Check out some of the answers to the most frequently asked questions.
If you can't find the information you're looking for then please Contact Us and we'll be glad to help.
1. WHY USE SUBSTANCE PRODUCTS?
When you choose Substance products you can rest assured that your customers are receiving the best printable and overlaminate materials available. Our printable media and overlaminates are used by leading sign shops, screen printers, decal manufacturers, race teams and printing professionals around the world and at all levels of manufacturing and competition.
All our products are manufactured in the USA, using only the highest quality raw materials and solvent-based adhesives. We're so confident in their performance that we offer a 100% product guarantee.
2. DO YOU OFFER FREE SHIPPING?
We offer free shipping on all orders over £130 net for delivery within mainland UK, excluding Northern Ireland, Highlands, Channel / Offshore Islands. For orders in Europe we only charge the rate that we pay for the relevant service with the courier.
3. WHEN WILL MY ORDER ARRIVE?
For orders within mainland UK your order should arrive the next working day. For orders within Europe the time will vary but if you need a quotation you can contact us and we will be able to assist with an approximate delivery time to your particular location.
4. WHAT ARE THE IDEAL PRODUCT STORAGE CONDITIONS?
Vinyl films should be ideally stored between a temperature of 18° to 22°Celcius and 50% relative humidity. Avoid direct sunlight, and sources of excessive heat. Altering these storage conditions will shorten the shelf-life and longevity of finished goods.
5. DO YOU OFFER ICC PROFILES?
Yes, we do offer ICC Profiles for the majority of printers and RIPs. CLICK HERE to visit our US site and select your desired product, printer, and RIP. If you cannot locate a profile for your setup, please contact us. We'll do our best to help you out.
6. WHICH PRODUCTS SHOULD I USE FOR MOTOCROSS GRAPHICS?
For industry-leading motocross graphics, the majority of our customers use a combination of Ultracurve 660LSE or Ultracurve X1 and Ultracurve 1500. While there may be thinner combinations, or lower grade products on the market, more professional and amateur championships are consistently being won on Ultracurve 660LSE/X1 and Ultracurve 1500.
7. HOW DO I MAKE HELMET GRAPHICS?
For helmet graphics we recommend Ultracurve H1 print media, combined with either Ultracurve 1000 or Ultracurve 1500 laminate. Ultracurve 550LSE is also an excellent print media choice for clear decals. Laminate thickness is dependent on customer preference.
8. HOW SHOULD I PREPARE AN INSTALLATION?
We recommend preparing installation surfaces with isopropyl alcohol prior to applying decals or graphics. It is important that the surface is free from dirt, dust, adhesive, oils, and other contaminants. Improper preparation can lead to premature product failure.
9. WHICH INKS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR PRODUCTS?
Substance products are compatible with Solvent, Eco-Solvent, Latex, UV, and Thermal-Transfer inks. We recommend testing all unique inksets prior to use. For high-volume customers, we can add specialty coatings for water-based inkjet compatibility.
10. HOW LONG SHOULD I WAIT BEFORE LAMINATING
If your printer uses Latex, UV, or Thermal-Transfer inks, there is no required waiting period between printing to laminating. If your printer uses solvent or eco-solvent inks, a dry time of 24 to 48 is highly recommended. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in excess solvent retention, which can adversely affect the adhesion levels of the print media and overlaminate.
11. WHICH CUTTING BLADES DO YOU RECOMMEND TO CUT SUBSTANCE PRODUCTS?
We only recommend genuine 60° OEM blades for cutting our materials, in our experience aftermarket blades do not work and will not last.
12. HOW SHOULD I APPLY MY GRAPHICS?
We highly recommend a dry installation technique. This insures optimal adhesive performance and longevity. For difficult applications, we offer many products with FLO Technology, allowing a bubble-free application to virtually any surface. For customers more comfortable using an application fluid, we recommend thorough testing prior to commercial use.
WHAT IS THE BEST METHOD FOR REMOVING GRAPHICS?
When removing existing decals and graphics, we recommend using low to medium heat, while peeling slowly at a 90 degree angle. Start by lifting a corner or edge, and pulling off the remaining decal slowly. Isopropyl alcohol will remove any remaining adhesive residue.
CAN YOU MAKE ME A CUSTOM PRODUCT?
Of course we can! There may be minimum volume requirements, but we can manufacture print media and overlaminates for virtually any application. Your imagination is the only thing holding you back! New products are also created by popular demand. Let us know what you're looking for and we'll do our best to help.