Yesterday I received an email with a couple of pictures of applied vinyl graphics with what looked like bubbles underneath the film. See the photo below. The message that accompanied the pictures read: “Could you please take a look at the enclosed pictures and help us with your assessment.”
The Differences Between Polyurethane and Vinyl Films
Many in our industry use the all-encompassing term “heat transfer vinyl” to refer to any heat transfer flex film. The fact of the matter is that many of the heat transfer films on the market today are not vinyl at all. Much of what is sold today is polyurethane or a polyurethane blend. Read more »
Arlon’s DPF 8000
An Ideal Solution for Wall Graphics Many shops, which have printed wall murals in which the ink bleeds to the edge of the panel, have experienced edge curl issues with a variety of vinyl films. For permanent wall graphics applications, I would consider using Arlon’s DPF 8000 film. DPF 8000 is a 3.5 mil (90 […] Read more »
Picture Perfect Wall Graphics
Applications to Smooth Walls Applying graphics to a flat, smooth, painted wall is easy. Still problems can and do occur. Rarely are these graphics failures the result of application technique. Instead improper surface preparation and poor material choices account for most problems. If you follow the few simple rules in this article, your applications should […] 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Difficult to Transfer Vinyl Graphics
Pick Up Tips Who hasn’t had the occasional problem in transferring vinyl graphics from its release liner? In many cases, the solution may be as simple as selecting a higher tack tape, or making a slight change in your application procedure. Here are a few pick up tips to make transferring vinyl a more uplifting […] 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 »
