Want to decorate your lobby or retail space? Want a cool brand activation or a new theme for your restaurant? Wall graphics can transform your space to a new experience.
The creative minds at CR&A Custom love turning blank walls into bold brand statements with vibrant imagery. We know that preparation is the key to a successful installation of branded wall graphics.
Over the past three decades, our team has printed and installed thousands of wall graphics in Los Angeles and beyond , so we can humbly call ourselves true pros. We can write a book on the DOs and DON’Ts of wall graphic prep. To save you time, let’s skip the book and make it a short how-to article.
Before you peel a single adhesive liner off your walls, here are five things you definitely want to do to get your space wall-graphic-ready—plus a few insider tips to make sure your install goes smooth, looks sharp, and lasts.
1. Start with Smart, Purpose-Driven Design
Interior décor graphics are where the brand meets the environment. But it’s not just about making a room look cool—it’s about creating an experience. Good design takes into account scale, wall size, traffic flow, and even lighting.
Design at full scale when possible. If not feasible due to file size, design at 25% or 50% scale and adjust DPI accordingly (e.g., 300 DPI at 25% scale = 75 DPI at full size).
Keep raster images at appropriate resolution. Vector art (logos, text) scales without loss of quality—but images and photos must meet the minimum resolution for clarity at intended print size. Save raster graphics as TIFF or PSD to preserve high-quality detail and never pull low-res images from the web.
Large format printers use CMYK (or extended CMYK) inks, so always convert and color-proof your files in CMYK (not RGB) color mode to avoid color surprises. Embed your fonts and flatten layers before sending to print.
Need some professional help? Designing for a 20-foot-wide wall isn’t the same as laying out a flyer. Our in-house creative team knows how to think big, use the space, and avoid rookie mistakes like distorted logos or text that gets swallowed by a corner. And yes, we’ll mock it up so you can see exactly how it’ll look on your actual wall before anything goes to print.
Want to extend the graphical experience from your walls to the floor? Ask us about floor graphics, too!
2. Give That Wall a Checkup
Your wall might need a little TLC. Dings, dust, rough textures, and old paint can wreck a perfect installation. The cleaner and smoother the surface, the better your graphic will look—and the longer it’ll stay put.
Run your hand across the wall. If it feels gritty, flaky, or uneven, grab a sander or patch kit. If it’s been painted in the last month, hit pause—paint needs about three to four weeks to fully cure before we roll on that vinyl. Not sure? We can send you a test swatch to try.
3. Let’s Talk Materials & Digital Printing (the Fun Part!)
Behind every great wall graphic is some seriously advanced print tech. We’re talking high-res, vibrant-color, precision-cut digital printing using premium adhesive vinyl. This isn’t DIY sticker paper—it’s commercial-grade, fade-resistant, and built to impress.
Not all vinyl is created equal. With our expertise and certifications, we know how to pick materials based on your environment. High-traffic area? We’ll laminate for durability. Textured surface? We’ve got special films. Outdoor wall? No problem. We’ve got you covered. And we color-match to your brand down to the exact Pantone, so your identity stays consistent across every inch. 
4. Measure With Precision.
Wall graphics are made to fit. Like, really fit. That means we need exact dimensions—not just ballpark guesses. We also need to know where the outlets, switches, thermostat, and fire alarm are hiding. The more info we have upfront, the cleaner your final install will look.
We offer site surveys so our team can map out everything in person (no guesswork required). If you’re sending us photos and measurements yourself, make sure to shoot head-on and include notes on every bump, curve, or light fixture. Bonus points for a quick sketch or layout.
5. Get the Walls and Room Ready for Installation
Some people mistakenly believe that they should paint the walls before installation. Don’t do that please! If you do, there is a risk of outgassing. Outgassing is the release of gases (solvents) from paint during the drying process. If a new graphic material is applied before these materials fully dry and release their gases, the trapped gases can cause bubbles, lifting, and premature failure of the graphic.
CR&A’s professional installers conduct tests to avoid these outgassing issues. We test the adhesion of the vinyl to the surface, especially if low VOC or scrubbable paints were used, as they may have longer cure times.
We like to keep the room cool and dry, with temps between 65–75°F. Extreme temps or high humidity can mess with adhesion, which means bubbles, edges lifting, or worse. And no one wants that.
We also avoid blowing the AC or heat directly on the install wall. We clear the space, sweep the floor, and prepare to install the printed vinyl.
Why It Pays to Work With One Team from Start to Finish
Sure, you could hire one company to design, another to print, and a third to install—but that’s a recipe for chaos. Mismatched materials, miscommunication, missed deadlines... it happens more often than you’d think.
CR&A Custom is your one-stop wall graphic dream team.
We handle everything:
✔ Concept and design
✔ Material selection
✔ Print production
✔ Project management
✔ Installation
We’re not just printers—we’re problem-solvers, brand boosters, and detail obsessives. Whether you’re doing one feature wall or wrapping an entire headquarters, we make sure the whole process runs smoothly and looks incredible.
Ready to turn that blank wall into a brand moment?
Whether you want to add some life to your showroom, conference room, or classroom, CR&A Custom is here to help you go from idea to install—no stress, no guesswork, just awesome results.
📞 Let’s chat. +(213) 749-4440 INFO@CRACUSTOM.COM
🎨 Let’s design.
🚀 Let’s make it happen.
