graphics are similar.
- Colour. Colour is a useful trick. But one shouldn’t rely too much on it.
How does one make a floor graphic?
The floor graphic is a hybrid between an image and a drawing. It is an image in the sense that the elements are laid out hierarchically like an image. But it is also like a drawing because it is a moving image, like a cartoon. Here’s what one needs to know about making a floor graphic.
First, one needs a floor. Any floor will do. It can be paper, or it can be a painted floor. It could be a floor made of colored tiles, or it could be a floor made of sand or sugar cubes. It could be a floor with moving cars on it, or it could be a floor with moving people. One doesn’t have to use a real floor, but it helps.
Second, one needs a drawing, or images, for the movie. One can watch out for two things: (1) the drawing should be horizontal, so the floor graphic is vertical.
(2) the drawing should be smaller than their floor because one wants the drawing to be smaller on the screen than it is on the floor.
Third, one needs a projector. A projector is a special kind of screen that projects an image. The image is projected onto the floor, so one gets their floor graphic. Fourth, one needs a video camera. The video camera records the drawing as it flits by on the screen. Fifth, one needs a Mac or Windows PC. The Mac or Windows PC is the “brain” of the floor graphic. It gets the floor graphic from the drawing and projects the floor graphic onto the screen.
Sixth, one needs a sound recorder. The sound recorder records the sound from the video, and it’s ready to go live.
