Students at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Canada recently used Drytac ReTac Smooth 150 polymeric PVC film to create a colourful series of stunning wall murals, with support from approved Drytac distributor ND Graphics and regular customer Still Creek Press.
Western Canada’s largest polytechnic institution, BCIT runs a Graphic Communications program as part of the School of Business & Media. The two-year diploma covers all areas of the print sector, including large-format print and signage, with students having access to specialist equipment such as an HP Latex 115 printer and a Summa F-1612 cutting table to support their learning.
Current second-year students were recently tasked with designing, printing, and installing a series of wall murals throughout the lab and office spaces at BCIT. Students pitched design concepts and locations, with the only requirement being that they had to be large enough for tiling. Once their designs were approved, students got to work on putting together their files.
For inspiration, BCIT arranged for both Cameron Wilson, Branch Manager at ND Graphics, and Tessa Michaelson, a former student now working independently as an installer in the Vancouver market, to host guest lectures.
To bring the final designs to life, BCIT selected Drytac’s ReTac Smooth 150—a polymeric self-adhesive vinyl with Drytac’s unique ReTac technology. The ReTac adhesive is permanently peelable, allowing for easy repositioning during installation and clean removal—even years later. This flexibility makes it a versatile choice for a wide range of indoor wall graphic applications.
“We were looking for a durable 6 mil (150µ) film suitable for wall installations,” said Cam Rouse, Faculty Member on the Graphic Communications programme at BCIT. “Our rep at ND Graphics highly suggested we try ReTac Smooth 150 for this application.
“We printed all the designs in-house on our HP Latex 115 printer. Our entire faculty was incredibly impressed with the results, while our first-year students were inspired to create something even better for next year.”
Cameron also paid tribute to ND Graphics, Still Creek Press and other parties that assisted with the project, adding that BCIT is constantly on the lookout for new partners to support its program.
“We’re a small program and we effectively operate as a non-profit – we don’t want to take work away from actual printers, so we cannot recoup the cost of purchasing materials by selling our products,” Cameron said.
“As a result, we’re heavily reliant on donated materials to allow our students to complete projects like this. If companies ever have some inventory they want to purge, we’re always grateful to take it off their hands so that our students can put it to good use.”
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