It’s that time of year when ghostly graphics visit your transit authority in the night!
If that isn’t enough to freak you out, I may have something that will. Ghostly graphics! While unlikely you’ll spot this spooky signage in the dead of night, they are still frightening to witness in broad daylight. The best thing you can do is be brave and call our team, the Decal Ghostbusters. We’ll take care of those phantom prints so they never haunt you again! But first, you need to know what you’re working with…
Here are the top 5 spectral signage scares we have seen in our ghost busting adventures!
1. Vanishing Vehicle Decals
Printed decals are guaranteed to last 8 years. This means no peeling, cracking, chipping or fading of the print.
So, what leads to fading? Inadequate print protection.
Our chilling research has uncovered a truly frightening reality, some manufacturers cut corners by using subpar laminates, improper clear coats, or bargain-bin materials. The result? Decals that vanish into ghostly shadows after only a few years in service.
At Seifert Transit Graphics, our decals are typically digitally printed with compatible laminates ensuring long-lasting color and durability. These protections allow us to offer the warranties we do!
2. Paper Poltegiests
If you’ve ever put a sticker on a toy or had one of those sticker books as a kid, you have used a paper decal.
Why, paper, why?! Because it’s terrifyingly cheap.
Paper decals serve a purpose: they are cheap and easy to make! Combining safety messaging on a paper decal, installed in or on a transit vehicle creates a type of zombie you should run away from…quickly!
The result of using a paper decal is a dried-out, faded message that is difficult to install and even more difficult to remove! They may be enticing to buy because of that sweet price, but this zombie decal is one to stay far far away from by using the correct material for your application.
3. Paranormal Peeling
We don't find peeling to be so appealing. Avoid this cataclysm at all costs!
What makes a decal lose its grip? Standard adhesives.
Standard adhesives usually are the culprit in this frightening sight! It may appear that the decal is blistering off or it may be so sad that it just starts to completely fall off. Some may say it’s substrate preparation issues or installation problems, but 99% of the time a more aggressive adhesive does the trick to keep the peeling monster away!
4. Cursed Installs
Beware! An installer may cast a spell of deception on you! A graphic install can look great before leaving the job but once they're gone the terror begins!
What are they hiding? The important details.
When the installer leaves and time progresses, that spell wears off and you start to see the fright firsthand. This can be poor trimming, overstretching, improper prep, and insufficient post-heating. We know because we’ve created a few install spells ourselves. We’ve learned and applied these lessons to our installation training to help you break the curse!
5. The Splitting Specter
Buses have joints that are joined together with Sika, a flexible, caulk like product that seals that joint from the elements. Livery maintenance teams may know the Sika sneak...it appears behind you when those joints are either painted, wrapped or left white. While powerful for bus building, this splitting specter has been plaguing the transit industry for years. It reappears over and over slowly creeping out of edges leading to unsightly cracks and creepy crawly spider lines on your beautiful livery design.
Now that you know which Ghostly graphics to look out for you may be ready to do some Decal Ghostbusting for yourself! Get fresh transit decals, an installation toolkit, and installation training to keep these ghostly graphics hauntings away from your team and fleet! Happy hunting and Happy Halloween!
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