If you want your vehicle wrap installation graphics to look professional, make sure your company uses high-quality materials. They also need to be appropriate for the surfaces you wish to apply them to. These films offer maximum durability and the most bang for your buck. The higher quality the film, the greater its ability to withstand harsh weather and temperature extremes. High-quality graphics also won’t lose their luster as quickly as cheaper ones would. The design elements printed on them will be so much more aesthetically pleasing too.
Cast and calendered refers to how the film is manufactured. Each of these processes results in a different quality of material. Of the two, cast is considered to be a higher caliber of film. It’s more durable, closely adhering to surfaces better, and not shrinking as much as calendered vinyl. These characteristics make cast vinyl vastly superior for long-term use on surfaces that aren’t flat.
To make cast vinyl, you take your ingredients and mix them at a set speed and time to make sure they're mixed thoroughly. This liquid mixture is then poured on to a casting sheet and processed through a series of ovens. Part of the mixture evaporates, leaving behind a solid film that is then wound into rolls. The process allows the film to be super thin, which makes for a durable, paint-like finish that can easily be fitted to corrugated and riveted surfaces.
Calendered film is a cheaper film used more for short-term applications such as seasonal promotions.
It also derives its name from its manufacturing process, which is similar to rolling out dough to make pies. But instead of a rolling pin, large heated rollers form the vinyl into a thin sheet. The sheet is flattened out by the temperature and pressure of the rollers.
Once the film meets its precise specifications, it’s allowed to cool. Then, it’s formed into rolls. Calendered films are perfect for uses where you don’t have to stretch the material around contoured shapes. This makes them ideal for partial vehicle wraps where most of the surface is flat.