Which Transfer Tape ?

Paper or Plastic Transfer Tape

There are two different kinds of transfer tapes; paper tape and transparent plastic tape. For most applications either one will suffice so it’s largely a matter of personal preference. But there are essential differences that should be taken into account when choosing one or the other. Here’s a quick comparison.

Paper Pros & cons. As is name implies, paper tape is composed of a paper based face film coated with adhesive. It’s essentially industrial sized masking tape. Like masking tape, it’s generally somewhat translucent, but not transparent. It tends to be softer and more flexible than clear tape. Graphics in a postal tube tend to travel better with paper tape but plastic tape is just fine as well.

If you are ordering WHITE graphics, application may be more challenging because of the lack of transparency with a paper tape.

The other major advantage of paper tape is the porous nature of the face film. This makes it ideal for use with the "wet" or "soap and water" application types. Google and YouTube are your friends when learning how to apply the graphics.

Clear plastic tapes are so transparent because they’re made from plastic face films instead of paper. The clear plastic construction provides the transparency. This clarity of the vinyl also makes installation easier because you can see exactly where the letters will be in relation to where you are sticking it!

The plastic face film that makes clear tape so appealing also makes it a bit less practical and versatile. It doesn’t work as well for wet applications because the fluid can’t pass through the face film. So if you use too much, it can get trapped under the tape and begin to degrade the adhesive of the vinyl and of the tape itself, leading to delamination of the vinyl from the plastic face film. Clear tape can be used with wet application, but it must be done more carefully.

In short, The choice is yours. The price is the same and it simply depends on how you would like to apply the graphics.

If you are unsure then our advice is to choose the plastic application tape. We offer both options as a choice to make your life easier.