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Author Topic: Retroreflective vinyl ---- black turns to white in the light  (Read 1083 times)

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Offline UnCrash

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Retroreflective vinyl ---- black turns to white in the light
« on: January 28, 2009, 06:04:09 AM »
As it's too cold in the garage to paint up my cafe project I'm putting it together in my mind.

I've been thinking lots about paint scheme, lighting and visibility.  This caught my eye today.

Retroflective vinyl from 3M.  Crazy reflective!  Check out the Flickr page.... http://www.flickr.com/photos/theredproject/2927497238/in/set-72157607881334946/



This guy wrapped his bike in it.

Here it is with and without flash (or headlights)



And a cool shot of the bike in partial direct light.



This stuff is jet black unless in direct light.

I'm curious to know how well the seams wrap and close together.  It would also be nice if it were a little stretchable, I don't know if it is.


It would help a little with night time visibility while riding, but it would really help the visibility of the bike when parked out on the street at night.

I might just have to get some and am thinking that a racing stripe of this would look really cool.
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Offline Bob Wessner

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Re: Retroreflective vinyl ---- black turns to white in the light
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2009, 06:10:07 AM »
Interesting. Your post sent me Googling. I found this that would seem to point out some pros/cons of two different products.

http://www.elsewhere.org/journal/archives/2009/01/17/retroreflective-bicycle-frame/
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Offline Ecosse

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Re: Retroreflective vinyl ---- black turns to white in the light
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2009, 07:24:51 AM »
Very interesting stuff. I 'll have to keep it in mind. There's a clear spray paint that reflects with similar results although I admit to not yet trying it.


Thanks for the heads up and great pix.
« Last Edit: January 28, 2009, 09:53:27 AM by Ecosse »
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Offline medic09

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Re: Retroreflective vinyl ---- black turns to white in the light
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2009, 09:18:17 AM »
I have some thin, cheaper version of that on my helmet.  Over time (sunlight effect?) it slowly faded from black to black/grey.  Still looks pretty good, though.  The heavier duty stuff might hold up better.
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Offline UnCrash

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Re: Retroreflective vinyl ---- black turns to white in the light
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2009, 10:06:10 AM »
That's good to know Medic.  I'll check in to that before I go down that path...
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Offline Steve F

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Re: Retroreflective vinyl ---- black turns to white in the light
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2009, 07:16:40 PM »
We just had an emergency vehicle in my town marked (lettered) with that stuff, and the installer said that it doesn't conform to compound curves very well, since I think he said it is backed with an aluminum type sheeting, and won't (can't) stretch.
But yeah, the stuff is awesome in the dark when the headlights hit it.
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