Commercial printers use a printing technique called spot varnish. It’s a technique that they have used forever. The term refers to a printing a coating of varnish onto selects parts of a design. Usually the varnish is glossy. But it doesn’t have to be. Spot varnish can also be matte or satin. Whether the varnish […] 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 »
Removing Vinyl Graphics
Tips For Strippers I would love to tell you that I had an easy way to remove vinyl and adhesive, along with a sure fire formula to make millions in graphics removal. Although I have a few tips to make the removal jobs more trouble-free, they are never easy or fun, rarely profitable and frequently […] Read more »
Paste Wax: the Finishing Touch
A final application of paste wax is a popular way put a shine on a dull finish. Using a colored paste wax is also effective in disguising any imperfections on the surface of a woodcarving or on a piece of furniture. You can apply paste wax over a variety of other finishes, including varnish, shellac […] 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 »
Painting Acrylic Signs
The extraordinary clarity of acrylic sheet makes it an excellent substrate for backlit signs, which is why it remains the product of choice. Acrylic is typically painted in reverse on the second surface of the sheet. Acrylic provides tremendous protection from the degrading effects of UV light. A number of different paints are available for […] Read more »
Rotator Tape Dispenser
If you regularly use several different types or sizes of application tape, a tape dispenser called the Rotator could be the perfect addition to your shop. As the name implies, the Rotator is a rotating tape dispenser. Read more »
Screen Printing Acrylic Sheet
Painting is not the only solution for decorating plastic signfaces. For high-volume jobs, screen printing with either solvent or UV curable inks is an economical solution. In selecting an ink system, ask your screen print supply distributor for a recommendation. The ink manufacturers’ technical bulletins will give you printing specifications. The type of mesh, squeegee, […] Read more »
Mold Growth on Application Tape
Mold spores are everywhere. You can’t see them. They just float around in the air, whether you are indoors or outside. When these invisible spores land on a wet or moist material, they can begin to grow. In nature, mold serves the function of breaking down dead organic matter, such as leaves or fallen trees. […] Read more »
Accelerating the Curing Process
Printing and Cutting Heat Transfer Appliques Using Roland’s BN-20 Many T-shirt shops have purchased Roland’s VersaStudio 20″ BN-20 Desktop Inkjet Printer/Cutter so they can offer digitally printed heat transfer appliques to their customers. In addition to printing appliques, the BN-20 is also a nice entry-level machine for those shops expanding into the sign market. Read more »
