Wide-Format Adhesive-Backed Products: Stuck on You

Advertising graphics and wraps are required to stick on all sorts of surfaces. What you need to know for a successful install and removal.

Joann Whitcher
November 1, 2016
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Adhesive-backed materials may not be the most glamorous of topics in the wide-format arena, but it is certainly a critical one. Advertising graphics and wraps are required to stick on all sorts of surfaces, from concrete walls to construction barriers to floors and windows. 

And, depending on end use, they are also expected to look good. Lexjet’s Print-N-Stick Fabric was used for the New York Film Academy’s end of semester display of its photography students’ work. The photos, ranging in size from 16x12-inches to 10-ft tall, were output on an Canon imagePROGRAF iPF9400 printer, and hung within a gallery at the Academy.

There are many options to choose from and print service providers (PSPs) often have to make quick decisions on which adhesive backed product to select, noted Julie Levins, manager-market development manager, adhesives, Tekra. PSPs’ customers continue to demand and expect quick turnarounds on quotations and orders.

Within the variety of surfaces where adhesives must be able to stick, even those that present challenges require a reasonably easy installation. To ensure easy – or at least easier – removal and installation, there are different types of adhesives with distinct capabilities, noted Nate Goodman, product manager, Drytac.

“Many of these [adhesive] surfaces are specifically designed to prevent dirt or contaminates from staying in place, and are therefore well suited for easy removal,” he explained. “Some are ultra removable, moisture stable, or ideal for long-term applications. Others can stick to low surface energy or offer air egress for easy installation.”

Choosing Wisely

Ensuring you are choosing the right product for the application presents challenges for the PSP. Top of mind, said Shaun Jaycox, S-One product specialist, LexJet, is understanding everything there is to know about the application. 

It’s important to know the target application, echoed Maria Jesus Perez, worldwide media sign and display product manager, HP Large Format Printing Division.

“The biggest challenge our customers face is finding the right product for the right application,” noted Brian Cheshire, business unit manager graphics and digital products, Kent Adhesive Products Co. (KAPCO). “Variations in white point, opacity, and adhesion can make it difficult to find the appropriate product.”

When choosing the adhesive-backed product for the application, points to consider are:

  1. What is the end application (floor, wall, window)?
  2. Is it an indoor or outdoor application?
  3. What type of surface will the graphic be adhered to (flat, textured, curved, etc.)?
  4. What is the surface energy of the substrate its being applied to (LSE or HSE)?
  5. What is the expected performance life of the graphic; how long does it need to last? (Is it permanent or does it need to be removable)
  6. What type of imaging method is the customer using?
  7. How is the material being processed?

“Based on the chemical composition of the adhesive, most adhesives can be categorized as rubber-based or acrylic adhesives,” said Perez. “In the case of digital printing products, acrylic adhesives are the most common and they can be permanent or removable. The quality of the adhesive along with the engineering design of the liner will determine how well the product will work.”

A Lasting Issue

Also critical are installation and removal.

When applying, can you wet apply, i.e., can you use water or a water/soap mixture to apply to the substrate? If you can, this helps with positioning and getting bubbles out easier than a dry application, said Jaycox.

It is critical to to use the right type of adhesive product for the surface you are mounting to.

“When graphics are printed on self-adhesive products they can be applied onto very different sign surfaces; flat like a window or a panel, or curved like on a car or van; porous vs non-porous surfaces; low surface energy surfaces; etc.,” said Perez. “In all cases, the surface has to prepared before installing the film. It has to be clean and have a uniform adhesion to avoid the ugly bubbles or wrinkles.”

Application to curved surfaces or complex shapes such as car bumpers or window pressings on vans is highly technical. “Most people have seen signage film that has pulled away from depressions in a surface,” Perez added.”

Many of our customers struggle with graphics that are self-installed in a retail environment, said Cheshire. “They produce high-end graphics, however, retail employees don’t have the training or expertise properly install the graphics properly.”

As a general guideline to have a successful installation of digitally-printed self-adhesive products, it is very important to consider (along with those mentioned earlier: target application, how long it needs to last, does it need to be permanent or removable, type of surface):

  • Correct temperature range at the time of installation.
  • Adequate application pressure over the whole film area (signage adhesives are pressure activated).
  • Cleaning of the panels before installing
  • Skilled install to manage expansion of the film into the sign surface

To have a successful installation, it is important to read carefully all the technical bulletins available, offered Perez.

It is also important to pay attention to the shelf-life of the product, which should be provided by the manufacturer.

The removability, or lack thereof, of an adhesive is also critical. “Customers want to use an adhesive for the determined lifespan of the application and then remove it without residue being left behind,” Goodman explained.

Questions to ask your adhesive-backed product supplier: When removing do you have to use heat? Will it leave any residue behind?

Evolving Technology

Adhesive technology is constantly evolving. At KAPCO, “we are continuing to focus on adhesive technology that is easier to apply,” said Cheshire.

The introduction of air release liners/adhesives made the process of installing graphics much easier, Cheshire commented. Repositionable and microsphere adhesives have also improved over the last several years 

“Air egress channels in the adhesive and/or liner make installation of large format graphics easier,” noted Levins.

Microsphere adhesive technology is really starting to take off, added Jaycox.

“Microsphere adhesives allow you to peel and re-stick over and over again without compromising adhesion,” he pointed out. “You can put this type of adhesive on a number of different substrates such as vinyl, polyesters, and many more. I think we’ll see this type of adhesive put on many more substrates in the near future.”

At HP, “we see one of the key trends with adhesive technology is the need to improve ease of use as well as offer more non-PVC options as an ecofriendly alternative to the traditional self-adhesive vinyls,” said Perez. “Additionally, new silicone ‘grip’ products for window graphics are good alternatives to static cling.”

Companies, like 3M Commercial Solutions, are continuing to develop new products or product extensions to meet customer’s demands, said Levins. “Their line of high performance and intermediate products gives customers many choices at a variety of price points. One of their most recent additions is 3M Controltac Graphic Film with Comply Adhesive Series 180Mc. The new MC feature provides non visible air release channels to help aid in fast, easy and bubble-free installations. They’ve also recently added 3M Controltac Print Film 40C-114R, providing a clear, non-cast film option suitable for a variety of applications including indoor/outdoor signage, indoor floor graphics and partial vehicle wraps." 

There is no disputing that correct application of self-adhesive products requires skill and experience. To help promote proper installation, HP offers solutions for HP Latex Ink Technology, such as HP Premium Removable Gloss Adhesive Vinyl, which is very easy to handle due to the special air release liner designed to eliminate air, prevent bubbling and wrinkling, as well as to save time and money with efficient installation, said Perez. 

At Drytac, where product improvements are ongoing, its ultra removable adhesive, ReTac, graphics, can be installed, re-positioned, and removed from walls without damage, said Goodman. There are also products designed for removal without adhesive residue, ones that are moisture stable, and others than can tolerate cold environments such as ViziPrint Impress. Mounting adhesives can be used not only to attach a graphic to a board but also used to make window or wall graphics.

Help is on the Way

Many vendors, cognizant of the importance of ensuring the right product is chosen, have made consulting a part of their service. “One of the things that our customer service and sales staff do very well is ask a lot of questions,” said Cheshire. “Knowing all of the specifics of a job will increase the chances the customer is satisfied with the finished piece. We also have an excellent sample program that allows our customers to try a new product out before they buy it.”

LexJet’s reps also make sure they completely understand the application and environment before they offer any solutions, said Jaycox. “This entails knowing what printer technology they are using (aqueous, solvent/eco-solvent, latex or UV curable), as some products only work with specific print technologies. Where is the product going to be displayed and for how long? What type of surface will it be mounted to? Some substrates are trickier than others. Once we know all there is to know we can give options to the customer.”

HP Large Format Printing solutions provides comprehensive information for all the products available through the following website: HPLFMedia.com, where customers can find all the relevant information like technical bulletins, data sheets, etc., as well as identify dealer information. Customers can also visit to the HP Latex Knowledge Center for additional information: hp.com/communities/LKC