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  • Best way to lay digital prints

    Posted by Dean Poulter on 12 May 2011 at 09:34

    Hi

    I have 5000 digital prints 130 x 130 to lay on panels which are the same size what is the easiest way to lay these

    Cheers

    Robert Lambie replied 14 years, 5 months ago 15 Members · 35 Replies
  • 35 Replies
  • Karl Williams

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 09:53

    Would you not be better printing these direct to the panels mate? Is all that time laying them down going to be worth it?

  • Dean Poulter

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 09:59

    The problem is there going on clear Perspex

  • John Dorling

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 10:39

    I would sub that out to a trade supplier with a flatbed printer.

    John

  • Dean Poulter

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 10:41

    the problem is the customer has requested it to be done on vinyl and applied

  • John Dorling

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 10:44

    Do they have a reason for that or are they just not aware that it could be printed directly?

    John

  • Karl Williams

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 10:45

    It’s the hard way then mate. Where are you based?

  • Dean Poulter

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 10:46

    they are a very awkward customer

  • Dean Poulter

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 10:46

    essex mate

  • David Rowland

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 11:09

    perspex is one of the hardest to print… allow plenty of time and allow the 3rd party printer to quote and test… then get test back to client…

    i know from experience it ain’t easy task

  • Glenn Sharp

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 11:38

    I’d reckon on a quantity of 5000 that screen printing would be competitive…even if it was 4 colour

  • Dean Poulter

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 11:39

    they are full colour prints

  • Catalin Dretcanu

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 13:23

    run the sheets and vinyl through the laminating machine. you will get perfect job. no bubble no wrinkles. 😉

  • Robert Lambie

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 16:06

    when you say clear acrylic mate, are you reverse printing onto clear vinyl, backing in white and applying to the acrylic?

    if not, is there a reason why you are needing to use clear acrylic as it doesn’t seem to serve a purpose if flood coating it?

    I realise the mounting of the vinyl is your issue, just trying to get my head round the whole application and end product achieved?

  • Peter Normington

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 16:19
    quote Dean Poulter:

    Hi

    I have 5000 digital prints 130 x 130 to lay on panels which are the same size what is the easiest way to lay these

    Cheers

    are they 130mm, 130cm or inches?
    size does matter!
    Peter

  • Catalin Dretcanu

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 17:38

    As I told you already, you can apply the panels using the laminating machine. Remove the laminating roll and use the printed vinyl instead. Very fast and clean. Only if you have a machine big enough. 🙂

  • Dean Poulter

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 18:09

    The prints are 130mm x 130mm and there is no reason for the clear acrylic i suppose it is just cheap, the panels will be fitted and you will not be able to see the back.

  • Robert Lambie

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 18:36

    what thickness of acrylic?

  • Mike Grant

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 18:53

    Print the stickers so they butt up against each other then apply to a sheet of foamex and trim with a knife. Simples.

  • Peter Normington

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 18:55
    quote Mike Grant:

    Print the stickers so they butt up against each other then apply to a sheet of foamex and trim with a knife. Simples.

    :appl:

    although it would be hard work doing 5k

    Peter

  • Dean Poulter

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 19:10

    The aryclic is 5mm and all the panels have been cut so it has got to go on the panels

  • Robert Lambie

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 19:36
    quote Peter Normington:

    quote Mike Grant:

    Print the stickers so they butt up against each other then apply to a sheet of foamex and trim with a knife. Simples.

    :appl:

    although it would be hard work doing 5k

    Peter

    This was my point in the whole acrylic questioning scenario before giving my answer, we need to know exactly what the job in hand is.

    You cannot flood acrylic and then cut it. especially panels so small.
    you could if it was being mounted to something like 1mm or so clear acetate.

    the most cost effective and easy way would be printing the lot, butt jointed with cross hair guillotining marks. mounting full sheets of print to cheap hoarding board and guillotining. we do this week in week out. once they are cut into long strips its just a case of sliding the strip to the line and pressing the pedal… chop chop chop chop chop with taps of the foot pedal and its done.

    scrap that whole idea now, as its not doable.
    we now have small cut acyclic panels and same ion digital prints. so back to the drawing board.

    .

  • Kevin Flowers

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 20:28

    Hi
    laid up similar sizes through our number plate rollers although wasn’t 5000 just a few hundred

    Kev

  • Dean Poulter

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 20:35

    How did u align the prints on the boards

  • Robert Lambie

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 20:41

    The best way to start this is to create yourself some sort of jig.
    make it from something like composite that will help keep things clean and easy wiped..

    i say that because vinyl and acrylic is not the easiest combination of things to get paired up correct, never mind 5000 times!

    static charge and alignment is going to be your main problem here.

    I am "guessing" you do not have these taped up?

    are you butt joining these to your acrylic panels, do you have margin for error?

    sorry for all my questions mate, really just trying to grasp exactly what you are up against.

  • Kevin Flowers

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 20:46

    Hi
    prints had a bleed so cut slightly over size, aligned with with a slight over hang to match the bleed. Takes a little practice but once you have it mastered goes quite quick. Would depend on the design & if the design allows for any tolerance.

    Kev

  • Kevin Flowers

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 20:47

    Extra point
    to cut down on static wipe the back of the acrylic with a dampened sponge

    Kev

  • Nicola McIntosh

    Member
    12 May 2011 at 21:37
    quote Kevin Flowers:

    Extra point
    to cut down on static wipe the back of the acrylic with a dampened sponge
    Kev

    with a tiny tiny amount of washing up liquid in it 😀

  • Andrew Martin

    Member
    13 May 2011 at 08:27

    Even at 130mm x 130mm, 5000 off looks like its going to be a very labour intensive job, hope the customers deadline for job completion is not to near.

  • Jason Xuereb

    Member
    13 May 2011 at 08:36

    I would get a sheet of MDF. Get some timber and make a square. So you have two edges in the corner.

    I would then get vinyl fluid.

    I would peel the sticker and place it face down in the corner of the jig. I would do it wet spray the back of the sticker. I would then drop the acrylic on top.

    I’d then send it through the laminator or easy taper to get the fluid out.

    Two person job. Try and knock it out in two days.

  • Glenn Sharp

    Member
    13 May 2011 at 09:15

    I would definitely be looking at prices for digital or screen printing direct on assuming that the stickers haven’t already been prouduced.

  • Dean Poulter

    Member
    27 May 2011 at 08:28

    Hi all

    5000 digital prints and finished yesterday, now have been asked to price 56,000 foamex boards

    Dean

  • Glen Mathers

    Member
    28 May 2011 at 12:33
    quote Dean Poulter:

    Hi all

    5000 digital prints and finished yesterday, now have been asked to price 56,000 foamex boards

    Dean

    I guess we’re gonna see a lot of "SCRAP CARS WANTED" boards about now 😀 😀 😀

  • Neil Speirs

    Member
    28 May 2011 at 15:10

    Well done Dean, u must be glad to see the back of them 😉

  • Dean Poulter

    Member
    28 May 2011 at 16:44

    Cheers neil yes i am very happy, and just not to sure about the next job

  • Robert Lambie

    Member
    28 May 2011 at 22:10
    quote Dean Poulter:

    Hi all

    5000 digital prints and finished yesterday, now have been asked to price 56,000 foamex boards

    Dean

    what process did you use mate?

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