How do you ship large color digitally printed and laminated hood graphics with application tape applied?

[phototec]

How do you ship large color digitally printed and laminated hood graphics with application tape applied to the front side?

I was told to roll up the print with the image side facing out and ship it in a large long tube or box, however, when I rolled up the print the application tape buckled and wrinkled.

What is the secret to rolling digital and laminated print with application tape applied to the front? Thanks

 

[Sylvia]

Clear application tape (orafol) works much better for this than paper app tape.

 

[weyandsign]

On hood graphics I would not put tape on it. Makes it harder to install.

 

[White Haus]

Are you using application tape that's designed to work with air-egress vinyl?

We've used 3M SCPS-55, TransferRite 992U, and TransferRite Airmask 510U in the past. (992U is my go-to now)

To answer your question, rolled as loose as possible in a box with mask on the outside is what we usually do. Other option is to wrap on a core real tight and tape it down.

 

[Sylvia]

We roll it tight onto a tube, don't put it inside.

 

[Gino]

Many municipalities have a third party make the decals and we put them on the local vehicles. Always, like in EVERY TIME..... the decals are rolled printed/cut side outward, taped or non-taped, and are shipped in a roll about 12" in diameter. Kinda like a sonotube. Never had a problem.

 

[Splash0321]

Print side out. We use 4” tubes or larger and have moved toward clear app tape rather than paper. Comes out of the tube in pristine condition for the end user.

 

[tulsagraphics]

What others have said. clear app tape works a lot better than paper. Squeegee it really well and roll it up face out on a tube. At my shop I have a spare laminator that I use for transfer tape. It's more consistent than trying to squeegee everything out by hand. Very high pressure.
Also, for print / cut graphics, I don't completely trim off the "waste". I like to keep about 1/4" border on all sides so the transfer tape doesn't lift up. Not as big of a deal for graphics that are rolled on a tube, but you never know what type of environment your graphics will be in when the customer opens it all up. (e.g. humid / dusty environment). It also makes it easier for customers to center/level the graphic.

 

[Superior_Adam]

Are you using application tape that's designed to work with air-egress vinyl?

We've used 3M SCPS-55, TransferRite 992U, and TransferRite Airmask 510U in the past. (992U is my go-to now)

To answer your question, rolled as loose as possible in a box with mask on the outside is what we usually do. Other option is to wrap on a core real tight and tape it down.

We use the AirMask and it works ok but still lifts. Where are you buying the 992U from. I checked all the local places we use and none stock it.

 

[Modern Ink Signs]

Attach to a 12” tube, box and ship.

Regardless of what tape you use this happens but is reduced with a larger tube. We ship and receive graphics all the time and it is what it is.