After you heat press an applique to a garment, how long should you wait before peeling the carrier or the hot mask from the applique? A number of variables come into play, which are covered in my story: Heat Transfer Films: Hot, Warm or Cold Peel. The physical properties of the particular flex or flock film that […] Read more »
Cleaning Polycarbonate Sheet Before Vinyl Application
Polycarbonate is one tough plastic. Not even Dirty Harry with his .44 magnum could blast through a one-inch sheet. To use Harry’s words: “a man has to know his limitations”. Read more »
Application Tape Tips
Here are some helpful tips for working with application tape: Whether you laminate application tape by hand or with a laminator, avoid trapping air bubbles between the vinyl graphics and the application tape. Bubbles and wrinkles in the application paper often result in bubbles and wrinkles in the applied graphic, regardless of the skill and effort […] Read more »
Reading, Writing and Profits With The School System Near You
You can position your company for profitability by serving the growing market for in-school advertising. When George Mason High School needed funds to install lights in its new football stadium, it looked for advertisers to foot the bill. Read more »
Comparing Heat Transfer Films with Screen Printed Graphics
A high quality polyurethane heat transfer film will outlast a screen printed garment hands down. In fact, if you properly process and care for a polyurethane heat transfer, the applique should last the life of the garment. We all know what happens to a screen printed shirt after a dozen washes. Plastisol inks crack. By […] Read more »
Banners Are Everywhere, but Professionals Want Vinyl That Pops!
Get rid of your humdrum banner designs and start creating vinyl banners that demand attention. Your customers will thank you. We’ve all seen them – and probably wished we hadn’t. You know those unsightly banners on buildings and in stores that only get your attention because they are so poorly designed. These banners are overloaded […] Read more »
Faux Finishes
My flight out of New Orleans wasn’t leaving for several hours. Just a few miles from the airport, was the antebellum Destrehan plantation overlooking the mighty Mississippi River. So I had plenty of time to take the guided tour. Walking through the mansion, the marble mantles and sides of some of the fireplaces caught my […] Read more »
What Causes Ink Adhesion Problems?
The $64 question is: what causes ink adhesion problems when screen printing polycarbonate film? While some have suggested moisture absorption as the culprit, the most likely candidate is exposure to UV light and oxygen. As the polycarbonate absorbs UV light, it excites the photons of the atoms, which in turn creates free radicals. Free radicals […] Read more »
Screen Printing on Polycarbonate
Painting is not the only solution for decorating plastic signfaces. For high-volume jobs, screen printing is an economical solution. In selecting an ink system, ask your screen print supply distributor for a recommendation. The technical bulletin will give you printing recommendations. The type of mesh, squeegee, stencil and thinners are a few of the variables […] Read more »
Surface Preparation of Unpainted Aluminum
How to Remove Oxidation on Aluminum Many years ago, some of the tankers and trailers had unpainted aluminum skins. Direct application of pressure-sensitive vinyl graphics to these surfaces often resulted in adhesion failures. The cause of adhesion problems on aluminum is usually oxidation on the surface of the metal. Whether you are applying an emblem […] Read more »
