Varsity 101, a division of SFC Graphics, has been helping schools create exciting and colorful campus environments since 2004. Leveraging SFC’s decades of color expertise coupled with proven design and development methods, the company has been able to help guide athletic directors, coaches and other school administrators confidently through the creative process. The Varsity 101 team has worked with over 200 schools throughout the Midwest, Texas and Florida.
In the early 1900s the company began its legacy with three panoramic photographs including a copyrighted photo of the 1909 World Series. These photos reside in the Library on Congress’ American Memory Collection.
In 1927 the company produced the first full-color spread ad in a major publication for the Willy’s Knight automobile engine, which ran in The Saturday Evening Post
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Continuing on the innovation track the company introduced “flush mounted” photo-engravings to the world in 1948, and produced printing films for Business Week when it became the first major national publication to use the lithographic printing.
And in 1968 it was the first company to receive photographic film from NASA, and within 12 hours provided color separations to news outlets across the country. This enabled The Man-on-themoon to be printed in full color the next day.
From 1972 to 1987 SFC scanned, “cleaned and enhanced” original images; performed stripping and pre-press for print film and color proof distribution to select printers for Major League Baseball trading cards.
In 1992 the company went digital with Racing Champions, the company behind NASCAR trading cards. After each NASCAR race SFC would receive hundreds of digital photos uploaded to its server, which were then sorted and tagged by Racing Champions. SFC would then color correct and edit each photo based on sponsors’ PMS colors and requirements.
In 2005 imageFence™ Custom Print Fence Systems debuted in Detroit Michigan during Super Bowl XL and has been seen at numerous athletic venues since then.
From a time when the company operated as a photo etching and engraving shop, through today, SFC has always produced on the leading edge of color and commercial print reproduction.
Today Varsity 101 marks a new era with exciting colorful products and services for school athletics. Using world-class digital imaging, high quality materials and coatings, and custom designs, we create one-of-a-kind environments that can
help schools across the U.S. deliver a meaningful and lasting experience.
