MACtac Graphic Products has expanded its wall graphics media offering with the addition of DecoArt, an interior pressure-sensitive product line. DecoArt DecoSatin DA012, a fabric-based product first to launch in the DecoArt line, is specifically intended for wide-format printing of pressure-sensitive wall graphics, wall murals and custom wall coverings.

DecoArt DecoSatin DA012 can be used in a variety of interior locations, ranging from hotels, conference centers and reception areas to stores and waiting areas. In addition, it has a durability of five to seven years indoors and up to a year outdoors. DecoSatin is backed by MACtac’s Open Image Warranty which guarantees the quality and longevity warranted in registered applications.

“Because DecoArt DecoSatin was designed with wide-format printers in mind, it prints vibrant colors beautifully, installs easily, and just as important, removes without the need for steam or wallpaper ‘claws’,” said Mary Ann Kucera, marketing manager, MACtac Graphic Products. “The product line enables customers to create custom designs for both short-run print jobs and longer run jobs like multiple hotel rooms.”

DecoArt DecoSatin DA012 is a white woven polyester textile that is coated with a clear, repositionable acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive. DecoSatin meets ANSI / NFPA - Class A and IBC - Class A specifications for flame spread and smoke density. The product is intended to be used with wide-format, eco-solvent, solvent-based, latex-based and ultraviolet (UV)-cured inkjet printers. Stability and smooth feeding characteristics through the inkjet printers are provided by a protected 86# polycoated release liner.

The full line of MACtac Graphic Products: IMAGin, PERMACOLOR, MACmark and REBEL provides a pressure-sensitive solution for every signage need. Whatever technology–wide-format digital printing, mounting and laminating, CAS or screen printing–MACtac has you covered.

Walsall College, in conjunction with Roland DG’s Academy and Metamark, recently showcased their vehicle wrapping skills expertise to a global audience, when the UK hosted the world’s greatest skills competition, WorldSkills London 2011.

The WorldSkills London 2011 Competition took place over four days, from 5 – 8 October.  It is one of the biggest events ever to be held at ExCeL London, and saw over 1,000 of the most skilled young people from all corners of the globe battling it out in 46 different skills, competing to be crowned the best of the best in their chosen skill. Showcase colleges and training providers were present to inspire the audience and help them to look at the endless possibilities for their future jobs and careers.  So popular and high profile is the event that David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Vince Cable all took time to come along and visit.

During the event, Metamark MD-7 was being used to wrap a Honda ACCORD car, using the skills of students trained within the Roland DG Academy at Walsall College who are on the level 2 and 3 sign making apprenticeship programme with the college.

The Roland DG Academy offers a wide range of hands-on, practical training courses and workshops for the sign and graphic arts industries, with the courses on offer ranging from vehicle wrap, to software training such as PhotoShop and SignLab, plus hands-on vinyl application skills workshops.

Gillian Montanaro, Head of Marketing for Roland DG, stated: “The Roland DG Academy is our hidden gem.  Roland DG is known for manufacturing high quality wide format printers, but also offers this fantastic training facility for sign-makers, graphics producers and beyond, with a range of high quality and affordable courses tailored specifically for those working in wide format digital print.”

Andrew Evans, Commercial Academy Manager at Walsall College said: “To be part of an event which recognises skills at the very highest level is truly aspirational and our students rose to the occasion to put on a truly spectacular show.  We are thrilled that our students had the opportunity to showcase their talents at WorldSkills London 2011. It’s fantastic for them to be part of such prestigious event and gain recognition for all their hard work”.

MACtac Graphic Products has added an easy-to-use pressure-sensitive adhesive media to its IMAGin® B-free® Gruv™ portfolio. IMAGin B-free Gruv GV429R is the first air egress media in the bubble-free product line specifically designed not just for easy application but also for easy, clean removal from a variety of surfaces.

IMAGin B-free Gruv GV429R is ideal for outdoor medium-term advertising and promotions on flat or simple curved surfaces. It is intended for use in applications such as wall murals, point-of-purchase (POP) displays, and indoor and outdoor signage.

“We wanted to provide a product for our customers who are looking for an easy-to-apply and easy-to-remove media for large graphics,” said Mary Ann Kucera, marketing manager, MACtac Graphic Products. “So, we focused on air egress when developing IMAGin B-free Gruv GV429R. It’s easy to install and remove from a wide range of surfaces. Plus, the product has an outdoor durability of four years, which further contributes to its versatility.”

IMAGin B-free Gruv GV429R features a B-free air egress removable, opaque, acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive. It can be applied and removed from most latex-painted walls and many other well-maintained surfaces for up to a year after application without the need for heat or chemicals.

IMAGin B-free Gruv GV429R is a 3.0-mil gloss, PVC film designed for solvent and ultraviolet (UV) inkjet printing. The product is also suitable for most other wide-format processes, including eco-solvent, solvent screen and UV screen inkjet printing. The product is supplied with a 98# polycoated liner.

The full line of MACtac Graphic Products: IMAGin, PERMACOLOR, MACmark and REBEL provides a pressure-sensitive solution for every signage need. Whatever technology–wide-format digital printing, mounting and laminating, CAS or screen printing–MACtac has you covered.

Avery Dennison announced today that a variety of Avery Dennison digital media products, which are used to wrap, brand and decorate vehicles and buildings, were used to help transform the athletic facility at Ingraham High School, in Seattle, Washington, in the second episode of the ESPN original series RISE UP.

RISE UP tells the story of four communities coming together to renovate their respective local high school athletic facilities with help from ESPN. The series started on Tuesday, September 13 with the transformation of the athletic facility at Wellston High School in Ohio. RISE UP Seattle aired Tuesday, September 20, showing the renovation of Ingraham High School’s original, 1959 gymnasium.

ESPN announced in June that Ingraham’s gymnasium, with floors and bleachers that date back to the year the school opened, had been selected as one of four schools to receive an athletic facility renovation this year. The facility, which had no hot water for post-game showers and a weight room filled with 1970’s-vintage ‘Let’s Get Physical’ videos and equipment, hasn’t kept student spirit down, though. Ingraham, a school of 1,051 students just seven miles from the Seattle space needle, has been honored for sportsmanship four years in a row.

RISE UP Seattle tapped Ingraham alumni Greg Root, president of SuperGraphics, a Seattle-based visual communications company that specializes in decor and branded solutions for event and retail environments, to help with the makeover.  Root played football at Ingraham and went on to play on the varsity Western Washington University football team.

“I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help improve the athletic facilities at my alma mater,” said Root. “Ingraham truly is a special school and I learned so much about becoming a leader and athlete playing on the high school football team.”

SuperGraphics, a division of GM Nameplate, often uses Avery Dennison products to create graphics for its clients. “Avery Dennison products are top-of-the-line and I knew they would be a great fit for this project,” added Root.

“Avery Dennison is proud to support SuperGraphics and the Ingraham school community in this inspirational project,” said Todd Hain, marketing communications manager, Avery Dennison Graphics and Reflective Solutions. “Avery Dennison digital media products were used to create new graphics for the athletic facility’s bleachers, floors and windows that feature the school’s colors (blue, white and gray), insignia and mascot, the ram.”

High-quality Avery Dennison calendered films, MPI 2923, produced high-impact, colorful graphics and were protected with DOL 2070 to ensure long-term durability. “With Avery Dennison’s assistance, the new athletic facility will be a source of pride for Ingraham’s students and community for many years to come,” shared Root.

Vehicle wraps are so 2009. With many boats sitting on the sidelines during the winter months, it’s the perfect time to hone up on your skills in the next big wrap wave - boats.

The opportunity is vast. U.S. recreational boating demand will grow 5.3 percent annually through 2011, according to market research firm Freedonia Group. Powerboats will lead the charge in the boat category. While the South offers the best opportunities for boat vinyl installations because of the large population of boats in the region, wrappers from across the country can get in on the action that is the $15.7 billion U.S. recreational boating industry.

Need to learn how to apply vinyl? Check out our e-book on Vinyl Application 101.

Beyond the sheer numbers, consider the repeat business. Even though boat wraps typically last a couple of years, many boat owners opt for a fresh wrap every year because the salt water is rough on the vinyl - and the gas spillage can cause some damage around the fuel tank. And if water seeps in, the wrap is, well, a wrap - if it’s not dried quickly. Even small tears can cause big problems for these on-water vessels.

“We’ve seen a tremendous increase in the number of inquiries for interested boat owners, and we expect the growth to continue for the foreseeable future” says Pete LoBrutto, owner of Impressions on the Go, a vinyl installation company in Austin. “It’s a lot less expensive than painting a boat, the boat doesn’t have to be transported to our location, and boat owners like the fact that they can design almost anything they want for their wrap.”

Read the rest of my article on SignIndustry.com.

Want to put pinstripes on your Ford? You’d probably be better off going to a professional vinyl installer, but in case you want to try to do it yourself, Roush Performance is trying to make it easy. The company just rolled out a variety of vinyl stripe options for 2005 to 2011 Mustangs that it promises can quickly and inexpensively turn a “one of many” Mustang into a “one-of-a-kind” trick pony.

By mixing-and-matching among different top, side, hood and roof stripes, there are more than 500 different configurations available. You can choose complete pre-designed sets or create their own by picking among the different color and style combinations.

“There have been more than nine million Mustangs sold since the introduction and it’s getting harder and harder to find any two that look alike because so many owners take great pride in customizing their vehicle,” says Jack Roush. “I think the Mustang is an amazing platform to work on, and adding vinyl stripes, such as those from Roush, are a quick and fairly inexpensive way to make a bold statement with your car.”

Richmond Sign & Design Services is offering a quick video on applying vinyl graphics and decals. The company says, “Like everything else, having the right tools is half the battle ! I have perfected my techniques over 20 years in the business and they have been proved and tested.” Click here to see the vinyl application video for yourself. And check out our e-books that give you step by step instructions from the pros.