Huge wall wrap using PhotoTex, couple of questions....

[Doyle]

A big customer of ours has asked for a quote wrapping a wall. The wall is drywall with a flat painted finish. The size of the area to wrap is approximately 15' high by 25' wide. The design is going to be a repeating logo pattern over the whole wrap, on a white background. I have never used any of the wall wrap materials before, and I was researching what would be the best and so far it seems like I will be using PhotoTex, as I have seen a lot of great reviews on this material.

My question is, we are obviously going to be running about 7 vertical panels on this wrap. Can anyone with experience using this material tell me if I will have trouble registering these prints where the panels will overlap, or does this material stretch a lot? Over the span of 15' from top to bottom, it seems pretty likely that there will be some stretching and we may have trouble getting the logos on each panel to match up with each other....

Also, the wall being wrapped will be the backdrop for photos of performing artists at this venue (the wall is in the "green room"), does this material have a matte finish that will be suitable for this application (no glare)?

Do you have any pointers or suggestions for printing/installing a job like this?

Thanks in advance!

 

[MikePro]

all, if not most, of the easy-tack materials have a matte finish thanks to the woven polyester pattern of the material.
it doesn't really stretch, not anything like wrap vinyls, so you should be ok with lining-up tiles.

I have yet to do anything with overlaps, but it does seem to stick to itself pretty well

 

[Letterbox Mike]

You shouldn't have any issues with stretching, Phototex does not stretch like regular vinyl.

When you print, I've found a 1" overlap is ideal. Overlap your seams, and then double-cut them and strip them so you're left with a butt joint. Phototex is not entirely opaque so if you leave overlapping seams they will stick out. But fortunately it doesn't shrink or expand so you can double-cut to leave a butt joint that completely disappears.

 

[Doyle]

You shouldn't have any issues with stretching, Phototex does not stretch like regular vinyl.

When you print, I've found a 1" overlap is ideal. Overlap your seams, and then double-cut them and strip them so you're left with a butt joint. Phototex is not entirely opaque so if you leave overlapping seams they will stick out. But fortunately it doesn't shrink or expand so you can double-cut to leave a butt joint that completely disappears.

I appreciate the replies! Forgive my ignorance, but what do you mean by "double-cut"?


Since this material is not entirely opaque, should I worry that the graphic is mostly white? Will the color of the wall show through the graphic at all?

 

[idsignsil]

google - wall paper double cut, it will show you what to do and how to get the butt seam. Easier than me trying to explain.

As far as the wall showing through, if you are not printing the entire surface or leaving areas white, the wall will show through if it has color to it. I did a light beige colored wall at my church and it showed through a little, but not enough that it made it look bad. If the wall is white or something close you should be fine. If it is a darker color, then I would suggest it needs to be painted white.

 

[Doyle]

The wall is a sage color (light green/tan). Do you know of a wall wrap material that is more opaque? Will I be better off using Avery MPI 2611? My customer has indicated that they want the white background of the print to be a bright white, so color showing through will be a problem. Thanks!

 

[SignManiac]

Phototex is an excellent product. I just printed and installed two walls 7'h by about 30'w. I first attempted to install a 3M product that my supplier told me to use and was half the price. The next morning it was on the floor. Here's a pic of the crap stuff. Needless to say, I wanted to barf when I came into this.

PhotoTex really holds on well and can be removed without harming the paint on the wall. Has a nice material like texture to it and it doesn't seem to stretch. You get what you pay for.

 

[bigben]

I know phototex have a new ''opaque'' version of their product. Maybe check with them?

 

[d fleming]

Paint the wall white, use phototex, butt joint double cut, check please.

 

[knucklehead]

The wall color doesn't show through nearly as much with the new, more opague Phototex.

 

[knucklehead]

And, with that said. Unless you're printing white, the white areas are going to be the creamy/white Phototex color. And since it is more opaque now, I don't know if painting the wall white is going to help any. But ???

 

[Doyle]

Thanks for all of the replies! I called PhotoTex directly and was put in contact with the owner. He was very helpful and informed me that there is a new "opaque" phototex material available, but it is not solvent printable (bummer for me), but there is another local shop with a latex printer so I have arranged to have this wrap printed by them.

I sent a quote over to the customer this morning, hoping I receive a purchase order tomorrow, as I am looking forward to using this material.