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Tiling three large vinyl strips
Hi
I have been asked to print and install a large indoor graphic in a showroom measuring 3.6meters x 3 meters.
The print is mainly a very dark blue, fading into a white flash, with some text.. I have printed it in three vertical drops using Avery Easy apply, with a 10mm overlap all round, but I am undecided on whether to A. trim them and butt them up against each other, or B. to overlap them, which I suppose is the safer route considering the size.
What would be the industry standard practice in this case?
My knife skills are probably not quite up to cutting 3 meters perfectly straight, but I suspect the overlap will be very visible and quite ugly given the location under bright lights in a showroom.
Simon. -
8 Replies
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I always overlap to avoid any issues with the image shrinking back from a butt joint – as inevitably you’ll put a little bit of a stretch into it fitting the vinyl…don’t want the wall colour (probably light) showing through any gaps!.
So long as they overlaps are uniform and between 5-10mm I think they are satisfactory for 99% of jobs.
Printed wallpaper on the other hand…butt joints.
dave
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I don’t get involved with this sort of work, so this is simply something that springs to mind.
If you go for the overlap method, then it might be worthwhile considering which direction the overlap comes from in relation to the strongest light source. If there is a strong light source such as big windows/glass doors then I would think the overlap would be less noticeable if the overlap ran away from the window, rather than the cut edge facing towards the light.
Just flagging this – I’m sure some folk here will know best way to handle it to lessen the effect.
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Just thinking if you print this on nechen vinyl, they had that type with very dark back. So when you cutted won’t be so visible, but I guess it’s too late now… What is the surface for this print?
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A matt painted wall Miroslav.
The print is unlaminated latex print.
Good points thanks, Neil and David.
Simon. -
Ooooh – matt paint. Not the best surface for sticking to unless it’s super aggressive adhesive. Satin or gloss much better.
Do a small test.
In the past have primed the wall with either PVA (cheap & so-so results) or Zinsser 123 primer / sealer. (Expensive but it works)
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Thanks David.
There is a similar single tile print we already did a few weeks ago still on the same wall, all things were equal to now so we are okay.
Simon. -
Here is a pic of the finished vinyl. We went with the 10mm overlap all round, with the "open" side facing away from the light, although most of the light came from straight ahead with some spotlights above. Here is a pic of Jess installing the last of the three panels. The first join can just be seen, but it is very faint and by no means detracts from the display. The clients have mounted heat pumps over the blank area.
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Looking good, Simon. Very smart. :thumbup2:
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