When Ink Is Not the Problem with Digital Printing, Part II

Beyond dust and dirt, several factors impact the ink’s ability to stick to the substrate. The carrier ­ aqueous-based or solvent-based ­ is another key factor in the final outcome. Then there’s calibration. Discover media issues that could ruin an otherwise picture perfect print job. Ink is pivotal to every printed image. After all, you...
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When Ink Is Not the Problem with Digital Printing, Part I

Variables like surface tension, media expansion and ink absorption take on new dimensions on larger substrates. If the paper doesn’t advance, it could cause blobs of ink or other ugly outcomes. If the media stretches even a little, you could get blurs. Tiling can become a challenge on larger prints. Read on to discover what...
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Ink, Glorious Ink

You have two choices: buy cheap ink and yield cheap signs, or buy quality ink and yield quality signs. Find out why ink makes such a dramatic difference in large-format printing. Did you know that the quality of your ink is critical to the quality, durability and visual appeal of your signage? Webster’s dictionary defines...
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Building Work Tables

Building a work table is easy enough for anyone to construct. What’s more, it takes very little time to build. And if you build it right, it could last you the rest of your life. Best yet, the cost is minimal, especially when you consider that you will use your work tables more than any...
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Picture Perfect Wall Graphics

Applications to Smooth Walls Applying graphics to a flat, smooth, painted wall is easy. Still problems can and do occur.  Rarely are these graphics failures the result of application technique.  Instead improper surface preparation and poor material choices account for most problems.  If you follow the few simple rules in this article, your applications should...
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Storing Application Tape

Application tape manufacturers package their products in plastic sleeves, then box them in corrugated containers to protect the tape from light, dirt and humidity. If you’re not going to use the tape immediately, keep it in its box. Tape not stored in boxes is exposed to light, which can cause yellowing. Even shop lighting can...
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Are Premask and Prespacing Tape the Same Thing?

The plethora of terms used for the application tapes sold in the sign and screen print markets could confuse anyone. In the sign market, many people just use the terms “application tape” or “application paper”.  Frequently this tape is also incorrectly referred to as “transfer tape”. If you are a purist and want to pick a...
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Paint Component Basics

What’s in Paint? Something within our human nature compels us to paint. Ever since our primitive ancestors decorated the walls of their caves more than 40,000 years ago, man has formulated different types of paint mixtures. In all that time, the basic components have remained the same. Regardless of what type of paint it is,...
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Tips on Carving Western Red Cedar

In the sign industry, Western Red Cedar sign blanks are a popular choice because this affordably-priced wood is dimensionally stable and resists insects and decay. As a substrate for exterior signage, cedar can provide up to thirty years outdoor durability. Its workability also makes Western Red Cedar an excellent choice for sign makers. Because it...
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Learning the Language of Light for Trade Show Signage

Get some tips and tricks for communicating with the language of light so you can offer value-added advice to your customers. Sign makers can cash-in on fabricating trade show signage, but if you don’t understand lighting, then that signage may not offer customers the desired return on their investment. Learn about lighting and become a...
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United States Patent and Trademark Office Issues Patent for BannerPRO

Supply55, Inc. a leading provider of unique value added products to the sign, screen and graphic arts market has been issued a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for BannerPRO.   BannerPRO is a banner welding system which offers digital print facilities the ability to fabricate perimeter hems, pole pockets and pocket...
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Preparing Floors for Floor Graphics

Learn how to how to laminate the graphic, how to place it, how to prep the surface, and how to install the graphic so it will stay put and do its job. With floor graphics representing a $2 billion industry, can you really afford not to get involved? The answer for most of you is...
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What You Need to Know About Varnish in the Digital Printing Arena

There’s more than one way to varnish. And there’s more than one way to make a mess with varnish, too. The good news is, if you use the right printer and the right materials, varnishing can add profits to your bottom line. When you think of varnish, you probably think of putting a glossy coat...
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Marketing Neon In The New Millennium

LED vendors have done a masterful job of marketing their technologies, but the neon industry is fighting fire with fire. With the rise of LEDs and fiber optics in the illuminated sign field, neon has come under fire. Some county sign ordinances are even outlawing neon. But the industry is not rolling over and playing...
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Why Install Graphics in a Relaxed State

Years ago professional decal installers were taught to install vinyl graphics in a relaxed state without stretching the film. While vinyl films today are much more robust and can withstand the stresses encountered when wrapping a vehicle, you are much less likely to experience film failure, if you adhere to some of the old rules....
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Application Temperature Range

To avoid problems with vinyl or any other pressure-sensitive material, carefully read the vinyl manufacturer’s technical data sheet. Product bulletins will usually contain all of the information you need, including application temperature range. The application temperature range for most vinyl films is usually between 50⁰ and 90⁰F (10⁰ to 32⁰ C). For some films, the...
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Problems with Static Electricity

In much of the country September ushers in climatic changes.  As the autumn air becomes colder, the humidity of the air outdoors decreases.  The drop in humidity can result in an increase of problems related with static electricity. Static problems in print shops are further exacerbated, as we switch from air conditioning to a heating...
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Staining and Varnishing

Staining and varnishing is a great way to finish an interior sign, if the wood used has a beautiful natural grain, such as mahogany. Stains contain pigments that tint and accentuate the grain of the wood.  To create the directory sign  pictured above, Dr. Francis Lestingi hand carved a mahogany panel. To enhance the beautiful rich...
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