Matt or Gloss decals on Matt invisiframe?

It’s new bike day!  Well, nearly.

I’m installing Matt invisiframe over Matt black carbon and going to add some colour with replacement decals over the invisiframe on a Trek Top Fuel with matching coloured decals on the RS forks.

I think manufacturers would often use a gloss decal, but if there’s any clear parts on invisiframe decals to hold everything together, I’m probably going to want to go for Matt to match the invisiframe underneath.

Thoughts?  TIA.

Update,ignore me as didn’t  read it right 🤣

Went with gloss on all we had done.

One bike was half black half carbon fibre after a chat with Invisiframe

Other were all matt frames

Do your decals first, decals over invisframe will look sh*t, imo

There is a difference in how Matt and gloss paint render under Matt and gloss frame wrap but for more pop I’d probably do gloss decals on Matt frame *under* Matt invis

invisframe say decals over the top otherwise the invisiframe doesn’t have a smooth surface to adhere to properly as there will already be a decal under the lacquer. I can kinda see their point.

Although… I see your point Bearback.

Invisiframe over decals leaves a space around the decals where it doesn’t adhere. It’s not awful, but it doesn’t look great either.

Hey – I’ve just finished off* invisiframing my Fuel EX from last year. It was the lovely matt translucent blue over raw carbon, with painted flat silver logos. This does have a slightly odd effect on the matt finish, but it’s usually not noticeable and it’s not unpleasant. It looks smashing in bright sunlight.

I did the main matt invisiframe before riding the bike. As said above, the recommendation is you do the clear covering before decals, and there are faint lift marks around the decals on my forks that prove this to be true.

What I got wrong was ordering the wrong logo decal kit – it was for the Gen 6 and was the wrong size. I eventually got round to re-ordering and the peeps on the other end of invisframe’s email address could not have been more helpful. I’m not a splashy logo person, so having what felt like foot tall branding on the downtube was something I wanted to cover up. I’d suggest messaging them first just to check the dimensions on the logo – Trek, for some reason, has used different sized versions of its logo on the same model of bike in a slightly random manner.

Also: I’m totally coveting that white Specialized, Tracey. What a smashing looking bike!

Thanks. That bikes not been out yet. It was bought from Evans last year in the 50% off sale Ordered it whilst in the Alps then he was injured and has only just got back out riding.

It may get out in the next few weeks as our daughter is back from NZ so she will probably ride it before her dad.

If not it’s first outing will be in Verbier at the end of June

Matte black carbon frame here and I had iNvisiframe fit my matte frame protection. I then put gloss manufactuter decals on top that matched my gloss orange Fox forks.

Been very happy with it and the gloss frame decals work nicely with the gloss forks.

Gloss frame decals on top of matte iNvisiframe frame kit looks absolutely fine imo, if anything it gives the frame decals extra ‘pop’ which is what I was after on my bike build. If you want logos to look more stealthy then matte on matte would be better though.

Thanks all.

I punted for matt decals in the end just coz, well, I needed to make a choice and was still basically undecided.  They are going on top of the invisiframe for sure so I can always change them in the future anyway.  They are going to be magenta on matt black frame so there no stealth going on here!

Ooooh – that sounds nice!

Stick up a pic when done. I’ll see if I can grab a pic of mine (once I’ve cleaned the mud off)

related…..I’ve a nice new cotic solaris on the way next week, Matt orange….thinking about wrapping it to help keep it clean.  does the invisiframe in matt clean easy enough?

It’s fine – but you will notice that the colour / texture will be different on the inivisframed bits. To be honest, the finish on the Solarii (both green and orange) looked lovely when I saw them up close at a demo day the other month, and I’d hesitate before wrapping them with anything. They’re that nice. The frames themselves look equally awesome.

does the invisiframe in matt clean easy enough

Yes it does. I have this on another bike that’s 4 years old and it still looks great

I’ve started fitting my my new kit.  This is the first time I’ve done it myself.  Internal radius around the rear of the seat tube has rendered a part not fitted.  Not sure if I can rescue this yet or if I need something with wedges cut out.  But the stays all went on ok.  I’m anticipating the other main large parts being not too bothersome.

Matt decals on the forks look great, so I’m confident matt decals was the correct decision.

👍

Don’t forget to post the pics

I won’t! Might be another day or two. Pesky work getting in the way!

Finally (yes I know there’s a million bike photo faux pars there)

I didn’t love the process of applying invisiframe but it came out ok.  Mostly all smooth with no bubbles, just a couple of non-perfect alignment bits.

Looks good 👍