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Technical advice and information

Adhesives Adhesives are either aqueous or solvent-based. Most aqueous adhesives can be affected by water and humidity and are not recommended in demanding environmental conditions. Solvent-based adhesives are more widely used and their performance generally matches that of the face film. BEWARE! Bargain vinyls often use cheap adhesive to achieve a low price point. Application tools The right tools make any job easier and digital printing professionals use Spandex tools to guarantee the right result first time. Our many years of experience in the sign and graphics market have enabled us to source the best and most suitable tools for any job. Spandex offers a complete range of branded and ImagePerfect™ tools for every job, including cleaning fluids, application fluids, cloths, banner welders, eyelet presses, knives, squeegees, pliers, tape measures, magnets, heat presses and many more. Temperature ranges Quality vinyl as sold by Spandex is reasonably tolerant of the temperature extremes encountered in the UK for day-to-day use. However, all vinyls have limitations, which are provided throughout this product guide. All temperature limitations should be carefully observed. Storing vinyl Rolls should be stored on end, ideally in their original packaging, until required. Storing material in conditions where high humidity and temperature are encountered should be avoided. As a general rule, normal office temperature and humidity levels are ideal. Before using stored material for printing allow at least 24 hours for the material to attain workshop temperature if it has been stored in conditions that are markedly different to those where it will be worked on.

Working with vinyl With cutting plotters. If you are purchasing vinyl for a cutting plotter, the depth of cut for the type of vinyl being used must be adjusted correctly. Optimum depth / weight settings produce a clean cut that is easy to weed. Generally, cast films require less pressure and depth than calendered films. If vinyl looks as though it has been cut but proves difficult to weed there is a high probability that cutting depth was insufficient or the blade blunt. Vinyl that appears to weed well, but has paper backing adhering to some part of the weeded material has almost certainly been cut too deeply. Spandex recommends that a test cut be used to verify the plotter setting every time the vinyl roll is changed. Note that due to the nature of their use, Spandex cannot offer any warranty on blades or blade holders. With thermal printers. Most vinyls have not been specifically developed for use with a thermal printer, such as a Gerber Edge. Using vinyls for this purpose can result in finished product with varying print and durability qualities. Spandex therefore advises to test for suitability before any print production or to check for a specific assurance of suitability, such as the Edge Ready mark on vinyls . Edge Ready materials meet or exceed very high standards of surface quality, cleanliness and pigment receptivity required for thermal transfer printing. With inkjet printers. There are many considerations that should be observed in order to achieve the best possible outcome when converting media on an inkjet printer. These are explored in more details on the section ‘Getting the best out of your digital printer’. Application tapes Application tapes are used to lift cut or printed self-adhesive lettering and graphics from the vinyl’s silicone-coated paper or plastic liner and to transfer them to the substrate. Application tapes are available in clear and opaque variants. Personal preference is ultimately the biggest factor in deciding which to use. Clear application tape makes applying and registering multiple layers of vinyl easier. Opaque paper application tapes, on the other hand, do not stretch, as is sometimes the case with some clear tapes, and can still be seen through to some useful extent. Additionally, some clear tapes are not suitable where the graphics are left in contact for any significant length of time, as the tape’s adhesive can break down and transfer to the face of the lettering or graphics. Several degrees of adhesive strength are available for application tapes.