Applying Vinyl:

Please read the instructions below all the way through at least once  to see if you are up to the task of installing the graphic yourself. It's not difficult, but a bit more complex than hanging up a picture. The target audience for this page is a first timer. The assumption here is you are applying your graphic to a smooth surface, such as a glass door/window; or on your car/truck. Sections on this page:

• Items Required

• Installation Procedures

• Alternative Method 1

• Alternative Method 2 (for wider graphics)

Items Required:

1. Your vinyl graphic (of course!), which presently is sandwiched between a protective backing and a transfer tape. Terms to learn: the backing of the graphic is also known as the "release liner", the graphic is presently sticking to this liner. On top of the graphic now is the "transfer tape", often with a similar color (light beige) and texture as your ordinary masking tape.

2. A "squeegee" to apply the vinyl (not the same as your windows cleaning squeegee). This is usually a 2 to 4 inches squeegee made of plastic. A plastic putty knife is usually used.

3. Masking tape (from 1 to 2 inches wide).

4. Empty spray bottle. Fill up this bottle with about 12 ounces of water (soda can's worth) and add a two drops of liquid soap (Dawn works great); shake well to dissolve the soap.

5. Ruler or measuring tape. To be used for positioning your graphic.

6. Sharp blade, such as X-Acto knife.

7. Paper towel, for general clean up.

Installation Procedures:

1. Clean and dry the surface where the graphic will go on. The cleaner the surface, the better the graphic will stick and last. Any streak free method will do, often just plain water and paper towel will work fine.

2. Position your graphic on the surface at the desired position. You should be able to make out the graphic through the transfer tape for alignment. Use your ruler or measuring tape to make sure the graphic is positioned correctly. Once arrived at the desired position, use your masking tape and secure the graphic to the surface. For most graphics (smaller than 24x24 inches), you can tape the top edge. For larger/wider graphics, you can tape one side (left or right side), or in the middle (see alternative method 2 below).

   • Caution/Hint: Do not use the edges of the transfer tape as your reference, since this is a very rough cut. If the graphic consists of letters, the bottom of some letters may go below the "base line" (the usual bottom of the characters). The letters p, g, and q will obviously go below the base line, but often the curve bottom letters, such as o and e will go slightly below base line (true for many fonts). If you are using the base line to line up the graphic, it may be helpful to draw a line on top of the transfer tape to aid the alignment process.

3. Assuming you've masking taped the top of the graphic to the surface, lift the graphic up - using the masking tape as a "hinge". Use small pieces of masking tape and tape the corners of graphic to the surface (just to hold it up).
    

4. Carefully peel off the release liner, starting from one side of the "hinge" and peel up. Re-tape the corners so the graphic stays up. The adhesive side of the vinyl graphic is now exposed.
   
   

5. Spray the soap water onto the surface. Usually a fine mist over the entire area is best; however, more water will help a rookie. Too much liquid will just take more time to get all the water out later. The idea behind the water is to slow down the adhesion process between your graphic and the surface, giving you a chance to correct any problems.
    

6. You are now ready to put the graphic to the surface. Start with removing the small masking tape pieces holding up the corners, then lay the graphic on the surface - slightly pulling the graphic at the corners to remove any wrinkles.
   
   
   
   

7. Starting at the center of the graphic with outward overlapping strokes to the edge, squeegee the water out from the graphic. You can be a bit aggressive here, not enough pressure is more common than too much. You are "getting the water out", when you're in doubt whether you've squeegee enough, squeegee some more. The graphic will start to stick to the surface once the water is out. Squeegee all the water out to the edge of the transfer tape. You can wipe dry the water as it comes off the edge of the transfer tape with paper towel. Repeat the center-to-outside direction and squeegee out any larger underlying graphics.
   
   

   • Hint: If you are applying the graphic on glass, you can get a peek of your squeegee progress by looking at the graphic from the other side of the glass. Just remember to "squeegee some more".
      

8. With the spray bottle, slightly mist the top of the transfer tape and squeegee again. This will soften the transfer tape and make it easier to remove.

9. Slowly remove the transfer tape starting at the masking tape (hinge) and pull at a shallow angle (such as straight down). The transfer tape should be lifting off the graphic and the graphic should be sticking to the surface. If the vinyl graphic comes up with the transfer tape, reapply the transfer tape (with vinyl) to the surface - and "squeegee some more"; then wait a couple minutes before trying to remove the transfer tape again.
   
   

10. After the removal of the transfer tape, look for any air bubbles on the vinyl graphic. Additional squeegee can be done by putting the release liner paper on top of the graphic and squeegee. The major reason for a wet application, as you just did, is to minimize air bubbles. However, even experienced vinyl professionals get bubbles at times. You can use a small pin (such as a sewing needle), and poke a hole at the edge of the bubble. Then use your thumb to squeeze out the bubble starting at the opposite edge and work toward the hole. Vinyl does "breathe" a little, so the smallest of bubbles will eventually breath through after a few days (at times longer). You will still need to apply some thumb pressure at the (breathed) bubble location to help it stick.

Alternative Method 1:

You can split up the graphics to smaller vertical sections and do one section at a time. At step 2 above, you can cut the graphic vertically (between any vinyl) and split the larger graphic to smaller ones; then go through to the end of step 7 for each segment. The masking tape will hold the alignment of the segments. Once all sections are done (to step 7), then work on removing the transfer tape for the whole graphic. Use this method only if you do not have any graphic segment that runs across the entire graphic.

Alternative Method 2:

For larger and wider graphics, you can tape the middle of the graphic and work on one side at a time. Complete to the end of step 7 above for each side, then work on removing the transfer tape for the whole graphic in the end.