Thread: Vinyl graphics Vs. Paint

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I work in a lot of different custom paint markets. I am finding that computer generated graphics on vinyl are starting to show up on many commercial vehicles, and some segments of the hobby, like sand rails, and other off road toys.

They don't offer the candy or metallic finishes, or the depth of a glossy finish, but there is no doubt that they can be breathtaking, and offer a degree of art many painters cannot match.

I am seeing some vinyl suppliers charging "paint" prices, but there is usually some savings over paint, if you can live without the gloss-irridescence-depth of paints.

Here is a chance to voice you opinion about their suitability for custom cars.

I can see places the vinyl works, commercial etc. I'm a fan of paint and
the experience it takes to do.

I've kind of got mixed feelings I used a couple of small ones on the Plymouth that I had originally intended to be hand lettered.

At this point I am also considering have a set reproduced for my 76 True Spirit (as the original "pin stripping" , True Spirit name and tailgate name were factory installed decals. I could be wrong, but I think the computor generated graphics would likely be closer to original in style than could be done by hand.....but I guess that depands on the painter.

Personally I think the hand painted stuff looks a little classier up close.

I kind of wonder with the availability of higher quality vinyl designs if we will start to see another short lived (?) fad like we did in the 70s with all the murals and overdone pin stripping.

I was partially responsible for the fad in the 70's as I painted murals on conversion vans @ Winnebago back then and late 70's owned a custom paint shop. These days i do digitally printed stuff, so I guess I'm still bein' a trouble maker. I still prefer the real paint, but I have vinyl on my truck cuz' it would just be wrong to be sellin' vinyl with a painted truck if you know what i mean.

70`s murals were cool, i cant wait for that fad too come back! As for vinyl, its good on some things but bad on others, i still prefer hand painted hot rods. I was debating with myself today on the hand painted or stick on pinstriping for my car, i do not have the money to pay someone, and my skills are not that good yet imo, so i thought about the stick on stripes, but i cant bring myself to do it , so im gonna try it myself.

Mike, I agree that the vinyl would look more like decal. I think there will eventually be acceptance of vinyl graphics, since the life span is much better than in the '70s when it was used so much on muscle cars. The things that will make a difference in how soon it happens are cost, and if they can be incorporated into the paint nicely, without looking "cheezy" or cheap.

As far as fads, They are all temporary, except flames. last year it was tribal graphics, and skulls. Right now its flat black finishes, and "realfire"/"trufire" flames. It looks like next year will be "all the demons of Hell", and "pinup girl" art. My guess is that the flat finishes, and retro look will be further developed into '40s-'50s art styles, and other colors besides black.

The new shows on television are making it all happen much faster than before. Fads explode in a few months, and then die very very quickly. For those that don't know....the turnkey custom choppers are now flooding the market, values are plummeting, and bike builders are closing nation wide. The TV shows caused the public to get excited, they bought a lot of bikes, and now the newly involved "bikers" found out that they don't like the lifestyle, or that bad roads, or long trips on a chopper will beat you to death! The ones who are staying involved are starting to buy "baggers" so they can enjoy the trip.

Nothing kills a fad faster than when everyone starts doing the same thing at the same time! Consult your TV Guide to see what the next popular vehicle will be! :-)

Some old stuff.

Nice work!

Thanks Hotrod. I was much younger then.

With your artistic ability, the vinyl should just become another medium for you to work in.

Seems like these days I have just enough time to knock out jobs and go on to the next one. Never seem to have time for the more creative stuff anymore. Maybe someday.

I found years ago that if I kept myself tied up with restorations, I was missing the oportuities to do the custom work, which meant that I also had less custom work out there attracting more of the same. Today I refuse the restorations unless I'm slow.

I've been doing more mural and illustration work in the last couple years, and it's being well recieved, so I expect the interest to continue for a percentage of my customers. You know what they say...."everything old is new again!"

".....Nothing kills a fad faster than when everyone starts doing the same thing at the same time!......"

There is a lot of truth in that.....we saw that with a bunch of stuff over the years CB radios, 4WD, the pastel colors, I remember when almost car show you went to was dominated with tri-5 Chevies.

You guys that have the ability to do the graphics have always amased me. I can see HRPs point about it being just another medium...I suspect there are a lot of guys like me who would have a general Idea about what they wanted but have to leave it to someone with the talent to actually do the work and flesh it out.

Here's an idea -

How about a specially adapted ink jet printer that mounts to the car and 'prints' the image directly on the body panel.

Its being done now in bakeries with cake icing!!!!

But - it would never compete with hand air brushed graphics.

I personally think that there will be a slowly evolving niche for it, but here are some thoughts:

It will not be widely popular for many years.

Cost will be a factor in how fast it is accepted.

Paint will still be preferred by most, because it is traditional, and because vinyl will continue long-term to be viewed by many as being a second rate alternative. In other words, your car won't seem as "classy".

The availability of a high gloss finish.

Some sort of "bordering" that will make the edge of the vinyl less obvious.

The use of art styles that look like painted art, rather than looking like a photo.