Understanding the common pitfalls of creating indoor and outdoor architectural signage before you begin can save headaches for you and your customers. Your clients depend on architectural signage to do more than communicate a message. Architectural signage must also help build the brand name of the company it serves. Read more »
When to Use Wet
While most professionals and manufacturers prefer to install vinyl dry, there are occasions when wet is the way to go. While it’s true that the dry installation method of vinyl application saves time and money, let’s face it, not every graphic installer has the necessary skills or experience. Read more »
Soaring Profits from Glistening Gateways
Airports are bustling with opportunities as architects bring sign builders into the design process to capitalize on 21st century trends. From wayfinding and security symbols to retail and promotional signage, modern airports are adopting new strategies and it’s paying dividends for sign builders. Success begins with understanding the latest trends in airport signage and identifying […] Read more »
Heat Transfer Films: Hot, Warm or Cold Peel
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. The answer depends in part on the physical properties of the hot melt adhesive and the type of carrier used on the heat transfer […] Read more »
Maintaining Color Quality & Uniformity
A Horse Of A Different Color A customer had encountered a problem whenever she printed grey. When the prints were viewed inside, the color was dead on. But viewed outside, in the sun the grey immediately turned green. The other day she printed a beautiful grey horse and laminated it. As soon as the print […] Read more »
How to Apply Vinyl Graphics Over Rivets
Applying vinyl graphics on vehicle surfaces with rivets is challenging for most sign makers. Vinyl failures to these surfaces are all too common. Here are some tips and procedures, used by professional decal installers, which will make these demanding applications easier and more trouble-free. Read more »
Laminating Tips: Silvering
Have you ever seen silvery specs in a laminated print? This defect is called silvering. It’s caused when tiny air bubbles are captured between the adhesive on an overlaminating film and the surface of a print. Silvering is generally most noticeable in the dark shadow areas of a print. Read more »
Laminating Tips
There’s usually more than one way to do something. Printers and sign makers have devised many different techniques for laminating prints. This story covers procedures that have worked for some industry friends. Hopefully, these tips will help you prevent laminating mishaps, save production time and, most importantly, improve profitability. Read more »
Applying Vinyl Graphics to Textured Wall Surfaces
With the right film, the right application tools and the right techniques, vinyl graphics can be applied to textured wall surfaces such brick and concrete block. Many of old time decal applicators would heat a cast vinyl with an industrial heat gun, and burnish the hot, pliable film into the textured surface using a rivet […] Read more »
DuPont Surface Cleaners
In the movie, Karate Kid, do you remember the instruction that Mr. Miyagi gives Daniel on waxing a car?“Wax on, right hand. Wax off, left hand. Wax on, wax off. Don’t forget…very important.” Read more »
