Do you use transfer tape on printed items?

[Chris Wool]

it should make it easyer to handle and should not afect the print – just thought pc 60 prints done with wax ribbons will lift

chris

[J. Hulme]

I’d say yes.
It makes it easier to work with and protects the print from scratch damage when applying.

With regards to print lifting, we use a very high tack clear plastic sheet
we printed with the Cadet and left for around 15 minutes then applied this stuff, absolutely no transfer of colour whatsoever, I was quite amazed as with the PC600 with resin ribbons it tore the print off.

[Gordon Forbes]

Don’t know if this applies or not but I did some prints on hotmark (tshirt stuff very good) with a PC600 and used the clear backing off other tshirt cut stuff (the clear sticky backing) and it ruined the prints overnight. Smudged them all.

[Rodney Gold]

If you digital print on polymerics and have high ink coverage , you have to use an app tape , otherwise its almost impossible to apply as the inks variably thin the vinyl and the print puckers in sections. I have found the paper based one works well. You must let the graphic cure a while before applying the tape.
If you lam , tape is not needed as the laminate strengthens the print and protects it during installation. The only time we have had problems is applying the plastic based tape a little too early and leaving it on for a long time. We often even apply app tape to small decals too , making them way easier for the customer to apply. The tape we use is very transluscent and has a grid printed on it , making positioning etc a snap.
There have been reports of problems with liquid lams/coatings and app tapes – seems to be solvable with extended curing time and low tack (the app tape was removing the liquid lam and graphics)

[red dragon]

Thanks for the replies. I’ve let the print cure for a while (approx 5 days) so hopefully it should be OK. Though I’ll tell them if any problems to come back and I’ll replace.