Jumpshoutmedia
New Member
I have a very good customer who does a lot of volume with me, and they recently approached me about replacing their custom paint job that they do on every single vehicle that they sell, with an equivalent (looking) wrap.
Here are the details, so you understand what I'm asking..
This customer sells equipment that is mounted to road going truck chassis. Each truck they sell has their corporate colors painted onto the fenders. So the results is the truck is one color from the OEM and the fenders are another solid color that they paint on. Their issue is, painting the fenders on to each of the trucks they sell is becoming expensive and since automotive painting is very susceptible to even the most minor of errors, dirt, improper mixing etc.. you get the point.
Their solution is to have me come in and wrap this solid color on to the left and right fender. I understand their desire as I could come in and do this very quickly and easily and for a lot less money. However, the problem is proving to be finding a solid color wrap grade vinyl that matches their needs.
I have been mass-producing there lettering and logos for these trucks for years and I happen to know that 3M makes the color used. However this color only seems to be available in their electric cut series sign vinyl. I cannot find a suitable wrap grade match to this color!
I've kicked around the idea of trying to print this color onto standard white wrap vinyl then laminating it however no matter what I try the resulting color is very speckled, with some artifacts that aren't quite pixelation but more so strange dithering whereas you can see the dots of ink used to make up the color. Now I understand this is how inkjet printers work and for most situations this would be suitable but when applied, the results just aren't that's spectacular.
Is there such a thing as applying a spot color, is in like a pre-mixed color so you're not trying to build the color using the Four Color process? Or can nice solid color be achieved using four color process, but it's just outside of my wheelhouse?
Another concern I have about using a printed vinyl is longevity. Their current method of using paint can result in a product that still looks halfway decent after 15 years or more! Now I understand wrap vinyl has a lifespan, however I also know that solid color wrap vinyl will Outlast printed and laminated wrap vinyl any day of the week.
Does anybody have any suggestions on how I can achieve a long-lasting, solid color wrap that will look nice for a fairly reasonable amount of time, or can somebody confirm or debunk my fears that a printed laminated sheets of vinyl will simply not last long enough to be a suitable replacement for paint.
Thanks in advance.
Also, in case anyone is curious, or they may want to try to help locate a color that matches.. The product I'm using for the cost work is 3M 7725 and the color is "Fawn", which is like a light creamy color with a slight yellowish tint, and also figure it's worth mentioning,. They are pretty particular about this color, so don't bother suggesting the 3M 1080 "light ivory", as it's too far off to be acceptable to them.
PS, one other possible solution that friend of mine suggested was, if I am going to replace the color that it should be as spectacular replacement as in some sort of tinted Chrome, or something very unique and special enough that would be able to use it as a potential catalysts to get the customer to warm up to the idea of changing to another color altogether.
Thanks guys.
Dom
Here are the details, so you understand what I'm asking..
This customer sells equipment that is mounted to road going truck chassis. Each truck they sell has their corporate colors painted onto the fenders. So the results is the truck is one color from the OEM and the fenders are another solid color that they paint on. Their issue is, painting the fenders on to each of the trucks they sell is becoming expensive and since automotive painting is very susceptible to even the most minor of errors, dirt, improper mixing etc.. you get the point.
Their solution is to have me come in and wrap this solid color on to the left and right fender. I understand their desire as I could come in and do this very quickly and easily and for a lot less money. However, the problem is proving to be finding a solid color wrap grade vinyl that matches their needs.
I have been mass-producing there lettering and logos for these trucks for years and I happen to know that 3M makes the color used. However this color only seems to be available in their electric cut series sign vinyl. I cannot find a suitable wrap grade match to this color!
I've kicked around the idea of trying to print this color onto standard white wrap vinyl then laminating it however no matter what I try the resulting color is very speckled, with some artifacts that aren't quite pixelation but more so strange dithering whereas you can see the dots of ink used to make up the color. Now I understand this is how inkjet printers work and for most situations this would be suitable but when applied, the results just aren't that's spectacular.
Is there such a thing as applying a spot color, is in like a pre-mixed color so you're not trying to build the color using the Four Color process? Or can nice solid color be achieved using four color process, but it's just outside of my wheelhouse?
Another concern I have about using a printed vinyl is longevity. Their current method of using paint can result in a product that still looks halfway decent after 15 years or more! Now I understand wrap vinyl has a lifespan, however I also know that solid color wrap vinyl will Outlast printed and laminated wrap vinyl any day of the week.
Does anybody have any suggestions on how I can achieve a long-lasting, solid color wrap that will look nice for a fairly reasonable amount of time, or can somebody confirm or debunk my fears that a printed laminated sheets of vinyl will simply not last long enough to be a suitable replacement for paint.
Thanks in advance.
Also, in case anyone is curious, or they may want to try to help locate a color that matches.. The product I'm using for the cost work is 3M 7725 and the color is "Fawn", which is like a light creamy color with a slight yellowish tint, and also figure it's worth mentioning,. They are pretty particular about this color, so don't bother suggesting the 3M 1080 "light ivory", as it's too far off to be acceptable to them.
PS, one other possible solution that friend of mine suggested was, if I am going to replace the color that it should be as spectacular replacement as in some sort of tinted Chrome, or something very unique and special enough that would be able to use it as a potential catalysts to get the customer to warm up to the idea of changing to another color altogether.
Thanks guys.
Dom
