Museum standards for displaying visual art continue to evolve, and the most noticeable recent innovations involve technological improvements of lighting equipment. But there are improvements in others areas as well, and they include art museum wall labels. Dry transfers, also known as rub-on decals, are used in place of caption cards at an increasing number of renowned institutions. The transfer decals rub onto the wall in the desired spot in a single step and appear as though the lettering is painted onto the wall. It's a more sophisticated look than laser-printed cards glued on the wall next to a painting.
Dry transfer exhibit captions are less obtrusive than cards, and if your gallery has dark walls, you can order them in white or any Pantone color. You'll have type that's easy to read and with a less distracting appearance than cards glued onto the wall. Digital files you create serve as the basis for the decals, so there's no guesswork about what you get back when you order them. It's nice to know that there won't be surprises if you're working on a tight deadline. The quick and easy application follows as you rub them on in a single step. It's vastly easier than other methods and produces a superior appearance.
Flexibility is essential, and dry transfers work efficiently in places where caption cards look awkward. It's especially true when you're captioning sculpture or other 3D objects that don't hand on the wall. You can rub transfer decals onto any plastic, wood, metal, or glass surface as long as it's dry, clean, and smooth. The adhesive is on the back of the decals, so there is no visible transfer-media outline like you'd have with water-slide decals. You also don't need to fool with messy adhesive. The application process from start to finish is quick and requires nothing more than rubbing them on to apply the decals.
Reproduction quality is always a significant consideration for museums, and you can't beat dry transfers. When first viewing them, most people assume the lettering is painted directly onto the wall. It's a polished look that an exhibit caption card can't match. Most museum professionals are surprised to find out the method that looks best is also the easiest to apply. They're also budget-friendly when you gang up several captions on a single sheet. Then you maximize each one and bring down the costs. If you haven't used dry transfers before, order one for a sample and try it yourself today.
