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how does everyone wrap around curved vehicles?
Having just visited Sign UK 2005 , it didnt escape me that all the wrapping demos were performed on cars with fairly ‘gentle’ curves – albeit compound curves.
It strikes me that the acid test for a wrap is the ‘three-way’ corner (where the backmeets the roof and the side) on vehicles where this is quite sharp.
Sometimes there is a nearby panel seam allowing it to be done in pieces, but not always.
Does anyone have experience of doing these areas and if so what vinyl do you use or recommend?
Also I have added a poll as to whether you consider a course (usually £300 or so) or trial and error (£300 or so of wasted material??) the better way to learn.
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6 Replies
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That’s what I’ve noticed as well Skyflyer…
Even the courses look like they all use simple cars/vans, personally i think theses courses are a waste of time and money, as i have said before its a two man job and you have to get used to how you both work together, how much to pull, how much heat, when to stop pulling etc…
I think if you use vinyl as most of us do.. buy a couple of hundred quids worth and have a go on your own car/vanSimon
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hiya chaps, although i strongly beleive in good foundation training i am inclined to agree with you.
we recently bought a versacamm and a couple of rolls of grafiwrap and laminate and had a go.
although there were areas we were unsure about we had a crack at it the way we thought and it all turned out okay.
i think the advantage of going on a course is that you can see a “professional” doing it and they can give you basic tips, however there is no substitute for hands on experience.
my suggestion would be buy a roll of film and some laminate and have a go, if it all goes belly up, go on a course
cheers
stephen -
What you are describing can be done, but it takes a bit of stretching. I think any print on that area would get rather distorted. I have done this type of curve using KPMF VWS, no problem.
I found it useful to see an experienced wrapper just to see what can be done. I learned a few useful techniques but there’s nothing better than practice.
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well said, big g.
everyone should have a go, even if you only buy 10 metres of vinyl, if you can’t get the basics to work, go on a course.
we save all our mis-prints and off-cuts at the moment and then use them to practice on a panel before we use the actual print.
cheers
stephen -
I’d have to say that you really need to know the basic techniques before you start to have a bash. If you don’t then you may well struggle and waste a lot of material whilst never really working out the “best” method.
Having said that, if you can spend a bit of time watching a pro carefully and already have a decent ability with normal vinyl fitting then you could make good progress by practicing techniques.
I like using Avery 900sc vinyl but it is thin and so there is limits to how far you can go without colour distortion – VWS or Mactac are thicker so perhaps more easily handled ?Nigel
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I have to agree with Nigel especially after seeing the pictures of the last wrap on the sports car…oh and Dewi lent a hand / made the tea.
If you have had a long time fitting graphics then you are half way there to knowing how to vehicle wrap, because at the Sign UK show you did not get to see how the harder parts are done is simple.
Why show the way to do the hardest parts of wrapping when you are advertising training courses to do this?……….It’s the same as taking your van to have the brakes done only to find out the next day that Joe Bloggs repair center has gone and bought a cutter and is offering to vinyl vans up just because he has seen it done and it seems easy, forget the recesses or corners just lay it on the flat panels.
Just check out Rob’s demos on various wraps and you will see just how difficult it can be even for the most experienced fitter.
P.S. Dewi only joking….but you did miss the ashtray.
Jobe
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