1. Printing Specialists http://printingspecialists.com/

2. After printing has been done and finished off with laminating for that after protection, you might think that that is the last step. However, there is one final thing to do.

3. Let us say you will need a banner. So you get one and have it printed and laminated, then resize that print to fit the standard 31” banner stand. A safety ruler on the shop table might come in handy but others are not very efficient.

4. If you do a lot of jobs that require trimming, a large format trimmer can easily be used and typically found at the end of a shop table for easy feeding of the media and are easy to move to the side when not in use.

5. Remember that there is a specific waiting period and ideal time to cut or trim a freshly printed graphic. If you’re using solvent based inks, there is a possibility that cutting too early can cause edge curling.

6. According to ORACAL, “Graphics that are trimmed or plotted directly through the ink within 24 hours after printing can begin to show signs of curling or shrinking around the perimeter once applied to the substrate. The freshly printed (uncured) solvents used in the inks to print the graphic are migrating around the cut line and irritating the perimeter of the adhesive layer. This in turn causes the edges of the material to curl up or shrink either on the release liner or once applied to the substrate.”

7. Similar to lamination, it may be necessary to wait a day before trimming solvent graphics. If you are selling full bleed printed decals, the same applies to the contour cutting process. If you can wait a day before cutting out the decals, you will have fewer worries about edge curl after they’ve been plotted.

8. All of this magnifies the importance of production control, planning, and managing customer expectations. It is tempting to tell your customers you can deliver that job the same day; especially if the name of your business implies speedy turnaround. But selling something that is not properly finished may produce a one-time sale that doesn’t translate into repeat business. Finish the job properly, with the right laminate, applied at the right time, and watch your reputation and sales grow. http://printingspecialists.com/