Charity Jackson

While we do work with matte and satin films on some of our vehicle wraps, a good majority of our wraps have a gloss finish. Whether it's a full color printed graphic with a high gloss overlaminate, or it's a color-change wrap with a gloss finish, we like the ease of working with gloss films.

In this article we'll talk a bit about selecting the right film for the job, including the overlaminate, as well as film options. I'll also cover some application tips and post-application care.

Film Selection

If you're doing a vehicle wrap it will typically be a full or partial wrap for a business with printed, full-color graphics; or it will be a color-change wrap using ready-to-install graphic films. Within those two main types of wraps you have a bevy of films to choose from.

For most of our full color printed wraps we use 3M IJ180Cv3, which on its own has a luster finish, but we overlaminate it with a gloss 3M 8548G. We previously used a gloss 3M 8518 overlaminate, but due to graphics failure on horizontal surfaces, caused by acid dew in our area, we switched to 8548 and have not had any additional issues. The 8548 laminate is a PVC-free, stretchable film designed to work with 3M's Envision vinyl.

There are specialty films—like perforated window vinyl and printable reflective—that you can laminate with a protective gloss overlaminate. This gives you flexible advertising over windows and at night while still maintaining that gloss finish. We use Clear Focus' ClassicVue Exterior Mount film with a gloss CurvaLam overlaminate. For our printable reflective wrap film we use 3M's Scotchlite Removable Reflective IJ680CR with Comply adhesive and pair this with the same gloss 3M 8548G that we use on our printable wraps.

Be sure to choose a laminate that coordinates with the vinyl material you're using. If it's a short-term wrap you can choose an intermediate laminate designed for an intermediate film. For all cast films use a coordinating cast laminate.

For color-change wraps we've used both 3M's 1080 series wrap films and Avery Dennison's SW900 Supreme Wrapping Film. These films come ready-to-install out of the box with a built-in layer of protection already on the vinyl.

Get Comfortable

While we don't do many bumper-to-bumper color-change wraps, we do wrap a lot of hoods, roofs, trunks, mirrors and other parts of vehicles to create a new look. From experience, the matte and satin films do require a bit of extra patience when applying to avoid creating shiny scratches in the finish while applying. The gloss films are fairly easy to work with. Application is also a bit quicker since there is less concern about the glossy scratches that we have to be so careful with on the matte films.

If you're not sure about doing full color change wraps you can always start with wrapping smaller parts of the car. Start with offering color change wraps on hoods, roofs and trunks until you're more comfortable working with the different films and then move onto wrapping larger sections, or the entire vehicle.

Application Heat

One of the most important tools in wrapping is heat. For digitally printed graphics with a gloss overlaminate we use both propane torches and heat guns during installation when we need to heat the graphics over rivets, around complex curves and into deep contours.

For color change wraps heat guns, not propane torches, should be used as they provide a more controlled heat source and won't cause surface damage when used within the proper temperature range. Be sure to take care when stretching these solid color films as over-heating and over-stretching can create thin areas in the film that will both lighten in color and can also split and fail.

It's important to read product bulletins for the specific vinyl you are using to find out the heat range the manufacturer recommends staying within. For example 3M specifically recommends a maximum film surface temperature of 212 degrees when working with their IJ180Cv3 vinyl to avoid damaging the graphic during installation. During the post-heat step 3M also recommends using a heat gun and keeping the post-heat temperature at a minimum of 200 degrees, maximum of 225 degrees.

Dealing with Scratches

On full color printed graphics scratches tend to blend in a bit more with the background images. But on solid color wraps even tiny scratches can become more obvious. Still, unless they are too deep, scratches can be removed.

Be sure to start your wrap with a fresh, felt-tipped edge squeegee. We use Geek Wrap's squeegees because we like the combination of a felt side and a hard edged side, as well as the durability of the squeegee itself. They also offer multiple sizes to meet different application situations.

Even with a fresh squeegee it seems that some scratches are inevitable. The great thing about high-gloss films is that a nice post-heat treatment typically removes all of these light surface scratches.

You can also take a look at different laminates to see what product features they list. For example, 3M Envision gloss wrap overlaminate 8548G, the same one we use on our wraps, notes “resists squeegee scratches” in their description. Choosing a film that helps prevent these scratches will save you time when finishing the wrap by reducing the time you spend heating.

A wipe down of the vehicle with a 2:1 mix of isopropyl alcohol and water can also remove surface scratches. Be sure to use a clean using a lint-free towel.

Post-Application

Customers choose a high gloss finish because the gloss enhances the look of their wrap. Without proper care, and just over time, the finish may dull due to abrasion, lack of proper washing and long-term UV exposure.

We have a Wrap Care Sheet that we give our customer's when they pick up their completed vehicle wrap. This gives the customer a run-down on washing, waxing, pressure-washing and other care tips for their new wrap. The recommendations we make will help prolong the gloss finish of their graphics.

There are also products on the market that you can specifically recommend to your customer if they want to add additional protection. Crystal Tek offers a wrap wash and polish kit that you can offer your customer.

3M also recommends their Perfect-it Show Car Paste Wax 39526 on their 1080 Gloss series wrap films. Mequiar's Gold Class Carnuba Plus Premium Liquid Wax is another product that will help bring back the gloss finish to a high gloss wrap application.