Tape Test

Before wrapping your vehicle at Laser Sharp Sign Design we do a tape test. Using high bond 3M tape, this is the closest you can get to creating the same bond the vinyl will to the car. Then pick several spots on the vehicle to test, stick a  piece of tape to the spot and then remove it. If the tape comes off with ease then the bond was not very good and the car may need to be rubbed down with alcohol to remove dirt and grease that can cause a weak bond with the material. If the tape sticks good while being ripped off then the bond is good and the vehicle is well prepared to be wrapped. This test simulates how well your vinyl will bond with the vehicle. The initial bond is the most important and if not done well will cause the vinyl to start coming up which doesn’t look good and also is tough to stick back down once it looses that initial bond. Although it is a simple test it is very effective and commonly used.

Pre-Wrap Supplies and Procedure

A clean substrate is the most important thing to have success in wrapping a vehicle. Every vehicle should be prepped as follows: Wash 24 hrs in advance, 70% Isopropyl Alcohol the entire car, use Denatured Alcohol for tougher areas. Xyleneon the bumpers and rocker panels. We insure at Laser Sharp Sign Design that we will make sure your vehicle is as clean as they come before we start the wrap process. Vehicle wraps may not be the cheapest form in changing the color of your vehicle but they give you the bet quality and longest life time if applied and taken care of in the right ways. There are times where spending more money is worth it to insure that the quality of your product is the best that it can be and will last longer then what a cheaper job would. Research will show that a cheap paint job or wrap will not last more then two years, with either job you will see cracks start to form, fading,  and tears where the car wasn’t prepped well enough. If your paint or wrap job are advertisement for your company this is something that you definitely don’t want to happen. Driving around advertising your business is a vehicle which looks like it got a cheap paint/wrap job will make people think that your cheap and actually give them a negative view towards your business. Sometimes spending the extra money is worth it, its an investment that will give you more views then any other form of advertisement there is. Don’t go cheap make sure you get the best quality there is to offer.

Special Effects Vinyl

Use Special Effect Vinyl to create a visually stunning graphics that boost your profits. When being manufactured colors are incorporated into the resins not just surfaced dyed. This improves durability and permanence, the colors will not scratch off!I will introduce a few specialty vinyls to you starting with Decorative Diffrato-Lite Mosaic. This type of vinyl is for interior use only. The light diffraction creates the appearance that the intricate interlocking geometric pattern is in motion. Another type of specialty vinyl is Decorative Multi-lens. This type of vinyl is also for interior use only, continually repeating patterns of 3D concave or convex lenses that create the effect of metallic spheres. For a special effect vinyl that has outdoor durability you should go with Diffracto-Lite Brite Overall. This is a smooth silver iridescent vinyl that appears to change colors when viewed from different angles or in different light. There are many more specialty film styles that can be used to give your print, whether its a vehicle wrap or a banner, that wow factor to grab the attention of people everywhere.

 Decorative Diffracto-Lite Mosaic                                  Decorative Multi-Lens

   

 Diffracto-Lite Brite Overall

Laser Sharp Sign Design

813-445-7300

Call for questions and estimates!!

Metallic Enhancer

At Laser Sharp Sign Design we have the ability to use the MACtac metallic enhancer which will give your prints a whole new definition. There are many different options with the metallic enhancer to give your prints a fantastic look.This enhancer can be used over digital prints to create a metallic paint like appearance  It can also be placed on colored vinyl to create special effects in your prints. With the ability to add the effect to the graphic or just laminate a ‘regular’ print with this product you can get an awesome look that makes you stand out from the rest.

  

Laser Sharp Sign Design

813-445-7300

Call for question or estimates!!

Camo Wraps

If your a fan of the outdoors a Camo Wrap would be the thing for you. Camouflage wraps are produced in different kits in order to fit your vehicle the way you want. Kits such as a Deluxe Truck Kit which provides enough Camo vinyl to cover most full size pick ups and SUV’s.Jeep Kit’s provides you enough Camo vinyl to wrap your particular jeep. Another kit that is offered is a Camo Grass Kit. Instead of fully wrapping your vehicle Camouflage the Grass Kit comes up your vehicle from the bottom about 10 inches and gives you the Camo effect with out going all out. Camo Wraps are also made for back windows, rather then tint or nothing at all show your love for the outdoors by adding some Camouflage to your vehicle!

 

Camo Wraps don’t just have to be your standard green and brown color with a wood or grass effect. Camo Wraps can be done in any color of your choice whether you decide to go one color with different shades or three different colors is completely the customers choice. There’s also different designs of Camo that give your vehicle a different effect. You can go with the army digital effect or a simple Camo designs which distinguishes the colors from one another and give your vehicle a cool and unique look.

  

Laser Sharp Sign Design.

813-445-7300

Call for questions or estimates!!

Sealing Tape

When wrapping a vehicle one of the first effects that will happen is the edges of your vinyl coming up. When working with edges most installers will wrap the vinyl behind the panel they are working on and stick it on the back side. This is good because it prevents your edges from taking to much wind and pulling your edges up. Even though this helps it does not prevent it completely  some specialist say using a primer beforehand will help with the stick. Although this is an effective solution, using sealing tape is the most effective and simple way to make sure that your edges don’t pull up. It helps seal and protect all edges of the wrap including wheel wells, the hood, trunk, and doors.The tape is clear which makes it invisible to the eye and also extends the life of your wrap. Make sure that your installers are using this tape so you get your full money’s worth from your wrap!

   

 

Vehicle Preperation

When wrapping anything, having a clean substrate is the most important part. Every vehicle should be prepared as followed: Wash 24 hours in advance, 70% Isopropyl Alcohol the entire car, use denatured alcohol for tougher areas, Xylene on the bumper and rocker panels. 3M Prep Solvent-70 should be applied everywhere vinyl goes, and a final wash with the 70% Isopropyl Alcohol. Doing these simple steps is the best way to insure that your vinyl wrap will stick and stay applied for the longest amount of time.

Acid Dew

Acid dew comes from pollution mixing in with dew drops and becoming increasingly acidic with the more sunlight that hits it. This problem seems to be coming more common especially in warmer climate areas. 3M has come out with a new product to prevent damage to your vehicle wraps, 8528 laminate will reduce harmful effects of UV light and acid dew. This new lamination was designed specifically to guard against spotting and discoloration caused bu UV light damage and acid dew. Another way to prevent from this sort of damage is to maintain washing and polishing your vehicle. There are certain chemicals that should not be used on a vehicle wrap, doing so could cause discoloration, holes in your vinyl or removal of the print. Be sure to use chemicals that are friendly to your vehicle wrap, washing it constantly will keep your vehicle wrap in the best condition with no effects from UV lights and acid dew.

Should You Laminate Your Wrap

Our customers tell us that over laminating their vinyl wraps is a necessity. The vinyl over laminate not only protects the print from fading, abrasion, gasoline, ect., but also strengthens the vinyl which makes installation easier. Using lamination will also make removable of the vinyl easier if and when you decide to do so. The best part about lamination is the extra protection it will give your car. If you ever accidently set a chemical bottle or paint on your vehicle it is no problem with the lamination it will come right off.

This Avalanche is laminated with 8518.

Test Wrap Before You Wrap!

TransferRite Ultraclear 1310 Grid material is the best way to plan your vehicle wrap before actually applying it. This material with 1” grid squares helps you determine where your images are going to fall so they don’t end up on the wheel or wrong door panel. You apply it to your vehicle before wrapping and map out how you would like the imaging and where the printing should take place. This is not a material that is used often but it is good for the perfectionist who wants to make sure all things line up perfectly. Many graphic designers and wrappers will do their measurements without this grid system, but sometimes it shows in their work. If you want to prevent any mistakes and leave a happy customer paying the price to insure that this is used on your wrap could be worth it.