Synthesizer wrap by the wrap experts at Iconography. We have wrapped another instrument for Roland Music – a Roland GAIA Synthesizer SH-01 for the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA.
This synthesizer is produced by the manufacturer in one color – white. Roland wanted to dress up this unit for the NAMM show, so our design team created an orange colored wrap with all of the text and logos printed directly onto the wrap material. This was a bit of a challenge in the layout phase, as detailed measurements were required to build the print template. The material was printed on one of our Roland large format digital printers, and then laminated to protect the material against minor scratches and general wear and tear.
The next challenge came during the installation phase, making sure that all of the text and graphics lined up correctly. The adhesive-backed vinyl material is conformable and stretchy to help make sure the material adheres around corners and grooves. While this helps the material stay down, it does make it tougher for the installer who is trying to get the material to stay in very specific places.
Vinyl wrapping a synthesizer presents several unique challenges compared to flat-surface applications, primarily due to the complex, non-linear geometry of the device. The process requires high precision to avoid damaging sensitive components and to ensure the wrap adheres correctly around controls and edges.
Key Challenges of a Custom Synthesizer Wrap:
- Intricate Contours and Edges: Synthesizers often feature sharp corners, deep recesses, and complex panel shapes that are difficult to wrap without creating creases, wrinkles, or air bubbles.
- Precise Cutting for Controls: Unlike car panels, synths are covered in knobs, sliders, jacks, and text labels. Creating accurate, clean cutouts for hundreds of tiny components is time-consuming and requires high precision.
- Surface Preparation: The surface must be perfectly clean and smooth; any, dust, dirt, or existing damage can cause the vinyl to lift prematurely.
- Vinyl Thickness and Tolerance: Vinyl adds a slight thickness to the surface. On tight-fitting gear, such as those with recessed panels or closely packed knobs, this extra thickness can cause fitment issues.
- Heat Application Risks: While heat helps the vinyl conform to curves, excessive or uneven heat can damage the vinyl or, in extreme cases, affect the plastic housing of the synthesizer.
- Alignment and Design Matching: If the design includes custom graphics, aligning them across various panels and edges is difficult.
- Durability and Maintenance: While vinyl protects the surface, it may peel over time or with heavy use (e.g., from hands on knobs). Repairs can be difficult, often requiring the replacement of an entire section.
Custom Wrap vs Pre-Fab Decals
Choosing a custom wrap for your synthesizer instead of a pre-fabricated (prefab) option is primarily driven by the desire for complete personalization, superior fitment, and higher-quality materials that reflect your artistic identity. While pre-fab wraps offer convenience and affordability, custom wraps provide a unique aesthetic that makes your instrument stand out, much like personalizing a car or adding artist-specific branding.
Here is why to choose a custom wrap over a pre-fab one:
- Absolute Personalization and Uniqueness
- Unique Branding: Custom wraps allow you to add your artist name, logo, or a completely original color scheme, turning your gear into a one-of-a-kind, branded instrument.
- Reflect Your Style: Unlike limited catalog options, custom wraps can be designed from scratch to match your specific artistic vision.
- Total Aesthetic Transformation: You can completely overhaul the look of your synthesizer, changing it from a standard, mass-produced color to a unique, custom finish.
- Perfect Fit and Professional Finish
- Precision Tailoring: Custom wraps are created to match your synthesizer’s exact dimensions, ensuring a perfect fit around curves, knobs, sliders, and jacks, whereas pre-fab options might have slight alignment issues.
- Improved Appearance: Custom wraps can avoid visible seams or overlapping, offering a more seamless and professional look that makes the synth appear custom-painted rather than covered in stickers.
- Superior Material Quality and Durability
- High-Grade Vinyl: Custom shops often use high-quality, durable vinyl that is more resistant to scratches and UV fading compared to standard, mass-produced skins.
- Long-Term Protection: Because of the better materials, custom wraps often last longer, protecting the original surface of your synthesizer for several years.
- Safe Removal: Quality, custom-fit skins are designed to stick securely but can be removed without leaving sticky residue, allowing you to restore your gear if needed.
- Better Protection for Sensitive Components
- Enhanced Coverage: Because they are cut to the exact specifications of your gear, custom wraps can cover hard-to-reach areas, providing better protection for sensitive potentiometers and delicate components.
The vinyl wrap experts at Iconography Studios have wrapped many instruments including drums, violins, pianos and even and accordion. Do you have an instrument that you’d like to personalize? Give us a call today at 562-424-4353 to speak with an expert today!
