How To Get Your Vehicle Wrapping Business Started | National Roland Dealership

So, you’ve decided you’re ready to start wrapping vehicles, either on your own as a solopreneur or even as an apprentice.   Whether you’re an experienced designer or a newcomer eager to dive into this wildly dynamic industry, understanding how to effectively use the Roland TrueVIS series can significantly elevate your work.

In this guide, we will walk you through the benefits, capabilities, and best practices for using the Roland TrueVIS series to design and create stunning vehicle wraps.

Let’s Introduce You to the Roland TrueVIS Series

The Roland TrueVIS series is renowned for its superior performance and innovative technology, making it a favorite among professionals in the vehicle wrapping industry. The series includes models like the TrueVIS VG2-540/640 and the TrueVIS SG2-300/540/640, each offering unique features to meet diverse needs.

Benefits of the Roland TrueVIS Series:

1. Precision and Quality: We have all seen bad wraps, and we don’t want that.  The TrueVIS series uses advanced print heads that deliver exceptional detail and vibrancy. This is crucial for vehicle wraps, where every detail matters.

2. Versatility: With the ability to print on a wide range of substrates, the TrueVIS series ensures you can handle various projects, from simple decals to full vehicle wraps. The TrueVIS makes you flexible enough to manage all of your customers needs.

3. Ease of Use: Roland has designed these printers with user-friendliness in mind. Intuitive controls and automated maintenance features make it easier for you to achieve the professional results you need to make your business stand out.

4. Durability: Avoid the fade… The prints produced are long-lasting and resistant to the elements, ensuring your vehicle wraps maintain their appearance over time.

What are the Capabilities of the TrueVIS Series

Advanced Ink Technology: The TrueVIS series utilizes TrueVIS INK, which is GREENGUARD Gold certified, ensuring environmental safety. The ink provides a broad color gamut, high density, and superior scratch resistance, crucial for vehicle graphics that must endure outdoor conditions.

Cutting-Edge Print and Cut Functionality: The integrated print and cut capabilities streamline the workflow, allowing you to print and cut designs seamlessly without the need for separate machines.

Color Matching and Management: The TrueVIS series features advanced color management tools, including the Roland Color System Library and spot color matching, which ensure your vehicle wraps have consistent and accurate colors.

What Substrates Are Best for Vehicle Wrapping?

When it comes to vehicle wraps, choosing the right substrate is essential. The TrueVIS series is compatible with a variety of substrates, each offering unique benefits:

1. Vinyl: Vinyl is the most popular choice for vehicle wraps due to its flexibility, durability, and ease of application. Cast vinyl, in particular, conforms well to the curves and contours of vehicles.
2. Polymeric Films: These are a great middle-ground option, offering good durability and conformability at a lower cost than cast vinyl.
3. Calendared Films: While less conformable than cast or polymeric films, calendared films are more affordable and suitable for flat or slightly curved surfaces.
4. Specialty Films: These include options like metallic, reflective, and textured films, which can add unique visual effects to your vehicle wraps.

Toners and Inks

The TrueVIS series uses TrueVIS INK, which is available in CMYK, as well as light cyan, light magenta, light black, and orange. This expanded color range ensures vibrant, precise color reproduction. The inks are specially formulated to be durable and weather-resistant, making them ideal for vehicle wraps.

Ink Configurations: Depending on your specific needs, you can choose from various ink configurations, including 4-color, 7-color, or 8-color setups. The additional colors, like light black and orange, help achieve more accurate skin tones and specific brand colors.

Eco-Friendly: TrueVIS INK is eco-solvent, meaning it’s more environmentally friendly compared to traditional solvent inks. It offers the perfect balance between environmental consideration and high-quality output.

Specifications and Output

Printing Speed and Resolution: The TrueVIS VG2 series can print at speeds up to 332 sqft/hr (31 sqm/hr) with resolutions up to 1200 dpi, ensuring both speed and quality. The SG2 series, while slightly slower, still offers impressive speeds and quality suitable for professional vehicle wraps.

Cutting Precision: With an accuracy of +/- 0.2% of distance traveled or 0.25 mm (whichever is greater), the cutting precision ensures your designs are perfectly trimmed every time.

MSRP and Value: The MSRP for the TrueVIS VG2-540 is around $18,995, and for the VG2-640, it’s about $20,995. The SG2 series is more affordable, with the SG2-300 starting at $11,995. These prices reflect the advanced capabilities and high-quality output of the TrueVIS series, offering excellent value for your investment.

Why Choose the Roland TrueVIS for Vehicle Wraps?

Unmatched Quality: The TrueVIS series sets the standard for print quality in the vehicle wrapping industry. The combination of high-resolution printing, vibrant colors, and durable inks ensures your wraps look stunning and last long. This is your business, and the quality is your business card. The quality must be primo.

Efficiency and Productivity: The integrated print and cut functionality, along with user-friendly features, significantly reduces production time and increases efficiency. This means you can take on more projects and grow your business.

Support and Reliability: Roland is known for its excellent customer support and reliable products. With the TrueVIS series, you can count on consistent performance and comprehensive support to keep your operations running smoothly.

Getting Started with Your TrueVIS

1. Designing Your Wrap: Use professional design software like Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW to create your vehicle wrap designs. Pay attention to the vehicle’s contours and ensure your design elements align correctly.

Side Note: Adobe Illustrator & Vehicle Dimension Templates

Adobe Illustrator itself does not come with built-in vehicle dimension templates. However, you can still utilize Illustrator efficiently for vehicle wrap design by incorporating templates from various external sources. There are a few tools available so, here’s how you can go about it:

How to Find Vehicle Dimension Templates

1. Specialized Template Providers: Several companies and websites offer detailed vehicle wrap templates. These templates are created specifically for designers to use in software like Adobe Illustrator. A few notable sources include:
   • The Bad Wrap: Offers an extensive library of vehicle templates that are compatible with Illustrator.
   • Pro Vehicle Outlines: Provides accurate and up-to-date vehicle templates for a wide range of makes and models.
   • Art Station Vehicle Templates: Another reliable source for high-quality vehicle wrap templates.
     
     Manufacturer Websites: Sometimes, vehicle manufacturers provide dimension diagrams or CAD files that can be used to create templates in Illustrator. Check the official websites or contact the manufacturer’s support team.
     
     Graphic Design Forums and Communities: Platforms like GraphicRiver or forums dedicated to vehicle wrapping often have shared resources, including templates.

2. Setting Up Your TrueVIS: Follow the setup instructions provided by Roland. Ensure your printer is calibrated correctly and the print heads are clean for optimal performance.

3. Choosing the Right Substrate: Select the appropriate substrate based on the vehicle’s surface and your client’s preferences. For complex curves, cast vinyl is often the best choice.

4. Printing and Cutting: Load your design into Roland VersaWorks, the software that accompanies the TrueVIS series. Set your print and cut parameters, and let the TrueVIS handle the rest.

5. Application: Once printed and cut, carefully apply the wrap to the vehicle. Use a squeegee and heat gun to ensure a smooth, bubble-free finish.

Obviously, this just gets you started but if you’d like another blog on this topic, let us know!

Start With A Roland DEMO Today!

The Roland TrueVIS series stands out as the premier choice for vehicle wraps due to its superior print quality, versatile capabilities, and user-friendly design.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting, the TrueVIS series can help you create stunning, durable vehicle wraps that impress clients and elevate your business. Embrace the possibilities and let the TrueVIS series drive your success in the vehicle wrapping industry.

To get started today, reach out for a risk free demo to see the beauty of the TrueVIS series!

*partial use of chatGPT for this post.