edge fx printing with out lamination

[artofacks1]

Edge Fxers , do you guys laminate car decals all the time ? Can the ink go through a car wash and be fine ?

 

[paul luszcz]

We don't laminate our Edge prints either. We do, however, watch certain colors fade to invisibility when used outdoors. No parking signs become parking signs as the red circle and slash disappear, leaving only the black.

The Edge is fantastic for interior work, labels and short term exterior work. Very short term.

 

[Fred Weiss]

There is little or no reason to use an overlaminating film on Edge prints unless you expect the graphics to be subject to abrasion or exposure to harsh chemicals. In the case of vehicle and boat graphics, customers should be instructed to avoid waxing and buffing them as this can break the surface of the print which will then lead to sun fade in a matter of a couple of weeks. We had this happen on a yacht when a detailer buffed them. We were told they looked great when he was done, but two weeks later they had faded to invisibility.

There is every reason to overprint them with a clear UV-Abrasion Guard foil if you are looking to avoid sun fade of outdoor graphics over the long term. We had a window job on Gerber/3M 220 using Gerber foils installed in a southern exposure fail in less than 18 months. We redid it adding a Duracoat/Apex UV Guard overprint and it still looked good five years later.

 

[Billct2]

We only laminate signgold and a few high traffic area decals.
But we do frog juice most everything, it pops the color and adds UV protection.

 

[paul luszcz]

We do use UV Abrasion guard on all exterior prints. It helps us make believe they will last.

 

[jfiscus]

We ALWAYS laminate here. Once laminated they last just as long as solvent prints.
Never had any fading problems with laminated Edge prints, we just make it standard practice that anything printed (on any machine) always gets laminated.

 

[artofacks1]

Thanks for the help guys.

I was thinking of printing on white 220 2mil and will use a uv abrasion protection.

Has anyone ever use frog skin?

http://www.hyatts.com/sign/nexgen-fx-refill-tube-50yd-frogskin-T74613

 

[jfiscus]

We always use 3m 8518/8519/8520 for our edge prints here, never had any issues.
I've never heard of the frogskin product before.

 

[paul luszcz]

So you get the 3M product in 54" rolls or are they available in 15" wide rolls for use with the Edge?