Spring is a time for color. Flowers are in bloom, the sky looks bluer, and new Avery Dennison Supreme Wrapping™ Film (SWF) colors are released. This year, the new spring SWF colors, pictured below L-R, include Gloss Metallic Mystery Black, Gloss Metallic Mysterious Indigo, ColorFlow™ Gloss Hidden Forest, and Gloss Metallic Pride Prismatic Grey.

According to Avery Dennison Graphics Product Manager Matt Khanna, picking new car wrap colors is a far more complex task than just mixing together pigments. It can take several months to years of testing and development to find colors that look good and that can stand up to the rigors of the road and are compatible with our production processes.

“The majority of our development time is spent in qualifying the pigments themselves,” says Matt.

That means putting the colors through a rigorous testing process, which includes baking the cars under intense UV lights that stimulate receiving years’ worth of sunlight in just a few hours.

The testing and development process of Supreme Wrapping™ Film isn’t enough on its own to ensure the full life of a wrapped vehicle. It is equally important for installers not to overpromise, and yes, to over-communicate. Don’t assume a consumer knows what they need to do and what not to do after their purchase. Here are the basic guidelines:

• Wash the wrapped vehicle on a regular basis.
• Use only approved aftercare products for wraps.
• Avoid using waxes and cleaning products with alcohol. Both can burn the lamination which will result in premature fading.
• Matte finishes require more care and maintenance than gloss finishes.
• For removals, always remove the film within the warranty period. The temperature of the substrate should be above 60? for best results.

And lastly, take full advantage of the resources offered by your distributor, your film manufacturer and your industry associations.

After a challenging 2020, celebrating the warmth of spring with bright new film colors is a great idea. Especially considering the overall growth of the vehicle graphics industry in the midst of a pandemic.

A report from Grand View Research, Inc. Automotive Wrap Films Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report projects the global automotive wrap films market will expand at a compound annual growth rate of 22.5% over the forecast period of 2020-2027 to $17.6 billion USD by 2027. That’s good news for business and the creative power of the segment.