Get Your Wrap On with Training Classes from Mutoh America and Avery Dennison

For commercial printers looking to expand into the wide-format market, training is essential.

For vehicle graphics especially, it’s more than just laying down ink on an adhesive-based vinyl. A professional-looking installation is key to a successful project and a happy customer.

According to David Conrad, director of sales and marketing for Mutoh America, Inc., it's important for people looking to get into the wrap industry to understand the complexities it involves. “Too often people think wrapping vehicles buildings or other objects is easy so they get into the market without the proper education and training which leads to ultimate failure and disappointment through inadequate wrap jobs and unsatisfied customers,” says Conrad.

On November 2, 2016, Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions announced that Toxic Rat by Nick Caminiti, car wrap installer at Exotic Graphix, was named the King of the Wrap World in the “Wrap Like a King” Challenge at the 2016 SEMA Show. Caminiti used the Avery Dennison Supreme Wrapping Film Diamond Silver, to completely template the Tudor. This would achieve the shapes and edges needed to replicate the 1960s custom Hot Rod panelled out paint theme; it consists of lace, fingerprint, sunburst and three-dimensional cube patterns, as well as a custom airbrush piece on the rear, which was scanned and printed in high resolution on Avery Dennison DOL 1460 overlaminate.

It’s only through proper training and education can print shops and commercial printers make sure they understand the ins-and-outs and all the intricacies involved with the wrap process. This includes not only the installation but the design, layout, production, printing and finishing of wrap projects.

As Conrad indicated, vehicle wraps are one of the more difficult offerings in the wide-format space—but it’s also one of the more profitable and rewarding. “The sheer complexity vehicle wraps along with the number of different makes models and designs of cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, RVs and other make understanding how to properly wrap and finish a job very important. But the final output results in a professional, well-wrapped project for a satisfied customer.”

But are specific vehicle wrap certifications necessary? In this market, where many shops may offer vehicle wraps or in markets where there are low-cost providers, certifications provide your customers with a certain level of comfort, knowing your shop is trained and professional. “Certifications are what gives the customer and the consumer a warm fuzzy feeling about your wrapping capabilities and shows that you know what you're doing when it comes to the wrap process,” says Conrad. “Vehicle wraps especially are very personal and emotional projects for the owner of the vehicle. They want to make sure that those wrapping designing printing and finishing their pride and joy have had the proper training and understand how to complete the project for the best result. This makes it important for the print shop or the commercial printer to have that training and knowledge and be able to display that with the certificate to the customer base to provide the comfort level and confidence needed to promote their business grow their business and maintain satisfied customers.”

Is this Market for Me?
But why should commercial printers be interested in vehicle graphics, an application traditionally done by sign shops and vehicle wrap shops? Because this is a growing market opportunity and it also feeds into the industry-wide trend of customization and personalization.

The 2015 Porsche 991 GT3 came all the way from Texas to KI Studios in San Diego, California. The superhero of choice is Deadpool, the controversial superhero that’s in the spotlight at the moment. The Taylor Lynn Foundation fundraiser is being held to provide micro-grants to kids in need. The Avery Dennison MPI 1105 Easy Apply RS vinyl was printed using KI Studio's Roland VS540 large scale printer using the CMYKcmWTMT inkset. The printed vinyl was laminated with Avery Dennison DOL 1060Z. Photo by Grubbs Photography.

Everything these days, it seems, offers users the opportunity to customize and personalize the product. People have been customizing cars — and spending serious cash —since the 1950s. Now, digital print technologies play a large role in this market.

Whether for professional or personal use, vinyl vehicle wraps show individuality and create an impressive aesthetic. For businesses, they create brand recognition and drive traffic, and for personal use they show the owner’s personality.

JMR Graphics is an award-winning Nationwide 3M Certified Manufacturer of Graphics with more than a quarter-century of experience. The company specializes in branding companies through fleet graphics, vehicle wraps, architectural wall graphics, promotional window clings, floor graphics, event signage and much more.JMR Graphics shares five vinyl graphic trends for vehicle wraps in 2017.

• Partial wraps. Especially for business use, partial wraps are an effective and cost-efficient solution. For seasonality messaging or promotional changes, partial wraps make it easy to update often.
• Matte finishes. Matte is on-trend and gaining popularity every day. Matte provides a nice change to typical glossy paint finishes, which makes matte-finished cars stand out. They have a stealthy appearance and are most popular in darker, more sober colors such as black, steel, or a deep mossy green.
• Textured wraps. Textured wraps provide a huge visual impact. They can be faux finishes such as leather or riveted steel, or can be artistic patterns. Textured wraps are great for making personal vehicles pop as well as being a great addition to commercial vehicle wraps to grab consumer attention.
• Custom graphics. Custom graphics are a perfect solution for commercial businesses. These graphics provide business owners with the ability to incorporate almost any customized imagery to meet their goals. Logos and unique and compelling custom graphics can have a huge impact on brand recognition and increased traffic. Custom graphics are also a great way to express individual style on personal vehicles.
• Embossed wraps. Embossed wraps take vehicle graphics to the next level with 3D effects and distinct looks. Embossed wraps are made to blend into the whole vehicle design seamlessly for a stand-out visual effect.

Toxic Rat’s entire exterior was wrapped, as was the interior and even the firewall at the back of the engine bay. Pretty much anywhere paint can go, vinyl was installed. If you’re not in the industry, you’d swear it was paint. It’s the ultimate example of “laid, not sprayed!” according to Caminiti.

For commercial printers looking to step into the vehicle graphics space, Mutoh America, Inc. is continuing its partnership with Avery Dennison to offer its Wrap Training Program in 13 cities across the United States in 2017. Classes will be hosted by master installers, Justin Pate of The Wrap Institute and John Duever of Vinyl Images.

Dates and locations for the 2017 course schedule are as follows (details can be found on the program's website through www.mutoh.com):

• February 6 – 7, Phoenix, Ariz.
• February 9 – 10 Dallas, Tex.
• February 13- 14 Atlanta, Ga.
• February 15 – 16 Cincinnati, Ohio
• March 9 – 10 New Jersey
• March 23 – 24 Pittsburgh, Pa.
• April 3 – 4 Green Bay, Wisc.
• April 13 – 14 Portland, Ore.
• June 19 – 20 Chicago, Ill.
• June 22 – 23 Denver, Colo.
• July 17 – 18 Los Angeles, Cali.
• August 14 – 15 St. Louis, Mo.
• November 9 – 10 New Jersey

The Avery Dennison/Mutoh Wrap Training Program is designed to provide wrap installers with an in-depth understanding of graphic installation mechanics to gain a competitive advantage in the vehicle wrap industry. The two-day workshop will focus on all of the critical steps needed to improve the quality and speed of car wrap installations, as well as techniques for window, floor and wall installations.

Class sizes will be limited to allow for more one-on-one teaching. Training starts at $749.

Along with the training, all students receive a 25-yard roll of full print or color change film and applications tools — a $700 value!

"The techniques I've learned have drastically improved our quality, and our business has taken off. We're building an excellent reputation for the best quality wraps in the area. Thank you for your knowledge and expertise in helping us grow our business," says Edmund Karam of LucentAds.com.

For more detailed information on the Avery Dennison/Mutoh Wrap Training Program, or to register, visit the class website at graphics.averydennison.com/wraptraining.