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Vehicle Panel Templates for covering with vinyl?
Hi everyone. im new to this site. so apologies if this has been asked before..
i was wondering how any of you guys go about applying print or graphics to fill a main recess panel on the side of a van.usually we would print the design oversized and trim the vinyl to panel shape afterwards.
to make life easier it would be handy if we could cut contour the print to panel shape beforehand. but the dimensions of the vehicle outlines from impactgs arnt completely accurate.
have any of you guys ever created an accurate template for say a transit custom, sides and rear main panel?
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34 Replies
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This is how I do it:-
topic50729.htmlOr use knifeless tape
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Hi Shane, welcome.
I did have a few panel templates but to be honest, still prefer to flood the whole panel with an oversized print and trim using knifeless tape. I found that on big panels, on the odd occasion that the panel applied a few mm out of square, it was more noticable than having trimmed it to the edges.
Hugh -
For speed I like to copy Phil’s way if I’m doing a lot of the same vehicle as it’s quick once the application paper template has been made, then use the cut graphics to repeat, if it’s one I’m not likely to do again or a one off, you can’t beat Wrap cut, however I like design line as it gives a much neater cut, but you need to be very careful with it as it can snap on thicker materials.
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I struggled a bit with design line, used it on the green Up wrap.. wasn’t convinced it was any better than wrapcut regarding finish or strength..
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That’s shocking. Did you heat the vinyl and push it down after applying the tape?
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Never had that mate
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thanks guys.
we would usually do the wrapcut/knifeless way… but we are recently getting a fair amount of fleet work, so it would make life a lot easier and quicker if we could cut contour the print on the plotter after laminating.i hear you though hugh, i imagine it would be a bit of a pig to get it to fit in there nicely.
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quote Daniel Evans:That’s shocking. Did you heat the vinyl and push it down after applying the tape?
yes, to the letter!
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Very strange. I’ve used it time and time again but don’t get that bad a cut. I’ll tell you what I do just in case. I apply the tape, then run the heat gun along it and push down with my finger again so it’s connected perfectly, I then lay the vinyl over the top and again heat it and run my finger along it again. It’s now perfect and seems to have sealed nicely. When ready I pull it in the direction I’m going and once done, give it a little heat to shrink back as the vinyl will stretch slightly.
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Was it done in cold weather Hugh? I’m thinking if the metal of the van was cold this would make the vinyl very brittle
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I was actually thinking the same thing, that’s what it looks like to me.
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Hi guys,
The car had been in my workshop all day, while -5 outside I was sweating buckets inside wearing a t-shirt in 22+ degrees (all or nothing heater!), The cut line while not heated into place, was firmly applied with thumb first and then felt squeegee, vinyl applied over as per and heated well, allowed to cool, the panel work of the entire car was between 15 & 18+ degrees so I don’t think it the cold, though being the bonnet it was the lower end of the temps, after removing the filament -in the direction of the cut, and the tape removed, it did indeed have a short blast of warm air before being applied.I had varying degrees of cut quality around the vehicle.. from very good to average, but this was particularly bad!
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Was it 3m design line Mate, with the red inner ? I have used 25 plus rolls and never has it cut like that, as above I always make sure it’s applied well before removing the filament?
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quote Richard Urquhart:Was it 3m design line Mate, with the red inner ? I have used 25 plus rolls and never has it cut like that, as above I always make sure it’s applied well before removing the filament?
hi Rich,
Was the 3M finish line, not design line. Borrowed it from a local sign maker when my wrap cut ran out!
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Ahh ok yes I’ve had that, which is why for quality jobs I use design line [emoji6]
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Any links to the Design Line?
We’ve used WrapCut & knifeless tape, but always happy to try alternatives, especially if it saves a few pounds :thumbsup:
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It’s not cheap it’s more than knifeless tape and still a 3m product but it’s great for sharp cuts and going round corners etc
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What advantage does it have over the wrap cut/knifeless tape??
We’re actually running low I think, so need to place an order
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As above Mate
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Will give it a go, most of our stuff is just flood coating panels, but get the odd ones with a tight curve where you can’t get a really smooth curve :thumbsup:
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If that’s the case you will
Love it, but you have to be careful pulling the filament as you can snap it by hand unlike the normal one [emoji108][emoji108] -
I think for near £30 a roll, finish line should leave a nicer finish! I bought two (one to replace what I used and one for stock), may see if I can return one and pay extra for design line, but that’s £38+!!
Where do you buy it Rich?
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I get looked after by Spandex Mate [emoji108]
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Didn’t know they did it, will speak to them next time order.
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Yeh or signgeer Mate
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29 quid
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Thank you!
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I personally think wrapcut is awful, the cord always seems to have kinks in it and the knifeless tape is just a far better product. Wrapcut is far cheaper but you can tell. I’ve got the wrapcut pro and wire versions and I use them only if I’ve ran out of knifeless
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i use both designline and wrapcut. For me the wrapcut is easier to use as the filament is thicker, designline is better at tight corners.
One thing i very much dislike about designline is that the filament is in the centre of the adhesive, leaving part under the vinyl with needs to be removed. Wrapcut is on the edge meaning you dont need to lift up and re fit the vinyl edge.
And ye wrapcut is half the price :smiles:
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Personal pref I guess, wrap cut is very cost effective but not a clean enough cut line for us.
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I get mine from:
https://www.signmaterials.co.uk/vehicle-wrap-tape
free shipping at the moment aswell
I much prefer this to Wrapcut, beautiful for going round curves.
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quote Richard Urquhart:Personal pref I guess, wrap cut is very cost effective but not a clean enough cut line for us.
I found the wrapcut, if applied properly can give a very good finish, better than the finishline I used, just easier to get around tight corners with finishline.
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I’ve used WrapCut but found it was very difficult to make very tight curves, or corners. So I tried the DesignLine tape and found a huge difference. Was able to make a lot tighter curve really easily and very clean cuts.
They also make tapes with 3 filaments to make consistent pin stripes etc. Here is a video using triline tape to make a bonnet design. It gets a little complicated, but gives you a good idea of how this tape can be used.
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Christ on a bike, I feel like sending 3M a bill just for the time taken to watch the video, this guy needs to buy a plotter.
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