Installing Car Decals

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:43:01 +0000

If you are looking to change the appearance of your vehicle installing car decals is an inexpensive way of doing so. Its even cheaper if you are able to install them your self. If you are up for the challenge here are some simple steps that will help accomplish installing the car graphics yourself.

Before you begin here are a list of a few items and tools you will need before you start installing car decals:

Car Decals
Measuring Tape
Masking Tape
Clean Soft Cloth
Exacto Knife
Plastic Squeegee

Installing Car Decals Will Transform Your Ride

Step #1

Do your research online and find the car decal that will best suit your vehicle and your personal taste. Once you pick out your graphics you will need to measure the area on your vehicle where you will be installing the graphics. Make sure you take your time and measure exactly and you will be glad you did. Next order your car decals online or find a local graphic sign shop in your town.

Step#2
Once you have in your possession the proper sized car graphics you are ready to begin. So get out side and wash that vehicle until it is spotless. The cleaner your car is the better the graphics will stick. Once your car is completely dry wipe the area, that the car decals will be installed on, with your soft cloth.

Step#3
You are now ready to start installing car decals. Place the graphic into the desired position. If the car graphics that you are installing are real long ask a friend to help you. Next stick the decal in place with a small piece of your masking tape, this will allow you to be able to adjust the graphic until it is properly centered. Now run your masking tape across the top edge of the graphic. This will keep things aligned when you adhere the graphics to the vehicles surface.

Step#4
You will notice that your car decal has transfer tape on the top and bottom side. Start with the top edge and begin peeling of the bottom sided transfer tape smoothing out the decal as you work your way down. Use your plastic squeegee to help you work the bubbles and wrinkles out. Work your way down until you have completely removed the bottom side transfer tape.

Step#5
If your car graphic has expanded over any door openings you can take your exacto knife and gently cut the graphic where the gap for the opening is. Now take your squeegee and gently press the graphic into the gap so it will adhere all the way to the edge. Next begin rubbing a soft cloth over the graphic to ensure that there are no air bubbles.

Step#6
Now that the decal is adhered in placed remove the masking tape and the top layer transfer tape. Go slow with this step to make sure you do not lift the decal or this will cause wrinkles. Now breathe a sigh of relief and step back and take a look at your transformed car! Pat yourself on the back for a job well done! Make sure you do not wash your car for the next few days and always had wash. This will prolong the life of you car decals. Hope you found this information to be valuable. Enjoy installing car decals and your new ride.

Applying Custom Window Decals To Your Vehicle

The Rebirth Of Car Decals

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:24:14 +0000

The re-birth of car decals has begun. Decals were first used in Europe in 1876 and named, “Popular Demand”. During this time there were only 300 decal designs available. By 1878 there were 10,000 designs created! This period became known as “Decalcomania” or actual word, “decal”. This word was short for the French word “Decalquer” which means to copy by tracing. In 1894 the United States of America began printing car decals for Americans. When the 1960s rolled along car decals became a huge hit in the automobile industry.

Over the decades car graphics have dramatically changed. Not only have the styles changed, but the production and application has too. Car decals in the past were made of products that over time would flake off and peel. Now they are made from vinyl materials that extend the life of the vinyl decals making it a more desirable purchase. Past auto decals choices were limited and only a few designs were available to the customer. Today the choices are virtuously endless.

Not only are auto decals available for race cars, school buses, kit cars, sport cars, and business vehicles, but they are for the average Joe driving any vehicle. They can be applied to the hood, side panel, bumper, or the windshield and can vary from simple stripes, unique flames and designs, to complete digitally printed vehicle wraps. The car graphics process immediately transforms your vehicle leaving you with a complete and fresh new look .

One of most popular vinyl graphic car decal is the “Stick Family Decal”. These stick people decals come in a wide variety to reach every family who wants to personalize their car. You have the choice to choose from a variety of style, shapes and sizes. The attractive part about the family car decals, is being able to personalize your own stick figure with your name or message. There are many website companies out there that carry these car window stickers that allow you to place your order online and have a new personalized look for your car within days!

Car Decals Have Changed

If you have a really great design that you want for your vehicle you can have it made into a car decal. Most local sign stores can take your idea or drawing and make into a vinyl decal. Some may require that your drawing be saved into a certain computer format. Please check with them before you spend the time on a project and have to re-do it because it was in the wrong format. Most require a jpeg. or tiff. format.

Car Decals Personalize Your Ride

Decals personalize your ride. Some people like certain stickers to voice their opinion about a certain subject, such as Christian car decals. Others like designs because they are attractive and add color or style to their car. There are also other types of auto decals that recognize and honor people, such as “In Memory” or “Military” or “War” decals. These decals are very meaningful to the owner of the vehicle. Choosing that special car sticker will add the personalization you are looking for. Friends will even recognize your truck decals as you are driving thru town.

Customizing your ride will make your car different than the average car that has just been driven off of the local car dealership lot. One decal can tell you a lot about the owner. So as you search for the perfect auto decal remember you are showing those who see your car decal who you are!