Old Style Graphics

We’ve all seen the exponential growth of the wrap market, where well-designed graphics can transform a mundane surface into something fantastic. Wraps offer great opportunities for advertising and personal customization because almost anything can be wrapped, from motorcycles to cars, vans to big rigs, sidewalks and walls to buildings. The wrap provider’s creativity and ingenuity pose the only limitations.

Dave Leach has always been surrounded by larger-than-life, unique items. His father’s collection includes a 5,300-lb. anvil and one of the first, diesel-converted pickup trucks from 1965. Now, Dave was eager to have a world’s largest or most unique item for himself.

When a friend told Dave a giant beer can was up for auction on eBay, Dave jumped at the chance and acquired it. Dave brought the can home; it was black, mounted to a trailer and in pretty rough shape. Originally made from a steel drainpipe with fiberglass ends, the can measured 21 ft. long and 8 ft. in diameter.

He and a friend spent more than a year of their free time sanding, welding and buffing to prepare the can for decoration. After he completed the repair work, Dave clearcoated the can to protect it from the elements and provide a ready surface for decal application.

Graphic choices

Advertisement

When your family collects “world’s largest” items, where can you turn to create what you hope to be the largest beer can in the world? Paint it? No, wrap it! In this case, Leach contacted Road Rage Designs (Spring Grove, IL, and two satellite locations), which boasts more than 40 years of graphic experience and extensive vehicle-wrap knowledge, eagerly accepted the challenge.

Dave also called the G. Heileman Brewing Co. and explained his vision; Heilieman eagerly supported his dream and provided an ample artwork selection. Dave chose to replicate a ’70s-era, Heileman’s

Old Style beer can because it’s a Chicago tradition and his father’s beer of choice for many years.

Road Rage Designs manipulated the vector artwork to panel the design properly and make it closely fit the can. Rendering the graphics to provide an authentic look, and provide the greatest impact of the Old Style logo, presented a significant challenge. Using Adobe Illustrator® and Photoshop® software, Road Rage Designs generated a file that would create the most efficient print-panel output possible. Finally, they used Onyx® software to RIP the image for output on the shop’s Mimaki JV3-130 SP solvent-inkjet printer.

Material points

Printing commenced with a premium cast film with a repositionable and slideable, air-egress adhesive system. This material’s satin finish provided a great surface to obtain the Old Style label’s distinct red, gold and blue.

Advertisement

The printing, which required approximately eight hours to complete, ran smoothly. The images were allowed to sit loosely wound in roll form for roughly 24 hours. Loosening the roll’s tension allowed air to circulate around the images and ensured the solvents’ dissipation so no reaction would occur with the facestock or adhesive.

After the drying time, the material received a protective overlaminate. In this case, Road Rage Designs used a premium, high-gloss, clear, cast overlaminate to protect the graphics and provide a uniform, glossy finish. The added overlaminate thickness also adds more stability when handling the material.

Road Rage Designs installers minimized tension and applied smooth, steady pressure at the laminator’s nip. These steps ensured no added stress to the material and reduced the possibility of overlaminate shrinkage. In addition, the smooth, even pressure bonded the overlaminate securely to the graphic without silvering or lifting.

Finishing school

To remove any unprinted edges and ensure proper alignment, Road Rage moved the laminated graphics to the finishing department. The applicators prepped the can’s surface to avoid any contamination, with a standard, soap-and-water wash and a clean-water rinse and dry, followed by an isopropyl alcohol wipe, with immediate drying prior to the alcohol’s evaporation. This process ensured a clean surface for self-adhesive vinyl application.

Advertisement

After having positioned the graphics, the two-man crew removed the liner and pre-tacked the material. They made a slight adjustment by sliding the graphics with the offset feature, and then the final work was completed. Smooth, even squeegee strokes were essential, and any bubbles that remained were easily pressed out with the adhesive system’s air-egress feature.

A final inspection of the side graphics ensured bubbles, wrinkles or any other concerns were addressed prior to final pickup. In addition, the installers squeegeed the graphic again to ensure proper adhesion to the can. Making sure all edges laid flat and secure required particularly close attention.

To add a final, realistic touch, Road Rage Designs added a simulated “born-on” date and its name to the bottom of the can. Voila! Dave Leach now has the giant can of his dreams. He was thoroughly impressed with the speed, accuracy and final output. In a word, he described it as “phenomenal.”

He’s already taken the new can out for a spin, and he was amazed at its reception. “People can’t believe the authenticity, and want a picture of it or with it,” he said. The G. Heileman Brewery appreciates the final result as well.

Dave looks forward to parking in prominent spots around town and participating in parades or special events. He aspires to have it officially designated the World’s Largest Beer Can and has contacted the Guinness Book of World Records to have it documented. Good luck, Dave!

This may not have been the most difficult wrap for Road Rage Designs, but it was one of the most fun. The cooperation of everyone involved made the process easier, and the end product became more realistic thanks to this team approach. So, keep your eyes and mind open, because you may see the next wrap possibility – and the opportunity to gain another extremely satisfied customer.