New Mexico Neon on Route 66

Sign makers are getting their kicks restoring vintage neon signs along New Mexico’s portion of Route 66. Brightly-lit sombreros and teepees are entertaining youngsters who are anxious to arrive at their destinations. And many other characters and critters that personify Route 66 are once again being lit up with pride. Read more »

Water Size Recipe for Glass Gilding

In glass gilding, a water size is the glue that adheres gold leaf to the glass. Made of water-clear gelatin and distilled water, it is essential for creating a brilliant gold mirror finish.  Of course, you can also apply gold to glass with oil size, if you want areas of a design to have a […] 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 »

Boat Wraps Boast Big Opportunity for Vinyl Installers

Wrapping boats may be the next big thing as the vehicle wrapping trend extends itself from the highways to the waterways. You’re already wrapping cars, why not venture into the wonderful world of boat wrapping and expand your business? Read more »

How Calendered Vinyl Films are Made

I usually compare the calendering  process to rolling out pie dough. In reality, the manufacturing process is a little more complex than that. In the calendering process, PVC material is squeezed between gigantic, heated, polished-steel rollers that form the vinyl into a very thin sheet of film. Read more »

System Inc. Takes Dominion on Powerboat Wrapping Industry

Feeling creative? The water sports industry is hungry for cutting-edge designs printed on vinyl and applied to powerboats that are ultimately seen by hundreds of thousand of people in competitions around the country. Read more »

Vehicle Wrapping Contracts 101

Wrapping vehicles without a signed contract that spells out what the customer should expect – and shouldn’t expect – from your sign shop is a mistake that could cost you. Find out how to avoid liabilities with a solid contract. Read more »

How to Wrap a Red Hot Ferrari

Wrapping a Ferrari may sound like a sexy job – and it is – but it’s unlike most other vehicle wraps. Find out how. Few cars are curvier than a Ferrari. Discover how to navigate the challenges of applying vinyl to a racecar. What do you get when you cross Avery Graphics film with a […] Read more »

Processing and Installing VinylEfx Films

ABOUT VINYLEFX® FILMS Eye-catching RTape VinylEfx® metalized vinyl media give your designs a distinctive look, which attracts attention and creates favorable visual impressions. Your graphics are noticed, read and remembered. That’s your competitive edge! The rich look of these metallic vinyl films is perfect for  signage, POP, exhibits and store interiors. Read more »

Cleaning Vinyl Graphics

Sign makers should assume that many of their customers will do some pretty stupid things when cleaning graphics. For this reason they must provide the end user with instruction covering proper cleaning and care of any graphics.  When I sold fleet graphics, many years ago, I would give my customers an instruction sheet which included the do’s and don’ts listed […] Read more »