Here are some points to consider regarding printing your graphics. Consider these points carefully before you make any decisions:
1. First, are you printing on a cast vinyl? Cast vinyl conforms better to compound curves and rivets better than calendared vinyl.
2. Are you going to stretch the vinyl? If so, make sure the ink being used will also stretch. Some UV-curable inks do not stretch well and this can cause issues.
3. Are you printing with ink that will go the distance of the material warranty? Some ink manufacturers make claims that may not be accurate. The industry standard is five years.
4. Are you using a liquid laminate or a hard film laminate to coat the wrap vinyl? A liquid laminate will save you money while a two-mil cast vinyl laminate typically costs more. Or, are you using a UV-curable coating for your UV-curable print? No matter what you use, you should be aware that all warranty programs are matched to a specific ink, vinyl and laminate combination.
5. You may not be coating the vinyl at all as is the case of window perf. SignWorks uses hot solvent on window perf. because it’s unlikely that it will fail, peel off a window or fall off. After three years, the window graphics on back windows (angled up more than the side windows) tend to fade about 20 percent, and by the end of five years, they are faded by approximately 50 percent.
Some people put laminate on window graphics but they start to curl up after about a year and a half. The only problem with not laminating window perf is that when it rains, the holes in window perf fill with water, making it very difficult to see out of the windows. However, given the choice between failure before five years or blurry vision from the laminate, I personally prefer the water issue. Obviously, the choice is yours to make.