Amit Rao

In general, people usually ignore some points while converting and applying films. Most of the times they could get away with these (points) if they really wanted to improve their abilities as professional applicators. Then read on…

Role of planning
Applicators leave ‘planning’ to printer operators who tile the prints. They (operators) in turn are keen on minimising waste. What gets ignored is the substrate and complexity it adds to the process. Substrates play a significant role in planning. What is recommended here is that applicators must have a thorough look at the substrate and plan the application. Planning plays a big role not only in durability, but also the ease of application. For instance, the joint of the graphic (shown in the picture above) is coincided with the joint of the aluminum composite panel. Since there is silicone at that joint the graphic does not stick to the surface and resulting in failure. Another important thing that tends to avoid is the joints in both directions. As a thumb rule it is preferred joints only in the vertical direction and should avoid the horizontal ones as much as possible.

Application on substrate joints
If the substrate has joints that are not treated well, there is always a chance of failure (at the joints). This is particularly true for application exposed to outdoor elements. If the substrate has joints and there’s a rubber gasket or silicone then it is never advisable to bridge the film over these areas. Expansion and contraction of joints coupled with vibration in case of automobiles can cause failure.

Here’s an example of such a failure in cargo van application (shown in the picture below). The best way is to avoid this failure to give relief cuts at joints and avoid application of film in areas where film will not adhere to the substrate. Refer the picture showing occurrence of failure because of the film being bridged over a rubber gasket in a cargo van door application.

Checking correctness of graphics
Prior to application, it is strongly recommended to check correctness of graphics and this step should be strictly followed. The best time to do this is after printing and prior to packaging. It should be carefully checked and ensured that the dimension of the graphic is perfectly matched with the surface where it is applying to. Check for colour consistency, colour match (in case of brand colours) and correctness of overlaps. Look at this case (in the picture above), it is apparent that this graphic was not checked prior to application. The applicator realised the error only when he could not find a matching tile. The job was left half done and since the reprint did not match in colour to the previous one. This resulted in the entire job being repeated. Not to mention that the customer was unhappy.

Planning for overlaps
It is essential to plan for overlaps during the printing process. Plan the joints and avoid matching intricate details, if possible. This helps improve quality and productivity. In the picture above, shifting the overlap by a few inches could have helped to produce a better looking application.

Recheck job
Applicators can take some time to review their applications. Rechecking the job after completion always helps resolve whatever missed or forgotten. Even if applicators normally don’t do this, it is always a good practice to recheck. This will give applicators the chance to find something that they never noticed during the process. It is also a good practice to resqueegee all the edges of the graphic and check all areas where film is trimmed. In a case (shown in the picture above), applicators forgot to weed the graphic correctly which in turn resulted in ‘beheading’ the man.

Apply at right time
If applicators feel that the environment is inappropriate for film application, hold off the application till the right time. Graphics applied on improperly dried surfaces or when conditions are not favourable are seldom lasted as compared to the ones applied in suitable environment. An example of unfavourable environment is shown in the picture. See the installers at this site filled with full of dust. Application in such circumstances should be avoided at all cost.

Avoid uncomfortable positions
Do not work in uncomfortable positions. Many of us do not even think that the posture of an applicator has anything to do with film application. What is noticed here is the contrary. All graphic films have pressure sensitive adhesive. If pressure is not applied evenly, films do not adhere to substrate properly. Besides that, uncomfortable positions are unhealthy too! If applicators want to continue to grow in the field of applications, uncomfortable positions should be avoided and they should make sure to be in comfortable posture first.

Now, the bottom line is that a customer may not notice all the defects that exist in a graphic or sometimes may even choose to ignore the defect because of the lack of time. But, as an expert installer, one must know what is right or wrong. And it is every applicator’s responsibility to do it right. Excuses about lack of time, pressure and lack of control on the process must always be kept at bay. A graphic film is only a fraction of total cost but is a critical element in establishing visual identity. This makes it essential to make sure that everyone gives it their best. Hope this article will be useful and help applicators improve the way they handle applications.

For any specific question or suggestion, feel free to write in at: rvamit@mmm.com