Mutoh School of Wrap – Advanced Dec. 12
The advanced class for the December Mutoh School of Wrap workshop was a true pleasure to teach. All the students had taken the 2-day Basic/Intermediate workshop so we could really build on my Universal Graphic Installation System. I was truly amazed at quickly the students picked up all the tips and tricks, especially when we got to bumpers and doorhandles. The students really understood the concept that with a fluid system wrapping a bumper is no different than wrapping a hood. Sometimes I felt like Yoda but they understood that with sound technique and the right approach all vehicles become the same which leads to high standards of quality, durability and efficiency.
I think one big factor that helped the learning process was the Avery 1005 Supercast with 1360 1.3mm overlam. The low tack and supreme flexibility of the Supercast really gives installers a sense of confidence and flow. Over the course of 3 days the students plowed through 150 yards of film, by far the most for a School of Wrap workshop. This is a testament to how hard the students worked. Thanks to everyone at Mutoh for all their help and for a great 2010 School of Wrap. I'm really looking forward to next year which will have more dates.
Basic/Intermediate Workshop – Phoenix Dec. 9-10
The Basic/Intermediate School of Wrap workshop was a big success. All the students were very eager to learn which always makes for a great 2-days. Since we were at Mutoh headquarters, the students got a demonstration of the Mutoh products from Randy Anderson. Randy answered lots of questions and provided some valuable insight that is always a plus for the workshop. The students worked with Avery's 1005 Supercast and 1360 1.3mm gloss overlam. The graphics were printed by a Mutoh Valuejet. As with all the Basic/Intermediate workshops they wrapped a car completely. In this case, it was Randy's car and it came out great. Thanks to everyone at Mutoh for all their help for 2010, especially Randy Anderson and Michelle Pugh. Another thank your to NT Cutter, Milwaukee, and Benzomatic for providing tools for all the classes. The new schedule for 2011 I hope will be announced this week. Here are the pics:
Hard at Work
Brian Phipps General Manager striking a pose:
Randy's finished car:
More work:
Last Mutoh 2010 Workshop – Sold out
I'm really happy to announce that the workshop coming up at Mutoh in early December sold out (and very quickly at that). To those of you interested in future workshops, the schedule for 2011 is being worked out and should be available at the beginning of December. What I really liked about the interest in the workshop was the demand for the Advanced class. This was something I added this year based on reviews from the 2009 Mutoh School of Wrap course. It always pays to listen to the customers. As always, the workshop is sponsored by Avery and we will be using the 1005 Supercast with the 1360 1.3mm overlam and the graphics printed on a Mutoh Valuejet. During the workshop, we will fully wrap Randy Anderson's car (he works for Mutoh) and we will have several other vehicles to work on. What I particularly like about this workshop is that the attendees will get to learn more in depth about the printing and laminating process as the Mutoh techs and Royal Soverering will be there to do demos.
Rusty Wallace
Today during the first day of the SGIA show Rusty Wallace came by the Mutoh booth while I was wrapping one of his race cars. Its always cool to meet a legend and even more so when they turn out to be really down to earth. Rusty Wallace signed autographs and posed for pictures. I wrapped the hood of his car with Avery's 1005 Supercast that was printed up on a Mutoh Valuejet. I demonstrated my UGIS techniques and showed people how easy Avery is to apply. I will be doing two demos tomorrow and one in the morning on Friday before heading out to a wedding in Santa Cruz.
Another busy U.S. run coming up next week
This Sunday I start a bit of an epic journey. First, I fly out to LA to wrap my buddy's car. He, along with his girlfriend, own an online company called Sweety High. I will be wrapping his girlfriend's BMW with Avery 1005 Supercast with their new 3D overlam. The wrap was designed by Randy Anderson at Mutoh and it was printed on a Mutoh Valuejet. After wrapping it up on Monday I fly to Vegas on Tuesday for the SGIA sign show. I will be doing demos in Mutoh's booth along with Todd LaBrie from Carwraps. For this show Mutoh is bringing in Rusty Wallace's race car. Instead of just wrapping I will be giving small workshops on how to apply graphics so feel free to come on by and wrap Rusty Wallace's car. On Friday I fly to Santa Cruz for a good friend's wedding then Sunday I head out to Painesville, OH - home to Avery Headquarters. At Avery, I will be teaching the Mutoh School of Wrap workshop that runs from October 18-20 (www.mutohschoolofwrap.com). I then head home on the 22nd to my ladies. Well, actually, my wife will be flying to LA on the 22nd from Amsterdam o do a story for a new Tony Scott film so that reunion will have to wait a few days. Frequent flier family.
DVD in the Box
I am really happy to announce that starting in October Mutoh will be putting my DVD in the box with their most popular printers. The deal was finalized last week which means, well, a lot of people will be getting "Techniques and Tips: Vehicle Graphic Installations" with their printers. Very exciting. A special thanks to Brian Phipps, General Manager at Mutoh America, for pushing this forward.
NBM Sign Show for Mutoh completed
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
Merry X-mas Mom
For X-mas this year, my mom asked me to wrap her car so that it looked like wood. I thought this would be a good chance to experiment with a new combination of film/overlam. For the Mutoh workshops/signshows for 2009 I used Avery 1005 Easy Apply RS film with a 2.0mm overlam. I like a thinner overlam for it helps the film conform better to bumpers and recessed areas so, for my mom's wrap, I used Avery's glossy 1.3mm overlam. The thinner overlam really made a big difference in how the film conformed to curves and recessed areas. It was also just as easy to handle as the 2.0 overlam, an added bonus. I highly recommend this combination of film/overlam (1005 Easy Apply RS/1.3mm glossy overlam) and will it for all my sign shows and workshops in 2010. I would like to shout out a few thank you's for helping make this wrap happen. For the design, Todd LaBrie and Chalong Nanthamong of Carwraps created the file/art work. Randy Anderson and Ken Parsley of Mutoh did the printing/shipping. Lance Hutt, Molly Waters and Ron Winter of Avery coordinated/supplied the Avery film and overlam. Rob Rule and Kyle of Signs Now in Boise for letting me use their space and helping out when needed. Now my mom is the coolest 72 year old driving around Boise. Merry X-mas and a Happy New Year.
New Instructional Videos
Introducing for the FIRST TIME EVER…
MUTOH’s Video Car Wrap Training Series
Phoenix, AZ. (July, 2009) –
Mutoh America has teamed up with industry experts, Justin Pate, one of the top graphic installers in the world, and Todd LaBrie, President of Carwraps, Inc., to introduce for the FIRST TIME EVER, online Video Car Wrap Training Series. Monthly membership includes UNLIMITED access to ALL design, production, and installation videos for only $199/month or $29.95/day.
Mutoh’s Video Car Wrap Training offers first class, professional methods to reduce vehicle graphic design time and expand productivity without the inconvenience of traveling or high costs associated to learn this exciting advertising medium.