| People find many ways to express their | | | | vehicles look and performance, so now they have |
| personality, weather it is through sports, music, | | | | started to turn to the artistic experts on how to |
| art, or another outlet. In any case the creative | | | | display their vehicle. One company that |
| nature that we have comes to the surface once | | | | understands this area extremely well is Besides |
| we have the tools and developed ability to | | | | the founder being an owner of collector cars, this |
| accomplish this. One area that has continued to | | | | company has spent years talking with owners and |
| grow as a result of technological advancement is | | | | listening to them to understand their needs and |
| with computer enhanced graphics. Faster home | | | | wants before it even became a company. Often |
| computers coupled with programs such as Adobe | | | | the owners knew they wanted something |
| Photoshop and Illustrator have taken the high end | | | | different, but was not sure exactly what or how |
| graphics work once limited to corporations to | | | | to accomplish it. By listening to them, and |
| smaller businesses. The most basic photo | | | | understanding what could be done, their needs |
| manipulation is to correct flaws in the picture, | | | | were met. Some of the non-traditional examples |
| which can be expanded to the more advanced | | | | included the idea of having small circular |
| creation of fantasy scenes, such as overlaying | | | | photographs of the owners car that can be |
| multiple images and the addition of special effects. | | | | inserted in the center of wheels, to having |
| These changes have enabled businesses to start | | | | custom step magnets for placement on the |
| in the areas of custom portrait and pet | | | | running boards of that custom coupe to keep |
| photography, to wildlife and even automotive | | | | people from stepping on it. |
| areas. For those of you who are familiar with the | | | | For the serious owner, most have a theme |
| classic and collector automotive areas, this level of | | | | garage or office with pictures and posters of their |
| photography is a natural fit. I have traveled to | | | | car and similar cars. Often these pictures were |
| many car show events over the past 20 years, | | | | done in the traditional style of |
| learning a lot about how car owners add that | | | | "point-shoot-develop-print-frame". The custom |
| personal touch to their car. As with an artist | | | | graphics companies that specialize in the |
| holding a paint brush, these owners look at their | | | | automotive industry have now taken the |
| vehicles as the canvas, and leaving nothing | | | | "develop" stage to the next level with custom |
| overlooked. Attention is taken by these owners | | | | image enhancements. These enhancements could |
| to ensure that there is a blinding shine on the | | | | be as simple as a picture of your car overlaid on |
| chrome and paint, and every component, even | | | | the engine compartment, or a key element such |
| the underside is perfect. As with the painter, they | | | | as the gas cap of that Mustang GT. By combining |
| are expressing their personality and creativity. | | | | this level of graphics, a plain photograph is |
| This desire for creativity by these automotive | | | | transformed from just a photograph to an |
| owners has spurred an industry that caters | | | | expression of personality. |
| directly to them. The car enthusiast is a proud | | | | There are many examples of what I have |
| group that often has many unique ideas that | | | | described on line and Palmieri Concepts has a large |
| would differentiate their car, but they may not be | | | | selection of examples that will give you many |
| sure how to accomplish it. They go to the | | | | ideas that you can incorporate into your own |
| experts for advice on how to enhance their | | | | works. |