Vehicle Graphics Project of the Day: Wrap it Like a Rockstar

The perception persists that vehicle graphics only represent a viable advertising strategy in large, urban areas. However, Imagination Graphics’ (Coeur D’Alene, ID) vehicle-wraps division, IMGX Wraps, has consistently debunked that stereotype with its award-winning vehicle graphics (see ST, December 2008, page 88). Jeremy Deming, the company’s owner, said aggressive marketing and keeping abreast of market shifts loom large in selling wraps to small-market customers.

Salesmanship earned IMGX one such job when a sales rep for Rockstar energy drink told Deming the company wanted to deck out an RV in Rockstar’s signature black-and-gold regalia. IMGX’s graphic-design team prepared a presentation that included mounted samples. Impressed, the client granted “nearly free reign” to finalize the concept.

After having bathed the RV in isopropyl alcohol and removed all trim, lights, emblems and mirrors. Installers applied 3M Graphics Market Center’s Primer 94 to promote adhesion in areas where the wrap would endure extra wear. The shop produced the wrap using Arlon DPF 6000X air-egress film with its Seiko I Infotech — Americas ColorPainter 64S solvent-ink printer before applying Arlon’s 3220 crystal-finish overlaminate.

The RV’s corrugated side paneling and the large areas of window space, storage bays and equipment-access doors provided a challenging surface. Deming said, although they didn’t roll the film over the surface – often what Imagination does to install over corrugated RV surfaces — it required extra thought, preparation and effort to prevent excessive stretching or gapping.

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“Trim work on RVs requires extra patience,” Deming said. “We also apply clear caulk around the metal trim, access doors and other contoured surfaces to assure the vinyl will stay in place and look good.”

Because Rockstar wanted a passenger-side window to be functional for event promotions, IMGX trimmed the graphic down the window’s center to provide exterior exposure to a mounted, flat-panel TV inside. To keep an image inside the window when they remove the TV, they installed a UV-printed Fome-Cor® corrugated-foamboard image on double-sided Velcro adhesive strips.

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