The process of applying a die-cut vinyl decal should not be intimidating. It may may be slightly more involved than slapping on a bumper sticker, but a precision-cut decal looks better and lasts longer – so it’s worth it!

Below you will find instructions along with a few additional tips to ensure that your application is perfect!

Decal Example
Read these instructions from start-to-finish before you begin

It’s a good idea to ensure that you understand the entire process becore you begin your decal application. This is especially important if you have never applied a vinyl decal before.

We use a high-quality vinyl that will last for years if properly applied and maintained. It is recommended that you apply your decal when the temperature is 45-80 degrees Fahrenheit. It will withstand temperatures well outside of this range, but this is the ideal temperature range for the application process.

Know Your Layers
Know your layers

Your vinyl decal consists of three layers of material that include: Backing material, the vinyl decal, and transfer tape (also referred to as application tape)

Applying the decal is the objective!

It may sound silly, but before you start it’s important to understand that the vinyl decal layer is the important part of the product.

Both the transfer tape and the backing material will eventually be discarded. These layers are necessary for the transportation of the decal and the application process… but in the event that these layers happen to get a speck of dirt or a peeled corner along the way, keep calm and carry on!

Prepare The Decal
Prepare the decal

When you receive your decal, we have already made every effort to ensure that it’s ready for application. It is still a good idea to squeegee the transfer tape over the decal an additional time or two prior to application.

This process does not require a lot of force. You can use something small, flat, and relatively blunt – like a credit card.

This step may​ prove to be helpful in a later step when we remove the transfer tape and the decal from the backing material. During this step, we want the entire vinyl decal to release from the backing material while remaining attached to the transfer tape.

Prepare the application surface

This is a critical part of the application process. You will want to use a substance like rubbing alcohol to ensure that the application surface is perfectly clean and void of the smallest debris.

When in doubt, clean the surface again! Vinyl decals are not intended to be applied over grit or dirt. Failing to clean the surface will damage the look and longevity of your decal.

Visualize Your Application Location
Visualize the application location

It’s often helpful to use something like painter’s tape to visualize where you will be applying your decal. It only requires a few seconds and can help you avoid a mistake.

It’s important to avoid application areas that encounter a lot of friction (like the path of a windshield wiper).

In some applications, where the precision of the vertical/horizontal application is critical, some customers remove the backing material (in a later step), while the transfer tape remains adhered to the application surface, thus the painter’s tape alignment is never lost. This extra step is generally not necessary given the size of our decals… a sober eyeball is all you need. 😉

Choose Desired Orientation When Removing The Transfer Tape
Be Careful When Lifting The Transfer Tape
Re-Squeegee Vinyl that doesn’t release to the transfer tape
Remove the transfer tape and vinyl decal from the backing layer

It’s important that you do not rush through this step. The goal is to ensure that the entire vinyl decal is released onto the application tape from the backing layer. This is why we “prepared the decal” during a previous step.

For some decals, it may be helpful to consider the orientation in which the transfer tape and vinyl will be removed. Larger pieces of vinyl are easier to work with, and often times the directions of the vinyl lends itself to one direction or the other. In the example pictured to the left, it is easier to remove the tape from left-to-right.

As you remove the application tape, take care that the smaller pieces of the vinyl decal are being released to the transfer tape. In the event that you encounter a stubborn piece of the decal that wants to remain attached to the backing material, carefully lay the transfer tape back down and squeegee the section so that the vinyl adheres to the transfer tape and try the section again.

At the conclusion of this step, the transfer tape and vinyl decal should be completely removed from the backing material. You can dicard the backing material.

Release Vinyl Decal to Transfer Tape
Adhere Transfer Tape and Decal To The Application Surface
Squeegee the Transfer Tape and Decal To The Application Surface
Adhere the transfer tape and vinyl decal to the application surface

Carefully lay the transfer tape and vinyl decal, sticky-side down, onto the application surface. Try to “roll” the decal so that you avoid air bubbles and wrinkles. Once the sticky side of the vinyl has adhered itself to the application surface, it’s nearly impossible to remove it without destroying the decal.

Once the transfer tape has been placed, use your squeegee (or credit card) to ensure that the vinyl decal has completely adhered to the application surface. If you happened to introduce an air bubble, this is an ideal time to push the bubble out from beneath the vinyl decal as best you can.

Remove the Transfer Tape Carefully
Remove the transfer tape, leaving only the vinyl decal on the application surface

Just as we removed the transfer tape and decal from the backing layer, slowly remove the transfer tape from the application surface. As you remove the transfer tape, make sure that the vinyl decal remains adhered to the application surface.

If a piece fo the vinyl decal remains stuck to the transfer tape, carefully lay the transfer tape back onto the application surface and squeegee the area until the vinyl is able to release from the transfer tape.

Don’t stress yourself if you find a small air bubble under your decal. Bubbles frequently gas-out after a couple of days. If necessary, you can use a tiny pin to release the air. The vinyl will shrink and obscure the pin-hole – do not use something like a knife, which is blunt and will leave a cut mark that will damage your decal.

Success!
Voila! Your die-cut vinyl decal has been applied successfully!

Application is that easy!