Double printing on clear decals

[TimToad]

I'm doing a bunch of decals on clear meant to go on the inside of windows and they have a black background with all white text and border. Our plan is to print them in reverse and then laminate them to a white backing vinyl.

I tested a couple and despite using a built up black, I'm thinking I might need to double print them.

Does anyone who does this type of decal have a suggestion for how long to wait before printing the second coat?

 

[J Hill Designs]

I'm doing a bunch of decals on clear meant to go on the inside of windows and they have a black background with all white text and border. Our plan is to print them in reverse and then laminate them to a white backing vinyl.

I tested a couple and despite using a built up black, I'm thinking I might need to double print them.

Does anyone who does this type of decal have a suggestion for how long to wait before printing the second coat?

most RIP's have a 'double-strike' feature

 

[Kwiksigns]

That seems like overkill for though... I do them for acrylic prints and full window coverage and essentially, if you print with the same profile you would for a white vinyl, the color should be exactly the same when backed with the white... maybe try a different profile?

 

[J Hill Designs]

Our plan is to print them in reverse and then laminate them to a white backing vinyl.

Also, you would be laminating the white vinyl to the clear print, not vice versa as you state.

 

[TimToad]

That seems like overkill for though... I do them for acrylic prints and full window coverage and essentially, if you print with the same profile you would for a white vinyl, the color should be exactly the same when backed with the white... maybe try a different profile?

Its not so much a color issue as it is saturation.

In Versaworks, I used the "clear adhesive vinyl" profile with my highest quality setting and they look good after a I backed up a test print with the white, but not that deep rich black like you'd get if you were printing on white material.

The other problem I've encountered is that despite them being 7.5" x 12", there is a super thin pinline inset border in the artwork and some really tiny text in there that is getting obliterated when I've tried to do a double print after just "returning to origin" and waiting a little while to start the second print.

I think I'll just amp up my black from 75/75/75/100 to 100/100/100/100 print them once and be done with it.

 

[TimToad]

Also, you would be laminating the white vinyl to the clear print, not vice versa as you state.

That's what I meant.

 

[petepaz]

i just use the black in illustrator then the clear vinyl profile in versa works (which will put you at high quality print) that is usually fine. once you are at high quality and then up the ink density it's just too much ink. if you do feel you need a double pass on the print i would use the setting in the rip to do it this way it does it all in one shot and you don't get any registration problems since you have small text and graphics. as far as the graphics bleeding together just make them slightly bolder in your art work to allow for some bleed.
based on the clear vinyl profile and high quality printing we do this all the time and then mount the white vinyl. colors look fine.
good luck

 

[boxerbay]

what clear vinyl are you using to print on? i've printed on some that are crap and others hold ink better.

use CMYK black 30/30/30/100 if you go full 100/100/100/100 it might end up brownish or blueish black depending on your profile.
adjust your ink limit in the profile.