If a picture is worth a thousand words, a QR or “Quick Reference” code could be worth a million. That’s because it provides the viewer with a doorway from a printed medium to unlimited interactive online content.
Read more »Priming and Painting for Wall Graphics Applications
New drywall must be primed and painted properly to ensure good adhesion of pressure-sensitive vinyl wall graphics. You wouldn’t think that applying vinyl wall graphics to newly painted drywall should be a problem. Of course, problems can and do happen. Especially when contractors rush to get the job done. Read more »
What Makes UV Curable Inkjet Inks Work?
Unlike solvent, eco-solvent or water-based inks, UV-curable inks do not evaporate into the air. Instead these inks dry or “cure” instantly through a polymerization process. This process is initiated by exposing the inks to a certain spectrum and intensity of UV light. Read more »
NEPATA S770 High Performance Sheeter
Effective today, November 5, 2020, we are officially accepting orders for the new NEPATA S770 High Performance 30” Sheeter. Read more »
Which Typeface Should You Use?
Readability and Legibility When I worked in advertising, 40 years ago, I was taught that a serif type, such as Times Roman, was more readable than a sans serif type because the first words that we read in elementary school primers are in that family of typeface. The morning newspaper is also set in a […] Read more »
How Dyes and Pigments Differ
The chemicals that color our world, whether we are painting or digitally printing or decorating fabric, fall into two categories: dyes and pigments. Both types of colorants add color to materials ranging from wood, paper, textiles, glass, plastic, ceramic glazes and even concrete. Each type of colorant, however, is very different with respect to chemical composition, solubility, durability […] Read more »
Digital Printing and Metamerism
A Horse Of A Different Color…learn how colors can change in appearance under different lighting conditions. Read more »
Window Graphics and Window Displays
It’s Not Just Window Dressing We all know that the economic recovery is anemic – arguably the worst recovery since the Great Depression. Drive through any business district in any town and you will witness one vacant storefront after another. A conservative estimate is at least 10% of our nation’s retailers are in financial trouble. Read more »
Vinyl Application Tool Box
At a vehicle wrap workshop I spoke with a “old school” decal installer who scoffed at new tools that were being demonstrated. “Why do you need to buy another gimmick for vinyl application?” According to him, all you need to apply vinyl graphics is a squeegee, rivet brush, knife, tape measure, propane torch and air […] Read more »
The Screen Printing Frame
Regardless of whether you are using a sophisticated commercial press or one that you made yourself, it consists of three primary components: the work surface, the squeegee, and the frame. The work surface or bed of the press should be perfectly smooth and flat. Imperfections in the work surface show up as imperfections in the […] Read more »
