Our Decals are made from 5 to 9 year, self-adhesive, vinyl film. Vinyl comes on it's own backing paper. The decal is machine cut into the vinyl, and then all the vinyl that doesn't belong is weeded out by hand. Then the vinyl decal is placed between it's own backing paper and a layer of application tape. The application tape holds the vinyl image together while you place it onto the destination surface. Once the decal is placed in desired position and pressed down, the application tape is then peeled away leaving only the decal.
There are two basic methods for applying vinyl decals. The wet method and the dry method. All decals can be applied using either method depending on the surface the decal will be applied to. The dry way is faster, the wet way is safer. Either way take your time and work slow. Dry decals tend to stretch out if they stick by accident and can ruin your decal. Wet allows you to remove the decal and re-position safely during the application but will take longer to dry.
The Wet Method
Metal, Automotive Paint, Glass or other surfaces not damaged by liquids
1. Clean the surface with glass cleaner. When you think it's clean do it again. Once dry clean the surface again with rubbing alcohol allow to dry.
2. spray the cleaned surface with clean water, then using a sharp angle peel the vinyl-backing away from the application-tape that is holding the vinyl decal and spray the vinyl image also with clean water. The more water you apply to the destination surface, the more you can slide the decal around before it starts to stick, but too much water can cause problems with smaller detailed lines in the image staying together, so don't go too over board with the water if you have small lines and details in your decal.
3. Place the image still on the application tape onto the destination surface as close to perfect as you can get it. You can slide it around until it is lined up how you want it. Be careful of small lines and details.
4. Once you have it where you want it. Starting from the image-center and moving outward, squeegee (If you don't have a Squeegee use a credit card) out all the water and air bubbles. Start with light pressure, and slowly build with each pass over the graphic.
5. Let the image stay on the surface with the application tape on for minimum of an hour to dry. Direct sun and heat speed up the drying time. Tempatures below 60 degrees, humid and rainy days can take up to 24 hours.
6. Once dry, begin peeling the application tape off using a sharp angle, as this helps to keep your decal on your surface. If the vinyl is not sticking, its not dry yet, or your surface was not clean. If the image comes off the surface still sticking to the application tape. Simply lay it back down and squeegee hard a few times, and give it as much time as it needs to dry and adhere.
The Dry Method
1. Clean your surface. When you think it's clean do it again. If the surface can take rubbing alcohol without damage use it after other cleaning is done.
2. With your decal still taped up. Lay your decal backing side down, application tape side up and align as you like it. It should be adhesive side down, looking like it will look after applied. Once you get it lined up how you like it.
3. Place a strip of masking-tape vertically down the center of the image to hold in place, over-lapping the edge onto the destination surface. Make sure the decal won't move after taping it down.
4. Pull one side of the decal back flat against itself, folding over the masking-tape center-line that you just placed to hold it down. Don't crease it, just fold it.
5. Using a sharp angle, start in a corner and peel away the decals backing until you get to the masking tape center line you laid to hold it in place. Keeping the vinyl on the application tape pinned back with your finger, cut away the removed backing along the center placed tape line. Careful not to scratch your surface or cut your vinyl decal.
6. Using any squeegee or a credit card, begin to lay your decal down onto your prepared surface from the masking tape center line outward. DO NOT LAY DOWN ALL AT ONCE! Hold the image at an angle above the destination-surface, and slowly, starting at the center placement tape line, press down the decal from the center out using the squeegee. Squeegee from the center tape line outward as you lay it down, taking care to push out any air bubbles as you go.
7. Once one side is laid down, remove the center tape line, then remove the other half of the vinyl backing the same way as before, and repeat the process for the other side.
8. Squeegee the entire decal a few times, from the center outward, each time with greater pressure, making sure that you get all the air bubbles out.
9. Begin peeling the application tape off using a sharp angle. If the image comes off the surface sticking to the application tape, simply lay back down and squeegee hard a few times, then try again to peel back the tape - remember, a sharp angle works best when separating vinyl from either the backing or the tape.