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Points to consider from purchase to finishing
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By Molly Waters
In the past, large corporations that wanted to mark their fleets of trucks were the only customers for full vehicle wraps. Typically, screenprinters created these graphics in very large quantities. Digital printing's image quality has greatly improved, and, coupled with lower printer prices, this equipment has become much more attractive to smaller print shops.
As digital technology became more popular, large fleet companies and screenprinters began to see the benefit of creating shorter production runs that could be locally or regionally customized. This eventually evolved to wrapping smaller trucks and, now, vehicles. Vehicle wraps are now used in place of expensive, custom paint jobs. In addition to being less costly than paint, vinyl can be removed when an ad campaign concludes or when the vehicle's lease expires.
I'll outline the process to install a full vehicle wrap and offer tips on how to provide your customer with a high-quality wrap.
Selecting material
The finished product is only as good as its components. This begins with choosing the right vinyl for the job. Because full wraps are expected to look and perform like paint, choose a material with similar characteristics.
Due to its manufacturing process, thin (approximately 2 mil) cast film offers excellent durability and conformability characteristics. Its thin gauge gives the product the "paint like" finish many customers seek. When properly applied, these films generally last five years, which makes cast film ideal for full vehicle wraps.
If your customer is more concerned about price, and doesn't need such durability, use economical vehicle-wrap media available from various vinyl manufacturers. Remember, these are generally calendered films that offer performance characteristics different from cast films. For example, you can expect some tenting (material lifting) in the vehicle's deep crevices. These films can provide good-looking graphics for up to one year at an economical price.
Before you apply
Before applying any graphic, clean your substrate. The vehicle must be thoroughly cleaned to ensure proper adhesion without failure. Most material manufacturers have posted or linked technical bulletins on their websites, and their technical-support departments provide detailed information for substrate preparation. Always follow your material manufacturers' recommendations.
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