That leaves conformability as the last critical factor. This is important because reflective vinyl is not made from the same PVC compounds used in calendared and cast films. It’s made from translucent acrylic resins designed to allow the light to pass to and from the enclosed beads or prisms. This face film can be rather brittle and some films that are seven-year engineer grade products will not work on anything but flat surfaces. They’re great for street signs, not so great for police and emergency vehicles. This usually causes problems when someone chooses a non-conformable reflective for fleet applications. The film sticks for a while, then begins to release from the curved surfaces. Having your newly applied graphic fall off the Sheriff’s cruiser can be bad for your career. So, make sure you check that spec.
Application Tips & Digital Printing
Now that you know how to choose the right reflective product for your needs, we need to talk about application and printing. The most common error in applying reflective vinyl is the use of application fluid. This is a big no-no. The adhesives used in these products do not stand up well when applied wet.
The inclusion of reflective graphic elements in commercial vehicle wraps is expanding the appeal of reflective sheeting well beyond the traditional segments of municipal signage and emergency vehicles. This trend has sparked a lot of sign makers’ imaginations resulting in lots of questions about whether reflective vinyl can be imprinted. The answer is a qualified yes.
If you’re using an old fashioned thermal resin printer, you can print on most reflective vinyl sticker, although some of them may not hold the resin as well as others. If you’re using a solvent or eco-solvent inkjet, you can print on some reflective vinyl, but not all of it.