Cutting & Weeding Tips for Heat Transfer Vinyl Films
Not all polyurethane heat transfer films are the same. That’s because some of these flex films aren’t 100% polyurethane, which are very flexible, and other heat transfer vinyl films are blends of polyurethane and vinyl. These blends are much stiffer that a pure polyurethane film. Read more »
Avoiding Application Tape Problems
For many indoor applications, you can generally leave most paper application tapes on vinyl graphics for a year or longer, provided that the graphics are stored away from sunlight in moderate temperatures. Read more »
Applying Vinyl Graphics to Painted Wood
In this story Jim Hingst explains the rules for successfully applying vinyl graphics to painted wood. Read more »
Correcting Plotter Cutting Problems When Cutting Heat Transfer Films
Troubleshooting Checklist If you are having problems cutting polyurethane heat transfer films, check the following possible causes: Read more »
Application Tape Guide
To help you in working with application tape, I have compiled some tips and tricks. This guide covers laminating the tape onto graphics, transferring graphics from the release liner and the basics of application. As important as this is, it’s also important to select the right tape for the job. RTape offers several adhesive-tack levels for […] Read more »
Preventing Wall Graphics Failures
Getting good adhesion to painted wall surfaces has been a problem for sign makers and the manufacturers of vinyl films. Flat finish paints are especially a problem. To help your customer avoid the pitfalls that result in vinyl graphics falling off the wall, here are some guidelines to follow before beginning a wall graphics installation. Read more »
Outgassing Paint and Vinyl Graphics
Have you ever seen the effects of outgassing paint on applied vinyl graphics? It’s not pretty. When the problem starts, it looks as if the surface of the film has had a breakout of severe acne. Tiny bubbles underneath the film grow until they merge together forming larger, more ominous bubbles. Read more »
Digital Printing on Banners
Advancements in digital print technology and the introduction of top coated fabric have allowed printers to expand their product offerings to include fabric banners. These technological advancements include: the ability of the machinery to feed and process heavier weight materials; improved compatibility of the inks with fabrics; and higher print quality. Read more »
How to Prevent Edge Peeling
Edge peeling usually makes every sign maker’s list of top vinyl problems. Failure to properly clean the substrate and failure to resqueegee the graphic after removing the application tape causes many edge lifting problems. While graphics installers often get blamed if a problem occurs, application mistakes aren’t the only reasons. Read more »
