GetWrapped.ca used Drytac SpotOn White M50 to create massive exterior graphics that reacted to blacklight at night without fluorescent inks.
Ontario-based large-format graphics company GetWrapped.ca combined several leading products from Drytac to produce stunning graphics for the Immersive van Gogh Exhibit in Manhattan, New York. Commissioned by Starvox Entertainment, the project involved transforming Pier 36, a 75,000-square-foot facility, into a vibrant celebration of the iconic Dutch artist’s work.
The project was divided into two core areas: a massive interior installation and a high-impact exterior wrap along the East River. For the interior, which covered approximately 9,000 square feet of walls and staircases, GetWrapped.ca utilised ReTac Smooth 150 and ReTac Textures Canvas. These polymeric PVC films are designed for easy repositioning and clean removal, with the canvas variant providing a textured finish that complemented the artistic theme.
The second phase required wrapping an exterior wall measuring 31 feet high and 400 feet long. This surface presented a significant challenge, as it comprised a mix of brick, painted wood, glass, siding, and fiberglass. To ensure a consistent finish across these varied substrates, the team first applied Drytac Polar Grip to the brick sections.
To meet a unique request for the graphics to “glow” under blacklight at night, GetWrapped.ca conducted extensive material testing. Niek Ermes, owner of GetWrapped.ca, said, “Due to the time constraints of the project, there was no time for us to look for fluorescent ink sets for the glow-in-the-dark aspect of the job, so we had to switch to finding vinyls that would glow when unprinted. After some testing, SpotOn White M50 was a shining winner and proved a tremendous solution for the exterior graphics.”
The SpotOn White M50 film features a dot-pattern adhesive for bubble-free application and high opacity, which was essential for covering the inconsistent underlying surfaces of the pier. The interior graphics were printed using an HP Latex 800, while the exterior panels were produced on an EFI Vutek GS3250.
The installation was supported by Graphics Installation Company New York and ATD Inc., with all Drytac materials supplied by ND Graphics. The finished graphics remained in place throughout the exhibition’s New York leg, successfully capturing the attention of both river traffic and pedestrians.
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