Vinyl decals are a new trend and are being applied to many surfaces. Vinyl has an inherently special adhesive and can be applied to many surfaces such as glass, wood, metal, or plastic. They can give your home any look you want from vintage to modern and unlike paint, vinyl decals can be removed without being permanent.
Your vinyl sticker has application tape on top which holds the cutout design in position when you peel it from the protective liner at the back. So the actual sticker is sandwiched between an application and a backing layer. Here are our 7 steps for installing vinyl decals on glass surfaces using the hinge method:
To ensure the vinyl sticker on your windows will lay as flat and smooth as possible, we recommend cleaning the surface area before applying it. Make some soapy water application fluid using the method below under “2. Make some Soapy Water”. Or simply use a glass cleaner to get rid of any dust particles or debris that may be there. Use a lint-free cloth and avoid cleaners that can leave a waxy or oily residue behind. If you don’t clean the surface area properly, it can lead to air bubbles and even holes in your graphic. Read more on preparing your surface area.
To apply your vinyl sticker using the wet method, you’ll need to make a substance known as application fluid (aka soapy water). Start by adding several drops of dish soap into a spray bottle with water. Don’t add too much soap, however – it takes only around a tablespoon or two of soap per litre of water. The soapy water prevents the graphic’s adhesive from sticking, making it easy to squeegee without trapping any air.
This would be a good time to find something to use to apply the vinyl with, called a squeegee. Things like a credit card or a piece of stiff cardstock will work or you can include a squeegee with your vinyl order. We recommend wrapping the card or plastic squeegee with a cloth to prevent any scratches to the print. This is specifically important if your vinyl does not have a protective laminate or seal on it.
Once you’ve made sure the surface is free of any debris, fix the top edge of your graphic in place by taping it down with masking or painter’s tape. To make sure that the sticker is positioned correctly, take a step back and look at it from a distance. If you want to be creative about it, use some measuring tools and a level to get the job done right.
Cut a piece of tape that is the same length as your vinyl decal and you want about half to stick to the back of it and half onto your window. This creates a hinge for you to be able to remove the backing liner and apply the sticker while keeping it in place at the top.
Peel the decal from the protective bottom liner. Don’t adhere yet and try not to touch it before you place it on your window.
With the vinyl decal removed from the protective liner, gently spray the surface of the window and the adhesive side of the sticker with the application fluid you made earlier. Slowly lower the graphic over the freshly-sprayed surface from the top down, allowing it to float on a layer of soapy water.
Use your squeegee to force the water out from under the graphic. Start from the centre and work your way out in a linear motion with strong pressure. After squeegeeing the decal several times it should look pretty good without any air bubbles or wrinkles.
Once you’re satisfied with the application and have squeegeed (this is not a word) out all the water and air bubbles, you will remove the application tape. You will remove the application tape slowly from one of the top corners in a 45-degree downward motion. Avoid lifting the tape while pulling it back. It works best to pull the tape back low against the surface with the top side of the tape touching the surface as you’re pulling it off the sticker. This reduces the chance of the vinyl lifting up while you’re removing the application tape. If that does happen it means the surface is still too wet for the glue to stick. Simply squeegee the sticker some more until it is properly dry and then try again. Pull the application tape away until you’ve completely removed it from the applied sticker.
Printed Vinyl Book Covers are going to change your life! They are easy to apply with no sellotape or additional plastic covering required. The vinyl sticks easily to the surface of the book much
Vinyl is a printable sticker material that has adhesive on the back which makes it easy to apply on any surface. Vinyl stickers are also known as sticky vinyl, vinyl decals or die-cut stickers.
How important is it to prepare the surfaces before applying any vinyl? It is fundamentally vital that all surface areas are prepared before applying any vinyl product. This cannot be stressed enough. If not
