By Melissa Donovan
Part 2 of 2
Fabric-based wallcovering media is primarily used in interior environments where it isn’t exposed to elements like UV rays, precipitation, and other challenges. As part one of this two-part series discusses, this allows for different ink types to be used when printing on the media. Here, we share information on a number of products offered by wide format media vendors.
Agfa Graphics promotes its Duratex Wall Fabric, designed for solvent, latex, or UV ink. It is available in both 54- and 60-inch widths at $0.70 per square foot. The company also offers Duratex Canvas Wall Wrap, which is solvent, latex, or UV compatible. It is available in 54- and 60-inch widths at $0.56 per square foot.
Aurora Specialty Textiles Group, Inc. sells Sticky Stuff 4 oz and Sticky Stuff 8 oz. Sticky Stuff 4 oz is a smooth, 100 percent polyester lightweight pressure-sensitive coated fabric. Sticky Stuff 8 oz is a canvas textured 100 percent polyester pressure-sensitive coated mid-weight fabric. Both are coated with a removable and repositionable adhesive recommended for short-term indoor use. Compatible with latex, solvent, and UV printing, both are available in 54- and 60-inch widths.
Dickson Coatings’ Jet Tex is a woven polyester fabric used with solvent, eco-solvent, UV, and latex ink. It is available in widths of 54, 60, and 122 inches. With its 122-inch width option, seamless murals are possible. At 8 oz., the material is lightweight and easy to handle. Greenguard Gold and Oekotex 100 certified, Jet Tex doesn’t present any toxicity by contact or inhalation. And, being Greenguard Gold certified, it also contributes to LEED credits.
FLEXcon offers WALLdeco 6770 and WALLdeco 6778. Both are 6-mil, lightweight, polycoated white fabric film with a unique woven texture. 6770 features a removable pressure-sensitive adhesive and 6778 a permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive. Both are compatible with solvent and UV inkjet, UV and conventional offset, and UV and solvent screenprinting practices. REACH SVHC compliant, they are available in a variety of roll lengths and sheet sizes.
GPA distributes General Formulations’ WallFrog, a 4-mil matte white polyester wall fabric film compatible with UV, solvent, and latex printers. Available in 54 and 60 inches, it is lightweight for small graphics. Also from General Formulations is WallTux 6 mill matte white polyester wall fabric film. Used with UV, solvent, and latex and available in 54- and 60-inch widths, the product offers complete opacity for covering colored services. Lastly, GraphiTex is a 7-mil matte white polyester wall fabric film at a heavier weight for easier application of large panels. It also is compatible with UV, solvent, and latex printers and is offered in widths of 54 and 60 inches.
LexJet WallPro is offered in multiple textures and works well with latex, solvent, and eco-solvent ink. Available in widths of 54 inches, it is priced at $0.47 per square foot. A commercial grade wallcovering, the 20 oz. substrate meets or exceeds all federal requirements of CCC-W-408D for Type II wallcoverings. WallPro also meets EPA requirements for low volatile organic compound (VOC) emitting products and earned the lowest mildew rating possible.
Mactac Distributor Products’ IMAGin DecoFresco is available for inkjet, solvent, eco-solvent, latex, and UV ink sets. At 49 inches in width it retails for around $300. According to the company, it offers excellent printability and easy installation. A pressure-sensitive semi-permanent adhesive adheres well to most smooth walls with latex paints and removes cleanly.
PhotoTex Group, Inc. provides polyester-based fabric under its Photo Tex self-adhesive product line. It is used with all inkjet large format printers, lithographic printers, and DI printers. The product is available in 17- to 60-inch rolls and sheets up to 13×19 inches. Photo Tex does not shrink, curl, rip, or wrinkle. It can be easily removed and used multiple times without causing wall damage or residue.
Presto Tape offers CanvasTac, which is compatible with UV, latex, solvent, and eco-solvent inks. It is available in 30-, 54-, and 60-inch widths by 75 yards at $1.25 per square foot. A 17-mil thick wallcovering, it is a repositionable, adhesive-backed canvas that does not rip, wrinkle, shrink, or curl. An easy release microsphere adhesive makes it easy to install and remove. CanvasTac is PVC, lead, and phthalate free and a Category VI Type III Class A wallcovering.
Roland DGA Corporation’s WallFlair Removable Fabric (ESM-WFRF) is compatible with eco-solvent and UV inks. It is available in 54-inch by 100-foot rolls at $381.99, 30-inch by 100-foot rolls at $111.99, and 20-inch by 50-foot rolls at $74.99. The media is Greenguard Gold Certified, meeting UL Labs’ standards for low VOC emissions into indoor air. In addition, WallFlair is fast drying and can be removed and repositioned easily.
Top Value Fabrics promotes its 4 oz. PVC-Free Self-Adhesive Wall Covering. It is used with UV, solvent, eco-solvent, screen, and latex printers and stocked in roll widths of 54 inches. The wallcovering is self adhesive, flame resistant, and repositionable. Easy to install on flat surfaces, corners, and simple curves, it is water resistant and dries quickly. The canvas-like finish provides an upscale appearance.
Verseidag US offers several fabric-based styles. seemee Insight Light/Insight Heavy is available in widths of 63, 98, 126, and 196 inches. Priced at $0.87 and $0.98 per square feet, respectively, Insight Light and Insight Heavy are compatible with UV, latex, solvent, and eco-solvent printers. A bright white canvas, the two versions offer lay flat and flexible body and are ASTM E84 FR certified. Verseidag also offers Select Metallic and Select Medallion. Both available in 61- and 122-inch widths, they work with UV, latex, solvent, and eco-solvent printers. Select Metallic retails for $0.92 per square foot and is a silver/metallic canvas and Select Medallion retails for $0.80 per square foot and is a gold canvas. Both are ASTM E84 FR certified.
Xcel Products, Inc. provides its X-Wall Fabric, a woven polyester with a microsphere wall adhesive. It features a slightly textured weave finish, installs easily, and resists edge lift. It is for eco-solvent, solvent, latex, and UV-curable printing. Available in 54- and 60-inch wide rolls, pricing starts at around $0.70 per square foot.
Click here to read part one of this exclusive online series, Fancy Walls.
Click on the link above to get more information on the vendors mentioned in this article.
Nov2016, Digital Output DOLF1611
