Yesterday I wrapped this Porsche for a 1 week promotion.  Since the wrap was only on for a week the printer, to make a good profit, used unlaminated calendar film - 3M IJ20.  Is this film meant for a car?  No way.  Is unlaminated calendar film tricky to put on without overstretching?  Of course.   Is this an expensive, extra curvy car?  Clearly.  Yet, the install was tight and I have a lot of confidence that it will stay put for a week.   Why did I agree to something like this?  Well, since moving to Europe I have been exposed to a vast variety of films and vehicles.  In the States, I worked only with 3M IJ180C and Avery 1005 EZ.  These two films were used for 1 week, 1 month, 1 year, or  3 year installs.  Moving to Europe was a challenge for me at first (especially since they don't use air-egress and not even, in this case, Controltac for the IJ20).  Yet, its made me a better installer.   The key for me has been learning about the limits of what all films can and cannot do and incorporating that into my techniques with avoiding overstretching as my foundation.  In fact, I just wrote an article about overstretching for Sign and Digital Graphics magazine.  It comes out in October, I think in time for the SGIA show.  I'll post it when it comes out.

Right before heading off to LA 2 weeks ago I wrapped up an extra special car for artist Pim Smit.  Pim bought a Volvo 780 Bertone which he then created a design for.  I then wrapped it up, leaving a strip of white on the back for his signature.  I have wanted to work with an artist for years now so it was a great opportunity for me.  There is something special about putting good artwork on a vehicle.  I hope to do more of these in the future.  Thanks to Pim for the opportunity, Knibbe Lettering for printing it up and for the use of their space for the install and Paul Roba from Avery for supplying the Avery Supercast and a sample of their new overlam that will be coming out in October.  The overlam is something else.

I then worked the Mutoh booth in the NBM Long Beach show.

After getting a Sunday off I then taught the Mutoh School of Wrap that was hosted by Graphics One in Burbank.  Monday and Tuesday was the Basic/Intermediate and on Wednesday the Advanced.

Thursday morning I flew to Reno to teach a 2-day private workshop for Sierra Custom Signs.

Friday I flew back to LA to hang out with family then Saturday I returned to my ladies back in Amsterdam.  Definitely a high energy run but well worth it.  It was nice to meet so many people eager to learn the art of wrapping.  Next workshops coming up are at Squeezy on September 2  and the Mutoh School of Wrap at Avery Headquarters in October.  For more information on that workshop go to:  www.mutohschoolofwrap.com.

Yesterday was the last day of demos I did for Mutoh in their booth at the NBM Long Beach show.  Over the three days I wrapped a boat using Avery's 1005 Supercast with 1.3mm overlam.  The graphics were printed brilliantly with a Mutoh Valuejet.  This was only the second time I wrapped a boat so it was nice to get some practice in.  One of the aspects of the 1005 Supercast that I like so much is the initial low tack.  This enables me to install something as long and awkward as the side of a boat by myself.  The reason for this is that I can take the entire backing paper off and install at my own pace.  A special thanks to all of those at Mutoh, especially Brian Phipps, for all their help during the show and to Ron Winter from Avery and Todd LaBrie from Carwraps for all their input.  Next show on tap is SGIA in Vegas in October.  For that show I will be wrapping Rusty Wallace's race car in Mutoh's booth.  Exciting stuff so be sure to come on by.

movie clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRUtqgW6Sr8

I just got done teaching two private workshops in LA.  The first one was for Icon Image Graphics and the second was a one-on-one for Craig, co-owner of a Sign O'Rama in Perth, Australia.  The students for both workshops were experienced installers looking to lower their installation times and find new tips and techniques for the more challenging aspects of vehicle installations.  Craig said at the end of the workshop today that it was well worth the time and travel.   He feels that from what he picked up he has lowered his time per vehicle by 1-2 hours.  With 50 vehicles on tap for the rest of the year it adds up to a big profit.  Its nice to see that more and more people get my message which is that quality, durability and speed can be combined if you have the right system and technique. A special thanks to Avery for supplying the 1005 Supercast with 1.3mm overlam and Mutoh for printing up the perfect prints on their Valuejet.

Here's a video from the Icon Image Graphics workshops:

This is an Audi A5 that I wrapped the other day.  I have wrapped a lot of vehicles in black matte this summer but this car for some reason had the coolest transformation.  I used 3M 85 comply black matte and it went on like a dream as usual.  The picture doesn't quite do it justice but the particular shade of black matte is really nice, not too gray but deep black, almost satin.  Thanks as usual to the incorrigible Ruben van Raam for getting me the 85 comply to play with.  The next cool project I have coming up on the horizon is a wrap for Pim Smit, an artist in Belgium.  He is designing a special wrap for one of his cars.  Should be good.

Before this workshop I will be doing demos in Mutoh's booth at the Long Beach NBM sign show.  If you are at the show, come on by to check out the demos or ask me questions as I wrap it up.  Always nice to be doing the sign shows/workshop in sunny California.

Aug.3 - Carwrapping

Aug. 17 - Basic

Sept. 7 - Carwrapping

Sept. 21 - Basic

Oct. 5 - Carwrapping

Oct. 19 - Basic

Nov. 2 - Carwrapping

Nov. 16/17 - Paint Replacement

Dec. 7 - Carwrapping

Dec. 21 - Basic

Today I finished teaching the second Basic Training Workshop at Squeezy in the Netherlands which is sponsored by 3M.  There was 10 students and I, along with Herman and Sandra, provided hands-on instruction throughout the day. For the Basic Workshop, Ruben van Raam  from 3M provided theory training about 3M, the properties of the film, how they are made and the different films and uses.  After that I talked about tools and then the students got their hands dirty for the rest of the day.  The main focus for the Basic Workshop is on learning proper fundamentals - how to squeegee, clean, cut, make text straight and problem solve.  This training is a stepping stone to the Car Wrapping workshop taught at Squeezy and for the advanced paint replacement training that begins in November.  The films used for the Basic Training varied widely so as to give the students as much experience as possible - IJ50, IJ70, 85, IJ100, IJ380 and 580 reflective film.