Advantage Sign Supply Spotlight

Looking for the right perforated window material for your job? What is the difference between 70/30 versus 60/40? What pattern is best for vehicle graphics? These are all important questions to ask before creating a perforated window graphic. Customers may have different expectations for image clarity on the film and, conversely, how much obstruction there may be in viewing from the other side of the graphic. There may also be important safety considerations, especially when dealing with emergency vehicles, utility and delivery trucks, banks and other financial institutions, airports and any other area where visibility is critical.

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Print service providers are seeing a demand for wall graphics in many segments, including retail, hospitality, home, office and schools. Whether it’s commercial or consumer-based demand, these graphics are an attractive option to traditional wallpaper and basic signage.

In the world of digitally produced media, there are a variety of options for wallcoverings.The first thing to determine when qualifying media for a particular application is useful life and how it relates to the environment the graphic will be place in. Short term projects, (as in retail environments) may only require a calendared or non-PVC film, like Opti-Solve Wall Graphic, which are ideal for constantly changing promotions and products. The same can be said for consumer wall graphics, as they need to be easily applied and removed. Slightly thicker vinyls and repositionable adhesives can help with both aspects. Longer term projects, like ones that may be exposed to direct sunlight, may require using a permanent adhesive-backed vinyl, like 3M IJ180.

You might also consider traditional wallpaper materials that feature heavyweight latex bases and fabric backings, such as Korographics Wallcoverings. With this type of material, the latex in the wallpaper acts as a moisture barrier, which gives wall paper products a high degree of dimensional stability. This is an especially helpful feature when pieces are being paneled together. The more stable it is, the less likely a seam will be created. The overall benefit of these commercial grade fabric-backed wallcoverings is long term durability, value and flexibility.

Lastly, there are a variety of specialty items for other applications. These include media, like MACtac Rough Rap, for textured walls, such as concrete, brick and stone, which can have the affect of looking like a painted wall when applied correctly. Adhesive backed fabrics like Optima Opti-Solve Wall Tex have been growing in popularity over the years as well, as consumers are willing to pay a premium for murals that have a textile look and feel. As consumers continue find new avenues for advertising and marketing, the industry will have more and more products to fit these applications. For the end user it boils down to finding the right product, at the right price and their need for bright, easy to install, durable graphics.

High tack vinyls are a great solution for those hard-to-stick surfaces. There are many products available depending on your needs. These media are ideal for those unique surfaces that regular vinyl just won’t stick to because they may have a “low energy” surface.

What’s a low energy surface, you say? Basically, it’s the tendancy of a surface to repel, rather than attract an adhesive. Conversely, high energy surfaces are easier to adhere to. These include solid substrates such as metals and glasses. Low energy surfaces are harder to stick to and thus require a special adhesive to bond to them.

Polypropylene and polyethylene are low energy surfaces. These include products such as kayaks, ATVs, coolers, and port-a-johns. For maximum adhesion, an adhesive must thoroughly “wet out” the surface to be bonded. The adhesive you choose will be the most important part of the equation.

High tack films can also be good for rough or textured surfaces, but these particular films tend to be much thinner (2 mil) in order to conform to the uneventness of those surfaces. Advantage also has films for low energy surfaces that are for reasonably flat surfaces and come in thicknesses around 3.5 to 4 mil. Determining the right vinyl for your application will aslo depend on how long you need the media to last. Films in this category range in durability up to 5 to 7 years.

Contact your local Advantage branch office for more information on high tack films such as Orajet 3105HT or 3951HT.

Advantage Sign Supply is excited to announce the addition of the CET Color Xpress 500 line of wide-format UV digital printers to its product offering. Advantage will assist CET Color in its efforts to bring affordable options for digital, UV flatbed to small and medium sign shops and digital service bureaus.

According to Steve Kloosterman, Product Management & Marketing Director of Advantage Sign Supply, “CET Color is a growing force in the UV wide-format digital printing market. We have been tracking CET’s progress in developing what we believe to be a very unique product offering with their true flatbed printer. CET also shares with us a common philosophy of providing high quality products coupled with a commitment to excellent service and top tier technical support. CET Color will assist us in providing innovative print solutions to companies while lowering their cost of ownership.”

The CET Color Xpress 500 is a true flatbed UV printer, offering 4-8 print heads with optional white ink and 480 sf/hr max print speed. The Xpress 500 can print on virtually any substrate up to 4″ thick with a max. media size of 49″ x 99″. It is also field upgradable with the ability to add additional color channels.

About CET Color

CET Color has gained the attention of the digital wide-format market by making it possible for small-to-medium size digital service bureaus and sign companies to join the big league of large-format printers with impressive but affordable UV printer and router solutions. From true flatbeds to roll-to-roll to hybrids, CET Color is focused on supplying you with quality products to accelerate your business. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, and serving the U.S., Canadian, and Latin American markets.

For more information on the CET Color Xpress 500 UV printer, contact your Advantage Sign Supply sales representative for full details.

Product Features:

The 13oz banner (1000x 1000) Matte and Gloss products are the same material as our Optima wide format banner products.

13oz Double Sided satin finish is also the same product as our wide format product.

The 8oz mesh banner is new and has been tested on solvent, UV, and Latex printers and have achieved excellent results using stock profiles. The mesh banner comes in 126” and 196” widths with no liner.

The 9oz banner material is currently only available in 196” widths and features a matte white printed surface and a black block out reverse side. This material is designed for customers printing billboards specifically. The 9oz material is lighter weight improving material handling for billboard graphics installers. The black blockout layer provides opacity for applications over existing graphics.

Advantage Sign Supply, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of the SEAL 54 EL laminator to its product line. Ideal for low production environments, the 54 EL offers uncomplicated operation and an entry-level price.

“For customers needing a cold laminator for PSA applications, Seal’s 54 EL offers solid, time tested uniframe construction at an excellent entry level price.” says Steve Kloosterman, Advantage Sign Supply’s Director of Product Development.

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Advantage Sign Supply releases the Mimaki UJF-3042. Advantage will also be conducting a Midwest UJF-3042 road show in conjunction with Mimaki, in an effort to raise awareness of this unique printer’s capabilities.  A demo version of this product will be installed at the Grand Rapids Michigan office of Advantage Sign Supply. Please contact us with any questions or product demonstration request.  Call: (877) 237-4464.

Official Mimaki Press Release:

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Opti-Solve Clear Film

Product Overview:

Opti-Solve Clear film is ideal for customers who wish to have one Clear film solution in their shop that can be used on a multitude of printing technologies, including Eco-Solvent, Solvent and UV curable printing.

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November 10, 2010 Interview with Bill Betz about his CAT UV printer

The first thing you notice when you walk into Wild Bill and Associates is the feeling that you’ve joined the family. Bill Betz operates his sign company with his wife Marcia, sons Kevin and Erik, and daughters Tracy and Jan. Everyone has a role to play in the company, some of them part time, most full time. Bill’s grandfather started the company in 1928, his father took over, then Bill, and now Bill’s kids. Bill is a sign painter and pin striper who has moved into digital.

The second thing that strikes you is the color scheme of the printing room. Bill has decorated his room to match the printer, following Gerber’s “Green” motif. The room is green, the printer is green, and the prints themselves are environmentally green. No VOCs, low energy consumption, and no ozone emission from Gerber’s patent pending Cold Fire Cure lamps.

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Opti-Solve Economy Photo Paper (7 mil)

Product Overview:

Opti-Solve Economy Photo Paper is a unique product that has an “E” surface, similar to slightly textured surfaces created for silver halide photo prints. Opti-Solve Economy Photo Paper has a proprietary ink receptive coating which produces photo quality, quick drying images and is universally compatible with Latex, Eco-Solvent, True Solvent, and UV Curable inkjet printers.

Features:

• True Photo Quality Reproduction
• Satin “E” Surface Texture
• Coating controls the inkjet dot gain
• Compatible with Thermal or Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Laminating Films

Applications:

The gloss level is satin, perfect for portraits and other graphics where high color gamut and a low glare finish is required.

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