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RTape Blog
02-Jan-2013
Why Photoluminescent Films Glow In The Dark
Have you ever wondered why photoluminescent films, such as RTape’s GlowEfx™, emit a bright greenish glow when the lights go out? The pigments in photoluminescent films as well as in fluorescent films work very differently than other types of pigments.
02-Jan-2013
Carving a Green Man
Images of men emerging from vegetation have been a common artistic motif for more than two thousand years. Some scholars believe that the image of the “green man” is somehow linked to the ancient Dionysian fertility rituals and the natural process of rebirth, which occurs in Spring. But what do these academics know?
18-Dec-2012
RTape Exhibits at ISS in Long Beach, CA
At the Imprinted Sportswear Show (ISS) show in Long Beach, CA on January 18 to 20, 2013, RTape (www.rtape.com) will display its heat transfer films line in booth 2102. The RTape heat transfer line includes 33 polyurethane film colors, 20 flock colors for plotter cutting, along with printable polyurethane and flock films for digital printing. The polyurethane films feature exceptionally thin profiles for a soft hand, outstanding stretchability and excellent durability.
11-Dec-2012
The Effect of Clear Coating Matte Silver VinylEfx Film
Spraying RTape Matte Silver VinylEfx® film with a clear coat will change its appearance from a matte finish to a satiny finish. The reason for the change is that this VinylEfx® pattern is textured on the first or outside surface of the film. Other VinylEfx® patterns are embossed on the second surface. When you spray the clear coat on the matte silver, it fills in valleys of the texture. The film will not become as glossy as a Smooth Silver or chrome pattern. But it will look different.
06-Dec-2012
Challenges in Developing a Premask for Air Egress Liners
Vinyl films with air egress release liners have almost eliminated bubbles and wrinkles from applied graphics. Here’s how the product works. These release liners are comprised of multiple layers of paper, a polyethylene coating and a siliconization layer. The polyethylene coating of the release liner is embossed with a textured pattern. The textured structure of the release liner imparts tiny air channels in the adhesive of the vinyl film. Think of these as escape routes for air. As the installer squeegees the facestock, the air between the film and the substrate is directed through the air channels to the edge of the graphic.
03-Dec-2012
Which Films Stick to Coated Fabrics?
Just before the beginning of WWII, American chemists developed synthetic polyamides. Polyamides are complex molecules called polymers, which are comprised of smaller “amide” monomers. In nature, these polyamide molecules occur as proteins in fibers, such as silk and wool. In the modern world, the best known polyamides are nylons.
30-Nov-2012
Troubleshooting Vinyl Graphics Failures
As self-help guru Anthony Robbins says “if you want better answers, ask better questions”. In troubleshooting a graphics problem, you need to ask better questions, so you can provide the film manufacturer the information they need to discover what caused the failure. Use the troubleshooting guide that follows to record the information from the end user.
30-Nov-2012
Stan Gee Remembered
At age 52, Stan Gee of Dallas, TX passed away on August 1, 2012. Stan was president of Gee Sales and Associates, a sales and marketing firm, which promoted companies in the sign and digital marketplace. He was highly regarded in the industry for his expertise in the vinyl graphics field
30-Nov-2012
Art Schilling: Marketing Your Services
In the sign industry and the pinstripe community, Art Schilling has built a reputation for excellence. The key ingredients in his success are dependability, professionalism (producing great work), using the highest quality materials and a passion for the business. He defines dependability as always doing exactly what you say you will do for a customer. In other words, never over-promise, instead over-deliver.
30-Nov-2012
The Importance of Fire Inspections
The old saying, “forewarned is forearmed”, should remind us that conducting regular fire inspections is the best way to keep the incidence of fires low. By identifying fire hazards in your shop, you can correct them before they cause a fire.
30-Nov-2012
Solvents and Fire Safety
Fire is undiscriminating. It can flare up at any time. And can happen to anyone. After finishing a vinyl graphics application job, a former colleague and mentor had loaded the back seat of his car with rags which had been soaked in solvent for cleaning, before heading down the road. As John drove, he attempted to light one cigarette with another, that he had just finished smoking. After getting a light, he threw the old cigarette out the window. Unbeknownst to John, the cigarette blew back into his car, landing in the pile of rags. Shortly thereafter the rags ignited. As long flames trailed out the back windows of his car, alarmed motorists frantically honked their horns to alert John of his precarious predicament.
30-Nov-2012
Staining and Varnishing
Staining and varnishing is a great way to finish an interior sign, if the wood used has a beautiful natural grain, such as mahogany. Stains contain pigments that tint and accentuate the grain of the wood.
30-Nov-2012
Faux Finishes
Orleans wasn’t leaving for several hours. Just a few miles from the airport, was the antebellum Destrehan plantation overlooking the mighty Mississippi River. So I had plenty of time to take the guided tour.
30-Nov-2012
Artie Schilling's Ultimate Pinstripe Cart
Pinstripe master Art Schilling describes himself as an “obsessive/compulsive neat freak”. To my way of thinking, there’s nothing wrong with a highly organized shop. In Artie’s Sign Studio, he has a place for everything and everything in its place. Along with an easy-to-carry pinstriping kit, Artie has a custom-made cart for all of his pinstriping supplies.
30-Nov-2012
Thermal Transfer Printing on VinylEfx® Films
One unique characteristic of our VinylEfx® product is the deep embossing, which creates the 3D illusion in patterns, such as MultiLens® and Diamond Plate™. Deeply embossed patterns, however, can cause problems, when printing with thermal transfer systems, such as the Gerber Edge®. Printing on films, which are not perfectly smooth, can result in flaking, in which there are voids in the printed image. "East Coast Artie" Schilling, spokesperson for Gerber Scientific, offers the following suggestions to surmount these printing challenges.