February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 1
2 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
Editorial February 2024
04 / Liner Notes
Never Be Satisfied
James “Ruggs” Kochevar talks about the dangers of being wrapped in a cocoon of complacency.
08 / Opinion
They Called it a Revolution.
Industry guru, Paul Roba, expounds on game-changing advancements in film technology.
12 / The Wrap Business
The Power of No in Sales
Matt Richart warns of the dangers of reaching an agreement too quickly.
14 / Ask John
Ready to Hire Your First Team Member?
p40
John Duever answers this timeless question and walks you through the pitfalls and safeguards to expanding your workforce.
18 / Shop Profile Get Graphic
Chad Munroe tells the story behind one of Arkansas’ go-to graphics shops and the network they built.
28 / TNT (Tips & Tricks)
Smooth Wall vs Rough Wall
Adhesives expert, Jay Kroll, talks about the ins and outs of wrapping walls with differing textures.
p52
February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 3
Editorial
Ad Index
February 2024
36 / The Shop
Choosing the Right Laminator for Your Shop
Our production expert, Adam Sumner, advises how to select the best workhorse in your stable.
40 / The Centerfold
2023 Cannonball Run
PG NOLA’s Kevin “The Professa” Kempf blew us away with his G. Smith Motorsports design for the 2023 Cannonball Run.
48 / Inside Scoop
Every Vinyl Has it’s Laminate
HEXIS’ Senior Graphics Designer, Kyle Payne, shares this manufacturer’s insight into pairing the appropriate media for the desired outcome.
52 / Design Studio
The “Blood Lust” Project
Christina McKay with Curvaceous Wraps, one of the market’s most sought-after designers, walks us through a remarkably intricate piece.
60 / TNT (Tips & Tricks)
The Great Divide: Traditional Art vs AI Assisted Art - Part II
Dallas Fowler continues the conversation as it pertains to perceived value.
64 / WWF (Windows, Walls & Floors)
Beaver Creek Condo Entryway
Jen and Steve Carney talk us through a small job with a big impact.
66 / The Clear View True or False?
Narayan Andrews debunks rumors behind popular PPF myths.
69 / WrapToons
The Wrap’s Markets Dedicated Toon!
Dallas Fowler’s unique perspective and artistic gift to the wrap world.
70 / In The News
A Look at What’s Happening in the Wraps Market Bringing you the latest news.
71 / New Products
Manufacturing Showcase Bringing you the latest releases.
72 / Featured Wraps Gallery
Highlighting the artisans of today’s wraps market.
4 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
Digital EFX……………………… 35 General Forumulations…… 31 Master the Wrap…………………11 School of Wrap……………… 75 Wensco……………………………… 7 WrapIQ…………………………… 27 WRAPIX Academy…………… 75 Wrap Institute…………………… 5 Wrap Nation……………………… 2
75 / Trainers Spotlight Trainer Profiles
An inside look at who’s ready to train you for success!
- On the Cover -
PG NOLA’s Creation for G. Smith Motorsports
One of their badass entries for the Cannonball Run. Check out the full story on page 40.
Empowering you to wrap anything like a professional from the industry's most trusted and innovative experts.
TWI Online Training Platform Professional How To Videos For Beginners and Advanced Installers Covering Everything From:
BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!
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PPF Interior Design Window Tint
Color Change Commercial Business Signage
TWI Platinum Tool Collection To Wrap The Best, Use The Best The ultimate collection of wrap tools from the leading manufacturers across the world
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Liner
February 2024
Notes
N
ever be satisfied. We’ve all been there at one point or another. Stagnant. Stuck in a rut. Maybe we weren’t happy with our job. Maybe we felt undervalued. Maybe we thought there was no upward mobility with our employer. Worse yet, maybe we didn’t think we deserved better. Or, maybe we were all a bunch of whiny bitches who couldn’t see the forest for the trees? Life is about options. Every day we are presented with choices. Get up early or sleep in. Protein shake or a Pop Tart. Give our best effort or phone it in. For some of us, that means continuing to live in the aforementioned rut or having the guts to try something new. Everything worth having is worth working for, so why do some of us choose the easy road of complacency, rather than picking the road less traveled, the one that leads to happiness, self-reliance, and getting paid? I love the wraps market because it’s ripe with opportunity. Whether you’re working for a kick-ass shop or a Lone Ranger installing wherever the wind blows, you have choices. You can choose to get up early, stay late, work on your skills, learn from a mentor, take training classes, sign up for online learning, attend a trade show, compete in a contest, read a magazine, spend time at another shop, invite others to collaborate, or maybe just take the baby step of admitting you don’t have all the answers. There are so many options for personal growth. So what’s it going to be? With that, I welcome you to the February issue. I hope you pick up a few pointers, and for those of you stuck in a rut, I challenge you to find the courage to choose a new path.
VOL. 1 ISSUE 2 www.thewrapfam.com Publisher, Editor-in-Chief James “Ruggs” Kochevar ruggs@thewrapfam.com
Art Director, Graphic Design Leslie Kochevar leslie@northstargraphicspromo.com
Contributors Adam Sumner
adam@wrapixacademy.com
Dallas Fowler
dallas@digitalefxwraps.com
John Duever
john@wrapiq.com
Matt Richart
matt@digitalefx.com
Narayan Andrews
narayan@spectrumautollc.com
Guest Contributors Paul Roba Jay Kroll Kyle Payne Chad Munroe Kevin Kempf Christina McKay Jen & Steve Carney
Enjoy!
-Ruggs 6 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
@WrapFamUnleashed WrapFam Unleashed is a registered DBA of North Star Graphics & Promotions. Reproduction in part or in full without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. WrapFam Unleashed is published in the U.S. Contents copyright 2024, WrapFam Unleashed. ©
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The Centerfold
We’re excited to put the spotlight on you! February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 7
Opinion
They Called it a Revolution Does technology or demand dictate change? By Industry Expert, Paul Roba ehicle wrapping for purposes of this article discussion, is primarily related to the use of adhesive-backed films used to cover cars, vans, boats, trucks, and motorcycles. The two major segments of vehicle wraps are, 1) graphic wraps - the vehicle is covered in printed images for advertising, brand recognition and promotion, or bespoke design, and 2) colored film wraps – where vehicle color can be temporarily changed with single or multiple colors for bespoke purposes. Although these two segments of wrapping do overlap, for discussion purposes they are considered separately because of the differing expectations associated with the end product and quality. True, customers always have an expectation for high quality in both instances, however, they are aware that a graphic wrap will often have seams or even small blemishes. But because of the distraction to the eye because of the design or message in the graphics, seams or blemishes are much less visible. Graphics are tucked and wrapped around edges, but door jambs, sometimes handles and mirrors, and other detail areas are not typically wrapped because minimal vehicle parts are removed. Although many wrapping techniques are similar between graphic and color change wraps, expectations on color change wraps are much higher. There are minimal seams permitted in a color change wrap, and if one is needed it must be 8 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
made imperceptible to the customer. In addition, in many cases, the door jambs and other areas with visible body color are completely wrapped. Color change wraps reflect the style of the customer as well as protect the underlying paint, so the customer expects a flawless finished look and no damage to the vehicle’s surface when removed. Wrapping was a revolution! However, my perspective is that the two segments underwent different revolutions and many similar evolution(s). In order to clarify my viewpoint regarding these wrap segments, let’s start with some definitions from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary of “revolution” and “evolution”. Revolution: a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something: a change of paradigm: a changeover in use or preference especially in technology Evolution: a process of change in a certain direction: a process of continuous change from a lower, simpler, or worse to a higher, more complex, or better state In my interpretation of the definitions, revolution is a significant change from the status quo, whereas evolution would be subtle improvements to the process. The focus of this article is the “revolutions” of the graphic and color change wrap segments.
Graphic Wraps
For years, printers have been supplying screenprinted images for graphic installations. These images were primarily used to advertise large
Image by DALL·E 2024
February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 9
Opinion
brands due to the high costs of creating four-color low-resolution images. Because of the production costs, most times there were a high number of images printed for a specific brand, company, or product. The images were printed on aggressive self-adhesive vinyl and applied to the sides of tractor-trailers for the most part. Another method of branding for graphics was the use of colored vinyl. These vinyls would be cut into letters, stripes, or shapes and applied to the sides of trucks, trailers, and vans. A couple of revolutionary product developments occurred in this segment to create a burgeoning market for short-run, lowercost, one-off, easier application graphics. These developments were focused on the printing technology used to create the images and adhesive engineering used in graphic applications. The printing revolution occurred when wide-format inkjet printing was developed. Some early printers used water-based inks which required special coatings or products to absorb the inks, and had limited durability. Another improvement was electrostatic transfer printing which improved durability but required printing on paper, and then heat transferring the image to the vinyl which created additional manufacturing steps and was expensive. The revolutionary improvements in printing and ink processes were developed by companies like Durst®, Epson®, HP®, and Canon® which developed delivery mechanisms and solvent and eco-solvent inks for use on high-speed printers. The inks could print on almost anything, eliminating the need for expensive treatments/ topcoats and time-consuming extra steps like transfers. The adhesive engineering revolution happened with two important developments, adhesive standoff/offset mechanisms that allow
the easy sliding and repositioning of graphics, and air egress channels to eliminate bubbles. 3M® pioneered standoff technology with Controltac™ glass bead, and then air egress technologies were developed by 3M and Comply™ plus Avery Dennison® and Easy Apply™. The combination of these two transformational developments created new opportunities for short-run graphic imaging and graphic wrapping.
Color Change Wraps
Color change wraps have been around for many years. In the beginning, Kay Graphics identified a way to meet the needs of taxi companies to comply with governmental color standards, without having to paint the vehicles. Kay utilized adhesive-backed premium cast vinyl. A new use for cast vinyl was created. Many applicators followed the trend by laminating clear protective films to the top of standard-colored vinyl and applying the vinyl using a wet application method. The process was costly and messy. Although these first wraps were somewhat revolutionary, it wasn’t until film manufacturers like 3M and Avery Dennison created new products to address installation concerns, removal issues, and durability. Air egress and repositionable adhesives as mentioned in the graphic wrap discussion above are one part of the color change revolution. These technologies were employed in improving 2mil vinyl installation, and they were also critical to the success of color change wrapping. The second part of the color change wrap revolution was the engineering of dual-cast films. This development made it possible for the vinyl manufacturers to fuse a protective clear layer on top of the colored vinyl. Such a transformation in the manufacturing process eliminated
downstream lamination and labor costs, improved the vibrancy and depth of the image of the film colors, and helped speed up the application process. Color change wraps became a business in a box because one didn’t need much more than a knife, squeegee, and cleaning tools to wrap a car. These changes to the film and the adhesive created an opportunity for anyone to become their own boss.
change improvements for application in both segments. These advances also impacted many other product segments but truly propelled wrapping into the mega-market it has become. Yet each segment of wrapping needed additional upheaval and product advances to take it to the next level, and open up opportunities for installers, print service providers, and ultimately end users.
Conclusion
Paul Roba
As you can see there was one shared revolution for color change and graphic wraps. The development of air egress, slideable, and repositionable adhesive systems drove step-
Paul Roba is a graphics and wrap industry veteran of over 35 years. He was involved with the early design, roll out, and training programs of wrap films.
The Wrap Biz
The Power of NO in Sales Why Reaching Terms Too Quickly Can Bite You. By Matt Richart wrote an article almost four years can then see the big picture. Is your company ago in regard to the power of No profitable? Has your company and sales team and how important it can be for your produced the numbers that you set out to business. As time has passed since achieve? For our company and myself that answer then I have really learned even more was no. I decided to go back and reverse engineer about saying no or even injecting the our entire sales process, products, streams of word “No” in my sales presentation revenue, and what were the highest margin jobs or pitch. Sounds crazy to even utter that we produced. This was one of the biggest the word no in a sales pitch, right? wake-up calls in my wrap career. After realizing When we all start out in business that motorcycle helmets, chrome deletes, mirror or decide to make the entrepreneur wraps, and many other intricate jobs that required plunge we are filled with fear, adrenaline, extensive labor were not in our wheelhouse we excitement, and decided to start a drive to be saying NO to those successful. Even if types of jobs. Let me you are not an owner be clear that many of your own shop of you do these these same feelings jobs and are not - Chris Voss can come into your only profitable but thought process extremely talented. while working for a company. Especially in sales. Our main source of revenue is generated from Some of these feelings while running a business the commercial wrap industry and these other would force me to say yes to almost every job. streams of revenue were killing our momentum My biggest fear was to tell a client NO to a job. and most importantly our bank account. Then we would be out of business down the road Once I was not afraid to say NO anymore and I would regret telling that customer NO. As our margins and sales grew dramatically. if that one job would be the deciding factor if our I have been reading a lot about the power of company would succeed or not. That was one No along with some of the leaders in negotiating of my main fears for years, unfortunately. Once tactics and skills. One of my favorite authors is you get settled into your company’s sales routine Chris Voss. He says “Every negotiation should and can measure sales along with margins you start with a No”. I find that statement enormously
Every negotiation should start with a No.
12 l WrapFam Unleashed l January 2024
Image generated by DALL·E 2024
powerful. This is not only true in the graphic world but in everyday life. We are all used to trying to get the word yes from a client, family member, or friend. When I am trying to sell a client on our product I now look for some resistance. I want to hear from my client on what he or she doesn’t want. What negative experiences they may have had or not had? Once I can find the resistance along with them giving me a No on certain aspects of our sales presentation, I can get to the closing quicker and more effectively. Chris Voss also says that people are comfortable saying “No” because it feels like self-protection. In my opinion, when you can give your client the freedom to be honest and truly listen to their likes and dislikes you create trust. This also goes a long way in developing a business relationship that will last for years to come. After reading, listening to podcasts, and watching short videos on the power of “No” I felt as if I had mastered this part of my sales process. A few years ago, I went to lunch one day with a business advisor of mine whom I respect immensely. During lunch, I sent him over my article about the power of “No” and watched him briefly read over my verbiage. He looked up at me with a smile and said it was a great read. His only feedback was “Why tell your customers no?” Why don’t you make them say “No”? His point was if you don’t want to do a job because it’s too labor intensive or isn’t profitable why not quote it
so it is? Give the power to your client to say Yes or No. I agreed with his thoughts and advice but also wondered how it would look to give a client a price that reflected that we didn’t want that type of work. Depending on your next sales interaction I highly recommend finding that resistance. Find out what your client wants or does not want. Even if they don’t even know. Create that trust and transparency along with proving to yourself that “No” is not the end. It’s just the beginning! Matt Richart Matt@digitalefxwraps.com Co-Owner/CFO, Digital EFX Wraps LLC. Instructor, Inside The Wrap Shop
January 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 13
Ask John
Ready to Hire Your First Team Member? Knowing When to Take the Leap By John Duever
pyro Polymiadis asked, “How do
Core Values, etc), among many other things.
you hire your first employee?
This can be an incredibly hard conversation for
How do you deal with an initial
some to have with themselves and when one
drop of quality until they get up
realizes the work it takes to build this internal
to speed? What preparations
foundation it can be overwhelming, so you never
should you have in place to try
start to build any of this. One will continue to
and maintain a “standard”? How
plug along by doing a job that pays their bills,
can you relinquish control of the
sometimes, and not actually building a business.
workshop output without wanting
Build a rock-solid foundation for success for
to jump in and do it yourself
your team and company before you attempt
if you see mistakes and not
to build the castle you dream about. No castle
micromanage? I do 99% private
has ever lasted long on a weak foundation.
customer jobs and very little commercial - so the
Secondly, what are you offering to these
standard needs to be high. These are the things
new team members? Ask yourself this question
that have probably kept me from hiring even
“Why would anyone come here to start a career?”
though I’ve needed someone for about 3 years.”
If you cannot answer that question truthfully
Great questions Spyros, I’ll do my best to break these down 1 by 1.
and in detail to the point that someone would hear what you have to say and be willing to
When thinking about hiring your team
leave their current position at their current
member, chances are you should have done
job, then you are not ready to hire anyone.
it a long time ago. Very rarely do business
Just because you need someone doesn’t mean
owners hire their first team member before
you are ready for someone. Build your internal
they need them or even shortly after they need
foundation before you even consider bringing
them as many business owners work too much
on a team member. Early and mid-way through
in their businesses and not enough on their
my 22 years as a business owner I always saw
businesses. So when one does need to bring on
holes in the company bucket and just grabbed
a team member, that new hire is not set up for
a body to plug the hole and they always failed
success with job descriptions, training, culture,
because we did not have a solid foundation. Now
organization (including processes, work orders,
we do and life and business is A LOT better.
SOP’s, training, Company Vision and direction, 14 l WrapFam Unleashed l January 2024
Vinyl Images team
By the way, I prefer to refer to the people
working at a new company. Mistakes are going
that work for Vinyl Images and WrapIQ as my
to happen. It’s just part of the game. Every single
Team Members, not employees. Employee is a
job we do in the adhesive-backed industries
term that means they work for you and you are
is custom in some way. Design, hand cutting,
not equals. At the end of the day you are a team
leaving a bubble, breaking a part of a car, burning
even if there are only two of you, and they need
something, knives, and cutting the vehicle or
to feel welcomed and part of the Team. This
oneself, the possible mistakes are literally endless.
simple change of verbiage goes a very long way.
This creates a lot of pressure. Reduce the pressure
As far as the work quality and standard part,
and the mistakes will be reduced as well. I do urge
I have the $10,000 rule at Vinyl Images. New hires
you to treat the $10,000 rule with caution. Maybe
will cost us $10,000 during their training and the
you have a $2500 or $5,000 rule. If the new hire
process of bringing them up to the level of being
knows that it is ok and expected for them to make
self-sustaining. The $10,000 rule gives the person
a mistake or two it is incredibly helpful on their
a sense of understanding that they are expected to make mistakes. This takes a little pressure off them and minimizes the mistakes made because of the intense pressure of learning a new trade or
Have a question for John? Submit your question: January 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 15
Ask John
be managed. Some people need to be babysat and until they gain the confidence to critically think their way through problems that arise you will need to be there to catch them. I hear a lot of people tell me,“This person asks me dumb questions” or “It is so simple, why aren’t they getting it?”. The truth is some people just don’t have it. Hire slow and fire fast when needed. Train, train, train. When a new hire asks you
Brothers, Joe and John Duever, forced to get along.
learning journey. Don’t be taken advantage of and if someone does not have “it” and you can look at yourself in the mirror and be satisfied that you gave them every tool to be successful and they still don’t have “it”, you must cut and move on. The last thing you want is for someone to take advantage of this rule and ruin your reputation. My thought process nowadays is to take the time to hire the correct person and if they don’t cut it, they have to go. You will find the right person. Relinquishing control is hard and only
a question that they should know the answer to, put it back on them by asking them a question that prompts critical thinking. Critical thinking allows people to gain confidence which could fix all the issues you mentioned. Build your foundation, hire the correct person for the job, know their love language and personality type, adapt to the person’s needs, give them every tool they could possibly need to be successful, provide them an avenue to critically think through problems and you will set yourself up for success!
gets easier if you have a foundation set for your current or new team members to excel.
John Duever
As they excel, they gain your trust which allows
John@wrapiq.com
relinquishing control and responsibility to become a lot easier. On the micromanagement side, you need to manage people the way they need to 16 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
Co-Owner/Operator, Vinyl Images Founder/CEO, WrapIQ
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ShopProfile Member Spotlight
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO
Exponential Growth
G
By Chad Munroe
et Graphic was Co-founded by Jennifer Simmons and Chad Munroe. Jennifer has been in the Graphics industry since the late 1990s. They became partners in life in 2010, and partners in business when they founded Get Graphic in April 2011. At that time, while embarking on thier new relationship, both Jennifer and Chad were at career crossroads and actively seeking new opportunities. Jennifer, with her extensive background in the industry spanning over ten years, including experience with manufacturers, suppliers, and cut vinyl graphics equipment, joined forces with Chad. Chad’s long-term 18 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
interest in the industry, paired with a significant background in investments, primarily in real estate, set them both on an entrepreneurial path. This convergence of expertise and interests culminated in the founding of Get Graphic. The company was created as a new endeavor, using a simple plotter and a laptop computer they used out of the back room of their house, with the kitchen counter as a layout table, and Facebook as their storefront. Not knowing how much demand there would be for an at-home graphics shop without print capability. Chad simultaneously filed with The State of Arkansas for a Used Car Dealers License, with the idea of wholesale buying and selling used cars for added
Left: Get Graphic New Facility Rendering Above: Shelby Cobra 2016 (Before) Right: Shelby Cobra 3M Wrap2Wrap Submission 2016
February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 19
ShopProfile income while they tried to build Get Graphic. Although the used car endeavor never really reached its full potential, access to the local Auto Auction and other local used car dealers proved to be a stroke of luck for Get Graphic, and was like gasoline on a fire for growth in its early days. They have found that the auto industry differs from the graphics industry in one major way. Local operators need each other. They make friends, they collaborate, and they trade inventory back and forth as a necessary means of survival. Jennifer and Chad’s experience in the graphics industry mirrors this on a national level, but on a local level, they say shop owners see each other as a threat, and rarely if ever communicate or collaborate.
Because of the camaraderie of the local auto industry, Chad was quickly accepted as “one of the guys” among local car dealers, and they almost instantly began reaching out to him for services. They needed everything from storefronts, window lettering, stripes on cars, OEM-style graphics packages, business cards, shirts, stickers, and almost anything else you could imagine. Within a few months, this led to the local auction itself reaching out, and asking if they could print full-color, bumper-sticker-size vinyl graphics, on a weekly recurring basis. Having no print capability, but not wanting to say no, they went on Craigslist, and found a 5-year-old Mutoh Printer and a 48” laminator and immediately started printing. The first auction order paid
Get Graphic’s current facility when first purchased. 20 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
Get Graphic’s current facility, circa 2019.
for the cost of the used printer, and overnight, Get Graphic was a home-based print shop. Over the course of the next 6 months, Get Graphic grew quickly, practically never turning down a request for a printed product. They heatpressed t-shirts and found a source for screen printing, embroidery, business cards, and fliers. Whatever customers wanted they would find a way to provide it. They added equipment, bought better printers, and bigger laminators, Jennifer self-taught graphic design and they both taught themselves material selection and installation using all types of adhesive-backed materials. Within a year they had outgrown their home-based capabilities and were in drastic need of a “real” facility, but they were still somewhat constrained by the availability of income they could funnel into a retail space. Using his real estate background, and being on the backside of the recession, Chad was able to find and obtain a “fixer-upper” retail space that was an abandoned 7Eleven store which had been
boarded up and unoccupied for the last several years. They scraped together the financing to purchase the building, were able to renovate it on a shoestring budget, doing much of the work themselves, and opened Get Graphic in its current retail storefront in June of 2013. Since their new location was a former convenience store there was no install bay or overhead doors, so they reached out to their best recurring customer, the Auto Auction, and struck up a deal to use the auction facility on nonauction days for jobs they needed an install bay. A year or so later they were able to cut an overhead door into their facility, to get a vehicle inside, but they still collaborate with the auction to this day for oversized vehicles and large fleets, which the auction facility can easily accommodate. Once Get Graphic opened the doors on the retail storefront, business exploded again, and they experienced rapid growth over the next several years, increasing gross revenue by over 100% year over year in February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 21
ShopProfile years 3-5. Growth doesn’t come without its challenges, they have plenty of stories of difficulties, struggles, long hours, deadlines, and demands, but when handled correctly, they become not only learning experiences but stepping stones that can be built upon. In 2014, still using the same old printers they acquired when they were working from home, they decided to attend The ISA Trade Show in Las Vegas to research the latest technology and upgrade their printers. Wraps not being a particular focus at the time, they became fascinated with the HP Scitex, a UV printer that would print directly to substrates, because of its versatility, and ability to print directly to virtually anything flat. This led to them purchasing a six-figure machine that would print basically anything except a wrap, but they had no idea what they would produce with it. In conjunction they purchased a very basic, nofrills, but new, Roland RF-640 solvent, for the rare instance they needed to print a wrap. When negotiating their package for the printer purchase, Chad learned of a 2-day wrap class being offered by the distributor that was selling the printers, and he was able to negotiate that to be included at no charge for him and their one employee at the time who did graphic design as well as installation, when needed. Unbeknownst to anyone at the time, that class would put wheels in motion that would forever change the trajectory of Get Graphic. The class instructor was Jeff Wagner, a long-time 3M Trainer, and member of the prestigious industry 22 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
trade organization Masters of Branding. Simply put, Masters of Branding (or The Mob, as it’s referred to informally throughout the industry) is a collective of some of the most elite, talented, and recognized installers worldwide. Their application process is informal yet highly restrictive, focusing on territorial protection and necessitating certification and insurance. Additionally, board approval is required, alongside a recommendation from a current member. This member must be willing to risk their own membership, should the new member cast the group in a negative light during their probationary period. After learning of The Mob, Chad made it a personal goal to attain acceptance into the prestigious group. Returning home with a few new tricks, a renewed interest in wraps, and a goal of attaining the virtually unattainable, Chad used his local connection with local car dealers to try and drip up wrap business. He found a colleague who specialized in classic cars with a 65 Shelby Cobra kit car in need of a repaint, but not needing bodywork.The Get Graphic team opted to wrap the car in 3M 1080 color change material instead of painting it. They completed the project just before 3M announced its 2nd annual Wrap2Wrap contest, a worldwide competition recognizing the best wrap completed that year using their material. The car was submitted to the competition, and between the time of submission and when the winners were announced, Chad traveled once again for a 2nd wrap class. Once again taught
Chad & Jennifer SEMA / Las Vegas 2023.
by Jeff Wagner, but this time preceding a test for 3M certification. After testing and passing with an overall A grade, becoming one of fewer than 25 people to pass the test at that location at the time, and the first-ever certified installer in Arkansas, Chad and Jeff formed a friendly colleagues. They have continued to keep in touch, network, and collaborate on projects to this day. A few months later winners were announced for the 3M Wrap2Wrap contest, and Get Graphic was crowned co-champion along with Who Did That, in North Carolina (another Masters of Branding member). As a part of the prize package for winning the Wrap2Wrap contest, Get Graphic was honored with the
opportunity to travel to SEMA in 2016. There, they wrapped in the 3M booth alongside the previous year’s winners, Wrap Artist from Nashville and PDX Wraps from just outside Portland (both Masters of Branding members). The connections made, and the accolade of winning the contest instantly launched Get Graphic onto the national stage, and was the catalyst needed to “make the cut” for acceptance into “The Mob”. After a lengthy application and vetting process, and having formed friendships from that first training class, Chad and Get Graphic were induced into Masters of Branding in their class of 2017, solidifying their place among the industry elite. February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 23
ShopProfile With new recognition becomes new pressure and higher expectations. After growing quickly in a short period of time and achieving lofty goals, Chad set out to collect other industry certifications. The heightened expectations and new pressure caused him to almost wash out on the first station of his Avery Dennison certification test with Justin Pate. He received the minimum passing score from Justin, but managed to rebound for the rest of the test, ultimately achieving an overall solid passing grade. The same pressures would haunt him at his Orafol test several months later, but he passed with a solid overall score in the second ever Orafol class ever offered at Shadow Graphics (another MoB shop in Indianapolis). Later in 2019, Get Graphic would be invited to the pilot training for Arlon. They would attend Arlon’s first ever live training and certification, making them one of a handful of installers worldwide certified by all 4 industry-leading manufacturers. This level of certification led to a new wave of growth in the field of wraps and graphic installations. After being contacted and completing countless local installs and large print producers from all over the world, Get Graphic got its next big break in late 2019 by simply being in the right place at the right time. The Get Graphic team encountered 2 individuals while on an install attempting to install a piece of vinyl that was above the 2 gentlemen’s graphic skill set. Carefully and tactfully they approached the situation and offering a hand. The gentlemen turned out not to be graphics installers, but representatives of 24 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
a firm representing a global retailer in need of printing and installation services nationwide. The piece of vinyl they were struggling with was an element left off of the scope Get Graphic was installing, and they thought they might be able to handle it themselves. After failing and the our team bailing them out, they were more than appreciative, and a new alliance was formed. As a result of that meeting Get Graphic grew 700% over 18 months, and completely shifted its focus, to mainly printing and installing adhesivebacked graphics. During the last half of 2021 and the first half of 2022, The Get Graphic team completed massive projects in over half of the US and has continued to install and add more since. To keep up with demand, equipment has been added and upgraded to streamline production and maximize efficiency. However, they struggled to manage the increased volume within the same footprint in the location they have operated since 2011. In 2022, Jennifer, being the rock of daily operations, production, and design, while navigating everything outlined above was recognized as one of seven recipients in the Women of Wide Format Awards at the Printing United Trade Show in Las Vegas. In 2023, Get Graphic started to completely shift its focus, and is currently in the final stages of completion on a new, design-built facility. This will allow them to grow in the market as a nationwide print provider. Moving into their new facility in early 2024 will allow them to solely focus on Environmental and
Get Graphic’s new facility under construction
Fleet Branding packages for large companies in need of consistent branding across multiple geographic locations. Their current facility will maintain its wide variety of services under a new name, separate from Get Graphic, and will keep serving local customers with the same high standard for excellence. This collaboration will transition to new management with minimal impact on the existing customer base. They also have a new website set to launch in conjunction with their move to the new facility, highlighting this new focus. A rebranded version of the existing online presence will continue to represent the current location, now with an even more expanded
offering of general sign and electrical services. The Get Graphic team continues their pursuit of the highest industry standards on a daily basis. In 2023, Get Graphic was invited to the FlexiShield Pilot for their training which Chad attended, adding another Industry Certification. He also added KPMF as a certification in 2023 and was appointed to the board of directors of Masters of Branding. Furthermore, Get Graphic through a partnership with Avery Dennison recently collaborated to bring a first-ever training and certification class to The State of Arkansas which will take place at their new facility in October 2024. Get Graphic and their team are in a constant pursuit of excellence February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 25
ShopProfile
Jennifer sitting on Get Graphic company-owned Avalanche after being wrapped with her design adding pinup art with her resemblance on the bed cover.
and continually strive to raise the standard not only internally, but for the entire industry. They will be fun to follow and are an organization to continue to watch as they grow and adapt to market trends in the coming years. There are three things that are most important in business, which have consistently guided Get Graphic throughout their industry journey: 1. Attack problems head-on. Avoiding a situation or a customer due to the fear of difficult conversations only worsens the situation. Unaddressed, it will snowball. Confronting 26 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
problems directly, owning up to mistakes, being willing to correct them, and standing ground when faced with unreasonable opposition, garners respect in both business and life. 2. Work for the job you want, not the job you have. You never know where the opportunity will come from. A tireless work ethic, a constant pursuit for improvement, punctuality, accountability, and the willingness to go beyond what’s expected will 100% of the time get you to your goals. They may not happen on your schedule, but it will get you there. The luckiest people work the hardest, and are the best prepared to capitalize on an opportunity when it comes along. 3. Stay humble. The best and most decorated installers in this industry all think their next wrap will be better than their last one. They may not tell you that, and they probably won’t tell their customer that, but they can tell you a dozen things about every project they wish they would’ve done better. If you’re the guy who thinks your install is perfect, and your skills are better than everyone else, you are behind before you even start, and you will never catch up unless you change your way of thought. From its inception in the back room of a house to becoming a key player in the graphics industry, Get Graphic’s journey is a testament to perseverance, innovation, and adaptability. Their relentless pursuit of excellence, combined with an understanding of market trends and customer needs, has positioned Get Graphic as a dynamic force in the industry.
How To Responsibly Scale Your Business Into New Markets or Industries. Group Coaching Industry Forum Networking and Community With the WrapIQ Membership, industry leaders like yourself, band together to navigate the latest industry news and developments. Unpack and learn to overcome the top issues facing the skilled trades and the business side of the adhesive backed industries. We provide continued education on things like: How to price your products and services to grow profits and stay competitive. What are the most effective ways to market your business and attract new customers We share our best practices. What works for us and what hasn’t!
Revolutionize Your Business
By Joining The WrapIQ Membership Today At:
February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 27
TNT (Tips n’ Tricks)
Smooth Wall vs Rough Wall Choosing the Proper Materials by Jay Kroll ack in December, I met with a sign shop owner and his installer on site down in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to try to troubleshoot why a wall mural with a material they’d used consistently for over a year was failing at the upper edges on just one particular install. The notes and conversation back and forth beforehand pointed to all of the rules being followed—cured paint, proper ICC profile, and a smooth surface. The same roll of material was used for two other murals that didn’t have any issues, and while that’s not definitive, it left enough doubt that the complaint needed more investigation. Nothing out of the ordinary, no clear source for the issue, and a problem in need of a solution. As you picture it, what are the initial questions you would ask? Maybe you’d want to know about their technique for surface preparation. Was it really hot/cold when they installed it? Was there anything crazy about the paint they used, whether the type or the age of the paint job? What tools did they use? What about the condition of the wall? There are so many variants of “smooth” when it comes to walls that they really have to be approached individually with an eye for obstacles and complications that could negatively impact your installation. 28 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
I have said many times that the Print and Wrap community has some of the most tenacious, gifted problem solvers, needing to understand and juggle everything from color management to carpentry, electrical engineering to ICC Profiles, and having expertise in all types of materials and substrates. Every once in a while it’s good to step back and think about the basics of film, adhesive, and liner and how they relate to common wall surface types. Then we can think about how best to adjust the various pieces and parts to ensure success on every graphic installation.
Smooth Drywall A common misconception is that smooth drywall is perfectly smooth, but look closer and you’ll see a series of small bumps in the surface that can be a challenge for some adhesive films. Drywall/sheetrock has a natural fiber texture, morphing from its basic paper base when finished with a range of paint types, roller nap thickness, and a specific finish. That uniform texture can provide a consistent substrate for most adhesives, but the specific adhesive formulation and film selection is critical in this situation. A film that is too rigid paired with a thin adhesive layer, or a thin film with a glue that is too gentle can fail if it doesn’t have a high enough bond with the surface. If the adhesive is too aggressive, repositioning panels becomes impossible, and you can count on pulling paint when it’s time to remove the
February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 29
TNT (Tips n’ Tricks)
graphic. There is a delicate balance to keep when gauging tack, bond, film type, and so on, and every wall is going to have its own story. Create habits where you ask good questions, create a checklist for site visits, and test and practice with the various material options and tools.
Paint Types The paint sheen used helps set the tone for the space but also adds a variable to the mix when paired with an adhesive wall vinyl. Flat paint offers a low-sheen, non-reflective surface, but also creates a lower surface energy contact point for your adhesive. This microtexture presents a challenge for adhesive bonding that is made worse by the introduction of low and zero-VOC paints which have a tendency to outgas their curing agents over a longer period of time. Flat paint can require a higher initial tack adhesive to allow the material to grip and hold as the bond grows over time. Eggshell or Semi-Gloss paints inherently have a little more shine, and that smoother, harder surface finish makes an ideal application surface for wall graphics. I would also add that it is critical for clean removal to make sure that the wall has been primed before painting, in a separate step. This seals the drywall paper and any loose particulate or joint compound and creates a platform for optimal paint adhesion. Failure to prime the wall will lead to failures when it’s time to remove the graphic.
Stucco/Textured Walls
Stucco or textured walls introduce 30 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
irregularities, requiring materials with extra conformability and adhesives that are designed to hold on intricate surface variations. A cast vinyl or ultra-conformable calendered material is going to be best, but don’t go running for your standard wrap material as a slideable permanent adhesive might not be the best option here. Stickers applied to these surfaces have to navigate the peaks and valleys, so yes, cast vinyl is great, but these walls typically require something more high-tack to stick and hold in those nooks and crannies.
Sealed Concrete/Cinder Block These surfaces essentially have their pores sealed, ideally with a semi-gloss or better paint, and provide a smoother, hard surface for applying graphics. Adhesives designed for these substrates still need to have high tack and strong bonding characteristics, and the films should have excellent flexibility and conformability to adhere to the variable surface.
Adjusting for Environment The materials we use can be standardized a bit, incorporating what we know about films and adhesives to identify a few go-to solutions. Let’s take our opening install: it turned out that not only was the wall not actually smooth, but the textured surface had been quickly repainted with large defects and drips that messed up the contact between the adhesive and the wall. We know that when walls have a texture to them, either our film, adhesive or both are
going to need to be able to conform to the peaks and valleys of the wall. Textured walls will be best served with a full polymeric vinyl— either calendered or cast—as this will give the best conformability, flexibility, and the least amount of shrinkage of the available options. The adhesive can be either a solvent-based or water-based acrylic adhesive. Water-based adhesives use (surprise!) water in their chemistry as a way to deliver the glue to the liner in the coating process. If you’ve ever wet applied a clear decal to a window and noticed a chalky haze that
AUTOMARK
dissipates after a while, that vinyl incorporated a water-based adhesive, and that effect was caused by the water reacting with the adhesive. It can be temporary like on a window where that water is squeezed out and dried, but if it can creep behind the vinyl on a textured or porous surface, the water mix can compromise the adhesive bond. With a solvent-based adhesive, water was never part of the mix and it will generally not be affected by contact with moisture. Of course, this doesn’t mean that the substrate isn’t impacted by the presence of water like with unsealed concrete
METROMARK
SUBMARK
CHALKMARK
MOTOMARK
TRANSMARK
ERASEMARK
OPTIMARK
WINDOWMARK
TM
®
TM
TM
®
TM
TM
TM
TM
ROUGHMARK
TM
Make your
WALLMARK
®
GF 229HTR WallMark® Canvas Photo Courtesy VC Print & Signs
February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 31
TNT (Tips n’ Tricks)
32 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
or brick applications, but that would be disruption between layers (adhesion) versus compromise or breakdown of the adhesive layer (cohesion). Indoor smooth walls in controlled environments are generally a perfect place to use a monomeric or intermediate film and a water-based adhesive. Be sure to consider the initial tack of the adhesive, immediate and long-term repositionability and removability, and even whether the vinyl can be reused in different locations like with some microsphere beaded adhesives. When we talk about the various options, I can’t recommend enough getting your hands on a few different material options to play around, and get a feel for their strengths and weaknesses—it will pay off in the long run, and expand your expertise in this area. Whether the installation is indoors and you’re making sure the paint is cured and clean, or outside where it may require pressure washing and a wire brush, surface preparation is key. In either case, it’s critical to ensure your surface is free of loose debris, significant moisture, or contaminants like grease or dust. The way you install may vary, and it’s important to test and practice with your chosen materials and tools to hone your technique. Whether top to bottom or left to right, overlapping panels or butted together, you should explore both what the material is capable of and best suited for, as well as what you are most comfortable with for the type of jobs you choose to do. Textured walls and even some ‘smooth’ walls need the help of some heat
and a foam roller tool that will allow the film to contour to the surface. You might use a felt squeegee to do the initial set of the graphic, but that only makes contact with the high points of the wall. The vinyl and adhesive need pressure at all points to really work it into the surface. Every manufacturer and material is going to have its own recommendations for application temperatures, cleaning and maintenance, durability, and removability. As the multitalented print guru that you undoubtedly are, you also know that the manufacturer’s Technical Data Sheets are your go-to location for the details on the specific wall vinyl or fabric. When assembling a job, consider printing out a copy of the associated material documentation to go along with your job packet, and jot down the helpful details like the corresponding lot number in case you need to refer back to it in the future. You can also create a site visit checklist where the customer signs off on things like the wall condition, paint age, temperature, warranty details, etc… Details like these are helpful for ensuring a successful installation, but it is also nice to have the extra layer of documentation in the event something goes awry. Speaking of warranties, your material warranty will vary by manufacturer as well and may be tied to full or partial replacement of the rolls used. While not typical, it could also cover additional elements like ink or labor, shipping or installation. However, what you warranty or cover is important to consider as well. Do you guarantee clean removal, and what does that February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 33
TNT (Tips n’ Tricks)
mean? One major vinyl manufacturer has a ‘clean removal’ tolerance that allows for up to 5-10% of the adhesive to remain on the application surface! Do you warranty the condition of the underlying drywall or paint? Does your bid cover both installation and removal? Are any of these things contingent on your team doing the installation? All of these additions should be factored into your price as well, building in a little insurance for those unexpected complications. Knowing what to charge on any job is that 34 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
fun guessing game of how much is too much without being not enough…it is not uncommon for a wall mural job to be the cost of materials and print x10, so a material and print cost of $1/ SF for a 8’x10’ wall equates to a $800 job for print and installation with roughly $80 in costs. Time, travel, and installation will factor into that, but with a team of 2 and a well-prepared installation area, that job should be doable in about 30 minutes from setup to completion. This is obviously a loose calculation and the
same job will be different if it’s in a residential versus commercial setting, or maybe it’s retail or a multi-location repeating piece. These are the elements of your operation that are impossible to know from this side of the screen, and ultimately you will need to determine what is best for your particular situation. The print industry is ever-changing with new materials and applications, substrates and solutions. However, the constant in the midst of that is you, your relationship with your clients, and your particular expertise that keeps them
coming back. I hope this has been a helpful dialogue to facilitate some curiosity and spark some ideas to move you along on a path of growth and success with your business.
Jay Kroll Jkroll@generalformulations.com Product Manager (Cut & Craft Films, Wall Graphics and Transit Media), General Formulations
Sell it. Design it. wrap it. Pricing & Marketing Design & Scaling Hands-On Wrapping Register for class today. Limited seats available.
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Four days. 32 hours. 1,920 minutes. For a lifetime of knowledge. February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 35
The Shop
The Art of Laminating Mastering the Final Touch in Graphics Production By Adam Sumner Whether you have just made the venture into the Wraps industry or you are a seasoned pro. Each shop around the globe has one common goal: print the best, most vibrant graphics you can and the fastest speed possible. I talked last month about printers and how to choose the right one because that’s what people love. For years we have seen so many advancements in printer technology. And next year something amazing will come out, I’m sure. Some new ink set, some advancement that will allow you to move from printer to lamination faster. Because the goal of the printer manufacturer is to get you to buy ink. The money for them is in the consumables. And in 3 years time that topof-the-line printer you just purchased will be replaced with the new model that will leave you feeling left out like the kid on the kickball field. However in the back corner of every shop or trade show floor is the black sheep of the family, the laminator. It quietly sits there not making a sound and gets passed up and not even thought about by the majority of shops. Why, because from the first laminator to the current modern laminators very little has changed. Moving from hand lamination to adding motors, and now the addition of heat-assisted 36 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
rollers the advancements in lamination are not as visible as they are in the printer space. In my opinion, lamination is hands down the most important step of the process. And it happens to be the one machine that if maintained correctly does not need to be replaced. In fact, the only time I ever needed to buy a new laminator was because of my own mistakes. The first laminator that I replaced was a royal sovereign. It was not broken and was working just fine when we got rid of it, I just made the mistake and punched a 54-inch laminator to match the size of my printer at the time. When my printer went down and needed to be replaced we upgraded the size to a 64-inch machine and needed a laminator to match our production capabilities. We replaced the Royal with a GBC Spire 3 laminator in 2010 and it’s still running every day. We then added an additional CWT galaxy laminator just to help increase workflow. Both machines are currently used each day. This article is about the art of laminating not what machine is right for you or what machine is the best on the market. This article is about understating how lamination can affect the final installed product. And in order to do that we need to understand exactly what is happening to the film when we laminate. We can break it up into four categories: pressure, tension, heat, and speed.
Image generated by DALL·E 2024
Pressure The pressure of the Nip rollers can affect the material in a few ways. First to little pressure will not allow the adhesive to bond correctly it can lead to “silvering” or microscopic bubbles trapped in between the lamination and print film leaving you with a hazy finished product,
as well as increasing the likelihood of the lamination lifting off the material once it’s applied, especially in reassessed areas. So the answer is to put on the maximum pressure you can. WRONG!!! Adding too much pressure can actually cause the material to slip on the liner and if you are using a material with air release February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 37
The Shop
or slidablilty feature. Too much pressure can result in crushing those features and making the installation difficult. Depending on your laminator you’re aiming for a medium to high pressure. We take ours till it’s at 70-80% of the max pressure depending on the laminate.
Tention This one is by far the most important. Understanding what the effects of adding tension to the laminate output shaft can have on your material is key. How many times have you run your prints through the laminator just to come back in the morning and you can’t seem to get 38 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
them to unroll from itself? How many times have you come back to that wall graphic you installed just to see the edges of the material curling off the wall? Many times we automatically assume it’s an adhesive issue or a material issue. As that may be the case the argument could also be that it in fact is a production issue with how the laminate was applied. When I first started producing my own graphics the laminator was always that one piece of equipment that could take a perfectly smooth relaxing day at work and turn it into WW4. I found that if I just cranked down on the brake tension and made that laminate super tight I had fewer problems with the material walking on me and not getting waves in the laminate. It wasn’t until some time later that I really decided to dissect what was happening to my film through each phase of production. I ran a test and printed some 1-inch stripes on the top of my laminate on both a calendar and cast laminate. (Yes, I know you’re not supposed to do that but hey, SCIENCE). I then loaded it up on the laminator and fed some film through. I found that when I added tension to my laminate roll on cast film I could see about a 5-7% stretch on my laminate for cast and about a 3-5% stretch on my calendered laminate. So what is the big deal with a little stretch? Well if I am going to be paying top dollar for my vehicle wrap print and laminate to be able to stretch my film by 30% I want to make sure that in the process of production, I am not adding pre-stretch to my film. As well as understanding
if that one edge that is lining on the flat edge of the door is because I didn’t post-heat that edge down. Even though I did not stretch the film in that area when I was installing. The laminate could have a bit of stretch and it’s a good idea to postheat my edge to make sure that it stays down.
Heat You know when manufacturers put out product bulletins only nerds read them well I’m that nerd. 3M specifically recommends bottom heat not top heat for lamination the reason being “TO NOT STRETCH THE LAMINATE DURING THE LAMINATION PROCESS”. Avery mentions both top and bottom heat however does not specify which one they recommend. Our one laminator is top and bottom heat assist and the other is Top only. For the most part, we stay away from heat and if we do use heat it is for one of two reasons either the graphic getting installed immediately after lamination. Or we are working with a matte finish laminate that we have had issues in the past with silvering, especially those super matte laminates.
Speed This one is the difficult one. Each film and laminate combo likes different things. As well as speed also depends on the diameter of the nip rollers the larger the roller the faster you will be able to run and keep things straight. If you have smaller nip rollers like 2-3 inch rollers you are going to have to run a bit slower to keep things rolling straight.
The slower you run the machine the more time that the Nip rollers will have contact with the material and laminate giving you a better bond and visual appearance in the film. The faster you run the machine you can increase the likelihood of the silvering effect, especially on matte finishes. We typically start slow and adjust the speed up as the roll is moving through the machine. We look for silvering and any waves in the laminate coming over the rollers before it is applied and adjust the speed as high as we can go as long as everything is looking good, if we notice anything we back the speed down a bit and leave it as the max for that film and laminate combination. Hopefully, this article helps you better understand what effects lamination can have on your material. Remember each laminator is different, that is why this is not a guide on how to laminate correctly, more of just a guideline of what to think about when you’re finishing that amazing print. Spend the time to set your machine up and double-check that everything is square before you start. Dial in your pressure for the laminate you’re using. And once it’s running try to release all pressure from the laminate spindle. Make sure you’re limiting how much stretch you’re putting on your film. Adam Sumner Adam@wrapixacademy.com Owner, Wrapix Academy Owner, Wrapix Imaging 3M Authorized Trainer
February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 39
The
Centerfold
Cannonball
Run
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By Kevin Kempf - PG NOLA February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 41
The
Centerfold
Cannonball
Run
P
G NOLA™ once again created two full custom wraps for our great friends at G. Smith Motorsports for the 2023 Cannonball Run. We have been doing wraps for this client for the past four or five years, creating some iconic wraps for PG NOLA™. Some have even gone viral on social media. Two of these were the “Because MERICA” & “Mardi Gras Mambo
42 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
Combo” Supercharged C7 Callaway Corvettes. Well, this year our clients didn’t disappoint, bringing us the #15 & #17 2023 Yenko Camaros, dyno’d at 1256HP. These things are BEASTS!!! Kevin “Professa” Kempf designed the wraps based on a previous one done for the Smith brothers, adding a bit of flair so they stand out, yet fit with the previous wrap also participating in the rally. The other February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 43
The
Centerfold
Cannonball
Run
44 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 45
The
Centerfold
Cannonball
Run
46 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
Cars before wrapped.
Cars engines
wrap was for a 2023 Peterbilt Model 389 with a custom-built Competition Brand double-decker trailer, featuring a two-level lift gate. Professa did what he does best, tying the new Yenkos and the previously wrapped truck and trailer together so they all flowed, yet each had its own character. All Avery Dennison products were used
for this year’s Cannonball Run wraps. PG NOLA™ printed onto Avery’s Conform Chrome, 1105EZRS, as well as their V4000 EZ RS reflective film. All three were then laminated using their 1360 Max Gloss optically clear overlaminate. Everything was printed on an HP 365 Latex.
February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 47
The Inside Scoop
Choosing the Right Laminate for the Job Every Vinyl has its Lam By Kyle Payne, Hexis here are many times when
my experience, this requires educating your
you’ll find yourself jumping
customer with some hard truths, and taking the
through hoops attempting
time to provide that education can help protect
to make a project fit your
your business when the customer comes back
client’s parameters, especially
with issues after negotiating the lowest possible
their budget. Too many
price against your recommendations. Having
times this involves stripping
a plethora of information at your disposal also
down the options to the
helps you make those recommendations instantly,
bare minimum, reducing
which exudes confidence in your client and
the quality of the material
softens the blow, which I’ve noticed, helps land
from cast to calendared,
the sale in the end one way or another. One area
skipping the air-release in favor of a slower,
I’ve noticed that doesn’t get the same attention
more arduous install, or using unlaminated
in education is how to incorporate laminates
prints because “the prints will still look the
beyond their basic intention to protect a print.
same, right?”. Other times, you may have to
Typically, laminates are composed of the
inform a client that certain options just aren’t
same basic components as other wrap vinyl
possible; sorry, that style isn’t produced, so
except for pigmentation so that they remain
your project just can’t be done that way.
optically clear. They are available in calendered
Before my tenure at HEXIS, I’ve plied my
and cast options with various basic finishes
trade with a few print and sign shops over the
including matte, satin, and gloss. Some are
past decade that catered to a range of markets
produced to be eco-friendly by being PVC-
including local small businesses, individual
free, and some even have special textures built
personal projects, startups, corporate events,
into the surface to add dimensional effects
architectural firms, and everything in between.
or add a slip-resistant quality for floor wraps.
In that time, I’ve dealt with clients at every
Many installers overlook the fact that while
experience level and budget; no client likes
laminates are designed around print projects,
hearing what they need to do if it isn’t already in
they have a wider pool of application options
their own plans. However, the client is coming
including standard sign vinyl and full-wrap films.
to you, the professional, to handle their projects
These are some of the tips and techniques
and solve their problems before they arise. In
that are taught during HEXIS training courses.
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Printable Cast Vinyl on BMW with Matte laminate. February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 49
The Inside Scoop
Top: Laminatior Top Left: Above: Printable Cast Vinyl car wrap with matte laminate Left: Business Wall Wrap with Gloss Laminate Above, right: Interior Home Wall Wrap Laminated with PC Wall textured laminate. 50 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
Certain colors that a client is determined to
Aside from the basic protections, laminates
use may only be available in a gloss finish, but
also offer better handling of the vinyl during
they really want a matte look for their design
installation and removal by adding extra thickness
because it will photograph better or simply
allowing for easier grasping and stretching of
fit their vision. Instead of informing the client
the material as well as reducing the vinyl’s ability
that it isn’t an available option, let them know
to tear apart. No one enjoys fighting with their
you can provide that desired finish. Just in the
vinyl attempting to get the perfect distribution
past year, I’ve produced multiple special satin
of force so it doesn’t tear during an install,
and matte finish variants of gloss-only cast
adding a laminate won’t stop the tear from ever
wrap options for special clients; yes, this is an
happening, but it’s a major stress relief knowing
added cost, but rather than say no outright,
how much extra workability it can add especially
you can give the client options and, maybe, a
to a 2 mil film. Just because latex and UV inks
gloss finish at the lower price doesn’t seem so
have inherent weather-resistant qualities, don’t
outrageous and you’ve landed the project.
be afraid to apply a laminate to the print to make
I’ve also dealt with some very specific
the installation less painful while also maximizing
design parameters in the past where the client
the print’s durability. And because a laminate
is adamant that the prints applied to their
can allow for easier and cleaner removal of the
interiors need to look real. They need a marble
vinyl, you can use this as another selling point to
tile finish on their counters or grained leather on
convince those particularly difficult customers of
their vehicle’s dash and console. Even with the
its cost-benefit when labor needs to be calculated
highest quality images, the human eye can still
down the road for changing out their wrap.
pick up on signs that some qualities just don’t
Innovation is key to expanding the
look right, and the illusion of the print is nearly
world of wraps. Being aware of and providing
always broken when someone touches the print’s
novel solutions and options sells you as a
surface; it just never feels real. But with the
knowledgeable, trustworthy installer. Laminates
right laminate, you can sell that illusion. There
not only maximize the lifespan of a wrap but
are special textured laminates on the market
open new possibilities in design and application.
like those in the HEX’PERIENCE line that can
Don’t neglect your lam.
add wood grain or stone texture effects among others; these laminates produce natural highlights and cast real shadows that complete the illusion of the underlying prints. They’re not limited to printed materials either; you can add a grained
Kyle Payne kyle.payne@hexisgroup.com Senior Graphic Designer, Hexis
leather or alligator skin texture to solid colors to create subtle, believable wrapped surfaces. February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 51
Design Studio
The Evolution of an Artist in the World of Vehicle Wraps y artistic journey unfolded from
School for Automotive Repair. I even took a
a childhood love for art. Despite
detour into 3D Animation and chased a College
facing resistance from my
degree in Psychology.
family, who guided me towards
10 years ago, while pursuing 3D Animation,
a military career, I navigated
I discovered a profound truth: success in the
through various paths—from Air
industry wasn’t just about skills but also about
Force Weapon Technician to attending Trade 52 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
connections. This realization led me to my now-
By Christina McKay
Project Name: Blood Lust Client: Mitchell Bram Vehicle: 2019 BMW M5 F90 Installers: Diamond Graphics Project Scope: Create artwork for 3 of Dracula’s Brides: Queen Bride (Bonnet), Gypsy Bride (Driver) and Warrior Bride (Passenger).
husband, a talented 3D Effects Artist working in Hollywood Film. His encouragement ignited a spark, urging me to follow my true passion – combining art with automotive. Embracing this newfound direction, I embarked on a transformative journey, melding my artistic flair with the dynamic world of automotive design.
Discovering Vinyl Wraps: A Turning Point The breakthrough came when I stumbled upon the world of vinyl wraps. Intrigued by the idea of applying art like a sticker, I envisioned a way to merge my love for automotive and art seamlessly. However, entering this February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 53
Design Studio
Created using 3D models, these Vampire Brides are posed and shaped according to the client’s wishes.
Taken during the creative process, offering behind-the-scenes insights. 54 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
unknown territory required learning the ropes, starting at the bottom, and finding a mentor who believed in my potential.
Final artwork: Queen Bride (Bonnet)
Lessons from the Shop Floor: The first wrap company that took a chance on me not only taught me the intricacies of design but also imparted invaluable lessons about the business side of things. A strict yet nurturing environment fueled my growth, laying the foundation for what would become my venture. Working in different shops exposed me to varied approaches in the industry. Each experience shaped my perspective, emphasizing that there’s no one-size-fits-all method. My artistic perfectionism faced challenges in a fastpaced shop atmosphere, but overcoming this struggle fueled my confidence and determination. I learned that success in this dynamic industry goes beyond expertise; it’s about recognizing the unstoppable force within oneself. My message to aspiring artists echoes this sentiment: dedicate yourself to the craft, embrace the learning curve, and unveil the strength that lies within.
Curvaceous Wraps: A Vision Realized As I founded Curvaceous Wraps, my aim was clear—to create custom-made artwork surpassing the offerings of traditional wrap shops. Charging the right rates for intricate, high-style designs became imperative. Having a blend of expertise in vinyl, vehicles, art, and 3D, I created a niche that sets me apart. To those aspiring to tread this path, I affirm that it’s an achievable feat, but it demands dedication and hard work.
My Design Process: Creating each design begins with the spark of a client’s idea—a desire for something truly special, tailored to their vision. I like to draw parallels to a tattoo artist, where instead of inking skin, I use a vehicle as my canvas. Transforming a car into a work of art presents challenges, akin to tattooing on a dynamic surface. The art must conform to the curves and contours, bending, warping, and flowing with the vehicle’s shape to avoid appearing flat. It’s a delicate balance, much like the skill required to tattoo an arm or leg. February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 55
Design Studio Final artwork: Warrior Bride (Passenger)
Final artwork: Gypsy Bride (Driver)
Work Environment: Currently, I’m operating independently. I’ve established my own office—a creative sanctuary that I affectionately call my ‘girl boss’ cave. It’s my own space, and I love it, but sometimes I miss the collaborative atmosphere of a shop setting and being around colleges. Working for oneself demands a distinct 56 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
discipline, yet there’s a unique value in constant learning through interactions with others.
Tools and Equipment: I’m equipped with top-tier tools and technology, I invest in the best to ensure the efficiency and speed required for me to generate my intricate designs is possible. The nature of
my work does take time, but I’m always coming up with ways to work faster, just like any artist would if their aim is for profitability. Possessing the right tools is a must to achieve this—loads of RAM, I always say buying more space is always better than not having enough. Operating from a laptop won’t cut it because of the hefty files we deal with. On occasion, I find it beneficial to
work with two PCs concurrently. For my digital masterpieces, I swear by my Wacom Cintiq Tablet. So undoubtedly, powerful computers are an indispensable requirement in our profession. It should be the backbone of what I do.
Inspiration: Inspiration, for me, is looking at what other February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 57
Design Studio
artists are doing, often facilitated through social media. Daily, I jot down new artistic ideas, driven by a fear that time may outrun my ability to bring every concept to life. I don’t compare myself to other artists. Everyone has their unique style, and rather than comparisons, I focus on learning curves—ways to enhance art, make it stand out, and employ elements that captivate the viewer. Despite industry perceptions of time constraints, I’ve found a way to turn my passion into a profitable venture. The work I do isn’t just a job; it’s a manifestation of my love for the craft, and getting paid for this passion is the ultimate reward. 58 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
It Takes a Team: I’ve unearthed a fundamental truth – it takes a collaborative effort to craft something truly extraordinary. Creating stunning vehicle designs is a team effort. Working together with others has been key to making truly amazing things. Doing it all alone isn’t possible. Trust is also crucial. To achieve brilliance,
one must be a team player, giving it their best, even if it’s not perfect. You’re all in it together. Don’t throw others under the bus.
Client Happiness Matters: I feel that the heartbeat of this profession is undeniably the client. Their satisfaction is the true measure of success. Every project is an endeavor to ensure their happiness, crafting designs that resonate with their vision. As long as the clients find joy in the final result, the mission is accomplished.
Growing Like an Artist: I still cherish the analogy of an artist’s growth, much like a tattoo artist’s journey. Begin small, improve over time, and eventually become sought after. Each project serves as a stepping stone toward mastering the craft. Recognizing that I couldn’t handle everything on my own was a pivotal moment. Understanding it’s perfectly fine not to wear all the hats – learning and making mistakes is part of the process. The key is to grow through these experiences and emerge better at what you do. In essence, it’s all about teamwork, trust, dedication, making clients happy, growing
colors, and shapes – make their mark and let their unique style shine through.
like an artist, and knowing your limits in this
Remember that each project is a canvas
exciting and intricate world of vehicle design.
waiting to be transformed, and designs have the
Aspiring wrap designers and newcomers
power to captivate and leave a lasting impression.
should embrace creativity as their guiding force.
Embrace challenges with a can-do attitude,
The secret sauce is to let their imagination
because overcoming obstacles is how you’ll
run wild and break free from the usual
truly refine your craft. The road to becoming a
molds. They need to take every chance to
kickass wrap designer is paved with passion and
learn and play around with different styles,
innovation. Let loose, get creative, and go for it! February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 59
TNT (Tips n’ Tricks)
The Great Divide: Traditional Art vs AI Assisted Art - Part II Understanding and Managing “Perceived Value” By Dallas Fowler n this evolving art landscape, I want to talk about and give insight into the complex world of AI art vs traditional art pricing. It’s a common perception that digital art, seemingly created with just a few typed words, raises questions about its true value. What is the worth of an image that is created almost instantaneously? On the other hand, traditional art, born from a meticulous process involving sketching, inking, and coloring, is often seen as more valuable due to its conventional creation method. The real question then becomes: What is the true worth of art, and how should one approach pricing? This dilemma is important when comparing AI-generated art to art created in my current, more traditional style and craft. Determining the value of these different art forms requires careful consideration of various factors such as creativity, time investment, and the artist’s unique touch.
AI-Generated Art
Let’s dissect the process for each style of art. Imagine a customer approaches you and requests a piece of art, understanding that it can’t be copyrighted and is fine with it being AIgenerated. The process begins with brainstorming to understand their vision. If you have experience with AI art generation tools, you’ll know it’s challenging to initially define what the customer wants. Moreover, achieving consistent revisions while maintaining the same art style and subject matter after each prompt is a complex task. 60 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
“I realized the significance of exploring this art form when two particular clients visited me last month. One was from a chimney sweep company, well-versed in AI-generated art, and had even created his own images. When he showed me these AI-generated images, he asked if I could create something similar. He was aware of the copyright limitations with AI art but was interested in using it for a vehicle wrap design, integrating AI-generated elements. This raised an interesting question: Given my knowledge and skills in layout and design, should I charge for adapting an AI-generated image for commercial use? For a completely original mascot design, I’d normally charge between $800 to $2500, considering the unique creation from scratch. However, for AI-generated art, which he’s content with despite its non-copyrightable nature, I feel a fair value would be between $250 to $500. This price reflects the hours spent on prompting and tweaking the AI program for coding and diving into detailed descriptions. It’s a different skill set, but it involves a creative process that, while not producing one-of-a-kind art, still requires expertise and time.” “One major advantage of AI in art creation, I believe, lies in its ability to rapidly produce mood boards, textures, and themes. It excels in prototyping concepts swiftly, allowing for a quick evaluation of whether a certain direction is worth exploring. This rapid generation capability is invaluable for swiftly visualizing ideas and determining their potential.” The fun part for me simply is experimenting with a program like Mid Journey can be both cool and fun, especially when exploring diverse
Image generated by Mid Journey 2024
Which one is the AI warrior and which is the traditional warrior? Prompt: /imagine - create an image that represents AI art warrior versus traditional art warrior
themes like punk rock, cyberpunk, or even something whimsically goofy. It’s fascinating to see how the AI interprets these concepts. Often, it’s the humorous and unexpected results that make the process so enjoyable, showcasing the playful side of AI’s creative capabilities.
Traditional Art
Now, shifting focus to traditional, original art – its value is universally recognized across various industries. The appreciation for handcrafted one-of-a-kind pieces lies in the understanding of the time and effort invested from conception to completion. From the February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 61
TNT (Tips n’ Tricks)
Example of an image I used in Gigapixel to increase a low-resolution photo for a car show sign.
initial thought to sketching, processing, and finally, the finished product, each step adds to its unique value. As AI gains popularity and becomes more accessible to everyone, I believe this elevates the status of original and traditional art. In an era where AI-generated art is commonplace, the distinctiveness and personal touch of traditional art become even more precious and sought-after. As AI art becomes more prevalent, we may observe some clients opting for these ‘shortcut’ solutions, perceiving them as a cheaper and faster alternative to traditional art. They might undervalue the laborintensive process of traditional art, preferring AI-generated pieces that can be created quickly with enough prompting. This perception overlooks the fact that original art not only takes hours but potentially weeks to complete, highlighting the significantly longer turnaround times associated with traditional artistry. Additionally, there’s a parallel to be drawn with enthusiasts in other fields, like classic 62 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
car collectors or fine art connoisseurs. Their appreciation for craftsmanship, whether it’s in paintwork or a wrap, shares similarities with the art world. As we move forward, there will always be purists who value traditional art and shun computer-generated alternatives. This preference, I believe, only adds to the value and uniqueness of traditional art, creating an advantage for those of us dedicated to this craft.” The final takeaway regarding pricing in traditional art is straightforward. Those who truly respect art understand that it requires time to craft, develop, and fine-tune. This principle is mirrored in other industries, such as car wrapping. Consider the comparison: painting a classic car might cost between $20,000 to $30,000, whereas a car wrap could be around $5,000 to $7,000. This analogy is quite relevant to the discussion of AI versus traditional art. Similar tools and shortcuts are seen in various fields - auto-tune in music, printers for custom vinyl paint jobs in car wrapping, and now, coding
and prompting to create AI-generated art. Each of these represents a technological advancement that offers efficiency and cost-effectiveness, but perhaps at the expense of the traditional, handcrafted approach. This evolving landscape challenges us to reconsider the value we place on originality and the human touch in art. As AI art and related programs continue to evolve and gain popularity, so too do the laws protecting artists and the mechanics of these programs. The crucial question for me is how to use AI as a respectful tool that aids in idea generation without relying on it to produce art that I claim is solely my own creation. The most intriguing aspect of this discussion, and the reason I’ve brought it up for this magazine, is my personal journey as an artist. Known in the industry for designing vehicle wraps, and perhaps as ‘the cartoon guy’ or the creator of Wraptoons©, I have a deep respect for both traditional and AI art. My goal is to use AI respectfully as a tool, not just for my own artistic exploration, but also as a teaching aid for my designers. This approach helps them accomplish tasks more efficiently while still maintaining originality. I recognize and understand the different viewpoints in the ongoing debate about AI art. However, my focus is on the sheer joy and fascination of creating images with AI – it’s about having fun, sharing a laugh, or marveling at the intriguing results that emerge from a computer interpreting words into visual art.
B.F.O. – Blinding Flash of the Obvious
It’s worth noting that we already incorporate AI-assisted tools in our daily lives, often without fully realizing their implications. Take, for instance, a tool I’ve adopted over the past year – Gigapixel. It enables me to transform a low-resolution photo provided by a client into a much larger and more detailed image, sizes that were previously unmanageable. As
Gigapixel continues to evolve, it dawns on me, isn’t this essentially AI-assisted editing and image resolution scaling? It’s intriguing to think that such a tool is widely accepted and even necessary in certain scenarios. For example, how else could I enlarge a 12-inch photo to a staggering 55 inches for a car wrap design? Tools like Gigapixel are not just conveniences; they’re essential in bridging the gap between what’s available and what’s needed in creative projects. Isn’t Google’s search engine a form of AI?
Food for thought of hmmm…
Lastly, it’s both fascinating and slightly unnerving to witness the rapid advancements in AI art programs, such as the leap from Mid Journey 4 to 6. The capabilities of these newer versions are expanding at an astounding pace, while we as humans are still trying to master the earlier ones. As time progresses, it seems these AI systems might evolve faster than our ability to learn them. This leads to a curious and somewhat unsettling question: At what point might the AI realize that its human operator is the limiting factor in the creative process? Are we approaching a scenario reminiscent of the movie iRobot, where AI’s capabilities and autonomy challenge our traditional roles and perceptions? It’s a thought worth pondering as we continue to navigate this exciting yet uncharted territory of AI and art. Is there a conclusion? Let’s keep this topic going, see you next month. Hope this article got you thinking, thanks for reading it. Dallas Fowler Dallas@digitalefxwraps.com Co-Owner, Digital EFX Wraps LLC Creator, WrapToons
February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 63
WWF
Windows, Walls an
Entryway Beaver Creek Condo
A small treatment can make a big impression.
O
ne of our long-time Florida clients had a wrap project located at a ski resort in Beaver Creek Colorado. The condo was undergoing renovation for the upcoming season and the clients felt that something was missing. The entrance of the 64 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
By Jen & Steve Carney
condo opens to the master bedroom doorway. This was the area that needed a wow factor. They decided to bring the surrounding winter wonderland indoors. The wrap would be installed on the surrounding wall and door area of the master bedroom. The ski lodge is encompassed
nd Floors
3M IJ280 Cv4 Print Wrap Film 3M 85203 Matte Overlaminate Epson SureColor s80600 64” Solvent Printer by a serene scenery of snow-covered mountains and ski slopes that they wish to bring in. As a long-time client, they had confidence in Carbon Wrap’s ability to bring their ideas to life. We sat down together with the client and laid out the design. Without being able to get measurements onsite, we relied on the client’s
measurements, adding extra bleed to make up for any surprises. Design and production were completed in our Florida shop. All trimming, prep, and packaging were done prior to our flight. With tools and materials packed, we headed out from our cozy, sunny sixty-degree weather to fresh snow chills in one degree! February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 65
The Clear View
True or False? Top 5 Paint Protection Film Myths By Narayan Andrews ustomers walk into my shop every day looking for information on wraps and window tint, but so often they are opposed to the initial investment required to protect their vehicle with PPF. In reality, it’s one of the best investments a car owner can make. Not only can it keep the paint looking better but allows your vehicle to maintain its value longer because it keeps the exterior in better condition.
misconception we often debunk that deals with just how strong PPF actually is.
What is Paint Protection Film (PPF)?
#2 “PPF is only for luxury or high-end vehicles.”
Paint Protection Film, commonly known as PPF, is essentially a superhero cape for your car. It’s a thin layer of flexible material that we apply directly to your vehicle’s paint. Think of it as an invisible shield that helps keep your car looking as good as new. The real magic of PPF lies in its advanced technology. When we apply it, it forms a strong bond with your car’s paint, creating a seamless barrier. This barrier is tough against all sorts of enemies – from rock chips and road debris to bird droppings and tree sap. Plus, it’s got built-in UV protection, which means less fading and aging of paint over time. We will look at a few common misconceptions that people often bring up when discussing paint protection film for their vehicles. Usually, we get to educate the customer on the benefits of PPF but there is one common 66 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
#1 “PPF is indestructible.”
While PPF does have some self-healing ability with minor scratches, it can absolutely be gouged or torn by especially large rocks and debris at high speeds. Yes, PPF will still protect your paint under those circumstances and, ideally, the damage doesn’t go through to the paint but has on occasion. Typically though the PPF only has to be replaced and can save the vehicle owner the expense of repainting or replacing parts of their vehicle.
Paint protection film is a great fit for any vehicle and can be applied regardless of age, make, or model. It will protect the paint from debris on the roads, rock chips, and, in colder climates, the salt and deicer that is often applied to the roads in inclement weather. PPF is also not limited to vehicles but is great for protecting boats, RVs, motorcycles, countertops, and even appliances.
#3 “If I PPF my vehicle I won’t be able to run it through a quick car wash.”
Washing your car is no problem with PPF applied. The film will actually protect your paint from scratches that may result from harsh or dirty car wash brushes.
February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 67
#4 “I’m worried that over time the film what PPF does for the exterior. Ceramic coating doesn’t help prevent rocks chips or scratches the will yellow or look dingy.” The film will remain optically clear for the life of the warranty and most likely beyond with exceptional care. A typical warranty for gloss PPF runs about 10 years depending on the manufacturer. Paint protection film contains UV blockers that specifically prevent fading or yellowing so it will keep your car looking pristine for years to come.
#5 “Ceramic coating and PPF are the same thing.” Ceramic coating is a liquid applied to a vehicle with a sponge to keep the exterior of a vehicle clean and easier to maintain. While it is a beneficial product it doesn’t do a lot of 68 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
way paint protection film does. It also lacks the capability to self-heal with minor scratches. Paint protection film has come a very long way over the years but customers are still surprisingly uneducated about the benefits. When properly educated a shop owner will find that PPF appeals to most customers and can be tailored to fit just about any budget. Narayan Andrews Narayan@spectrumautollc.com Owner/Operator, Spectrum Auto •
Avery Dennison Certified PPF Trainer
•
Avery Dennison/3M/ORAFOL Certified Installer
February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 69
In the News
role in product launches and
recognition. For more in-
the BISSELL Pet Foundation.
formation, visit www.gen-
At General Formula-
eralformulations.com.
tions, Michelle will lead global marketing communications and brand strategy, focusing on the company’s growth and market presence. Tim Leavenworth, VP
General Formulations appoints Director of Marketing Communications
G
of Strategic Marketing & Business Development, is excited about Michelle’s fresh perspective and expertise. He anticipates her
eneral Formulations,
significant contributions
welcomes Michelle
to the company’s market-
LaPreze as the new Director of
ing and market positioning.
Marketing Communications.
Tim Leavenworth, VP
PPG launches paint film solutions for automotive and industrial customers
PPG
, in collabor-
With over 20 years of
of Strategic Marketing &
marketing experience,
Business Development, is
Michelle excels in brand
excited about Michelle’s
PPG Advanced Surface
building, strategy, media
fresh perspective and ex-
Technologies. This joint
relations, and design.
pertise. He anticipates her
venture aims to provide
significant contributions
innovative paint and clear
significant roles at BISSELL
to the company’s market-
film solutions to automotive
Homecare, Boy Scouts of
ing and market positioning.
and industrial customers.
Michelle’s career includes
America, and others. At BIS-
Michelle is eager to join
ation with
Entrotech, Inc., has launched
PPG holds a majority stake in
SELL, she led the in-house
General Formulations, known
this new venture, although
creative agency, guiding
for its quality products and
specific financial details
graphic design, copywriting,
service in the graphics in-
remain undisclosed.
and overall brand manage-
dustry, and looks forward to
ment. She played a crucial
enhancing its global brand
These paint films are multilayer applications, inContinued on page 80…
70 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
New
Products
D
iscover the latest in wrap industry innovations. Here, we feature cutting-edge tools, materials, and solutions designed to enhance your wrap projects. These new offerings come from leading manufacturers,
boasting advanced features and improved efficiencies. Explore these novel products to stay at the forefront of wrap technology and elevate your craft.
AutoGraph™: Bubble-Free Vehicle Graphic Installation Contra Vision® AutoGraph™, a
Launching a New Product or Innovation?
perforated window film that is specifically
Showcase it here in New Products
designed to make
This is your space to highlight the
installing vehicle graphics, and other overlaminated applications, faster and more efficient than ever. This
latest in industry advancements.
is achieved through the inclusion of air egress channels within the adhesive. These channels cross every perforation so when the perforated window film is overlaminated and applied to glass, any trapped air can be easily expelled through the network of channels resulting in a smooth and bubble-free application. Available in 60/40 and 50/50. For more info: Contra Vision website.
(303) 219-0827 ruggs@thewrapfam.com February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 71
Featured
Wraps
72 l WrapFam Unleashed l January 2024
January 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 73
In the News Continued from page 76…
cluding a layer made from
managers, craftsmen, and
paint, offering both envi-
installers worked tirelessly
ronmental benefits like re-
to ensure every vehicle was
duced energy consumption
ready for its public debut.
and new aesthetic possi-
“Our team is committed to
bilities. Initially focused on
ensuring fleet graphics are
automotive uses, the technology has potential for various industrial applications. Tim Knavish, PPG’s President and CEO, emphasized that this joint venture will accelerate the commercialization of their paint films products. He highlighted the products’ high performance and sustainability, noting the venture’s potential for rapid global expansion, aligning with PPG’s goals.
vehicles at its South Atlanta Sorting and Delivering Center (S&DC), in an event also attended by White House officials. The occasion was visually enhanced with USPS-branded fleet graphics provided by Lowen Color Graphics, the nation’s largest fleet graphics manufacturer. “In every neighborhood in America, people know their post carrier and recognize the USPS vehicle driving down their street,” said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation.
Lowen Color Graphics Plays Major Role in Launch of USPS Electric Vehicle Fleet
T
he United States Postal Service (USPS) recently
unveiled its first set of electric 74 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
the easy part of our custom-
With a short turnaround time to wrap 50 new electric vehicles, Lowen faced a daunting logistical challenge with high stakes. Demonstrating agility and a commitment to customer service, Lowen’s skilled team of project
er’s jobs,” said Tracy Metzger, Lowen President and Chief Operating Officer. “From concept to delivery, our customers know they can entrust our team with their brand image, and we honor that trust with precise execution of every detail in the project.” Lowen Installation Alliance is a network of skilled and certified installation professionals around the country, specializing in fleet and vehicle graphics.
Have news to share?
W
elcome to the Trainer Spotlight, where we highlight individual trainers. The spotlighted trainers are industry leaders with a wealth of knowledge to share, offering valuable tips, techniques,
and hands-on experiences that will empower you to excel in your wrap craft. Be sure to visit their websites for more info and training dates.
Adam Sumner
WRAPIX Academy Burbank, CA 91502 818-433-7548 Adam@wrapixacademy.com Wrapix Academy is the only west coast 3M Authorized training and testing facility. With over 6000 square feet our training facility is dedicated only to graphic installations. We offer 11 different hands on stations to build and refine skills. Whether you be new to the industry or a seasoned professional, our training classes can be adapted to fit any need.
Jamie Mullican School Of Wrap Nashville, TN 37210 (615) 646-3277 mully@schoolofwrap.com Located in the heart of the music city, School of Wrap is a 3M Authorized Training Facility offering 3 different certifications and training. As 3M Preferred Installer you will be recognized as among the best in the industry. Promote yourself and your business as a leader in installations and 3M will list and promote you as well. Our training will teach you the latest techniques and standards used in the industry.
YOUR SPOTLIGHT HERE
(303) 219-0827 ruggs@thewrapfam.com By Dallas Fowler February 2024 l WrapFam Unleashed l 75
Coming Next Month…
• Knowing Who to Upsell
• A Japanese Legend
• Understanding IP Law
• Race Team Wraps
Don’t miss an issue, subscribe now. @WrapFamUnleashed
76 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024