Digital Print onto Cast Or Calendered? Which holds up?

[ATW]

Ive just purchased a roland sp300 and am currently printing hard hat decals.

Should i go with Cast or Calendered?
From what i've read here on the forums is that cast is the longer lasting vinyl. But, my issue is not about the life span of the sticker last but how how the digital print will last.
Hard hat stickers usually will be worn out within 2-3 years due to the hardhat cracking or damage to the outside of the hardhat.

I've read that the higher the gloss the the more difficult it is for the printer to penetrate the vinyl.

So, if anyone has a recommendation or advice for me, please do share, Thanks!

 

[Biker Scout]

I've read that the higher the gloss the the more difficult it is for the printer to penetrate the vinyl.

Huh? Solvent printing allows for the ink pigments to mechanically etch onto the surface of the vinyl. Some pigments are inferior, and thus will fade at different rates. But as long as you laminate your print you will get the required 2-3 year life out of the decal. If you use a thicker laminate or even a polycarbonate laminate you can further increase it's scratch resistance. Look into Convex for lamination. As for the type of vinyl to print on, I'd choose cast.

 

[wildside]

honestly..... if you are asking this question, why did you buy a printer?

 

[ATW]

I was thinking of going with Cast. Thanks for the suggestion.

As for laminating the company i used to sub out my stickers to never laminated and it seems the stickers have lasted at least a year. The red ink seems to fade faster then all the other colours.
I'm probably going to lean towards laminating my stickers in the future, it would be good if i could get away without that extra step though.

 

[Gino]

I just read your profile and I can understand why you asked your question.

Why didn't you research your target audience and buy a printer geared towards that arena. If you wanted digital prints to last 2 or 3 years without laminating, you should've bought a thermal printer.

 

[SIGNTIME]

first off the ink is gonna fade at about the same rate on either and second your not supposed to put decals on hard hats as it can cover little cracks and what not when i used to work maintenance at the ship yard i got told by my boss for having a decal on mine osha doesn't like it.

 

[MikePro]

cast/calendared, prints the same. unlaminated ink last just the same on either.
quick google search, will answer most of your lamination questions. for example:
lamination of digital prints. when, why, how?

and yes, hard hat decals are frowned upon by OSHA. believe it or not.
kinda b.s., imho, since they protect your head just the same with or without a sticker on it... basically just enough to keep a falling object from splitting your head open.

 

[ATW]

Where i am there is the notice that we should not wear hard hat decals but that is overlooked at every site i have been at.
I currently have a contract to do about 10,000 decals. Thats the reason why i bought a print cut, i was losing quite a bit of money subbing out the work every week.
Although, i have been working with this machine for about a week now and i'm just about ready to get things going.

I bought Calendered vinyl with grey back. I've done about 1,000 today and it seems they are coming out perfect.
Thanks