INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING VINYL

Applying your vinyl graphics is simple if you follow some basic guidelines. The lettering generally comes in one piece and is sandwiched between a paper layer of transfer tape and a wax layer of backing. Why don't you remove it from inside the shipping tube, and take a look?

Good. Before applying, flatten it out in a warm room.

You will need a few items for applying the letters:

1. Mildly soapy water in a spray bottle or mister.  You will make this solution with a  small amount of dish washing liquid. Use three or four drops per quart of water.

2. A piece of hard plastic, we call a "squeegee", or  a plastic putty knife will work fine.

3. A roll of masking tape

4. An exacto knife or a single edge razor blade

5. A tape measure

Wait for a nice day. Windy weather is the worst!!  Vinyl should never be applied in temperatures less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.  Also the lettering surface should be free of dirt and other contaminants for best results.  Done properly, vinyl will last for over seven years.

NOTE:

Patience, good preparation, a steady hand, and good weather will produce the best results.

To get the vinyl straight, start with a piece of tape on one corner, with the backing still on the graphics (try not to get ahead of yourself). Place it where you think it should go.  Go ahead! You can always move it if you don't like the position.

Bring the other side into position and tack it down with another piece of tape. Use a tape measure to be sure it is level. If you have a straight edge on the paper backing to measure to, great! If not, measure from the edges of similar letters.

Stand back and take a moment to look at its position.  If you have a good eye you can see if it looks correct or straight.  If not, measure it again and again if need be. This is the most important part so get the measurement and placement as accurate as possible.

"Hinge" the graphic along the top straight edges with a long piece of tape.
Half of the tape should be on the transfer paper and half on the window or Plexiglas.

If the sign or letters are large, you may want to cut in between the letters to work with a smaller section at a time. After making cuts you can flip the graphic back to remove the wax paper and everything else stays in place.

You can do this next process "wet" or "dry".  Wet is best.  Spray a little of the soapy water solution on the surface that the letters will go on. Don't over wet.  Peel back the wax paper and expose the sticky side of the vinyl.  Big, long names or signs sometimes call for a helper at this point, but if you have a name or sign that can be divided into smaller sections, cut between the letters so that you're dealing with a more manageable piece of vinyl.

Hold the vinyl close to the window. It won't stick if you've wet the window too much.  Holding the free edge tautly, just off the surface, pull the squeegee across the centerline of the graphic, working towards the edges.

Many times it's easier to smooth out the name if you mist the adhesive backing with a little soapy water. Wetting it also prevents it from sticking immediately and the soap makes "the water wetter." Usually a wet application is good, then again, if it's too soapy and doesn't stick at all, you have to rinse some of that soap off with fresh water. Generally, use the wet application, as it's easier to squeegee out water bubbles than it is to squeeze out air bubbles. When all the water evaporates out from under the name in a few days, the vinyl will adhere as if it were going up dry to start. If you're one of those daring pros, you'll start with a dry application because you know it's going to stick better right away.

Now you can lift one of the sides up and squeegee from the centerline toward the edges. ALWAYS work from the center toward the edges! Do this to avoid trapping air or water bubbles.

Finish off the other half the same way (from the center to the edges, then from the middle to the top and bottom). If you started with a good centerline, the rest of the vinyl will fall into place, naturally!

Finish by peeling the transfer tape. Squeegee a little more for good measure. Pull the paper very slowly. The slow motion will allow the vinyl to stay on the surface while removing the paper.  You don't want to pull the vinyl off the surface. Pop any bubbles with a pin and press out the air or water. Any water bubbles will evaporate.

You now are done with the application of vinyl.  Contact us at quikcast@gte.net if you have any more questions.