I'm having a 4' x 4' digital print made onto 3M Controltac, and I asked the vendor to please apply the transfer tape (application tape) to the print. I figure they have a big roll laminator and can do a better job than I can by myself on a wide piece.
They acted like nobody had ever asked them to do that before. Do people normally apply prints of that size without tape?
Every other print of this type that I've ordered (from other vendors) has come with the tape applied, so I assumed this was a pretty standard request.
Posted by Brian Snyder (Member # 41) on :
The tape will help by adding thickness to the graphic so it'll be easier to handle but it isn't necessary. I assume you will "top hinge" it? Controltac is very easy to work with.
If there wasn't any transfer tape I'd use a squeegee with the Velcro wrapped around the edge of it (the soft side of Velcro ("loop"?)). I'd peel back 2 or 3 inches of the backing paper from the top and cut it off cleanly with an olfa knife. Then position the graphics where you want it and squeegee down this "exposed" area of the adhesive. Then, flip the graphic up, peel away some more backing paper and squeegee again. etc....
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
i recently had to do a bunch of trail maps for a ski area...7- 5' x 8' and 1- 8' x 12'...there was obviously tiling so no there wasn't transfer tape...hopefully they put some kind of laminate over the print...the first one the company sent me didn't have it and it scratched way too easily, so make sure your squeegy is covered in something. a 4 x 4 shouldn't be too hard to handle so if it doesn't come with transfer tape you still should be fine...word of caution...control is very forgiving but don't put it on in if its really sunny and hot..it will stretch big time and then your screwed...using rapid tac will help a great deal.
Posted by Terry Whynott (Member # 1622) on :
Karyn, if you stretch vinyl, you can usually "unstretch" it with a heat gun. Adding heat shrinks it right back to it's original shape.
There's your tip of the day. Posted by Ted Nesbitt (Member # 3292) on :
Terry--to add to your thought, the RIGHT AMOUNT of heat will unstretch vinyl....too much and you've got a goo ball on your hands...
Digi prints like this quite often come laminated. When we used to do fleets with ScotchPrint graphics, the would laminate with 3M luster-lam for protection. This gives the print enough body to lay a 4x5 or 4x6 down easy with no premask---also makes the print a heck of alot easier to remove after the fact.
If you're unsure what to do, there's no problem with using premask---the last thing you want to do it ball it up and have to order another one. 2mil can be tricky if it's an unpremasked, unlammed application, ControlTac or not.
Posted by Randy Campbell (Member # 2675) on :
Terry Karyn said scratched.
Posted by Rick Beisiegel (Member # 3723) on :
TWO WORDS......Felt Squeege. Can't do without it! No scratches!
Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
THREE WORDS,Rapid Tac II.
No other cleaners, no hinges, no heat guns, no stretches. No No No No, No!
Roger He he he he Posted by Terry Whynott (Member # 1622) on :
Um, Randy...read Karyn's whole post.
Scooter, I think a wet application would work really well in this case.
Posted by ScooterX (Member # 2023) on :
thanks everybody!
this stuff does come with a luster laminate, so maybe that's why they don't mask it. i was just surprised because every other print of this type automatically came with the tape on it, so when the guy asked me what I meant, it threw me for a loop.
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hiya Scoot, If memory serves me correctly, the new Controltac with comply must be applied dry. I don't have the info here at work so please correct me if I'm wrong.
Havin' fun, Checkers
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
terry..what i meant is that if its really hot and the vinyl stretches...the digital image gets pretty distorted...been there...luckily it was on the edge.phew!!
Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
Scooter
Most Digital Print will leave 2-10% of the image on the Tranfer paper. (Apply Without!) 4'x4' A good hard Graphite pencil for top alingement.Or a strip of Masking tape.
Here is were (Roger) comes in handy. Wet both surfaces! (FLOAT,FLOAT,FLOAT).
Velcro is one way to place the image but it still leaves Micro Scratches.
Neopreme Rolls never will. This only applys if your surface is flat!
Good Luck!
[ May 01, 2003, 04:19 PM: Message edited by: Stephen Deveau ]
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