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How do you print colours to match vinyl?
Hi team
I have a question that i hope isn’t going to make me sound silly but If part of a van is cut vinyl and part of it is print and cut. like a large logo. what do you do if the colours are not matching the coloured cut vinyl graphics?
I do not mean they are miles out, but side by side the blue and red are a bit darker on the logo than the cut vinyl lettering. our customer loved his van but wasn’t happy about them not being the same, even though one is printed and one is vinyl.Just wondering what you do or say?
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8 Replies
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I’m actually doing this at the moment.
We use versaworks, and print off their colour library chart.
We then use that the match as closely as possible to the vinyl we’re using. It’s never going to be 100%, but we can get close enough and usually we’re not putting them side by side on the van/sign. We’ve not had any complains or issues.
The van we’re producing now, is part panel fills, with some cut vinyl letterings, it’s quicker, cheaper and easier to cut the lettering in CAD vinyl, than print, laminate, cut, weed etc.
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We have a fixed, cut vinyl colour range which is basically the colours we stock.
We print a colour spectrum chart that comes with the RIP software.
The colours are seldom exact, but it gives you a good starting point that helps cut back on manual man hours.
We select the colours that are closest to our cut vinyl stock and then begin tweaking them to try and improve the colour match to the stocked vinyl range.Once you are happy with your colour properties matching the vinyl.
Print your own new chart of those fixed colours along with the RGB/CMYK values below them and the cut vinyl samples above them.it is now easier to explain to a customer standing with you,
“this is the print range and this is the cut vinyl range. your graphics will come with either range or a mixture of both based on your vehicle”.If a customer wants a specific colour matched in print or whatever, that’s fine too, but charge them a minimum of £75 per hour for a colour-matching service. You will quickly see them settle for the standard ones you have on offer.
Keep in mind, laminated vinyl differs from unlaminated colours. the tint in the adhesive and the gloss or matt finish greatly dictates this. so it’s better to show part laminated colours.
Also, make sure you print the digital vinyl brand and series used, below your colours along with the profile settings, passes etc. used.
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Here’s a couple of photos.
The blue and white stripe was printed on Arlon SLX, the cut text and border on the logo M7 cut vinyl.
Biggest difference is the level of gloss on the SLX compared to the M7.
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That’s not a bad match, David. 👍
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Quite impressed myself, its a bit of a funny colour to match too.
Pic of the van outside for more context.
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That looks good David. funnily enough, we have a customer called Norwood, also.
That line had to just hit all the difficult areas, didn’t it! 🤔🤣 you did well! 👍-
Same one perhaps, they seem to be a fair sized company.
To be honest it was actually not too bad, the SLX helped. Printed and cut the angle in one, and the long line, seperately, along with the rear doors.
Easier than these ones, wrapping the front end in Dark Blue, luckily opted for Avery Supreme to make lighter work of the install, especially over the cab!
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Nice one David, you can see the design elements working together much better on this one due to the blue front. 👍
Avery supreme is definitely a much more forgiving wrap to work with.
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