For: Digital Printers

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions About DigiMask ®)

QUESTION: Why would I use regular DigiMask® vs. DigiMask® Plus?

ANSWER: DigiMask® is a standard weight paper digital premask. DigiMask® Plus is a heavy-weight premium grade premask. The heavyweight product has a number of advantages:

1. It’s easier to laminate to a digital print. This easy to handle feature means that it’s less likely that you will wrinkle the paper in lamination and less likely that you will trap bubbles between the premask and the print. Why’s that at big deal? Because wrinkles and bubbles in the premask often result in wrinkles and bubbles in the applied graphic.
2. The thicker premask has a higher concentration of latex saturant in the paper. That means that the paper is more stable in a humid environment.
3. The thicker paper give more body to vinyl graphics

QUESTION: Why do I need DigiMask® if my graphic is overlaminated?

ANSWER: If your customer is a wrap specialist and works in a ideal air-conditioned shop environment with a constant ambient temperature between 65º and 78ºF, DigiMask® is probably unnecessary. On the other hand, if your customer’s shop environment is less than ideal and his training and wrap experience is limited, he may need all the help he can get. Here’s where DigiMask® can come to the rescue.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions About Overlaminates)

QUESTION: What type of overlaminate should be used for fleet graphics?

ANSWER: The substrate and durability requirements determine which type of film is best for fleet graphics. One rule of thumb used in this selection process dictates using a calendered-vinyl overlaminate with a calendered vinyl film and a cast-vinyl overlaminate with a cast vinyl film. Here’s the reason. Similar films typically expand and contract at the same rate. If not, the overlaminate can delaminate from the base film or substrate. A tunnel could also form between the two films.

QUESTION: Can I use Eclypse outdoors? If yes, what one?

ANSWER: Some Eclypse overlaminates can be used for outdoor applications. Our 3 mil PVC overlaminates are an excellent choice for protecting flat surface vehicle graphics. R Tape polyester overlaminates can provide economical protection for construction site signage. Safety labels and exterior graphics, which are exposed to chemical spillage, are best protected with a polyester overlaminate.

QUESTION: Why are polyester overlaminates the best choice in protecting graphics from chemical spillage?

ANSWER: Graphics on chemical tankers are frequently subjected to chemical spillage. Acids, caustics and solvents can quickly erode the ink and clearcoating system of printed fleet markings, as well as leech the plasticizer from pigmented vinyl, embrittling it and causing the film to crack. Cement-truck graphics, which are easily damaged by caustic cement and harsh cleaning chemicals, should also be overlaminate-protected. Although vinyl overlaminates are usually best for vinyl markings, chemical tankers and cement trucks are an exception. For protecting markings subject to chemical damage, polyester overlaminating film was the best choice 20 years ago, and remains so today. Polyester exhibits outstanding chemical and temperature resistance -- features that also make it an excellent protective film for warning labels. But, because polyester isn't conformable, it can't be used over rivets, corrugation or compound curves. Furthermore, it shouldn't be used to protect such flexible surfaces as awnings.

QUESTION: Do Eclypse overlaminates protect a graphic from UV light? If yes, what one?

ANSWER: Just about any overlaminate will provide some protection against the bleaching UV rays of the sun. So how much added life will the overlaminate provide for a print? It depends on a lot of things. Altitude and latitude are two key determining factors. Days of exposure to the sun is key, too. But the most important factor of all is the ink. If the ink has problems with fade resist-ance, an overlaminate won’t perform miracles. All fluorescent colors -- and even certain non-fluorescent colors, such as magenta -- will always be vulnerable. What really determines how lightfast a print is, is the fade resistance of the ink itself. Period. Some, but not all, overlaminates provide UV protection by either absorbing or reflecting UV light. With one type of overlaminate, substances in either the facestock or adhesive absorb UV light. The absorbers convert UV radiation to heat, which prevents print damage. The film's UV blockage is cumulative; eventually, the substances reach a saturation point at which the film can't absorb any more light. The other type of overlaminate merely reflects UV rays. When choosing an overlaminate for screenprinting applications, test the components before using them in production. Because they need a thicker layer of ink, screenprinted graphics typically require an overlaminate with a heavier coating weight of adhesive. An overlaminate with a thin adhesive coating will bridge the edge of the ink deposit, causing a slight, but noticeable, air pocket.

QUESTION: What is the proper way to roll an overlaminated show graphic for shipping and storage?

ANSWER: The best advice is to store and ship prints flat, whenever possible. This is especially true, if you use polyester overlaminates. Generally, a flexible overlaminate, such as vinyl, is preferred for rolled graphics. If you need to roll a print, roll it with the printed image to the outside of the roll. Don’t roll the print too tightly or you’ll end up with tunneling between the overlaminate and the print. This is especially true with constructions of media and overlaminate thicker than 15 mils. As a rule of thumb, the insideof the roll should be no less than 12 inches in diameter.

QUESTION: What are the differences between paper and film release liners used for overlaminates?

ANSWER: The type of release liner used with pressure-sensitive overlaminating films can affect the finished print's appearance. Using a paper liner, some cold glue overlaminates exhibit a mottled, or “orange peel,” pattern, which is especially noticeable over dark colors. The mottling effect results from the adhesive picking up the mirror image of the rough, paper surface. To correct the effect, manufacturers are improving the paper's smoothness. R Tape’s Eclypse 3 mil overlami- nates use an exceptional smooth paper release liner. One advantage of a paper liner over a film liner is that it is easier to separate from the overlaminate. Polyester and other types of plastic release liners are perfectly smooth. The smoothness of the plastic liners makes the adhesive of an overlaminating film perfectly smooth. Hence, overlaminates with polyester liners aren't prone to mottling or orange peel. One disadvantage of plastic release liners can be very difficult to remove from an overlaminate. Plastic liners are used on the Eclypse polyester, mar-resist vinyl and polycarbonate overlaminates.

QUESTION: Can R Tape overlaminates be used for floor graphics?

ANSWER: Liability is a major concern for retailers, graphics producers and raw-material manufacturers. If a shopper falls on a slippery graphic, someone could get sued. Because of the liability associated with floor graphics, R Tape does not warrant the use of any of its overlaminates for use in the manufacturing of floor graphics.

QUESTION: Which overlaminate is the best for floor graphics?

ANSWER: Floor graphics is a demanding application, pushing graphics materials to its limits. Graphics must withstand extraordinary abuse from pounding foot traffic, dirt, grease, grit and chemical cleaners. Several types of overlaminates have designed for these applications. Polycarbonate makes the best choice for floor applications because this tough, resilient film can withstand daily traffic, and its matte texture prevents slippage. However, polycarbonate film is expensive. Thus, calendered vinyl overlaminate is and economical, but less durable, alternative. Whichever film you choose, all floor graphics should be waxed with a product recommended by the film manufacturer to prevent edge lifting. To ensure that a floor graphic is slip-resistant, overlaminates are rigorously tested. The industry standard is American Standard for Testing Materials (ASTM) D2047. The ASTM test checks the overlaminate's coefficient of friction, the force required to move one material over another. In essence, the test measures the traction a pedestrian could expect as he/she walks on a floor graphic.