Discover how – and when – to do a seamless vehicle wrap. Seamless wraps demand careful planning – and even then they can be a challenge. Find out how to approach a seamless wrap and when to consider a partial wrap instead. The seamless wrap. It’s the Holy Grail of the vehicle wrapping industry. Some […] Read more »
The New American Sign Museum
A Dream Comes True With the opening of the new American Sign Museum on June 23 this year, museum founder Tod Swormstedt achieved one of his dreams. As I walked past the brightly lit exhibits, I thought about what Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, had said: what a man can conceive of and […] Read more »
Thermal Transfer Printing on VinylEfx® Films
One unique characteristic of our VinylEfx® product is the deep embossing, which creates the 3D illusion in patterns, such as MultiLens® and Diamond Plate™. Deeply embossed patterns, however, can cause problems, when printing with thermal transfer systems, such as the Gerber Edge®. Printing on films, which are not perfectly smooth, can result in flaking, in […] Read more »
3-Step Prep for Vehicle Graphics
Whether you are installing trailer graphics or doing a full wrap of a car or van, surface preparation involves a three-step process of detergent washing, solvent cleaning and a final wipe down with IPA. Step 1. Vehicles should be washed the day before vinyl application with detergent and water. This should remove much of the […] Read more »
Shopping for a Heat Press
With so many makes and models of heat presses, selecting one is usually confusing. To make the right purchasing decision for your business, you need to thoroughly investigate your options. Start by asking the right questions. Here’s what you should know before you sign on the dotted line. The most important question revolves around your projections […] Read more »
Priming and Painting for Wall Graphics Applications
Drywall Preparation, Priming and Painting In my story, Preventing Wall Graphics Failures, I mentioned that new drywall must be primed and painted properly to ensure good adhesion of pressure-sensitive vinyl wall graphics. You wouldn’t think that applying vinyl wall graphics to newly painted drywall should be a problem. Of course, problems can and do happen. Especially when […] Read more »
Printing Claritex® Top-Coated Polycarbonate Films
Tips for Digitally Printing & Laminating Top-Coated Polycarbonate Films RTape’s Claritex® 10 mil bright white velvet-matte polycarbonate films feature a specially formulated ink-receptive coating for solvent, ecosolvent and latex inkjet printers. The good hold out characteristic of the top coating keeps the colorant of the ink on its surface for brilliant color reproduction. The coating […] Read more »
Painting Flames
And Other Uses for Application Tape. Protecting and transferring vinyl graphics aren’t the only uses for application tape. Here are some other uses for paper application tapes. 1. High tack application tapes, such as RTape 4075, are also used by painters and artists as a paint mask for custom painting of motor cycles, cars and trucks. […] Read more »
The Challenges of Creating Architectural Signage
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 »
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 »
