These graphics were printed on changeable films for installation in cold weather for a one-week event.
Getting the mix right
Common pitfalls relating to graphic installation include not visiting the site to take proper measurements and photos, not testing substrates properly and a lack of installation skill or experience. And as mentioned, PSPs often select the wrong printable film on the basis of price.
Calendered films, for example, will shrink over time. In this sense, they could be compared to pizza dough, which shrinks back after it is rolled out flat. Calendered films are less expensive to manufacture and buy than cast films, which are more like pancake batter, as they will not shrink back over time.
Adhesives also vary. As mentioned, they may be permanent, changeable (i.e. removable without heat) or removable (i.e. requiring heat for removal), but they are also either pressure-sensitive or pressure-activated. A ‘conformable’ adhesive uses air release capabilities to prevent bubbles during installation.
The cost of poor film and adhesive selection is a waste of ink and time, given the subsequent difficulties in both installation and removal. This is why testing is essential.
Another important part of the graphics is lamination, which not only affects an image’s look and feel, but also its durability and ease of removal, depending on its compatibility with the ink and film. Failures relating to incompatibility will usually show up right away. With this in mind, graphics providers should select their films, inks and laminates carefully, checking their warranties; in some cases, a matched component system (MCS) shares a single warranty.
Further, if installation expertise is not a print shop’s strong suit, it is possible to reach out to fully trained and accredited graphic installers who are not the shop’s direct competitors (i.e. they do not print). This is especially common practice with vehicle wraps, where application and installation services tend to be outsourced to independent specialists.
The market will continue to change. The key to success for professional graphics providers will be continual education, so as to identify new market opportunities in new projects and processes as they arise.
Jeff Uzbalis is a wide-format commercial graphic applications specialist for 3M Canada. For more information, contact him at juzbalis@mmm.com.
