Rounded Vinyl Edge?

[thesignpad]

Saw something odd the other day on a Fire Truck that had digitally printed reflective vinyl graphics on it.

The vinyl appeared to have a "round" contour right at the edge, I can't for the life of me figure out how this would be done. Is it a special blade when contour cutting that "rounds" the edge of the vinyl? The fire departments wash their vehicles all the time, so need to have this profile to stop the graphics from lifting.

You have a "square" edge on all vinyl cut on a regular cutter (or contour cut on a regular digital printer) but these appeared to have a round contour.

I've seen those "edge sealing pens"but I don't think that is what this would have been as you would have seen it.

Any ideas? Anyone ever seen something like this?

 

[AUTO-FX]

Welcome to the show!
I saw graphics on a helicopter I swore were cut vinyl and clearcoated. Appeared as you describe. Turns out they had been stencil sprayed and clearcoated. Could this be the case?

Edit: Oh, I misunderstood. I agree, thermal die cut.

 

[GVP]

Thermal die cut?

 

[CentralSigns]

Welcome to Signs 101 !!

 

[letterman7]

Yep, thermal cut is my guess as well.

 

[thesignpad]

So are there such things as "thermal die cut" digitally printed decals? What I mean is these ones I saw are a fairly custom decals / stripes etc. Is that something possible to do with a thermal die cut? Or do you have to make a specific die each time?

Does anyone know where I can see a closeup of a thermal die cut edge to compare?

What would you suggest for something like this if thermal die cutting wasn't an option?

 

[AUTO-FX]

For informational purposes- http://www.dilco.com/thermal_die_cut_decals.htm