STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
| Please be aware, once we ship a Vinyl Graphic the rest is up to you. We are not responsible for any damage you or anyone else may do to the graphic. If you feel you are unable to follow these instructions and may not be able to properly apply this graphic, please seek out the help of a professional vinyl graphic installer. We assume no responsibility for this once it leaves our shop. Thank you for your cooporation and understanding. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE EMAIL US BEFORE APPLYING YOUR GRAPHIC |
INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING VINYL
This page is primarily for application to flat surfaces.
For curved surfaces, such as car windows and the like, please go to page TWO, HERE.
W H AT IT IS
Premium Cast Vinyl Film
2 mil premium grade, high performance cast PVC film. Designed for superior quality exterior graphics. Exterior
durability up to 9 years. Metallic vinyl films up to 5 years. Applying your vinyl graphics is simple if you follow
some basic guidelines. The lettering and/or graphic design 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 package, and take a look?
Good. Before applying, flatten it out in a warm room (if shipped rolled in a tube). Most of our Vinyl Graphics are
shipped flat.
You will need a few items for applying the vinyl graphic:
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 45-50
degrees Fahrenheit. Also the lettering surface should be free of dirt and other contaminants for best results. Done
properly, vinyl will last for 8-9 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 or carpenters
level 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. See Step 1 Below
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. See Step 2 Below
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. See Step 3
Below
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. See Step 4
Below
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. First, squeegee a little more with VERY FIRM pressure for good measure. The
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. If it does start to pull off the window or surface, simply put the tape
back down, squeegee some more, and let it dry for a couple hours. Then lightly mist the tape, squeegee again, and
start once again to pull the tape off, slowly and easily. Pop any bubbles with a pin and press out the air or water.
Any water bubbles will evaporate. See Step 5 Below
This page is primarily for application to flat surfaces.
For curved surfaces, such as car windows and the like, please go to page TWO, HERE.
W H AT IT IS
Premium Cast Vinyl Film
2 mil premium grade, high performance cast PVC film. Designed for superior quality exterior graphics. Exterior
durability up to 9 years. Metallic vinyl films up to 5 years. Applying your vinyl graphics is simple if you follow
some basic guidelines. The lettering and/or graphic design 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 package, and take a look?
Good. Before applying, flatten it out in a warm room (if shipped rolled in a tube). Most of our Vinyl Graphics are
shipped flat.
You will need a few items for applying the vinyl graphic:
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 45-50
degrees Fahrenheit. Also the lettering surface should be free of dirt and other contaminants for best results. Done
properly, vinyl will last for 8-9 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 or carpenters
level 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. See Step 1 Below
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. See Step 2 Below
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. See Step 3
Below
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. See Step 4
Below
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. First, squeegee a little more with VERY FIRM pressure for good measure. The
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. If it does start to pull off the window or surface, simply put the tape
back down, squeegee some more, and let it dry for a couple hours. Then lightly mist the tape, squeegee again, and
start once again to pull the tape off, slowly and easily. Pop any bubbles with a pin and press out the air or water.
Any water bubbles will evaporate. See Step 5 Below
| White Tiger Signs & Graphics Install Instructions |