Ready for Application Nation?

Application Nation is a community created specifically for applicators in the graphics industry. It’s a unique network of peers focused on enhancing standards in application discussion, education, ideas, trends and techniques. Citizens of Application Nation span the globe, representing several areas of expertise, and constantly strive to advance the craft, the technique and the business.

There are vinyl installation and vehicle wrapping training sessions coming up:

Wharton, NJ
Date: June 9th, 2010

Cincinnati, OH
Date: July 28th, 2010

Los Angeles, CA
Date: November 2010 Location: TBD

Click here for more information about these vehicle wrapping training seminars.

Looking for more diversity with your vinyl material options? 3M Graphics Market Center just added both 30” and 60.5” widths to 3M Scotchcal Graphic Film with Comply Adhesive IJ35C-10 (Gloss) in 50-yard roll lengths. This should make it easier for some of you vinyl installers to get the job done.

Scotchcal film IJ35C is a 3.2 mil polymeric calendered film ideal for POP and general signage applications. According to 3M, it offers great hiding power, permanent adhesive and air release channels for virtually bubble-free graphic installations with less application waste.  You can use this film with or without an overlaminate.  When graphic protection is required, 3M recommends its Scotchcal Luster Overlaminate 8509.

3M is now offering its Scotchcal graphic film with Comply adhesive IJ40C for partial vehicle wraps. This 3-mil vinyl film has removable, pressure-sensitive adhesive, and a pattern of air release channels for easier, bubble-free application. And the product has been upgraded with a 7-year expected performance life.

It’s available in a gloss or matte finish and 3M is billing it as ideal where a versatile film is needed for partial vehicle wraps. It provides dependable performance for fleet, flat and simple POP applications where air release is desired. The film is designed for inkjet or screen printing with solvent or UV inks.

NASCAR driver Steve Wallace dropped the green flag on the Avery Graphics Design 66 Challenge today.  Rusty Wallace Racing and Avery Graphics are challenging designers to create the winning wrap for Steve Wallace’s 5-Hour Energy No. 66 Toyota Camry race car.

The winning entry and its designer will meet the Rusty Wallace Racing drivers – Steve Wallace and Brendan Gaughan – and be on hand in the pit to see their design in action on the 5-Hour Energy No. 66 at the last NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Homestead, Florida on November 20, 2010.

“I want designers to Supercast my ride,” said Steve Wallace, currently ranked in the top 15 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. “I’m looking forward to seeing the creative designs that get submitted for No. 66, this is a unique contest that’s open to anyone.”

“The winning design will be digitally printed on Avery MPI 1005 Supercast film so the sky is the limit,” said Todd Hain, Marketing Communications Manager at Avery Dennison Graphics & Reflective Products Division (GRPD). “Supercast films are ultra-conformable and the print quality is optimized allowing the designs to be dramatic.”

Avery Dennison Graphics & Reflective Products Division joined forces with the Rusty Wallace Racing team for the 2010 Nationwide Series.  Both Wallace’s No. 66 and Gaughan’s No. 62 are being wrapped with Avery Graphics products for the 2010 season.

The design competition launched today and will run through August 13th. Each person can submit as many designs as they can create – the rules, prizes, templates and more are available at www.SupercastMyRide.com <http://www.supercastmyride.com/> . The layered Adobe Photoshop template can be downloaded and designs submitted as a JPG. Each design will be rendered as a 3D model and put in the gallery.

“5-Hour Energy is proud to sponsor Rusty Wallace Racing and the Avery Graphics Design 66 Challenge,” said Carl Sperber, Creative Director for 5-Hour Energy. “The Challenge is an exciting opportunity for designers to take on a high profile project that will be seen by millions of people.”

Avery MPI 1005 Supercast is available with Easy Apply RS™, Easy Apply™ and Gloss Opaque LTR technologies to provide faster and easier application and long-term removability.  Easy Apply air egress technology helps eliminate wrinkles and bubbles while Easy Apply RS provides repositionability and slideability, allowing the film to be moved easily before pressure is applied. These films are removable and don’t affect the paint on the car.

Check out this video of sign maker Robert Lambie wrapping a truck using sign vinyl DRY! many people prefer wet applications, but a lot of the most experienced pros do dry wraps. Lambie says each 90″ x 48″ panel takes only two minutes to apply. Wow!

Oracle has produced a cool video on vehicle wrapping. Check it out.

Digital Designware and the International Sign Association (ISA) are hosting the American Wrap Star contest for the first time at ISA Expo in Orlando, Florida from April 8 – April 10.

The contest will award $250,000 worth of prizes. 3M announced that it is the platinum sponsor of the event, providing 3M product as prizes, on-site support and demonstration, along with 3M Controltac Wrap Film with Comply v3 Adhesive IJ180Cv3 and 3M Scotchcal Ultra-Matte Overlaminate 8915 which will be used in the competition.

Dirk Moebes, CEO of Digital Designware and event director, explained, “Last October we held a similar event during the Viscom show in Duesseldorf, Germany with huge success and immense response. We are more than happy to co-cost the event at ISA. And we’ve garnered strong support from key sponsors, such as 3M. Without 3M as the platinum Sponsor, an event like this would not take place.”

The competition will consist of five rounds during the three show days. Wrappers will compete on speed and quality and will be judged by a panel of international wrap experts. Participants who survive the first round will be promoted to the next until only two remain.

A maximum of 128 wrappers can participate in the contest and all participants, regardless of ranking, will receive a prize. The prizes awarded to the top winners will include a flatbed applicator, vinyl cutter with camera system and software, digital printer, 3M materials and laminator. Those who are eliminated after the first round will still be awarded a package of vouchers for vinyl, overlaminate and other supplies, software and wrap tools worth nearly $1,800.

The current list of event sponsors includes 3M, Summa, Rollsroller, HP, Mutoh, Royal Sovereign, Corel, Pro Vehicle Outline, Cadlink, Digital Art Solutions, Yellotools, Image1Impact, Wrap Expterts and many others.