15+ years of field experience in one working reference. Film picks by surface and durability class, cold-install specs down to −20°C, and the prep requirements that keep installs from coming back.
3M · Avery Dennison · Drytac · General Formulations · PhotoTex · Contra Vision
15+ yrs · 95% referral · AlbertaThis guide is a working reference for the print shops, marketing agencies and installation partners we work with across Alberta. It distils 15+ years of field experience into a one-page film-selection tool — what we’d typically reach for given the substrate, the durability class, the environment, and Alberta’s shoulder-season temperatures. It covers the six product lines we see most often on real jobs (3M, Avery Dennison, Drytac, General Formulations, PhotoTex and Contra Vision) plus the prep specs and cold-install rules that keep installs from coming back. Use it to brief a client, sanity-check a quote, or shortcut a product conversation with your supplier.
This matrix is a starting point, not a complete specification. Manufacturers change formulations, discontinue lines and update bulletins regularly, and no single sheet can cover every substrate, climate or project condition. Always verify the current manufacturer’s product data sheets and instruction bulletins before ordering, and run an on-site adhesion test before quoting permanence. CDN Crew makes no warranty as to film selection, product performance, adhesion, or long-term durability — those sit with the manufacturer and the chosen product. What we do warranty is our installation workmanship, on every job we put our name on.
| Surface / Scenario | 3M | Avery Dennison | Drytac | General Formulations | PhotoTex | Laminate & notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior walls | ||||||
| Smooth painted drywallPromo / short-run T |
IJ40C-10Removable, low-tack | MPI 2611Removable; semi-gloss+ paint | ReTac Smooth 75/150Ultra-removable | 226 WallMarkmatte, removable, 3-yr | PhotoTex PSApolyester fabric, repositionable | OPTIONALMatte only if high-touch |
| Smooth painted drywallOffice / retail mural R |
IJ40 / IJ35C | MPI 2611or MPI 1105 (cast) | Polar Dynamicremovable option | 226 WallMarkremovable | PhotoTex PSAClass A fire · PVC-free · LEED | OPTIONALLuster/matte for cleanability |
| Smooth painted drywallPermanent / premium P |
IJ35CCast, flat | MPI 1105Cast | Polar Dynamicpermanent option | 226HTRhigh-tack removable | —fabric is removable by design | RECOMMENDED3M 8519/8520 · DOL 1360 · GF 100 |
| Textured wall ❄Brick · CMU block · stucco RP |
Envision LX480mCor IJ180Cv3 | MPI 1105or MPI 2600 textured | ReTac Textures (R)Polar Grip (P) | 229 WallMark canvasor 226HTR (high-tack) | PhotoTex EX / EXSfor stucco / eggshell / texture | RECOMMENDED3M 8548G/8549L · heat + Rollepro, centre-out |
| Exterior walls | ||||||
| Smooth exterior wallSound painted surface P |
IJ180Cv3Comply adhesive | MPI 11057-yr outdoor | Polar Premium+ Protac Anti-Graffiti | 226HTR + GF 242HT removable + cast OL | PhotoTex + liquid lam6–12 mo weather-rated | YESUV + abrasion · 3M 8518/8519 · DOL 1360 |
| Textured / masonry exterior ❄Block · brick · stucco P |
Envision SV480mCExtreme-temp, conformable | MPI 1105 | Polar Street FXalu, no-lam, rough surface | 229HTR + GF 242HT removable, textured | PhotoTex EX + liquid lamshorter-term; cold-stable | YESHeat-form into texture · Street FX needs none |
| Glass & windows | ||||||
| Interior glass graphicFirst-surface print RP |
IJ35C / IJ40or clear film | MPI 1105 / 2611 | ViziPrint Impress (R)Deco+ (P) | 255 OptiMarkclear, removable · 221 decal | PhotoTex PSAoriginal only — not Opaque on glass | OPTIONALLuster cuts glare + protects |
| Exterior / storefront glassWeather-facing P |
IJ180Cv3or Scotchcal | MPI 1105 | ViziPrint Deco+clear PET, 7-yr | 255 OptiMark + 242or 207 cling (temp 3 mo) | PhotoTex + liquid lamshorter-term option | YESClear lam + seal all edges |
| Privacy / frostEtched-glass look RP |
FASARApolyester · Dusted Crystal (vinyl) | Frosted / etch film | ViziPrint Deco SR | —No GF frost line | —Not a frost product | NOFinished decorative film |
| One-way vision ❄Perforated — full panel below TP |
Scotchcal Perforated | MPI perforated | — clear films only(ViziPrint ≠ perf) | WindowMark 232/260/270/28050/50–80/20 + GF 242 OL | —Not a perforated product | CLEAR LAMSpecialist: Contra Vision — see panel |
| Floors | ||||||
| Interior floorEvent / promo / retail T |
Floor print film+ 3M floor lam | MPI 2600 Wall & FloorUL 410, no-lam textures | SpotOn Floor 200no-lam, R-rated, 6 mo | Floor film + GF 108Tedlar, slip-resistant OL | —Fabric — not slip-rated | ANTI-SLIPOr use a no-lam floor-rated film |
| Interior floorHigh-traffic / long-term P |
IJ180Cv3+ 3M floor system | MPI 1105+ anti-slip | Polar Grip+ Interlam Pro Emerytex | Floor film + GF 108embossed slip lam | —Not slip-rated | YESSlip-rated (R-rated) |
| Exterior pavement ❄Sidewalk / asphalt decal T |
Outdoor street floor film | Outdoor floor film | Polar Street FXalu, no-lam, no heat | Outdoor floor + GF 108slip-resistant Tedlar | —Not slip-rated | YES outdoorStreet FX needs none |
| Hoarding | ||||||
| Mall / interior constructionCoroplast · Sintra/PVC · painted ply TR |
IJ40 / IJ35Cmounted or direct | MPI 2611 / 1105 | Polar Dynamic | 226 WallMark · 116116 = clear mounting film | PhotoTex PSAClass A fire — good for enclosed malls | MATTEHigh-touch corridor · mind fire rating in enclosed malls |
| Exterior construction ❄MDO ply · Dibond / Alupanel P |
IJ180Cv3or Scotchcal | MPI 1105 | Polar Premium+ Protac Anti-Graffiti | Cast print + GF 108Tedlar, graffiti-resistant | PhotoTex + liquid lamshorter-term; cold-stable | YES+ anti-graffiti at street level · cold → X-Treme / Concept 203 |
| Fence line / freestandingMesh banner · skid signs TP |
— | — | — | Printed PVC meshor Alupanel / Coroplast skid on frame | —Not a banner / mesh product | N/ANot film-on-glass — zip-tie / batten; spec print + hardware |
| Spec | Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bleed | 0.25″–0.5″ loose graphics · 0.75″–1″ wrapping a substrate edge · 0.125″ flush-trim mounted | Tell us trimmed vs. wrap-edge before printing. |
| Panel overlap (seams) | 0.5″ smooth walls · 1″ textured · butt / kiss-cut where seamless is needed | Sequence panels so overlap faces away from the main sightline — kills the shadow line. |
| Panel width / tiling | Plan to material & printer width (commonly ≤54″) | Place seams at logical breaks (corners, mullions), not across a face or logo. |
| Surface prep | Clean with 70% IPA / degreaser, dry fully, dust-free | Don’t use IPA on finished laminate faces (DOL-Z, high gloss) — it can matte them. PhotoTex Opaque: use damp rag only, not IPA. |
| Paint cure | Latex fully cured — often 30+ days before any film | Fresh paint is the #1 hidden adhesion failure (same for PhotoTex). |
| Adhesion test | Walls: 3M MCS warranty needs ≥ 1000 g / 15 min | Test painted walls before quoting permanence; leave a scrap up a few days if you can. |
| Windows | Decide first-surface (interior-applied) vs second-surface; allow for frame / muntin overlap | Perf: interior clear-back vs exterior white/black — confirm view direction first. |
| Floors | Clean & dry, no fresh wax / sealer, round the corners, tamp edges | Slip rating is a safety / liability item in public spaces — don’t skip it. |
Full terms at top of sheet. Confirm against current 3M, Avery Dennison, Drytac, General Formulations, PhotoTex and Contra Vision product & instruction bulletins for your batch. No vehicle/fleet films listed by design.
CDN Crew · cdncrew.comKeep it in your project folder. Send it to your print team. Use it to sanity-check a film spec before ordering.
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