Good vehicle graphics start with the vehicle. Logos that look balanced on a letterhead can end up broken by a door gap, hidden by a handle, or stretched across a corrugated panel. Our design work is done on templates of the vehicle in question, with doors, windows, lights, handles and ribs shown, so the artwork fits where it will actually sit.
If you already have a designer, we can work from their files. If you do not, our studio builds the layout from your logo, colours and key messages.
What we can brand
- Side panelsprimary message
- Rearcontact details
- Front and cablogo placement
- Roofidentification for buses and fleets
- Window glassperforated film layouts
What the design service covers
We prepare side, rear, front and roof layouts as needed, adjust your logo for large-format output, and set text for distance reading. We build separate layouts for different body types in the same fleet, such as a panel van, a bakkie and a rigid truck, so the family look is consistent while each fits its body.
Design is available as a standalone service or as part of a branding job.
- Vehicle templates and measured layouts
- Logo clean-up and vectorisation
- Colour matching to brand colours
- Layouts for mixed fleets
- Print-ready files and cut paths
- Proofs for approval
The design process
It begins with a brief: who sees the vehicle, from how far away, and what action you want them to take. We then place the primary message on the largest uninterrupted surface, secondary contact details on the rear and doors, and test each against viewing distance. Draft layouts go to you as proofs showing each side with dimensions. Revisions are agreed before print, and approval of the proof is required before production begins.
Colour is handled with care. Printed colours depend on the film and the laminate, so brand colours are matched as closely as the process allows and shown on proof, though they can differ slightly from screen colours.
Material and finish choices
The design also decides material. Highly curved vehicles call for cast vinyl, flat bodies suit calendered vinyl, glass areas use perforated window film, and night-visible elements use reflective film. Gloss or matte laminate is chosen for look and glare. If a vehicle belongs to an emergency, security or municipal service, markings must follow the applicable vehicle and sector requirements and are checked before artwork is approved.
If you supply your own artwork
Send vector files with outlined fonts, or high-resolution images. Our artwork requirements page lists accepted formats, bleed and colour settings. We review supplied files and tell you what needs fixing before print.
Preparation and installation planning
Design must account for how the graphics will be fitted. Panel breaks are placed where film can be joined invisibly, and large wraps are split into manageable sections. If vehicles must be prepared, our vehicle preparation guide lists what to do beforehand.
What we need to quote
Send your logo files, brand colours, the vehicle type and make, vehicle photos and any examples of livery you like or want to avoid. For fleets, list the vehicle types and quantities, then use the fleet quote page.
Suitable branding options
At a glance
Vehicle branding design starts with the vehicle itself. Logos that look balanced on a letterhead can end up broken by a door gap, hidden by a handle or stretched across a ribbed panel. Design for a van, bakkie, truck, bus or trailer is therefore done on templates of the exact make and body, with doors, windows, lights, handles and panel lines shown, so that every graphic sits where it will actually be seen.
A good vehicle livery works at several distances: a bold shape and colour from far away, a clear company name from the next lane and readable contact details from behind. Designers check contrast, type size, reflective areas and how the layout carries across different vehicle types in a mixed fleet. Business owners in Johannesburg, Sandton, Pretoria and across South Africa can send a logo for a fresh livery, or ask for existing artwork to be adapted to new vehicles. Proofs are shown on the template before anything is printed. Request a quote for vehicle branding design and tell us the vehicle make, body type and what you want the branding to achieve. Our team can also prepare print-ready files that suit later reprints and new vehicles.
Common questions
Do I pay for design?
Design fees, where they apply, are shown on your quotation. If your artwork is print-ready, design charges are usually minimal.
How many revisions do I get?
The number of revision rounds is stated on your quotation. We aim to settle layouts quickly by asking for a clear brief.
Can you copy a livery from another vehicle?
We can adapt an existing livery to new bodies if you own the artwork or have permission to use it.
Will printed colours match my brand colours exactly?
We match as closely as the print process allows. Slight differences from screen colour are normal and are shown on proof.
Do you need a vehicle in the studio to design?
Not usually. Photos and measurements, or a model template, are enough for most vehicles.