What brand for window frosting?

[David Rogers]

Big fan of Ritrama PTA for general work. Fits well wet or dry.

A cheat for a very light frost (flood coat) is Metamark Matt lamination vinyl. Wider rolls, less prone to going white if you get a crease…just lift and put back down.

Premium 3M (cast) in the tinted or sparkly ranges is beautiful…and expensive.

[Daniel Evans]

Thanks David. Who sells the ritrama film? I don’t know anyone who does this brand

[David Rogers]

William Smith.

[David Hammond]

Metamark crytal etch, has air escape, nice dark shade with a subtle silver speckle, it’s all we use.

[Cam Philson]

I use Oracal 8510 good price and does the job

[George Neagu]

Metamark M7 or Mac GlassDecor (APS, Pyramid Display), both worked well, wet application.

[Colin Crabb]

+1 For Metamark, both M7 & window etch films (air-free is very quick to fit).

[Daniel Evans]

Not had prices on the Metamark stuff yet but list prices on the website seem high compared to others. I’ll call up shortly but can’t see them coming down that much. Can’t fault them for price and service on the other materials though, saying that does anyone find the backing on the M7 range doesn’t stick to the app tape all that well

[Martyn]

I use Avery crystal glass etch. Victory design sell that range

[Martin Cole]

Another one in the mix..

I have used Grafityp TR101 for over 16 years now .
Unless client specifies any special frost this is what I always use.

[Daniel Evans]

Thanks everyone. I guess this is gonna be down to price as all the brands mentioned are well known.

[Iain Pearson]

Hi Daniel, I’ve used pretty much every frost mentioned in this thread at some point but as a general all-rounder I agree with Martin, Grafityp is a very good material. Robust and easy to apply [emoji106]

[Daniel Evans]

Thank guys

Do you guys fit wet, dry or use air release?

I’ve always gone with the wet approach but never used air release/metascape on windows and never so anything dry on windows at all.

I think i’m inclined to go with Grafityp based on recommendations and the fact that it’s £5.77 a metre this week only for 1220mm

[Chris Wilson]

Wet on Grafityp is fine, but it doesn’t bond straight away very well. Ritma bonds better when wet I find. We soak the application tape to make it come easier.

[David Hammond]

We fit 99% of ours dry, using metascape, don’t get squeegee marks or anything in it

I’m fairly sure metamark supply it at 1550mm too.

[Martyn]

Flood coating frosted wet, frosted text just a dusting, then wet the app tape to remove

[Kev Mayger]

AS80 from All Print Supplies. Air free fits like a dream.

[Jonathan feeney]

Oracal 8510 with rapid air ,we usually apply it dry and never had any trouble

[David Stevenson]

Has anyone any advice for avoiding squeegee marks? Haven’t done a lot of frosting but have applied any I’ve done dry. Would wet application be better?

[Iain Pearson]

Hi David, with wet Application you will eliminate any squeegee marks [emoji106]

[David Stevenson]

Thanks Iain, must give it a try some day soon. Its something we’d like to get involved with a bit more. Will use our workshop window as a Guinea pig lol

[Iain Pearson]

If you need any help just shout [emoji106]

[Chris Windebank]

Daniel, last time we worked together I was using image perfect from spandex and metamark etch, both good for large and small jobs.
Always used Grapityp gold though when needed

[Chris Wilson]

Just add to this used the ritma frosting again today. It impressed me more. 3 of these windows to do. In and out in and hour and half. All taped up, applied wet, removed application tape after it was soaked then weeded it out. Barely a lift off the vinyl where it wasn’t meant. Speedy and quick. Will stick to it from now on.

[David Stevenson]

Thanks Ian, appreciate your offer. Weeded out after installation Chris! Looks really well. Why this way may I ask? Only new to frosting windows so any tips or techniques I can pick up are a great help.

[Chris Wilson]

Just goes on a bit easier. Just how I was taught working for a bigger firm. Just keeps everything at one level I suppose and less flexible.. never really tried the other way round..

[David Stevenson]

That’s a good point Chris. I know what it’s like when applying graphics with parts removed from them. We do a lot of work on brand new cars so couldn’t weed after for fear of damaging the paint. Will definitely give that a go next week. Have 3 large frosted designs to apply in a car showroom. Cheers

[Chris Wilson]

No problem. We only do it with frosting. I suppose if you get a wee mark, or slight crease with normal vinyl, a bit of hard pressure and it goes back to being new and it never happened, do that with the frosting though and it marks forever.

[Jonathan feeney]

Yeah i second chris on this , that is how we apply frosting , anytime we tried to apply it when fully weeded it got all creased so we just weed it when its on the glsss