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Prints Lifting on Edges
Ive noticed on some of my printed vinyl that the edges lift over the space of time. I am printing onto Metamark MD3 with my uniform grenadier. I always let the vinyl gas out as long as possible, 3 days usually. It happens on shaped logos which I also cut on the Grenadier, and it happens on laminated items too? Does this happen to anyone elses prints? Some one said that its putting down too much ink? Suggestions welcome thanks.
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16 Replies
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Have you laminated the vinyl?
If not the inks make the edge of the vinyl curl pretty often.
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perhaps time to use a higher quality vinyl never worked for me
too much ink will not help also quality of the laminate makes a difference. -
Rather then print to the edge, put a small white outline around each image to stop the curling.
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Leave them outgas for about 48 hours then stack them with a weight on top, not too heavy, just enough to flatten them this will let the vinyl get back to its flat position hardness and will not curl after a few days.
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quote Phill Fenton:Rather then print to the edge, put a small white outline around each image to stop the curling.what if the print is going onto a dark background?
I have had this problem, but not with MD3, it tends to shrink rather than curl up.
if it was happening with only laminated prints, it would suggest to much tension on the laminate when applying, but if its happening with unlaminated, I can’t give a definitive answer. have you spoken to metamark?Peter
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Yes I think with a white border you eliminate the problem but not all backgrounds are white. It has been happening on laminated and non laminated prints on signs and vehicles. Metamark said to leave to gas but I do, and more than 48hrs.
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i will put it another way md3 is a low end material. unless i have misunderstood
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yes its a monomeric vinyl.. but rated to 4 years unprinted.. interesting…
most people i know use MD5, one of the best digital vinyls out there
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quote :most people i know use MD5, one of the best digital vinyls out there
i must have had a bad roll then 😀 never got on with it. but that was a few years ago.
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I think if you’ve left to outgas for more than 24 hrs, then that rules that out.
MD3 is a "cheap" polymeric, but no reason why it should curl. Gotta be ink or heat.
Is the curling on the leading edge or the end or all the way around?
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Ok, I think I will try the MD5 and see what, if there are any, differences. And the curl/edge lift seems to happen anywhere on the graphic. My thoughts are the ink is affecting the adhesive.
How can I tell if my Grenadier is putting down too much ink??? It was a B&P supplied printer, bought 5 years ago.
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Dave,
A different vinyl might be your best best. Is this happening with dark colors more? I don’t deal Metamark, does the MD3 have a paper or poly-coated liner? We had a similar issue with a paper liner we ultimately fixed by switching to a different liner.I would either try MD5 or equivalent or turn down the ink settings. You basically want just enough ink for full coverage. Turn it down until you can see its not enough ink, then turn it back up one notch. Just play around with it until you get something you’re happy with.
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Yes I think I’ll try and put down less ink to start with and see what happens.
So I’ll start a new thread and see how to do that!
Cheers
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Hi
We had this recently – I posted about it but have since found an answer so thought I would share it here!
I don’t know how you did it but the correct procedure is:
- 1. print
2. allow to gas
3. cut – using crop marks
4. laminate (optional)
Our mistake was to not to let it gas out before cutting!!
- 1. print
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this is only if the ink touches the cut line by the way!
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I’m getting the same problem with Fuji Euromedia 2D smart apply.
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