Motorcycle customization has evolved significantly over time. Paint is still widely used to customize the appearance of a bike, but vinyl products have allowed graphic designers and motorcycle customization shops to explore new possibilities.
One unique option is Holographic Motorcycle Vinyl.
Holographic vinyl isn’t just a solid color; instead, it uses light to create unique colors and reflections. Depending on how you view it, a motorcycle can have dramatically different appearances from one second to the next.
It’s an eye-catching effect that will grab anyone’s attention.
Seeing how holographic vinyl works
Holographic vinyl has one primary difference from standard wraps. Instead of a consistent color, holographic materials are designed to refract light into different colors.
This creates iridescent visual effect that shifts as different wavelengths of light are reflected. As a result, it isn’t a static color.
Viewed straight on under direct sunlight, you might see one color. As your angle shifts, you might see more reflections that look like rainbows or additional colors.
Artificial light can also play a role in changing up the appearance of holographic vinyl.
As mentioned earlier, this is why custom motorcycles often use holographic materials. No matter how a person views the motorcycle, shifting patterns and colors help draw attention to unique designs.
But wraps aren’t limited to entire motorcycles.
Holographic material can be applied to sections of a motorcycle for accents. Tanks, fairings, fenders, side panels, and other surfaces can integrate into full designs. Many times, using holographic vinyl on selective areas can enhance the overall visual effect.
For instance, you might apply a section of conventional color next to a holographic panel. Graphics like numbers, stripes, and logos can also be added to create custom designs.
Essentially, riders aren’t limited to using holographic vinyl for full motorcycle wraps.
Choosing the right vinyl for a custom motorcycle
When designing with motorcycle vinyl, appearance isn’t the only consideration. The shape of motorcycles also plays a role.
Most motorcycles aren’t completely flat. They have curves, corners, indentations, and more. A material that works well on flat surfaces doesn’t automatically work on a motorcycle.
Motorcycle-specific materials are typically designed to deal with these curves and corners.
Great K2’s holographic motorcycle vinyl is designed to apply to curved surfaces like tanks, mudguards, spoilers, and bodywork. Its adhesive has been designed to help the vinyl wrap conform to these surfaces.
Printing custom designs onto holographic vinyl
Holographic vinyl can be more than just a reflective material you place over the paint. When paired with printing technology, custom designs can be printed directly onto the surface.
Whether applying a custom logo, graphic design, lettering, or other details, printable holographic vinyl can take normal artwork and transform it into a custom motorcycle graphic.
Great K2’s printable holographic vinyl is designed to maintain printability so custom designs don’t lose impact against the swirling patterns underneath. In its product description, Great K2 lists printability and opacity as two of the key benefits. Having enough opacity ensures printed colors aren’t affected by colors on the other side of the material.
This can be particularly useful for graphic designers who build custom kits. Instead of designing an entire wrap out of separate colored materials, a printable holographic surface can add extra design elements to a standard color.
Visual effects can vary by holographic material
Just like standard colored materials, not all holographic vinyl sheets are the same.
Changing the underlying pattern can significantly affect the appearance. Some holographic decals give off a subtle shimmer, while others create sharper reflections or larger color changes.
Great K2 offers several different holographic styles for motorcycles.
These options include Galaxy, Matrix, Cracked Ice, Blinking, and Hellfire effects. As you can probably guess, Galaxy has a sparkly pattern while Cracked Ice has more of a prism-like pattern. Matrix creates blocks or angles in the design. Blinking features small, reflective dots that create a unique visual.
Exploring different holographic patterns can allow graphic designers to find the right look for their projects.
You don’t have to be limited to choosing from five colors.
Because motorcycles are outdoors
While looks are important, motorcycles will be outdoors regardless of how they look. Wraps can be exposed to the sun, rain, dirt, debris, and washing.
As such, holographic vinyl should be durable enough to last outdoors. How long any vinyl lasts will vary based on the material, how well it was installed, and how well it’s taken care of. But materials designed for motorcycles are built to last outdoors.
Great K2 notes that its holographic materials are designed for motorcycle applications. It lists attributes like UV, moisture resistance, and durability as reasons to use the products for outdoor applications.
Taking care of the vinyl by washing it properly and avoiding harsh chemicals will also prolong the life of any wrap.
Installation is important for best results
No matter how nice a vinyl looks, poor installation can hurt the overall appearance.
Smoothing out vinyl on tanks, fairings, and edges takes time and patience. Wrinkles, bubbles, and misaligned sections will stand out more on a material that uses reflective colors.
For this reason, many people pay to have complex graphics installed by professionals.
A professional installer will know how vinyl reacts when stretched and how to manipulate it around corners. But for DIYers, doing your research and taking your time can lead to great results.
Make sure you clean the surface properly before starting. It can also help to plan your installation and figure out where every piece will go before removing the vinyl backing.
Wrapping up
Holographic Motorcycle Vinyl offers tremendous flexibility in how motorcycles are customized.
Owners can use the material to apply custom graphics without permanently altering the paint. Materials can be used on entire motorcycles, parts of motorcycles, or even combined with traditional wraps for a unique look. Graphic designers can turn custom artwork into full color graphics that print directly onto the material.
Most importantly, holographic materials give motorcycles an eye-catching design that shifts as a person’s viewing angle changes.
If you prefer a traditional motorcycle design, adding a holographic section can be overkill. But for custom projects, off-road motorcycles, show bikes, and other builds where you want to turn heads, using holographic vinyl can make your motorcycle the center of attention.
Exploring custom holographic vinyl is a great way to start your next motorcycle project. Try a few materials to see what patterns and printing techniques look best on your bike.
