Both FlexCut Sticky and FlexCut Sweet are 100% polyurethane films. Other than that one similarity the two films are very different. Each product has its own unique performance properties. And these differences make one film a better choice for a specific application versus the other. Still both films have their place in the product mix. And […] Read more »
Surface Prep for Glass Gilding
Proper prior preparation of a glass surface is absolutely critical to achieving good adhesion of the gold to the window. Contaminants on the glass could cause the gold leaf to flake off of the surface, if not immediately, than later down the road. Read more »
Carving a Green Man
What is a Green Man? Images of men emerging from vegetation have been a common artistic motif for more than two thousand years. Some scholars believe that the image of the “green man” is somehow linked to the ancient Dionysian fertility rituals and the natural process of rebirth, which occurs in Spring. But what do […] Read more »
Stripping Vinyl Graphics Made Easy
Stripping vinyl graphics may never become a sign makers’ dream, but it does not have to be a nightmare, either. Ask most sign makers about stripping vinyl graphics and they’ll cringe. Let’s face it. Stripping vinyl is not the most glamorous of tasks. “Stripping vinyl is the ugly side of our work,” said Frank Barbaria, […] Read more »
Faux Finishes
My flight out of New Orleans wasn’t leaving for several hours. Just a few miles from the airport, was the antebellum Destrehan plantation overlooking the mighty Mississippi River. So I had plenty of time to take the guided tour. Walking through the mansion, the marble mantles and sides of some of the fireplaces caught my […] Read more »
Mottling and what to do about it
Have you ever occasionally noticed a dull, hazy or blotchy appearance on the surface of some vinyl films or overlaminates? This is a condition called mottling. There’s no reason to get too excited. While this hazy appearance certainly detracts from the aesthetic appeal of your graphics, mottling can easily be remedied, which I will explain […] Read more »
C-C-Corrugations…Never Fear, Expert Advise is Here!
Applying vinyl over rivets is one thing. Applying vinyl over corrugation is quite another. But don’t let that stop you. If you can learn to apply vinyl over corrugation, then you can tap into the lucrative world of fleets. Corrugations are some of the most dreaded substrates over which to install vinyl. But check out […] Read more »
Seamless Wraps 101 – Deciding when to go seamless and when not to
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 »
Reverse Painting on Glass
Painting a scene is a challenge for most people. Now, imagine painting everything in reverse. It can be mind-boggling. As I struggled with the learning curve, I soon realized that I needed help. I was fortunate to have some veteran sign painters coach me through the process of reverse painting on glass. If you are up for […] Read more »
