Best Black Reflective for wraping police chevrons?

[B13 Signs]

Hello,
I have been doing a few jobs for aPolice department and have put black refelctive(avery4090) chevrons on the rear tailgate with little problems. but the new 2025 ford tailgate has a tricky body line that causes me to need heat for install.
The materal really cant do much heat or any at all without brusing. and I tryed installing cold, and hot, wet and dry. cant seem to get it to conform. Is there any suggesting on a different vinyl or technque that may be not think about?

also the job is a repeat and I have done 3 other cars 2022 with no problem so I cant really change the look of the reflective too much... any suggestions ???

thank you in advance!
Brandon

 

[Browner]

3M 680CR is what I’ve always used.

 

[B13 Signs]

Yeah, the cost of the 3m is triple the Avery and the reflection is white were the avery is light golden... So its a different look...has anyone successfully installed Avery on conture without brusing? Or do i need to just bite the bullet and upgrade?

 

[signheremd]

I suggest biting the bullet and upgrading. We previously used Avery reflective and it was much harder to lay and didn't like to lay in contour or stick to edges. We've been using 3M ever since some of our Fire Company repairs required it and now stock several colors in 3M - we no longer purchase the Avery as the difference is significant.

 

[Geneva Olson]

I don't know if you're game for this one, but theres that arlon illuminite printable reflective that has a low initial tack. print the black black (60, 40, 40, 100)...

specs:

• IllumiNITE Wrap is a 5 Mil gloss printable reflective vinyl featuring FLITE Technology that is a light contact system allowing graphics to float over a substrate until firm pressure is applied
• For full or partial vehicle wraps, markings and/or decals. IllumiNITE is NOT recommended for decals or text smaller than 3 inches in width/height. Use DPF 2400 instead
• Meets or exceeds the following standards for motor vehicles: ISO 7591-1982, DOT FP-85 - Section 718, and ASTM-D 4956, Spec. Type 1, Class 1
• Outdoor durability up to 7 years (unprinted) for flat surfaces and up to 5 years (unprinted) for irregular surfaces.
• Lay-flat Polycoated Liner
• Arlon suggests laminate with Series 3210, 3220
• Print Compatibility- Eco-solvent, Solvent, UV, Latex
• For profiles CLICK HERE.

 

[Manuel Upton]

I don't know if you're game for this one, but theres that arlon illuminite printable reflective that has a low initial tack. print the black black (60, 40, 40, 100)...

specs:

• IllumiNITE Wrap is a 5 Mil gloss printable reflective vinyl featuring FLITE Technology that is a light contact system allowing graphics to float over a substrate until firm pressure is applied
• For full or partial vehicle wraps, markings and/or decals. IllumiNITE is NOT recommended for decals or text smaller than 3 inches in width/height. Use DPF 2400 instead
• Meets or exceeds the following standards for motor vehicles: ISO 7591-1982, DOT FP-85 - Section 718, and ASTM-D 4956, Spec. Type 1, Class 1
• Outdoor durability up to 7 years (unprinted) for flat surfaces and up to 5 years (unprinted) for irregular surfaces.
• Lay-flat Polycoated Liner
• Arlon suggests laminate with Series 3210, 3220
• Print Compatibility- Eco-solvent, Solvent, UV, Latex
• For profiles CLICK HERE.

We've had really good luck printing on Arlon DPF 2400GLX and Oracal 5650 RA. We just recently switched to Oracal because it comes in 54". Printed on a VG3 using Roland colors. You do lose some reflectiveness in the dark colors though.

 

[Geneva Olson]

We've had really good luck printing on Arlon DPF 2400GLX and Oracal 5650 RA. We just recently switched to Oracal because it comes in 54". Printed on a VG3 using Roland colors. You do lose some reflectiveness in the dark colors though.

Thats a nice black.

 

[B13 Signs]

yeah, I already have a printable refelctive that I use, but as Manuel said the reflecive doesnt show great threw dark ink.
so printing wont work. Also I have already done 3 trucks two years ago and they want them to match... so I am a little stuck right now and upgradeing to the 3M doesnt get me the rflection I need to match... but thank you your suggestions.

 

[JBurton]

Let's see this tailgate's problematic area. I'd think to cut the chevron into smaller sections to eliminate the need for such significant stretching would be the answer here.