Wall graphics are large prints applied straight onto a wall: a full mural, a brand story behind the reception, a menu wall in a café, a cartoon wall in a children’s clinic. They are usually printed on self-adhesive wall vinyl and fixed in panels, so a plain painted wall becomes a finished feature in a day. 3 Red Media prints wall graphics at Chandni Chowk for Pune offices, shops, schools and homes.
Compared with a painted mural, a printed wall graphic is faster, can use photographs and exact brand colours, and can be replaced when the design changes.
Which walls take a vinyl graphic well
The wall matters more than anything else on this job. Vinyl needs a smooth, sound surface to grip.
| Wall surface | Result | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth plastic or enamel paint, fully cured | Very good | Ideal. Clean off dust before fitting. |
| Fresh paint (days old) | Poor at first | Wait until the paint has fully cured; painters often suggest a few weeks. |
| Textured or rough paint | Patchy grip, texture shows through | Use a printed sunboard or framed panel fixed to the wall instead. |
| Damp or flaking wall | Will lift and bubble | Fix the damp first; vinyl will not hold. |
| Glass, laminate, smooth wood | Good | Clean with spirit before applying. |
Press a strip of ordinary cello tape firmly on the wall and pull it off. If paint comes away with it, the wall is not ready for vinyl.
Wall vinyl, wallpaper or board?
Three routes give a similar look. Printed wall vinyl is self-adhesive and suits most offices and shops. Wallpaper-style prints are applied with paste, the way traditional wallpaper is, and suit large residential walls; ask if this is what you have in mind. Printed boards, such as vinyl on sunboard, are fixed to the wall with tape or screws, which works on textured walls and can be taken down and moved.
Ideas by space
- Office reception: logo, tagline and a large brand image. See corporate office branding.
- Office work areas: company values, product timelines, team photos, meeting-room names.
- Cafés and restaurants: menu walls, food photography, local Pune themes, selfie walls. See restaurant branding.
- Gyms: motivational lines and athlete imagery on the main training wall. More on branding a gym.
- Clinics: calm nature scenes in waiting rooms, cartoons in children’s clinics.
- Schools and coaching classes: maps, science charts, alphabet walls, toppers’ boards.
- Homes: a kids’ room mural, a scenic wall behind the sofa, a family photo wall.
Measuring a wall
Measure the full width and height of the wall in feet and inches. Then mark everything that interrupts it: switchboards, AC units, windows, doors, skirting and beams. A simple sketch with these marked, plus a straight-on photo, is the best brief you can send. Walls are rarely perfectly square, so a small extra margin is added and trimmed on site.
Because a wall graphic is wider than one roll, it is printed in vertical panels that overlap slightly when fixed, the same way wallpaper is hung. The design is arranged so that panel joins do not cut through faces or small text.
Resolution for a wall
People stand close to walls, often within a few feet, so wall graphics need more resolution than a roadside banner. Aim for about 100 to 150 dpi at the final size. Stock photos and phone photos often look fine at small sizes but go soft when blown up to a 12 ft wall, so check the proof at full zoom. Vector artwork for logos and text keeps edges crisp.
Matt finish and lamination
A matt laminate is the usual choice for walls. It cuts glare from tube lights and windows, so the graphic can be read and photographed from any angle. It also protects the print from scuffs, chairs and fingerprints, which matters in corridors, classrooms and cafés where people brush past.
Fitting day
Plan for the room to be empty of furniture along that wall for a few hours. The fitter needs space to stand back, line up the first panel with a level, and work across. Switch off AC units on that wall if air blows directly on the vinyl while it is being smoothed.
Care and removal
Indoor wall graphics are easy to care for: dust with a dry cloth and wipe marks with a damp one. Avoid strong cleaners and scrubbing pads. When the time comes to change the design, the vinyl peels off. On well-bonded paint it usually comes off cleanly, but on weak or cheap paint some paint can lift with it, so test a corner first.
Cut lettering instead of a full print
Not every wall needs a full-colour mural. A company value, a quote or a room name in cut vinyl letters looks clean on a painted wall, with the paint showing between the letters. It suits offices and homes that want something quieter than a full print, and it can sit next to a printed logo panel for a mixed look.
Ordering wall graphics
Send the wall size, the sketch or photo with switches and windows marked, and your design idea or files on WhatsApp. You get a rate and a proof laid out on your wall dimensions. Printing begins after approval, and the ready time is fixed with you on WhatsApp. Fitting on site in Pune can be arranged, or you can collect the rolled panels from Chandni Chowk. If a form suits you better, request a quote here.