paper and pvc application tape. advise needed please.

[RobertLambie]

I dislike the clear tapes. brilliant for lining up text, but I do not like using it. paper all the way for me!

I have never thought about the clear tape in the hot weather, but yes, I can see why it would be difficult to work with.

[Karen White]

The clear tape is definitely not as user friendly as the paper tape but the paper tape makes laying up a bit more difficult and never as accurate on multi-layer vinyl work than what the clear tape is.
i tend to use paper tape more now, but always keep the clear tape in stock for difficult jobs.
I haven’t used it during the hot days so I cant say I have noticed it being a lot worse.

[Craig Thompson]

This is a good trick – same boxes on both vinyls and line boxes up, works with outlines, shadows the lot!!

[Simon Worrall]

What Craig says. Way more accurate than trying to eye through the plastic tape.

[Leslie Anderson]

thanks very much for the replies everyone.
craig, I am unsure what the squares are for. but guessing they are to line up the graphics.
but how do you line them up easier as you are still using the paper tape? sorry if I am not sounding very clever. 😳 its nearly the weekend though so I am chilling today. 🤣❤

[Simon Worrall]

Leslie.

Say you have red text with a yellow outline on your screen in front of you.

1. Draw two squares above the design, above left and above right.

2. Colour them yellow.

3. Copy them, and then paste them in place.

4. Colour the new ones red. You now have two red squares in front of two yellow squares above your design.

5. Open the design in your plotter software.

6. Plot all the red. Including the red squares.

7. Plot all the yellow. Including the yellow squares.

8. Weed and app tape

9. Cut out the graphics along the top edge of the squares on both the yellow and the red vinyl.

10. Place the yellow vinyl on the substrate and squeegee. Remove the app tape

11. Line up the two squares of red in front of the two identical squares of yellow. Tape the graphic in place. If you have done it correctly the rest of the graphic will fall exactly in the correct position (register). Squeegee and remove app tape. Now peel off the squares and dispose of them. They have done their job.

I am sure Rob will now say it better than me, and also fill in with beautiful diagrams!

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by  Simon Worrall. Reason: Added the word Register

[David Hammond]

If it’s small registration marks work a treat, however I’ve found they don’t align 100% on larger blocks, I’ve never been able to put my finger on why this occurs.

I know it uses more vinyl, but one one particular job we use the same size weed border.

Trim the bottom layer to the weed box, tape up the top layer and trim to the weed box, align the top weed box, with the release liner (that’s trimmed to the same size) on the base layer, and TaDa! It’s all ready for installation.

If it’s a shadow on text I also ensure the shadow includes the same shape as the top, rather than just the shadow aspect, image attached. We do the bottom style, so gives you additional points to register the text to.

Paper tape for us. The only clear I would ever use again is Oracal’s, I found the R-Tape stuff created static and the vinyl would jump up off the bench and stick to it whilst pulling it from the roll over the graphics.

[Hugh Potter]

I know what you mean abut the reg blocks no aligning properly on larger graphics, I suspect that this is due to different thicknesses of different colour films (even within the same range), that’s what I have in my head but now I’ve just tried to think how to explain what I think… I have realised I can’t explain it 😂

@Leslie-Anderson As the guys above said.. use the registration marks, make sure they’re outside the boundaries of the text so that when you trip up, you can trim to the edge of the squares to align them when fitting. Though I’ve just realised this post is from July so, You’ve probably worked it out by now!

[Leslie Anderson]

Sorry guys, i am just reading back over this.

Thank you Simon and David, that is very helpful. ♥👍
I did get your replies at the time but i don’t know why i didn’t respond. sorry. 😳