Graphic Wraps: Best practices for installations

by all | 3 April 2013 8:30 am

By Jason Yard
The wide-format graphic installation field is heavily influenced by new trends and products, making it important for installers to seek ongoing training. While new products are constantly introduced to the marketplace, new uses are being discovered for existing materials and shared throughout the professional community. And to determine the best possibilities for sign industry growth moving forward, it is also important to analyze changes in customer preferences.

So, while graphic application may seem intuitive to a degree, unless one makes a conscious effort to stay up-to-date and well-informed concerning trends and best practices, it can be easy to fall behind.

Lessons from the field
Annual printing trade shows, such as the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) Expo, offer compelling opportunities not only to preview the latest products, but also to learn tips and tricks from industry peers and other professionals who best understand various graphic materials’ properties.

At the 2012 SGIA Expo, for example, visitors attended live demonstrations by the Professional Decal Application Alliance (PDAA)—a community of graphic installers within SGIA—that showed in detail how the latest trends are affecting the industry, from window films to vehicle wraps to environmental graphic design (EGD). Experts distributed information about best practices for graphic application, showed firsthand how various processes work and answered audience questions.

Vehicle wraps
The wrapping of vehicles is by now one of the longest-standing and most easily recognized types of wide-format graphic application. Yet, it remains a popular topic of discussion within the industry and at trade shows.

This is because, even though vehicle wraps have been highly visible in the marketplace for quite some time, advances continue in the field. Newly released materials and repurposed ‘legacy’ products alike merited attention at PDAA’s application zone at the SGIA Expo.

Tuning films
One of the recent shifts in the vehicle graphics market has been toward the use of tuning films. These are vehicle-wrapping vinyls designed not to display multi-colour branding graphics, but instead to serve as an alternative to automotive paint, allowing a vehicle’s exterior colour to be completely changed without the hassle of repainting.

Today, tuning films are available in a wide array of colours and finishes. They can be used to simulate the appearance of many traditional glossy vehicle paints—and can be installed very similarly to a printed glossy wrap—but they can also yield less typical esthetics, including matte, iridescent (i.e. gleaming and rainbow-like) and brushed-metal finishes.

These films are highly conformable, featuring a repositionable air-egress adhesive. They can be used for partial or full vehicle wraps.

Some types of tuning films are ideal for full vehicle wraps, but textured films are designed only for partial wraps, i.e. of hoods, roofs, spoilers and so forth. So, it is important to choose the appropriate material for a given application.

Application requirements specific to tuning films should be kept in mind. In the case of a full wrap job, for instance, customers will usually want every square inch of their vehicle covered, which may require the removal of parts that would not otherwise be removed for a graphic wrap of a similar scale.

If a wrap installer is not comfortable removing these parts, it will be important to bring in someone else who is. It is also important to keep these parts well-organized and in a safe place. And the customer should be informed that the wrap may wear faster on areas like door handles and sills than elsewhere along the vehicle’s exterior.

Tuning films with matte or textured finishes also have specific application requirements. A heat gun should be used, for example, instead of a torch, when applying these films to the vehicle surface. If they are overheated, they can show hot spots or may ‘gloss up’ in those areas, compromising the desired appearance for the vehicle. Caution is necessary with any application of heat, working in smaller areas for the best results.

A soft sleeve or felt squeegee is also recommended for use with matte or textured films to avoid marring them. While they are scratch-resistant, their surface can be harmed or at least visually marred by a hard squeegee.

Tuning films are commonly available in 1.5-m (5-ft) widths, so almost every vehicle can be covered without seams. Sometimes a seam will be unavoidable, however.

When necessary, a half-inch overlap will work well. It is also recommended to try to follow the contour of the vehicle to make such overlaps less noticeable. Any shapes that are greater than a moderate curve should be relief-cut.

Regardless of the type of finish that is being sought when using tuning films, it is important to take enough time during installation. Tuning-film wraps take longer than printed graphic wraps. They are expected to bear a similar appearance to paint, which calls for patience and attention to detail.

Specialty overlaminates
Tuning films can also be used in conjunction with specialty overlaminates that have been deployed in the past in other graphic application fields. Much like textured or iridescent tuning films, these overlaminates allow further customization of a vehicle’s appearance beyond the finishing options typically available to consumers. They are a compelling way to add texture where it would otherwise not be available.

One option, for instance, is to use tuning films to completely change the colour of a car, then apply a carbon fibre overlaminate on the hood, spoiler or rear-view mirror to make these components stand out.

EGD
The application of printed graphics to walls, floors, furniture and architectural elements of a built space is becoming a key focus within the EGD field, as evidenced at PDAA’s 2012 application zone. Such applications have grown in popularity in recent years and many new products have been introduced for installers.

Depending on the specific surface to which a graphic will be applied, certain installation procedures must be followed for optimal results. It may seem simple to apply a wall graphic for short-term promotional purposes, for example, but skipping the proper cleaning and preparation steps can negatively affect the longevity of the graphic in an architectural context.

Creative finishes
One of the most significant trends in the EGD field today, which was explored at PDAA’s application zone, is a desire to achieve more creative finishes for graphics, especially a softer ‘non-vinyl’ look. Materials using non-traditional types of face stock, such as woven fabrics, are becoming more popular in the interior design sector.

Not only are such materials more sustainable than traditional graphic films, but they also provide greater texture for murals and other intricate wall graphics. This has become a desirable high-end look for buildings ranging from simple homes to elaborate hotel lobbies.

As in the automotive wrapping field, specialty overlaminates can be specified to add texture and visual appeal to EGD applications. They have long been used to provide protection for and increase the useful life of indoor graphics, but now they are also starting to be chosen for textured finishes for furniture, tabletops and other surfaces. They provide a realistic illusion that the surface is composed of another, more expensive material, such as wood grain, leather, brushed metal or carbon fibre, enabling sophisticated esthetics at an economical price point.

Application options
Unlike automotive wrapping, where the surface properties of a vehicle are generally predictable, EGD work typically requires greater attention to be paid to the building where a graphic is going to be installed.

The sign industry has seen materials specifically designed for application onto textured and rough surfaces, such as concrete, cinder blocks or brick walls. The effectiveness of these specialty materials can still be negatively affected, however, by a lack of proper preparation of the surface to which they will be adhered. A concrete wall, for example, should be clean, dry and warmer than 10 C (50 F) before any graphic is applied to it.

Specific tools, too, may be required for a successful application, such as a heat gun designed to allow for more concentration of its heat when applying the graphic into the texture of a wall. A foam roller is also ideal for applying this sort of film, as it allows pressure to be applied without damaging the graphic (as a less pliable squeegee might).

Every surface’s considerations are different. It is not safe to assume applying a floor graphic to linoleum, for example, calls for the same approach as a tabletop graphic. A floor graphic requires consideration of foot traffic, desired longevity and, especially, slip resistance—which is why an overlaminate will be critically important to the graphic’s success, whereas it may not be necessary for another type of application. A clean floor will be crucial prior to application, but so will a commercial cleanser and isopropyl alcohol after application, so ensure the graphic will remain clean.

The EGD market is growing in exciting ways, with new media allowing graphics to be applied just about anywhere; but it is therefore all the more important to do research and not make any assumptions when installing new products on unusual surfaces, to ensure the best results.

Window films
Similar to trends in EGD, window films are growing in popularity as they are being installed not merely for advertising purposes, but also for décor and privacy, providing a combination of functionality and creative expression.

Dry application
The window film demonstrations in the PDAA application zone at the 2012 SGIA Expo focused on the benefits of dry application, a new installation method made possible by special air-egress adhesives. A dry application can save time, money and effort, as esthetically pleasing, bubble-free window graphics can now be achieved without the traditional need for an application fluid.

In the past, this fluid had to be sprayed onto the window and the adhesive. Then the graphic needed to be ‘floated’ on the window until it was positioned correctly. It was a messy process that can now be completely avoided, thanks to improved air-egress channels in new window films.

Experts in the PDAA zone outlined this dry application process:

1. Tape the graphic into place on the window.
2. Remove the first few inches of the graphic from the liner.
3. Make a hard fold in the liner; this approach is known as the ‘hinge method.’
4. Firmly press down using a felt squeegee in a left-to-right motion.
5. Slowly remove the liner while continuing to secure the graphic with the squeegee.
6. Trim excess material away from the rubber or silicone window seals to at least 6.4 mm (0.25 in.).
7. If the installation is on the outdoor side of window, use a laminate to protect the vinyl and inks.

It is still important to clean windows with isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth before the graphic application, avoiding ammonia-based cleaners that leave residue, and to only install graphics when temperatures exceed 10 C (50 F).

Learning more
In terms of ongoing training, there is no substitute to live demonstrations like PDAA’s. Graphic installation best practices can be learned year-round from industry experts.

Meanwhile, magazine articles, online application videos and other resources are readily available at any time, ensuring installers can stay up-to-date on techniques and applications of any type. Product suppliers are also prepared to provide assistance and answer questions about materials and procedures.

Jason Yard is marketing manager for Mactac Graphic Products and leads the company’s Application Nation information resource for installers and detailers. For more information, visit www.mactac.com[8], www.theapplicationnation.com[9] and www.pdaa.com[10].

Source URL: https://www.signmedia.ca/best-practices-for-installations-2/

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