Discuss the various aspects of heat pressed vinyl transfers. Popular and new types of vinyl media, suppliers, vinyl cutters /plotters, press times, quality, how to instructions and more can be found in this heat press sub forum.
I have got a large and heavy decal to put up on a window shop of a friend of mine. It's 10x1.5 feet, see scaled attach.
I figured out that it'll probably be better for me to do a wet application, since
it's quite likely I will have to reposition it. Any particular tips you feel to share?
Also, how would you go about to masking such a long decal with application
tape without making a mess out of it?
First I would definitely recommend doing it wet, if it was me I would just use plain water to spray the window and the back of the graphic after removing the backing. As for masking it, I have a long table with my transfer tape mounted on it and just do it like a normal masking job. I'd also get someone to help with that big of graphic. But I am still fairly new to this also, so I don't know the easiest ways yet.
Ok.. Here is how i would do it.. to lay mask on a graphic that big.. I have a thing called the big squeegee.. there is a video on this page on how the thing works.. Masking With the Big Squeegee
Ok.. so you dont have a big squeegie.. You can do it this way..
Use making that is a bit wider than the area you are gonna cover.
pull out about 6- 12 inches of mask.. and lay as straight as posible on the vinyl.. (remember any bubble in the mask will make bubble in the applied vinyl...
squeegie that down.. now lay the roll of mask down on the vinyl.. use an empty roll and use that to push against the roll of mask to make it unroll as it lays the mask on the vinyl straignt.. ( if you watch the video of the big squeegee this is kinda the same way).
I hope that makes sence as its easier to do than to explain..
as for when i go to lay the viny.. draw your lines on the glass.. tape the vinyl up with mask tape.. and center hindge using app. fluid or soapy water..
I used rapidtac ..... also do not clean the windows with windex before applying the vinyl as it has silicone in it and can cause problems down the road..
clean the window with a mixture of alcahol and water..
With a decal that big I would use a minimum of 2 but more than likely 3 people. One on each end and one in the middle to help guide it on level.
You would need to apply it wet, I use water with just a bit of soap in it, but being this large and doing it wet, make sure you tape the corners down to help hold it up.
As far as taping it, I have a large table as well, but before I had that I used the floow for really big decals and again used more than on person when applying the tape to ensure there were no bubbles.
My personal experience is, don't do it wet. Of course I have to be the voice of opposition!
What I would do is try it wet and try it dry to see which you prefer. When doing it wet, you will find the application tape wants to lift the vinyl up with it. It makes for a longer time trying to get it to go on. I would tape it to the windo in the position and cut back some paper on one end. Then apply it first. Then have someone hold the other end and pull back alot of the paper. Then take your squeegee and make sure you press it down while the person is angling the vinyl for you.
But like I said, I would test it both ways first to see what you are more comfortable with.
__________________
BelQuette Inc, 877.202.0886 & Screener's Choice, 330-345-5877
Mod1 Direct to Garment Printer, Made in the USA www.belquette.com
With a decal that large re-positioning is really out of the question wet or dry. I would go with plain water, tape the decal on either end for positioning, tape hinge in the center and lay one side down pull the hinge and lay the other.
Yup to what david said.. The center hinge is best.. I do pieces this big and bigger quite often.... If you tape it straight and center hinge you should have no problem... If you dont understand what we mean by center hindge.. if you go to Signs 101 - Signs 101 Home and do a search there are even some people that have loaded instructions with pictures.. in some of the post... The advantage to goin with rapid tac over soapy water is that rapid tac makes it stick quicker than soapy water..
Although I haven't grasped the center hinge thingy yet, I've just subscribed to
101signs.com and there are some other people like you willing to share their
knowledge.
I think I will try a whole bottom hinge wet application with a little help from
my friend. I can't quite picture in my mind the vertical center hinge business...
I agree with Jerid, dry is the only way to go. Mystysue has a good idea for the tape, I've done it this way several times. If you decide to do it wet just make sure to use the right kind of tape, not all work for wet applications. Also depending on the temperature , it may stretch on you if it's too hot, so early morning is a good time.
I did a 4' x 10' sign a couple of weeks ago. I was able to get the sign down to do it on sawhorses. I had a helper for the first time and it was wonderful.
We used the center hinge (vertical) and did a dry app. Nervous as hell but it came out great!
I took some pix of the masking but don't think I have a hinge picture.
lol.. yeah the little stuff is not hard after the big part.. what i was gonna suggest is to make sure to check the translucancy (sp) of the white vinyl to make sure.. when it has the light behind it from being on a window that it does not turn pinkish.. Not all vinyl is as opague as others.. and layering vinyl can change how the colors looks..
Just a suggestion to try before you lay the whole project..
Large vinyl window decal 
www.busyPrinting.com
Heat Transfer Paper Price List
