Digital Print Media

How to Prepare Your Floors for a New Floor Graphic

January 8, 2019 By Digital Print Media Editor

Using floor graphics is a powerful way to convey messages. These wonderful graphics have a whole range of useful applications. Just a few examples include sales messages in stores and malls, wayfinding in hospitals or airports, or safety messages in warehouses and factories.

When selecting floor graphic inkjet media, the material should meet anti-slip standards such as those set by ANSI/NFSI (American National Standards Institute/National Floor Safety Institute) and various R (ramp test) ratings (UK).

AlumiGraphics® GRIP — AlumiGraphics GRIP contains an aggressive adhesive that is designed to be removed without leaving residue behind.

It is good practice to use media with a removable adhesive so that it can be removed without leaving stains or marks on the application surface. Most important is the use of a good laminate (if the media requires it). This is primarily to provide a slip-resistant surface and make sure the installation is safe to be walked on, but it also helps to protect the image from damage.

Golden rules

Regardless of the surface, it needs to be clean and dry. Avoid application in the cold as this will impact the effectiveness of the adhesive.

A good way to start any application is to lay the graphic on the floor where you want it to be with the backing still on. Stick the graphic to the floor using tape to show the final location, cutting the tape to allow installation. By doing this, you can line the graphic up perfectly by matching up the tape as a guide.

Never overlap more than one layer of laminate as this can cause a tripping hazard. Round corners and seal the edges, especially if mechanical cleaning will be employed.

Tiled and laminate floors

panoRama Walk & Wall is a diverse product suitable for a almost any indoor flat floor or wall surface.

Tiled and laminate floors are typical in shops and offices. Make sure you remove dust and lint, then clean the floor with good detergent and water. There are a variety of industrial-grade mopping systems designed to make this process easy. After this, wipe it down with isopropyl alcohol.

Prepare an area larger than the graphic to make sure you’ve cleaned everywhere you need to and allow the surface to dry completely before application.

Carpet floor

Vacuum thoroughly to remove as much dust and lint as you can. Try to avoid getting the area wet as it needs to be dry before application. Tacky rollers can help further remove lint and loose particles from the surface.

Use a print media with an ‘aggressive adhesive’ as this will help keep the graphic attached the the carpet surface. Make sure you press down the edges again once applied to ensure they are down tight. Edges that curl can cause tripping, which is something everyone wants to avoid.

FloorShark® 170TFG Textured Floor Graphic Polyester Film — FloorShark® 170TFG is a textured floor graphic polyester film designed for carpet and a variety of other flat surfaces.

Asphalt and concrete

Brush off all the loose dirt and stones from the area. If you wash with water, make sure the area is completely dry before application and that the ambient temperature is at least 50°F. Make sure to use floor graphic media that’s designed for outdoor surfaces.

We recommend Alumigraphics GRIP for longer-term outdoor floor graphic applications and Mactac StreetTRAX™ or IMAGin® StreetRAP™ for short to medium-term applications.

Mactac StreetTRAX features 2 month outdoor durability and is designed for gritty surfaces.

Mactac PERMACOLOR® FloorGRIP PF6600 is our recommended laminate for indoor and outdoor inkjet media. Be sure to read the manufacturers recommendations because some inkjet media does not require an overlaminate

With the right material and installation, your new floor graphic is going to look amazing. With a little care, your floor graphic will look great for ages to come.

Perfecting Surface Prep Before Wrapping a Vehicle

December 14, 2018 By Digital Print Media Editor

Are you ready to wrap?

Vehicle wraps are a great way to advertise a business or add flair to a plain-looking car, van, or truck. A very important part in beginning the process is preparing the surface. The last thing you want is a shoddy-looking finish for your vehicle wrap or a small particle of dirt to disturb the adhesion process. Here are the simple and straightforward steps to get your vehicle prepared.

Step 1: Overall General Cleaning

Your vehicle needs a general overall clean with basic mild soap and water. All wax and debris must be removed from the surface. Hand washing is the best method. Use a microfiber cloth with a mixture of a general dish soap mixed in a large bucket of water.

Step 2: Cracks and Corners

Pay extra attention to those cracks and corners when cleaning the surface. This will help the wrap to adhere properly when all those little faults are scrubbed and smoothed out.

Missing a fault can cause the wrap adhesive to fail, which then costs even more time and money to get it right. Take the time to thoroughly go over the entire surface to avoid costly errors or having to start the process again.

Step 3: Cleaning Solution

Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned the entire surface, a cleaning solution should be applied. Mix equal parts isopropyl alcohol and water to make the solution. Spray directly onto the surface and immediately wipe with a lint-free cloth. This solution completely cleans the surface of soap, water, or any remaining dirt.

Step 4: Dry

Using another microfiber cloth, it is now time to dry the surface completely. It’s a good idea to take the time needed to dry all over the vehicle. Once your vehicle is totally dry, you’re all set to wrap.

Follow these simple and easy steps to prepare your vehicle for a sleek wrap that hugs all the curves and corners without any lumps or bumps. This is a time-consuming job, but it will be well worth it for the finished product. Cutting corners, such as not making sure the vehicle surface is completely clean, will result in the wrap not adhering properly to the surface.

How to Care for Your Vehicle Wrap

December 6, 2018 By Digital Print Media Editor

If you’ve invested in a vinyl wrap for your vehicle, you need to know how to care for it the right way. Insufficient maintenance can mean your wrap, over time, will deteriorate or degrade which is the last thing you want.

Here are some tips on how to care for your wrap and keep it looking like it’s brand new:

Cleaning the car

Dirt and acid are a vinyl wrap’s two worst enemies, so make sure your car is kept clean.
Don’t use brush type automatic car washes. They are too harsh and will rub or chip away your wrap.
Hand washing is the recommended method for keeping your car clean.
Use a soft, non-abrasive cloth and a mild cleaning solution.
Wash your car at least once a week, more if you notice it has become dirty.
Rinse off dirt using low-pressure water. No power hoses!
Soak stubborn dirt for a few minutes before wiping clean. Don’t use any abrasive scrubbing methods.
Rinse thoroughly.
Let the car air dry, or you can dry it off using a microfibre cloth, do not use a heat drying method.

Sun exposure

Prolonged exposure to the sun can fade and degrade your wrap.
Keep your vehicle out of sunlight when not in use.
Use a garage or covered driveway to park your car in at home.
If you don’t have a covered area, use a tarp to cover your car on sunny days.
When out and about, park in sheltered or in shaded areas.

Waxing

Most standard vinyl wrap can be polished using wax of high quality.
Don’t use any polishes that are abrasive or that contain any cutting compounds.

Perforated window film

If you have perforated window film, make sure you do not:

Open the windows.
Use heating or defrosting elements.
Use windshield wipers.

By taking care of your vinyl wrap the right way, you can ensure that you get to enjoy it for the maximum time possible and stop it from degrading even when exposed to dirt and pollutants. Regular maintenance and cleaning will have your vehicle looking like it just rolled off the showroom floor and keep heads turning when you drive on by!

Advantages of Using Royalty-Free Stock Graphics

November 8, 2018 By Digital Print Media Editor

The most effective way to market products and entice new consumers is with visual graphics. Photos and artwork are a profitable business for companies and marketing firms. Using a subscription service software for royalty-free graphics is an innovative way to save money and add value to various marketing materials.

Note that the “free” in the term “royalty-free” refers to the copyright agreements between the purchaser and the supplier, deeming it to be in line with current national and international copyright laws. There are many advantages to choosing royalty-free images.

Thousands upon thousands of images are available and easily accessible royalty-free.

Think of any subject matter and an image will be available to use on your website or print advertisements. These images are high-resolution and continue to be updated each month so there is always something new to add to your collection.

Often, images are grouped together by category and can give your company a consistency in the graphics chosen. While your chosen graphics could be used by another business, using graphics that are a little more unusual will help you differentiate your imagery from other businesses. In most cases, using royalty-free images is unlikely to cause problems like brand confusion.

With a subscription service, you may have an allocation of a certain number of images per week or month. These types of high-resolution photos are perfect for larger-scale projects, vehicle wraps or outlines, and vinyl ready vectors. The sky’s the limit when it comes to professional-grade visual graphics for all types of applications. Each image is released for full commercial use in both online and print promotional advertisements.

Make sure not to be confused by the term “stock” photo versus royalty-free. They are terms often used together but do not mean the same thing.

Stock photos are typically more expensive. Their usage is controlled by the owner of the photo. Royalty-free photos, however, normally cost less than stock photos, but they can be used by anyone.

The main advantage of using royalty-free graphics is that you can take on the job of a graphic designer without doing any designing. Choose the images for your upcoming projects, rotate when needed by selecting from a vast library of files, and keep your website, social media, and marketing current without breaking the bank.

Wide Format Printing Industry Continues to Experience Dramatic Growth

November 5, 2018 By Digital Print Media Editor

Wide format printing is nothing new, but the quality, affordability, and popularity of wide format printing are all growing. This is due to many developments within the industry itself and in the marketplace.

An ever increasing range of innovative products and increased demand is driving the industry toward increased profitability and creativity. Opening new horizons in the sign and display market, wide-format printing has broken into new markets such as textiles and functional printing.

Even though the 2016 to 2021 wide-format forecast tends to downplay this segments’ growth and adaptability (forecasting -1%CAGR from 2016 to 2021), there are several cues that point toward an upwards trend and increased adaptability within the segment.

Print providers are increasingly making use of newer technology, opening new horizons for wide-format printing. The widespread use of inkjet-based technology within the industry is creating new trends that are predicted to mature in the upcoming years, such as:

Increased productivity and cost-effectiveness
Wider media support
Greater workflow and efficiency
Availability for PSPs and applications

When comparing aqueous wide-format printers and multi-pass printers with single pass printers, the trend favors the latter. The popularity of single pass is on the increase. They lead the pack, while aqueous and multi-pass printers are seeing a decline now and in the projected future.

The versatility, increased productivity, and adaptability of single-pass printers are winning over the market and seem destined to dominate the immediate future.

Latex is experiencing healthy growth, in spite of slower than expected growth compared to its previous 15%+CAGR. Its alliance with HP and the use of its integrated PrintOS system is creating greater developments in workflow and productivity.

The same cannot be said of Solvent, facing stiff competition and loss of market shares across the spectrum. While aqueous wide-format is pushing Solvent out of the low-end, temporary signage segment, Solvent is still holding on thanks in part to its low-cost machines and inks segment, taking off in emerging markets.

UV is continuing to grow as its UV-LED technology spreads globally, making it a big pretender to Solvent’s high-end market share. The new UV flex inks are expanding applications allowing for a staggering 400% stretch, getting the fabric and vehicle wraps segment very interested indeed.

In conclusion, wide format printing is here to stay. Technologies are being phased out and replaced as we speak, creating a dynamic and growing market, today and in the foreseeable future.

Preventative Printer Maintenance

October 30, 2018 By Digital Print Media Editor

No matter the size of your machine, preventive maintenance is important. Neglecting equipment can damage your business and its reputation by necessitating more costly repairs and a potential loss of time and business.

Regardless of the cost of your machine, you need to consider the work hours lost and the impact on sales and leads while you repair or replace it. Clients like to know they work with reliable partners that keep to their deadlines.

Here is some advice to improve the longevity of your printing equipment.

Listen to advice

When doing your regular maintenance, take into account the manufacturers recommendations. They built it and know what the machine needs. Heed their advice.

Use a pro or something like one

Also, make sure the person doing the maintenance is either a professional or has the requisite experience or knowledge. Amateur repairs can often lead to damage and/or more lost work hours.

Keep necessary maintenance products in reserve

Collect the recommend products, such as the indicated cleaning products, maintenance fluids, cleaning wipes – such as lint-free wipes and swabs – latex gloves, and any specific tools indicated by the manufacturer. If you rely on your equipment, it relies on someone to clean it and perform minor adjustments. It’s better to have the tools ready than to have to scramble at the last minute.

Keep spares

It’s also not a bad idea to keep spare printer parts (as advised by the manufacturer or your printing professional).

Keep your supplies in one place for ease of access and keep a spare key just in case.

Keep it regular

Making a maintenance schedule with clearly indicated tasks is essential to ensure the work gets done properly. This schedule maintains a degree of consistency in your maintenance and gives you a useful tool to ascertain the general state of your equipment.

A schedule can also help create a sense of accountability, since the person doing the maintenance needs to sign off afterward. Signing will provide the necessary sense of importance that this task deserves.

Regular maintenance means daily, weekly, and quarterly maintenance. Indicate them clearly in your schedule.

Maintain relationships, too

Make sure to create an open and trusting atmosphere between the staff and any IT or maintenance crew. Staff is usually the first to notice that something’s wrong, so they should feel empowered and encouraged to report problems and potential problems early.

Know your machine

Get familiar with your printer. Learn its calibration and specs. Knowing your machine can help you diagnose issues faster and help guide your maintenance efforts.

Remember, maintenance may be onerous at times. And it might seem wasteful on a machine that seems just fine. Maintenance, however, will help keep your business functional and competitive.