Signage Techniques - Applying Vinyl Decals
Posted: Sunday, July 26, 2009
by Matthew Theobald
Exhibition display solutions
Substrate Preparation
If you are applying to a substrate that you have no experience of it makes sense to test both the vinyl and the marking method in an inconspicuous area first.
You should try to make sure that the substrate (the thing that you are sticking the decal onto) is clear of any grease or surface dust. Ideally you would wipe off any dust and debris using a damp cloth and then de-grease the surface using a suitable degreasing fluid.
If the surface of the substrate is contaminated with grease, silicon cleaner, wax polish etc. it may cause problems with bubbling or delamination at a later date. Your supplier should be able to supply you with a data sheet which would state the minimum and maximum application temperatures and you should not try to apply the decal outside of these parameters.
Application
Temperature is very important when working with vinyl - too cold and the vinyl is too brittle to handle and cut easily and may shear or rip when applying. Too hot and the vinyl will be difficult to handle and prone to deformation and bubbling.
Make sure, before you start, that you are happy where everything will go within the design, ideally with reference to a drawing and having tapes everything roughly in place before actually applying the first piece; this is of particular importance when working with large complex decals or designs produced in sections.
You may find that decals that have been produced in more than one piece have a few millimetres of overlap.
Using small pieces of masking tape, position the decal ensuring the correct alignment and mark reference lines over the top and side edges of the transfer tape and onto the surface of the substrate with a suitable pencil or marker. Alternitively, if you are working with a substrate that you do not wish to mark in any way (i.e. vehicle paintwork) put some masking tape or some spare application tape onto the substrate and use that to carry the marks.
Using a strip of masking tape, apply it so that half the width is on the transfer paper and half is on the substrate; this will act as a hinge along the top edge of the decal.
Lift the decal on its hinge and pull back a small section of the top edge of the backing paper. Holding the base of the decal in one hand allow it to return gradually to its original position. Take a squeegee and firmly but gently press the decal down onto the surface beginning in the centre and stroking out towards the edges. Squeegee firmly all the way along the edges of the decal, ensuring that all air is expelled from behind the decal thereby achieving a good bond. Work your way down the decal gradually, pulling away small areas of the backing at a time
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Matt Theobald has been involved in the design and production of exhibition stands for 2 decades and has run his large-format digital printing business in Maidenhead for the last 8 years. http://www.exdisplay.co.uk
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