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Practical Information

PSA Vinyl Interior Wall Graphic Printing & Appl ication TipsORAJET 3628, ORAJET 3268, ORAJET 3621

Wall graphics must be applied to a clean,

smooth, dry and non-porous interiorsurface. Freshly applied paint should beallowed to cure for a minimum of three fullweeks prior to wall graphic application.

Surface PreparationWhen preparing a wall for a graphic, it isimportant to understand that not all surfacesare suitable for vinyl film application. Wallgraphics can only successfully be applied tosurfaces that are clean, dry, smooth and non-porous. Any of the fol lowing condit ionscan cause poor adhesion or product

failure: Highly textured paint

Poor initial paint bond

Poorly painted wall edges

Patched areas that have not beenprimed

Moisture behind the drywall, whichcan cause the drywall paper torelease. Watch for walls that back upto cooling systems, water pipes,overhead windows and windows thathave been boarded up. These areasare prone to condensation that may

not be obvious at the time ofinstallation.

High humidity areas such as garages,entryways and bathrooms

Dust, dirt or other contaminants on thewall

Wallpaper or other wall covering thatis not securely bonded to the wall

Cuts made to the graphic during theinstallation process that penetrateboth film and substrate

Freshly painted walls that have nothad ample time to cure. Wall graphics

tend to bubble and release from thewall while paint is in the curingprocess.

If your wall is to be newly painted, the goal isto achieve a good bond between the substrateand the primer/paint. When applying theprimer, it is important to use a high quality, oil-based primer such as those available fromKilzor Zinsser. Once the primer is dry

apply two coats of a high quality Satin or

Semi-Gloss paint to ensure a cohesive bondbetween the paint and primer. For bestresults, avoid applying graphics to heavilytinted paints which have more than 1 oz of tintper gallon of paint. The surfactants andcolorants that make up darker paint colorstend to need longer periods to leach or outgas.Avoid matte finish latex paints and paints thatuse anti-graffiti agents. When applying thepaint, use a 3/8 nap roller cover to reducestippling.

Once the paint has had ample time to cure, itsimportant to clean the surface immediatelybefore applying the film. Dust and othercontaminants can collect quickly on the walland prevent the film from adhering properly.Wipe down the wall with a dry tack cloth or alint-free microfiber cloth to remove any dust,paying special attention to the walls edgesand corners.

Printing and LaminatingThere are three critical steps that need to befollowed when producing your wall graphics.

Use the correct color profiles. Checkfor the latest updates athttp://www.oracal.com/knowledge/icc-profiles.asp The profile willautomatically set the ink levels, heatersettings, resolution, and pass countnecessary to help ensure qualityprinting.

Prior to trimming or laminating it isvery important that the graphic sit for48 hours or more to allow the graphicto out-gas. Prints heavy in inksaturation need to cure & outgas forapproximately 72 hours. This iscrucial to ensure your wall graphics do

not start curling around the edges orlose adhesion altogether. Keep inmind that due to widely varyingproduction shop environments, curingtimes may vary widely. Always test thefinished product internally to ensureadequate adhesion before distributingthe graphic to the end-user.

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7/28/2019 Wall Graphic Application Tips 1

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Practical Information

PSA Vinyl Interior Wall Graphic Printing & Appl ication TipsORAJET 3628, ORAJET 3268, ORAJET 3621

Printing and Laminating (continued)

For best results on contour-cut wallgraphics, utili ze ORAJET 3268 6 milvinyl, and leave a to unprin ted white border all the wayaround to min imize potential edgecurl. Lamination is not required withthis product, but can be used foradditional protection where needed.

When choosing a laminate itsimportant to know what the lightingconditions are in the room. If there isan abundance of lighting you may

choose a matte laminate to reducereflections. For typical muralapplications, utilize ORAJ ET 3628media with ORAGUARD 200 mattelaminate.

InstallationWhen installing your graphic, always use a dryapplication method; under no circumstancesshould a wet application be used. Wallgraphics are installed using the sametechniques as any other installation.

Lay the graphic, image-side down, on a flatsurface and pull back the liner about 3 inches.Sharply crease the liner while holding it awayfrom the adhesive. Align the graphic on thewall and use finger pressure to tack in place.Using a squeegee, work from the center to theedge, then return to the center and work to theopposite edge. Use overlapping strokes whileapplying a small portion of the graphic at atime. If your graphic is made up of more thanone panel, avoid using horizontal seams whenpossible. When the entire graphic has beenapplied to the wall, re-squeegee the edges of

the graphic to ensure a good bond. (If thegraphic will come into contact with regularcleanings, such as mopping, soil removal, etc.,graphics should be sealed in those areas.This is especially important where the graphicis terminated at the floor. Use of a clearsilicone sealant along the edges of the graphicis recommended.)

Care & Maintenance

In order to maintain your wall graphics originalappearance for the warranted durability, it isimportant to adhere to the following guidelines.

When cleaning the graphic only use amild soap and water solution. DONOT use products that contain bleachor petroleum-based ingredients. If thegraphic will need to be cleanedfrequently, lamination is required tomaintain print integrity.

Graphics should be hand-cleanedonly. Clean graphic beginning at thetop and work down.

Use lint-free cloth rags or sponges forcleaning. Do not use scrubbing padsor scouring sponges.

To remove difficult items such aslipstick or crayon, choose a citrus-based cleaner to remove the stain,then immediately rinse with mild soapand water solution (not recommendedfor unlaminated graphics).

If your wall graphic has seams be surethat you DO NOT wipe cleaningsolution into the seam. This couldcause the edges to lift and curl up

from the wall. After cleaning graphic, use dry lint-

free micro-fiber cloths for drying.

Inspect graphic regularly.

For questions not covered in this bulletin,please contact Oracal USA ProductSupport at 1-888-672-2251 ext.168.

General InformationThis information is based on our knowledge andexperience. We have not explained all aspects ofapplication. Specialized or occupational knowledge

and competence of a professional sign maker arepresupposed. Due to the diversity of potentialinfluencing factors during application and use, werecommend end-users test our products before finalapplication. No legally binding warranty of certainqualities can be derived from our information.Oracal USA, Inc.1100 Oracal ParkwayBlack Creek, GA 3130802.11.2009