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 »
Avoiding Edge Curling When Printing Full Bleeds
Why the Simplest Solutions are Generally the Best Printing heavy concentrations of ink to the edges of some films can result in edge curl. But there is a simple solution. Read more »
How Vehicle Surveys Save Time & Money
On-site inspections and vehicle wraps Early in the sales process, before a quotation request is submitted, before the design begins, and before anyone signs on the dotted line, the sales person should conduct a thorough inspection of the vehicles. Vehicle wrapping is business of details. There are so many variables in designing, manufacturing and installing […] Read more »
Printing with Solvent and Ecosolvent Inks
Solvent and ecosolvent inks allow you to print onto various types of uncoated films, including RTape’s VinylEfx® vinyl print media. As wonderful and easy to use as these print systems are, you must test and evaluate the inks and your printer settings prior to production. Incompatibility between the ink system and the print media could […] Read more »
Sign Software in Action
Discover how signmakers are using industry specific software to raise revenues, increase production – and get creative. All softwares are far from equal. See how sign industry specific software can make your company more money faster than ever before. Read more »
How to Sell Your Airbrushed Vinyl
Butch ‘Superfrog’ Anton shares his secrets of his success in selling airbrushed vinyl. Hint: it’s a three-tiered pricing approach. Read on to learn more. It’s time to get a return on the time and money you’ve invested into becoming an expert at airbrushing on vinyl. Learn how to generate a buzz and close the sale […] Read more »
Are Premask and Prespacing Tape the Same Thing?
The plethora of terms used for the application tapes sold in the sign and screen print markets could confuse anyone. In the sign market, many people just use the terms “application tape” or “application paper”. Frequently this tape is also incorrectly referred to as “transfer tape”. If you are a purist and want to pick a […] Read more »
Application Temperature Range
To avoid problems with vinyl or any other pressure-sensitive material, carefully read the vinyl manufacturer’s technical data sheet. Product bulletins will usually contain all of the information you need, including application temperature range. The application temperature range for most vinyl films is usually between 50⁰ and 90⁰F (10⁰ to 32⁰ C). For some films, the […] Read more »
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 »