| If you have recently purchased a vinyl lettering product | | | | alignment marks to guide you. |
| you may be wondering how to install your purchase. | | | | For the wet method you first need to make your |
| Vinyl lettering can be installed easily using two basic | | | | solution. Mix 8 ounces of water with four to five drops |
| methods. There is the wet method and the dry | | | | of common household dishwashing soap such as |
| method. The wet method involves using a soapy | | | | Dawn or Palmolive. Never use more than 10 drops of |
| solution and a squeegee, while the dry method involves | | | | soap to 8 ounces of water, too much soap can cause |
| using just a squeegee. Either method will leave you | | | | problems during installation. Using a spray bottle, hold |
| with a clean professional looking installation. | | | | one side of the vinyl up while you spray the solution |
| First off, it is highly recommended that you try a couple | | | | onto the surface. Now you want to cut half of the |
| practice runs with small pieces of vinyl to get a good | | | | backing tape from the vinyl and transfer tape, then use |
| understanding of the process involved in vinyl | | | | your squeegee to smooth down your vinyl onto the |
| installation. Most reputable vendors will include a small | | | | surface. Use firm pressure but not so much that you'll |
| vinyl decal that you can use for practicing. | | | | damage the vinyl or tear the transfer tape. Once |
| For either method start off by washing your hands. It's | | | | you're happy with the first half remove the other half |
| important that no dirt or residue be introduced to the | | | | of the vinyl backing. Spray more solution onto the other |
| application process, it can cause imperfections and | | | | side and use your squeegee to smooth out the other |
| reduce the tachiness of the vinyl. Remove your | | | | half. |
| product from its packaging. Vinyl is susceptible to hot | | | | The dry method for applying vinyl is exactly the same |
| and cold temperatures, causing bending and warping | | | | except you don't use any solution. The dry method is |
| of the vinyl, so make sure you're vinyl lettering is | | | | recommended on small vinyl projects that you can |
| flattened. You can accomplish this by laying it out on a | | | | easily work out any bubbles from. The wet method |
| flat surface and running your squeegee back and forth | | | | allows air bubbles to slip out more easily and is |
| across the transfer tape. Alternatively, you can also roll | | | | preferred for larger vinyl projects. |
| the vinyl in the reverse direction that it was shipped | | | | Once the vinyl has been smoothed out with your |
| until it lays flat on your surface. Flattening the vinyl | | | | squeegee slowly remove the transfer tape from the |
| helps ensure it will go on flat and prevents wrinkles | | | | surface. If there are any air bubbles remaining in your |
| from forming and making it unattractive. | | | | vinyl you can use a small sewing needle to puncture |
| With your vinyl flattened out you want to ensure the | | | | holes in the vinyl and continue to squeegee out the air |
| application surface is clean as well. Always assume | | | | bubbles. These small holes will not be visible in the |
| surfaces are dirty until cleaned. You can simply use a | | | | finished product. Vinyl is a very flexible and malleable |
| mild detergent for cleaning the surface. If you don't | | | | product that will tend to close up any small |
| ensure your surface is entirely clean you can be left | | | | imperfections such as needle holes. |
| with small bubbles that are referred to as vinyl pimples. | | | | If you need to reposition any part of the vinyl, you can |
| Once you have a clean surface, place you're vinyl | | | | try to use a heat gun or hair dryer to get some of the |
| where you wanted to go and use masking tape to | | | | tackiness back to the vinyl and help it stick a little |
| create alignment marks to keep it straight during the | | | | better. Heat is also good if you want to try to "push" |
| installation. Once you're happy with the alignment | | | | the vinyl around and work it into a different position. |
| remove the vinyl from the surface and get ready to | | | | Now you're left with a clean professional looking vinyl |
| make the final installation. | | | | installation. Again, it is recommended that you practice |
| Now take two small pieces of masking tape and place | | | | a couple times before attempting your first installation. |
| them near the center of the vinyl, at the top and | | | | If you don't have a squeegee on hand, you can also |
| bottom, this will hold the vinyl in place while you are | | | | use a credit card or rubber spatula to help smooth our |
| removing the backing tape and using the squeegee to | | | | any air bubbles. |
| install it. Replace the vinyl on the surface using the | | | | |