Indoor Display Tech Talk…

How to Test a Surface for Proper Graphic Adhesion. Lettering on glass or acrylic is one thing but applying vinyl graphics to painted walls, especially flat, satin or eggshell finishes, is questionable. Semigloss and gloss finishes are a better bet for successful adhesion. When in doubt about quality sign or display products and application procedures, always ask a 3M rep. They are very knowledgeable and responsive when you have a question.

I am working on some interior wall designs for a Virginia client today who wants some nice acrylic graphics panels with stand offs that raise them over super graphics of some really cool color photographs that will be enlarged as backdrops under their mission statement and core beliefs that will be rendered on the overlaid panels. I would like to propose applying the base graphics of several neat wall displays directly to the painted wall surfaces at their organization’s walls of focus in addition to using PVC as an option, but since the walls have either a flat or satin sheen, I’m uncertain about the success of adhesion if applied direct.

BUT..I found out there’s a neat wall test kit available from most 3M distributors that helps test whether the sheen of the paint is glossy enough for the wall graphics to stick without any problems. You know, there’s a test for anything, and it’s always wise to do your homework and get it right the first time.

An edge I may have over some in my field is more than 35 years experience in the sign industry where I have learned about some things that others may not consider important!!

Here’s the video on just how I can test your walls to make sure they are graphic ready should you ever have a project in mind…