Vehicle Graphics Application in 7 Easy Steps.

Vehicle Graphics Application by Vibe Signs.

How to install vinyl graphics to a vehicle. Tips and tricks of the trade.

Any vinyl can be added to vehicle paintwork with ease. The tools to be used are;

A soft vinyl applicator
Cast Vinyl
Washing up liquid
Isopropyl alcohol
A spray bottle
Small Snap-off blade knife
Meter Rule
20mm Hi Tack Masking tape
Water
Rags

Steps to apply vinyl to vehicle are;

Wash vehicle to remove dirt, dust, bugs, wax, and grease. Use washing up detergent.
Cut and polish the vehicle if required, then rewash the vehicle with detergent to remove wax.
Dry vehicle and place in the shade or under cover.
Making a template of existing graphics from the vehicle.
Cutting the vinyl graphics.
Tape the vinyl graphics into position on the vehicle with masking tape if required.
Apply vinyl graphics.
Heat vinyl after application
Wax the vehicle.

Step 1 - Washing the Vehicle. This may seem like a no-brainer comment, but it is imperative that all dirt be removed from the vehicle where the vinyl will be applied or water will be sprayed on the vehicle for wet application. If the vinyl is to be applied to areas such as the wheel arches, bonnet or boot, then the underside of the bonnet lid around the area of application must be cleaned and free of dust, oil, dirt etc. The same applies for the boot and wheel arches. When applying water to this area and wrapping the vinyl around these edges, the water can draw dirt from other areas to the back of the vinyl adhesive. If this happens, spray the back of the adhesive with water and rub the dirt off the adhesive with your finger until the vinyl is dirt free. Clean and dry the area once again and allow the vinyl to dry before trying to reapply. Once the vehicle is cleaned and dry it must be placed in a cool dry place for vinyl application. Applying the vinyl in direct sunlight onto hot paintwork must never be done. Step 2 - Cutting and polishing the vehicle. (If Required). If the vehicle has had vinyl graphics applied to it previously, a silhouette may have been made by the vinyl graphics. This occurs after a long period of time where the paintwork has been exposed to the elements and conditions such as car washing machines. The exposed paintwork is scuffed and the area under the vinyl looks polished. This can be removed with a mild cutting polish and a buffing pad. If using a motorized buffer be careful to place the buffer on a slow speed and continuously move the buffer around the vehicle panel evenly. Too much speed will heat the paintwork and cause swirl marks. If you must cut and polish the car then the polish will need to be removed from the vehicle afterward. This is the only time I will suggest using a mild solution of washing up liquid on your vehicles paintwork. Step 3 - Making a template of existing vinyl graphics from your vehicle. If the graphics you want to copy from your vehicle are on a contoured surface such as a fender or bonnet with deep contours, the paper is taped over the vinyl and traced using a dotted line method. Once the tracing is complete the paper is laid on a flat surface and photographed. The photograph is then transferred to the design package where it is digitized to create vector graphics that are cuttable with a vinyl plotting machine. The vinyl graphics are then saved on our servers for future use. Step 4 Cutting the vinyl graphics. If the vinyl you would like to apply is of straight lines you may like to hand cut the vinyl yourself. The best knives to cut vinyl with are the small snap-off blade knives. (Not a Stanley box cutter). Always use the sharpest knife and a steel rule for cutting. If the lines are curved then a computer plotter is the best way to cut the vinyl for symmetry. Plus, if the car is damaged in any way, replacing the vinyl is as easy as picking up the phone. Step 5 - Applying the vinyl to the vehicle. If the graphics to be applied are lines of computer cut text an application paper will be applied over the graphics for the application. This paper MUST NOT be wet at any time during the application. Wetting the paper will cause the paper to de-laminate from the adhesive and you may end up having to remake the affected graphic. It is suggested to tape all of the graphics into position with 20mm masking tape to ensure symmetry and make sure the graphics are aesthetically correct. Stick the graphic in place using 2 tabs of tape. One in the top left corner. One in the top right corner. This will make it easy to position and align the graphic on the vehicle. If you must measure for height, ensure it is from a straight line on the vehicle. Where ever you measure from on one side of the car, measure from exactly the same place on the opposite side of the car for the other graphics. When using a tape measure it is good practice to measure from the 100mm mark and not the end of the tape. Just remember to add 100mm to the final measurement. Applying vinyl graphics must be millimeter perfect and a good vinyl applicator works to fractions of a millimeter. Once all of the graphics are taped to the vehicle there are a few methods of further taping the graphics for secure application.

Hinge Method 1. Applying a line of tape to the top of the application paper so it is half on the paintwork and half on the application paper will make a hinge. The graphic can then be lifted on this hinge, the backing paper removed and water applied to the adhesive. The graphic can then be positioned onto the paintwork and pushed down with a vinyl applicator. Hinge Method 2. Applying a line of tape vertically across the center of the vinyl graphic will allow the graphic to be hinged in the center. This will allow either the left or the right side of the graphic to be applied in 2 stages. There are other methods but for an amateur application these two are the most useful. Applying the vinyl to the vehicle is done using a very mild solution of soapy water. Using a 1-liter spray bottle mix 2 drops of washing up detergent to 1 liter of water. Shake well and using a scrap piece of vinyl set the sprayer to the finest mist and mist the adhesive. The adhesive should not be 100% wet. The water will float across the adhesive during application. What you are looking for is a solution which will tack off in about 5 seconds. Once this is achieved, go ahead and start applying all of the vinyl graphics to the vehicle. Do not remove the application paper until the entire vehicle graphics have been applied. This will ensure the water has evaporated. Once you have applied your last graphic start at the first and push down the graphic again. Then slowly remove the application paper by starting at one corner and slowly peel the paper back on itself until you reach the vinyl. If the vinyl pulls off the vehicle push the paper back down with the applicator and leave for half an hour. After half an hour repeat the process until the paper comes off the graphic. If there are any water bubbles in the graphic gently push them down with the applicator. If the bubble is quite large and won't move under the vinyl you may pop the bubble using a pin and gently work the water out of the pin hole until the vinyl is flat. If you crease the vinyl at all during the application you may use a cigarette lighter to gently wave the heat over the vinyl. The crease will disappear as the vinyl returns to its original state. Too much heat will burn and wrinkle the vinyl so remember, less is more. Step 6 - Heating the vinyl. After the vinyl has been applied and all of the application paper has been removed it is best to apply heat to the vinyl to ensure any contours will remain in place, Vinyl has a memory and will try to return to its original shape unless heat is applied to apply a new conformation. A heat gun with temperature control is best used for the heating process. a soft rag or cotton gloves is best used to push the vinyl into its contours during the heating process. Make sure that there isn't any water under the vinyl before you heat it or the vinyl will try and conform to the water. Step 7 - Waxing the car. After the vinyl has been applied to the vehicle and the surface of the paintwork and vinyl is cool, wax the vehicle's paintwork and vinyl with a cream polish to re-protect the paint and vinyl. Do not apply wax to hot paintwork.