So, I finally broke down and ordered a role of vinyl to use for the last couple discs I dyed. Heres a synopsis of some of the pro's and con's of each. As I handcut everything, some of this may not apply to machines.
Pros
Contact Paper
- Very easy to obtain and cheap, found at walmarts and other hardware stores
- Easy to peel off discs after dyeing (Can be done without water)
- Fewer bubbles when transfering to disc
- Easy to ensure no bleeds
Vinyl
- More sturdy, Allows for more detailed cuts.
- Stickier, will stick to edges of the disc, can wrap around it
- Leaves very little sticky residue after removing
- Works better with transfer paper as it holds to the disc better
Cons
Contact Paper
- Detailed cuts require much more planning so the contact paper won't move around
- Doest wrap around the edge of the disc very well - NOT as sticky
- Leaves sticky residue after removing (Goo Gone can remove this easily)
Vinyl
- Have to order online if no sign shop nearby, can be a little more expensive
- Lots of bubbles created when transferred to disc, some can be near edges and maybe create problems. Because its so sticky this can creat problems when trying to smooth it out.
- Difficult to remove without using hot water
Some notes-
- Both can be obtained in clear, which is beneficial as this makes it easy to spot possible bleed problems
- After trying Vinyl, I think that contact paper may be the best choice for people just starting out or people that like to hand cut, with the exception of cutting more intricate designs. Vinyl is obviously the choice for machine cutters
If anyone thinks of other pro's /con's that i've missed I'll update this page!
Jermy
Pros
Contact Paper
- Very easy to obtain and cheap, found at walmarts and other hardware stores
- Easy to peel off discs after dyeing (Can be done without water)
- Fewer bubbles when transfering to disc
- Easy to ensure no bleeds
Vinyl
- More sturdy, Allows for more detailed cuts.
- Stickier, will stick to edges of the disc, can wrap around it
- Leaves very little sticky residue after removing
- Works better with transfer paper as it holds to the disc better
Cons
Contact Paper
- Detailed cuts require much more planning so the contact paper won't move around
- Doest wrap around the edge of the disc very well - NOT as sticky
- Leaves sticky residue after removing (Goo Gone can remove this easily)
Vinyl
- Have to order online if no sign shop nearby, can be a little more expensive
- Lots of bubbles created when transferred to disc, some can be near edges and maybe create problems. Because its so sticky this can creat problems when trying to smooth it out.
- Difficult to remove without using hot water
Some notes-
- Both can be obtained in clear, which is beneficial as this makes it easy to spot possible bleed problems
- After trying Vinyl, I think that contact paper may be the best choice for people just starting out or people that like to hand cut, with the exception of cutting more intricate designs. Vinyl is obviously the choice for machine cutters
If anyone thinks of other pro's /con's that i've missed I'll update this page!
Jermy