Instructions

Preparing the Surface

You must thorougly clean all surfaces before applying a vinly graphic.  The quality of installation will depend on you ensuring that you clean the surface prior to installing the graphic.  Follow the directions below. 

 

Glass and Plastics  

 

Thourougly clean the surface with a glass cleaner and a lint-free cloth.  Remove any dry debry (for example: any tape or glue) with a singlet edge razor blade.  If you are planning to use acrylic note: remove the protective liner from the acrylic 24 hours prior to applying the vinyl graphic.  This will allow any air bubbles (outgassing) to dissipate from the acrylic.  If you skip this step you may observe air bubbles forming under your graphic within a couple of days.     

 

Interior Painted Surfaces

Surfaces may be cleaned with any multi-purpose household cleaner such as Fantastic.  Wipe the surface clean and dry with a lint-free cloth before applying any vinyl graphics.  Freshly painted surfaces should be dried for atleast 72 hours prior to applying any vinly graphics. 

 

Painted Metals and Base Metals

These surfaces may be clean with a solvent such as Naphtha, Xylol or Lazquer Thinner.  Dry the surface with a lint-free cloth before th solvent evaporates.  Freshly painted surfaces should be atleast dried 72 hours prior to applying any vinly graphics. 

 

Temperatures Requirments  

Very Important!!!  The room temperature should be between 45 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit for the best results!  Very  high humidity (above 90 percent) may affect the application process.   Heat can soften the vinyl and ultimately lead to vinyl failure.  Applying outside the recommended ranges of temperatures reduces the vinyls ability to perform.

 

Materials Needed      

• A small cutting knife (an Exacto Knife works very good)

• A spray bottle with a mixture of dish soap and water. (2 small drops of dish soap to one pint of water.)

• A plastic squeegee. 

• Dry towel

• 2" roll of masking tape

• The (Pre-mask, Vinyl Graphic, and Liner)graphic consists of three separate pieces.

 

1. Using small tabs of masking tape, tack the graphic to the intended surface . This is to insure proper placement before the liner is removed.

2. Apply a single horizontal strip of 2" masking tape to the top of the graphic. The strip of should be split between the graphic and the intended surface with 1" on each side (as shown). This strip will be used as a hinge that will insure the graphic does not move during the application process.

3. Hold the bottom edge of the hinged graphic away from the intended surface and remove the liner to reveal the sticky backing of the vinyl. Save this piece of liner for use later in the application process.

4. To assist in proper placement, spray the intended surface with the mixture of soap and water. (This coating of water reduces the tackiness of the vinyl, letting you lift and re-place the graphic if necessary.

5. While still holding the hinged graphic away from the intended surface. Using the squeegee and starting from the top, begin to marry the graphic to the intended surface.

6. Once the graphic is in proper position and lying perfectly flat on the intended surface, you can now start forcing the water out from beneath the graphic. Starting from the center working outward, use firm strokes with the squeegee to force the water out from beneath the individual letters or elements contained in your graphic.

7. After all letters and elements have had most of the water squeegeed out from beneath them, it is now time to remove the pre-mask from the graphic and reveal the final product. To remove the pre-mask without difficulty, spray with water and soap mixture and wait a minute or two for the pre-mask paper to become soggy. Gently remove the pre-mask. Be careful not to pull the graphic up with the pre-mask paper. 

8. Squeegee out any remaining water bubbles using the piece of left over liner. Lay the piece of left over liner over the graphic, with shiny side of liner facing you. Proceed to apply hard pressure to squeegee out any remaining water or air bubbles.

Applying vinyl can be easy as long as you follow the tips above! 

 

Removing Vinyl Lettering

 

Vinyl Lettering is removable but NOT re-usable. To remove the lettering just apply heat with a hair dryer or heat gun to "de-activate" the adhesive, then peel the lettering off the surface. You may need to use some standard household cleaners to remove any excess adhesive.