Authored by Peter Bourgeois, Territory Sales Manager-Western Canada, Drytac

Hockey season is upon us, meaning plenty of action on the rink to come. But there are also lots of opportunities for grabbing spectators’ attention via advertising, in particular rink boards.

There are a variety of different materials, technologies and techniques that can be used for rink board advertising, depending on how long the graphics need to stay in place. Some local rinks have the same advertising boards on display for extended periods, while the NHL is short term, even to the point of changing graphics during a game between periods.

The basics, however, are the same: the material must be easy to apply and should adhere securely to the surface while on display but be easily removed with no residue when the campaign is over. Usually, they are about 28″ to 30″ high, so often rolls with widths of 60″ or 62″ are required so they can be doubled up.

It is not just the NHL that is using rink board advertising, many community and local rinks are using rink board advertising to build revenue. Tournaments and charity games often have sponsors who need in game recognition. These tend to be longer-term projects lasting days, weeks or even entire seasons. This sort of application would often be a removable vinyl that is laminated for extended longevity and abrasion resistance. Drytac offers several vinyl and laminates that are an ideal and affordable solution.

Drytac has produced several products for rink board advertising applications. In North America, Drytac’s Polar Transit is a product that can do double duty. Originally designed for bus advertising, many NHL rink board advertising campaigns use this product. As the name suggests, Polar Transit has great adhesion on smooth, flat surfaces such the sides of vehicles, but is also ideal for sports arenas – thanks to its rugged qualities, it’s used for advertising and signage that can last for up to three years. This matte white polymeric self-adhesive PVC film aids vibrant color printing with UV, latex, solvent and eco-solvent technologies and its removable gray acrylic adhesive makes it easy to apply and to take down when the game or season is over.

In Europe, Drytac’s Polar Premium R 80 can be used for flat or slightly curved surfaces, making it ideal for sports arenas in addition to vehicle livery. This polymeric self-adhesive PVC film has a high opacity and consistent white point that provides an excellent printing surface with UV, latex, solvent and eco-solvent technologies. Its removable grey solvent adhesive makes it easy to apply and to take down when needed. It also has up to a seven-year durability when paired with a matched overlaminate.

Take a look around Drytac’s other Polar products designed for windows, floors, walls, POP displays and more, helping you create ice-cool graphics.

Authored by Steve Yarbrough, Product Support Specialist at Drytac.

Window graphics can make a big impact for retailers, offices, cafes and plenty of other organizations. The right design, installed correctly using specialized materials, can make a bold and vibrant statement on both external windows and inside a building. Alternatively, window graphics can be used to provide privacy or to change the light within a space. It’s a thriving market for graphics companies and designers.

It’s essential to use the right media for each project. At Drytac, we’ve developed an incredible range of window graphics materials to help you choose the best product for the job, with a few things to consider.

First, it’s crucial to check with the client exactly what they want from their window graphic. Do they need a window graphic that is only visible from the outside, or inside the building as well? This will dictate both which material and type of printer to use. Has the customer requested an optically clear finish?

If so, you don’t want to use a contact clear material. Do the colors need to be totally accurate? Check color profiling and matching, asking the client to approve any colors before installation – perhaps printing a few color swatches on the material to examine on site.

Drytac window graphic materials are rated for either indoor or outdoor use to help you choose the right media – it’s important to ensure a good finish and the required lifespan. Similarly, the printer must be compatible with your chosen materials, as certain ink sets may require top coats or laminates to ensure longevity. And never use a permanent adhesive for a temporary graphic: this will cost you later in time and money for removal and clean up of adhesive residue!

We also advise against using a material that will trap heat in a window, as this can cause expansion and shatter the window. These include multi-layered block-out materials, but do your research and ask the manufacturer if you have any questions at all. They may even have a new product, perfect for your project, that you don’t even know about.

Finally, don’t choose sub-par materials and expect top-quality results. The difference will show in clarity, adhesion and overall performance.

Drytac has developed a fantastic range of materials specifically for different window graphics applications to help you achieve a finish to be proud of.

For an easy installation of short-term graphics, for example, SpotOn is a 4 mil (100 micron)-thick vinyl with a ‘dot pattern’ adhesive which makes it simple to fit, reposition, remove and even reuse. Available in clear matte, clear gloss, white matte and white gloss, and compatible with solvent, eco-solvent, latex and UV inkjet printers, SpotOn is an incredibly versatile media. WindowTac, too, is great for temporary graphics on glass, acrylic and other non-porous surfaces, especially for backlit displays. This 0.9 mil (23 micron), visually clear PET film can also be installed with minimal effort.

Or, for longer term window graphics, take a look at ViziPrint Impress Clear, a 5 mil (125 micron) optically clear PET film with proprietary adhesion technology that can withstand both high and low temperatures and moisture. Available for UV, solvent, eco-solvent and latex inks, you can expect great graphics for years, and clean removal up to three years after installation. From the same range is ViziPrint Illuminate, a 4 mil (100 micron) high quality, translucent matte PET film that uses a mechanical bond to adhere to smooth, flat surfaces such as glass. Reverse printable and durable even without over-lamination, its bright white base colour creates brighter, more vivid window images.

Explore the full Drytac range to choose the perfect material for your window graphic project.