More than 500 fans of 3M Commercial Graphics recently voted in “Wrap Battle: 1080,” a contest to choose the next color and finish for 3M Scotchprint Wrap Film Series 1080. By an overwhelming margin, voters selected Brushed Black Metallic from the nine color/finish contenders. The new film will be available in January 2012.

The contest was held on the Facebook page of 3M Commercial Graphics. After fans voted on their preferred color/finish combination, they were encouraged to share their choice with their Facebook friends, and then were entered in the sweepstakes to win a roll of the selected film.

Brushed Black Metallic received more than twice the votes of the next nearest finisher. The breakdown of the 554 total votes in the contest was as follows:

·     Brushed Black Metallic: 38%

·     Gloss Red Metallic: 15%

·     Carbon Fiber Blue: 12%

·     Matte Pink: 9%

·     Matte Blue: 7%

·     Carbon Fiber Gold:  6%

·      Matte Orange: 5%

·     Carbon Fiber Red: 5%

·      Matte Red: 3%

In the U.S., Evan Chan of La Habra, Calif., was the winner of a free roll, while Craig Stratton of Mount Pearl in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador won the prize in Canada.

“We are constantly evolving and improving our products to give our customers what they want,” said Doug Blackwell, business development manager for 3M Commercial Graphics. “This contest allowed us to communicate directly with users of our products, and we are thrilled with their response. Brushed black metallic will make an outstanding addition to our line.”

Scotchprint wrap film series 1080 has been embraced by car enthusiasts thanks to its variety of finishes, textures and colors. Film series 1080 is a long-term, removable, dual-cast film that offers graphics installers the same convenient installation features found on 3M Controltac Graphic Films with 3M Comply Adhesive. The film is slideable and repositionable, with a pressure-activated adhesive and non-visible air release channels to allow virtually bubble-free applications. The film is also backed by the industry leading 3M MCS Warranty, bringing peace of mind to discriminating users who require optimum performance.

Check out this video Absolute Perfection posted of a vehicle wrapping job on a Zombie Escape vehicle. Just in time for Halloween!

Vehicle wrap

The 3M Graphics Market Center had a very active presence at the Specialty Graphic Industry Association (SGIA) Expo October 13-15, in Las Vegas. While demonstrating new products and technologies and offering expert support and advice, 3M also engaged attendees with its Bumper Wrap Contest. Participants installed 3M vehicle wrap film on actual vehicle bumpers, providing a fun and challenging event while demonstrating the versatility and ease-of-use of 3M wrap films.

Contestants applied a 2′ x 2′ graphic to the bumper of a Chevrolet HHR, and were judged on speed and quality of the installation. The graphics were printed on 3M’s Controltac brand Wrap Film with Comply v3 Adhesive IJ380Cv3 with 3M’s Scotchcal brand Gloss Overlaminate 8580.

The contest winner was Keoni Denison of Capital Wraps of Washington, DC. Keoni won a T-shirt and an $800 discount on training, testing, or 3M installation tools, and all 38 participants received prizes. The top ten finalists were:

1. Keoni Denison - Capital Wraps - DC
2. Kenny Miller - Thumb Print - CA
3. Zigis Tijunelis - Massive Impact Media LTD
4. Justin Pate - Netherlands
5. Ryan Farquharson - JD Inc - TX
6. Noli Hipolito - Art Signs - HI
7. Jeffery Merrell - Traffic Graphics NW INC - WA
8. Susanne Stoddard - Icon Image - CA
9. Sam Twomey - The Mad Striper - VA
10.  Oswaldo Gutierrez – Multipass

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.

Avery Dennison is sponsoring six Mutoh “Hands-On” School of Wrap classes around the U.S. throughout 2010. Two of the classes will take place at the Graphics & Reflective Products Division in Mentor, Ohio. Justin Pate, a globally recognized graphic installer, will teach all of the wrap classes utilizing Avery MPI 1005 Easy Apply RS.

“The workshops are a reflection of the work ethic that I have relied on during my 14-year career installing graphics with the highest quality, durability and efficiency,” Pate says.  “My Universal Graphics Installation System (UGIS) is a fluid, easy-to-learn platform. It reduces mistakes and ensures quality which results in significantly lower install times.  This combination provides the installer with a decisive edge in today’s graphic installation field.”

Matt McDonald, Owner of Premier Wraps, based in Fonatan, Calif., sad: “I learned more in three days at MUTOH’s ‘Hands On’ School of Wrap than I have in the last year and half, trying to figure things out on my own. I’ve already put Justin’s techniques (UGIS) to use and it’s amazing how much easier and faster installations go. We wrapped a bass boat in 7 hours after taking the class. My way would have taken at least 15 hrs. Unreal.”

Pate’s workshops are one of a kind.

1. He teaches a clear, easy to understand system (UGIS) that works on any vehicle, with any material.

2. This system, along with other invaluable tips taught in the workshop, creates speed.  There is simply no other installer or workshop out there that fully understands speed wrapping and can clearly teach quality and efficiency like Justin Pate.

3. Participants receive not only training but support and vehicle wrapping tools to take home and get started.

Mutoh’s “Hands-On” School of Wrap 2010 Schedule: Sign up Now, Seating is limited!

For more information and to register please visit: http://www.mutohcarwraps.com/MutohSchoolofWrap.html