Need long lasting die cut vinyl decals suitable for car window application
Hello everyone. I hope I'm posting this in the right place. I am in Jacksonville, FL and I am in need of about 1000 die cut vinyl decals for placement on the outside of car windows. At least I think this is what I need. I am assuming that die cut means there is no backing other than that of the design when you stick the decal to a surface... and is vinyl what I should be asking for??? I have two designs to print, one is all white and the other is a hot pink with a small amount of white. Can you print multi colors on vinyl?
With all of that said, what do I need to make sure I ask for to ensure I get a quality, durable and easy to apply product?
Thanks in advance for your patience with my newbie questions.
Re: Need long lasting die cut vinyl decals suitable for car window application
I have looked and used the search feature and it seems the topics are around my issue but I am not certain of the answers at this point. Anyone who can specifically answer my questions would be appreciated.
Re: Need long lasting die cut vinyl decals suitable for car window application
Im not sure I 100% understand what you need. You say you have a single color design? Id have to see the design to best direct you to the type you need.
Printed Vinyl Decals that are contour cut are like these;
The blue around the deal is just the backing paper.
A cut vinyl decal is more to this; or this;
The first is a single color cut vinyl. the white is the backing paper. The second is a multi color/layered cut vinyl decal.
Re: Need long lasting die cut vinyl decals suitable for car window application
Yes, the design is like those but is basically words and a simple design, such as "Jesus" a picture of a cross and then "Saves". I just don't want any background at all just the words and the cross design. So it would have to be cut around the words and the design, which I assume is what die cut means, yes?
I have read that cast vinyl is what I need, because it lasts longer. Are there different qualities of cast vinyl, such as 3 yr, 5 yr, 10 yr or anything like that? What about the ink? Is there anything I need to be aware of with the ink that would make it last without fading?
Re: Need long lasting die cut vinyl decals suitable for car window application
Quote:
Originally Posted by MWGator38
Yes, the design is like those but is basically words and a simple design, such as "Jesus" a picture of a cross and then "Saves". I just don't want any background at all just the words and the cross design. So it would have to be cut around the words and the design, which I assume is what die cut means, yes?
I have read that cast vinyl is what I need, because it lasts longer. Are there different qualities of cast vinyl, such as 3 yr, 5 yr, 10 yr or anything like that? What about the ink? Is there anything I need to be aware of with the ink that would make it last without fading?
Die cut refers to a shape (die) that you apply pressure on top of an item to cut it out to match that shape. Simplest correlation is that die cutting is the same as using a cookie cutter. Die cutting can sometimes be used for stickers (bumper stickers, round stickers, simple shapes), however it's kind of a misnomer to apply the term to what you want, which is a more complex shape than a square or a circle.
Vinyl cutters cut all kinds of complex shapes, then a process known as "weeding" is done, where the person making the product pulls out all the vinyl that isn't used in the design (all the vinyl outside of the design, and inside letters such as O's, B's, P's). To make sure that everything stays lined up, and that the installer doesn't have to put every single letter on by hand, the design is then masked with a transfer tape. The tape comes in clear, or manilla usually, most companies use the manilla kind since it's cheaper and they've usually got folks adept at applying. Since you are having the job outsourced, and it's an item that a professional won't really be installing, ask the company you are dealing with if they can use a clear mask/tape for an easier install by your customers.
There are different forms of cast vinyl, 5 years is a healthy lifespan. Sometimes they rate for indoor or outdoor, the difference being UV. For your pure white sign, this won't be much of an issue, your pink sign however may have some problems. Shades of red are usually the first to go from UV damage and they start getting brighter and eventually turn white. Laminate can help protect from UV even more, and also gives the decal a lot better weather resistance. Lot of shops producing vehicle decals won't let the item leave the shop without laminating, some companies that produce decals primarily for indoor signage may not laminate. So it'd definitely be a question worth asking of the company you are going through.
Re: Need long lasting die cut vinyl decals suitable for car window application
Well if youre printing on vinyl (a desktop printer wont work) youll need the proper media to do it. The Epson line of printers have a few models that will work great for short run decals, but you will need to purchase a plotter/cutter that has the required optics to see the registration marks needed to do the contour cuts. If youre printing with a thermal tranfer printer like what I have Roland PC60, you can print on damn near any high gloss vinyl. If you intend on going big time, a Versacamm printer/cutter from Roland will give you so many print medias your head will spin trying to figure out which one.
If youre only looking to do a short amount for test purposes, Id suggest outsourcing them. Plenty of members here can do that work. You just need to head over to the BST section and post a Service request post.
Re: Need long lasting die cut vinyl decals suitable for car window application
Quote:
Originally Posted by joeshaul
Die cut refers to a shape (die) that you apply pressure on top of an item to cut it out to match that shape. Simplest correlation is that die cutting is the same as using a cookie cutter. Die cutting can sometimes be used for stickers (bumper stickers, round stickers, simple shapes), however it's kind of a misnomer to apply the term to what you want, which is a more complex shape than a square or a circle.
Vinyl cutters cut all kinds of complex shapes, then a process known as "weeding" is done, where the person making the product pulls out all the vinyl that isn't used in the design (all the vinyl outside of the design, and inside letters such as O's, B's, P's). To make sure that everything stays lined up, and that the installer doesn't have to put every single letter on by hand, the design is then masked with a transfer tape. The tape comes in clear, or manilla usually, most companies use the manilla kind since it's cheaper and they've usually got folks adept at applying. Since you are having the job outsourced, and it's an item that a professional won't really be installing, ask the company you are dealing with if they can use a clear mask/tape for an easier install by your customers.
There are different forms of cast vinyl, 5 years is a healthy lifespan. Sometimes they rate for indoor or outdoor, the difference being UV. For your pure white sign, this won't be much of an issue, your pink sign however may have some problems. Shades of red are usually the first to go from UV damage and they start getting brighter and eventually turn white. Laminate can help protect from UV even more, and also gives the decal a lot better weather resistance. Lot of shops producing vehicle decals won't let the item leave the shop without laminating, some companies that produce decals primarily for indoor signage may not laminate. So it'd definitely be a question worth asking of the company you are going through.
Thanks JoesHaul,
So, to summarize then, I need to ask for my design to be on a laminted cast vinyl (rated for outdoor use, minimum 5 years), weeded, using a clear mask/tape for easy install by my customers. That sound about right?
Now that you have mentioned the problems with the pink, I may hold off on that the first go around until I know better what I'm doing. So do you think the laminating is necessary given the white letters only?
Re: Need long lasting die cut vinyl decals suitable for car window application
Hammered, thanks very much for your reply. What is BST though? I looked quickly through the different forums but I couldn't find anything with those initials
Re: Need long lasting die cut vinyl decals suitable for car window application
Sign vinyl comes in a wide array of colors. So if your design only requires 1 to 3 colors, you may very well be able to just cut and layer each color to create the design. Like in the "Urban Warfare decal I posted, each color was cut from a different roll of vinyl and layered in the correct order to create the image. I could have also printed that on white or clear vinyl with my printer. Seeing the design would help in directing you to the proper process you will need.
Re: Need long lasting die cut vinyl decals suitable for car window application
I think he just wants some single colored cad cut decals similar to what is seen on just about every cars rear glass. If its two colors its an overlay.
This is a cad cut vinyl graphic in three colors, chrome , black and orange. Three decals overlayed. Sorry for the poor pic.
Re: Need long lasting die cut vinyl decals suitable for car window application
Quote:
Originally Posted by MotoskinGraphix
I think he just wants some single colored cad cut decals similar to what is seen on just about every cars rear glass. If its two colors its an overlay.
This is a cad cut vinyl graphic in three colors, chrome , black and orange. Three decals overlayed. Sorry for the poor pic.
This is a discussion about Need long lasting die cut vinyl decals suitable for car window application that was posted in the Vinyl Signs and Decals section of the forums.
Need long lasting die cut vinyl decals suitable for car window application 
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