|
Applying pressure
sensitive vinyl decals isn't rocket science. Anyone can do it, but
it does require some common sense, a little manual dexterity and
the right techniques. We can't help you with the common sense or
manual dexterity, but we think the following photos and text will
help you discover a little bit of the technique you need for a successful
application ... one that you'll enjoy and your friends will envy
for years.
Note:
If CamoSkinz
is applied to vehicles with paint that is not well bonded to the
surface of the vehicle, some paint may be lost when the decals are
removed.
| |
Step
1 |
 |
Wash
and dry the vehicle thoroughly. The cleaner the vehicle is,
the better the CamoSkinz decals will adhere. After washing,
wipe the entire vehicle down with isopropyl alcohol or wax and
silicone remover. Remember ... the more attention you pay to
the cleanup and preparation, the more successful your application
will be and the longer the decals will stay adhered. Decals
will not stick well to rust or to flaking paint. |
| |
| |
Step
2 |
 |
Leaving
the paper release liner on the decal, position the first panel,
holding it in place with small pieces of masking tape on each
edge. Position the panel leaving the maximum amount of excess
material to trim off. In other words, if you're covereing a
2' area with a 5' piece of material, try to save the entire
3' excess. Note: It's always best to begin applying graphics
at the rear of the vehicle, moving toward the front with subsequent
panels. Using the approach, panel overlap will occur from front
to rear, helping to eliminate the effects of wind against the
seams. |
| |
| |
Step
3 |
 |
Apply
a masking tape "hinge" across the entire width at the top of
the decal, half on the decal, half on the vehicle (2" wide tape
works best for this). Using this hinge, lift the bottom of the
decal and remove the paper release liner. (In lieu of a tape
hinge, fold back 2"-3" of the paper liner and rub it in place
by hand.) Let the decal drop against the vehicle. Don't worry...
the decal is produced using 3M's Comply™ Performance adhesive
system, so it won't stick until you want it to stick. |
 |
| |
| |
Step
4 |
 |
Slip
a protective sleeve over the squeegee and squeegee the decal
in place, beginning in the center at the top of the decal. Your
squeegee strokes should be smooth and firm, moving from the
center out, alternating left and right. Try holding the squeegee
angled approximately 10° to 20° toward the open or unsqueegeed
area. Do not angle the squeegee toward an area that has already
been squeegeed, because this will trap air and create bubbles
and wrinkles. Until the squeegee has pushed the decal firmly
against the surface, you can lift the decal away from the surface
to reposition it, if necessary. |
 |
| |
| |
Step
5 |
 |
When
approaching vehicle body contours and moldings, squeegee strokes
made perpendicular to the contour are more effective. Squeegee
the decal into a crease or body line as show at left. Do not
squeegee the decal on both sides of a concave contour and then
attempt to stretch it into the contour. The idea is to apply
the decal while minimizing stretching the material. Once you've
passed the contours, revert to the normal side-to-side squeegee
patterns. |
| |
| |
Step
5 |
 |
When
you reach the end of a section, trim the excess material with
a sharp knife. Save the excess for patching any troublesome
areas you may encounter later. Or use it to cover your thermos
bottle. |
| |
Part
of the beauty and appeal of CamoSkinz camouflage decals is their
removability. However, because they're produced using removable
adhesive, there are some areas where adhesion may be somewhat
limited. This occurs mainly where the decals are applied to
compound contours. In order to maximize adhesion to these compound
contours, special application methods should be employed. |
| |
Relief
Cuts |
| |
Compound
contours present the greatest challenge to decal application,
but following a few easy steps will make it much more successful.
Apply as much of the decal as possible to the flat surface(s)
approaching the compound contour area. When you can no longer
squeegee the decal without creating wrinkles or creases, it's
time for a relief cut. Relief cuts are the best way to apply
decals to compound curves. |
 |
In
(A), a horizontal cut was made to expose the headlamp and it's
trim. |
 |
(B).
Then the decal was wrapped around the front of the vehicle and
the diagonal relief cut was made |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|