WRAPS
INFORMATION ON WRAPS AND MATERIAL CHOICE
Full Wraps consist of wrapping all or most of the surface of the vehicle. This will cover the entire car in your design or new color. Full wraps will definitely grab the attention of anyone passing by and its a great way to make your text as noticeable as can be. On the flip side its also the most expensive because of the amount of material cost and labor. Another term for full wraps is ‘color change’, but that’s mostly referred to for basic wraps where only the color is being changed.
Partial wraps are the most 'bang for your buck’. They give an appeal to the eye while also saving you money. Since the entire vehicle is not being wrapped you have more freedom as to how you want your vehicle to be designed. The wrap can cover a lot of the vehicle or very little depending on your style. The possibilities are endless when it comes to partial wraps.
Decals (AKA Diecut) is the most cost effective. Decals come in many sizes and depending on how basic you want to make the sticker, it can be very cheap. This style of wrapping also has the fastest turnaround rate; often times you will get your decals in little to no time at all. Some things to consider are the smaller the decal the less it will be seen, defeating the purpose of marketing. Also decals can potentially fall of the vehicle if abused from weather, scratches, hands, or washing the vehicle.
3m has a very reputable standard when it comes to new technologies. Their vinyl film is no different in terms of reputation. 3m produces many different vinyls for any job, like wrapping directly on to brick. The vinyl is allowed to adhere to rough surfaces because of the very aggressive adhesive on the 3m films. This ensures the film won’t come off the designated surface unless poorly installed. Aggressive adhesion also brings a more difficult install when compared to other vinyl films, though in the end a stronger bond will last longer. 3m films are also a couple millimeters thicker and are more resistant to falling to pieces if scratched or banged up. 3m produces very strong and durable vinyl perfect for many rough jobs or even paint protection.
Avery Dennison is another very strong competitor when it comes to vinyl films. With a film very thin it makes for very easy installs and it has a low surface tac initially. This meaning the film is reposition-able and won’t immediately adhere to the surface. Many installers prefer to use Avery for color changing cars or even commercial wraps due to the forgiving features the film provides. Not to be misleading, Avery adhesive will bond to the surface over time and provide the sound protection to your vehicles paint.
For smaller jobs the leading brand would be Orafol. The films produced by Orafol are much cheaper when in comparison to 3m or Avery, but they have their purpose. This film is very aggressive and not very pliable, making it difficult to install large pieces. Another downfall is that the films are not air-egress. Meaning there are no channels in the vinyl that lets air out when installing. This can often lead to bubbles or wrinkles if not installed properly. Orafol films would best be used for decals or small signage where you can easily control the smaller pieces of vinyl. This choice would also save you money in comparison.
All of the brands listed above come in many different colors and finishes. Some colors are unique to the brand name, but those are mostly the color change films or shade shift colors. The most well known finishes to vinyl films are gloss and matte. Gloss provides a high shine surface, almost like paint. This finish hides a lot of impurity’s such as scratches but can also bring out the attention to dents. Matte finishes have almost no shine to them at all and give a very subtle look to the color. Somethings to consider when choosing matte is that it can scratch easily and if heated enough it can gloss in some areas. Some other known finishes are Satin, Reflective, Metallic, Translucent, Chrome, and many more.
One of the most common arguments about choosing vinyl films over paint is the cost. Wrapping a car is about half of the cost of a professional paint job. The vinyl film will also protect the paint surface of the vehicle and if a piece gets damaged you can easily replace it rather than the whole wrap. Another benefit of choosing vinyl is the diversity of use. Almost anything can be wrapped such as cars, walls, windows, floors, etc. Whatever it is it can be done. Vinyl will most typical last several years, expected up to 7 years. Though in those years you will start to see color fading, lifting edges, or even cracking. It is recommended to replace your vinyl about every 2 to 3 years for best results. Another thing to do is take car of your vinyl, if it is not treated well it can be damaged or fail easily. Cleaning and maintaining anything of concern may keep your vinyl in top condition for years.
Any further questions can be answered through contact with one of our employees.
Please understand that a vehicle wrap is not paint. Some flaws in the material are inevitable. Minor lift, even on flat areas, will happen. When wrapping vinyl in and out of deep grooves and around curves and/or rivets, limited "bubbling," "lifting," and "tenting" of the material is inevitable. This, however, will not jeopardize the effectiveness of the advertisement. Seams in material will be used to minimize "bubbling" and "lifting" as much as possible. Cleaning is important to the life of the wrap. When cleaning, be sure to clean gently. WARNING: Never use a pressure washer on the wrap material. Too much pressure will cause the material to tear and/or lift. Please note that exposure to the sun will cause fading over time.