September 03 2010 - Welcome to the Installation Category. Now that you've created and finished your graphics, now you have to install the digitally printed or cut vinyl signs onto the vehicle. Follow us to learn the many methods to install graphics onto vehicles of all sorts. Just read the titles of the articles below to determine where you want to start.
Avoiding Boat Wrapping Mistakes
Vinyl is expensive. So is your reputation. Learn how to avoid the boat wrapping mistakes that could hurt your pocket-and your good name.
Boat Wrapping Secrets You Need to Know
In case you haven't noticed, boats are curvier than most cars. That can spell trouble if you don't approach a boat wrap the right way. Discover the boat wrapping secrets you need to know.
Getting Ready to Wrap a Boat?
Wrapping boats isn't rocket science-and you can learn a lot from your vehicle wrapping endeavors-but installing vinyl on a boat is different than applying vinyl to a vehicle. Find out why.
System Inc. Takes Dominion on Powerboat Wrapping Industry
Feeling creative? The water sports industry is hungry for cutting-edge designs printed on vinyl and applied to powerboats that are ultimately seen by hundreds of thousand of people in competitions around the country.
Boat Wraps Boast Big Opportunity for Vinyl Installers
Wrapping boats may be the next big thing as the vehicle wrapping trend extends itself from the highways to the waterways.
Positioning Graphics for Successful Installation
Excerpt from PDAA Vinyl Installation Proficiency Guide
Seamless Wraps 101 - Deciding when to go seamless and when not to.
Seamless wraps demand careful planning - and even then they can be a challenge. Find out how to approach a seamless wrap and when to consider a partial wrap instead.
Successful & Stunning Vehicle Wraps: What You Need to Know, Part 2
In Part II of this article, we cover the correct ways of printing and laminating, installation, and delivery of the final product.
Successful & Stunning Vehicle Wraps: What You Need to Know, Part I
When I attend a show and see a row of vehicles lined up for a contest about how fast someone can wrap a vehicle, I have to wonder how true this is compared to what the average company goes through to create a vehicle wrap.
Faster than a Wrapped Locomotive
You can't rely on templates when you work with locomotives. Discover how Wrapped Graphics approached wrapping a train.
Small Colorado Shop Wraps Up Success
When you listen to your customers, they sometimes will show you exactly how to build your business to that next level.
Wrapping a Mini Car is No Mini Job
Wrapping a miniature car may not be as hard a wrapping a semi, but it has its own unique challenges. Find out how SkinzWraps approaches Mini Coopers.
Vehicle Wrapping Contracts 101
Wrapping vehicles without a signed contract that spells out what the customer should expect - and shouldn't expect - from your sign shop is a mistake that could cost you. Find out how to avoid liabilities with a solid contract.
Factors Impacting Vinyl Removal, Part I
Learning what vinyl film is, the impact that the environment and the surface finish has on vinyl are all factors that will help you deal with the ultimate need to remove vinyl graphics.
Know Your Tools: Finishing with Efficiency
From year to year, many companies change the products they make, or begin producing new product lines in niche areas that require new and different finishing methods. In some shops, the steps taken to finish products are done with inappropriate tools.
Making the Most of Application Fluids
Using application fluids isn’t rocket science, but it’s not child’s play, either. Discover what you need to know to make the most of application fluids.
How to Wrap a Red Hot Ferrari
Wrapping a Ferrari may sound like a sexy job - and it is - but it's unlike most other vehicle wraps. Find out how.
Take it Off...Vinyl that is.
Right now there are multiple opportunities to create a tremendous cash stream. The question is, “Which companies will recognize the opportunities, respond to them, and thrive?”
A Titan-Sized Wrap - Wrapping the home of the Tennessee Titans
No two wraps are alike. Get the inside scoop on handling repetitive designs and working with oversized vinyl panels.
A Megawrap with Flavor - vinyl installer wraps world’s largest beer can
Discover the challenges of wrapping a monumental can — and keeping it realistic from top to bottom.
Selling Stadium Wraps and Not Losing Your Shorts
Pricing a stadium wrap can get a little hairy, but if you approach measurements with the right mindset you’ll put more profits in your pocket. Find out how.
Wrapping Tropicana Field
Read a first hand example of how vinyl wraps are playing a key role in both aesthetics, communications and advertising in stadiums across the country.
Special Tools for Textured Surface Stadium Wraps
3M has developed special application tools and methods for use with its 8624 film. The 3M Textured Surface Applicator TSA-1 for large surfaces is critical for achieving proper adhesion. Find out what else is new.
Applying Vinyl Graphics to Aircraft
Are you ready to let your business fly high? Applying vinyl graphics to aircraft may be your next big opportunity.
Wrapping Oil Rigs
A Texas sign shop is wrapping the big rigs and we don’t mean trucks. Discover the ins and outs of wrapping in an oil field.
Taking Care of Your Digital Graphics
Installing graphics is only part of the job of selling wraps and flat surface installs. You need to make sure your end user is aware of how to properly care for their graphics once they are installed.
Removing Floor Graphics
Now that you’ve mastered installing floor graphics, what are you going to do when its’ time to remove them? Find out!
Applying Floor Graphics: Beyond Pick ‘Em and Stick ‘Em
Different types of floors often demand different approaches to applying the floor graphic if you want it to stick. Get the inside scoop.
Preparing Floors for Floor Graphics
Learn how to how to laminate the graphic, how to place it, how to prep the surface, and how to install the graphic so it will stay put and do its job.
It Costs How Much? Determining What It Costs to Sell Your Signs the Right Way.
Pricing your products or services sold is determined first by costing. Do you have any idea of what it costs to sell a sign or banner? For that matter, what does it cost to open the doors to your sign business each day? Pertinent questions that will influence your pricing.
Complex Wraps Demand Advanced Techniques, Part II
Are you handling your film right? Is your graphics guy designing with wraps in mind? Are you removing vinyl from contours the right way? Lots of questions. We’ve got answers.
Complex Wraps Demand Advanced Techniques, Part I
Not all vehicle wraps are created equal some are far more complex than others. Discover what you need to know to tackle even the most complex wraps with confidence.
Back to School: The Value of Learning to Wrap Vehicles
Faster, more affordable printers, easier to handle vinyl materials, and an unlimited supply of customers is causing more sign shops to consider adding vinyl vehicle wraps to their menu of business services.
Vinyl Graphic Removal Made Easy
Vinyl removal can be a pain…that's a fact, but there's a new kid on the block that can help to make your vinyl removal projects less labor intensive and quicker to complete. And that's worth reading about.
C-C-Corrugations…Never Fear, Expert Advise is Here!
Applying vinyl over rivets is one thing. Applying vinyl over corrugation is quite another. But don’t let that stop you. If you can learn to apply vinyl over corrugation, then you can tap into the lucrative world of fleets.
Applying Vinyl Over Curves, Body Creases and Molding
Installing graphics on vehicles or wrapping entire vehicles for that matter presents some unique challenges rarely encountered on other substrates. Find out how to get around these difficult issues.
Perforated Vinyl: Opening Up The Vision of Sign Options
Perforated vinyl film is fast becoming an excellent new form of advertising signage. This unique material allows easy adhesion to windows and motor vehicles, with the perforations enabling vision through the advertisement itself.
More on What You Need to Know About Rivets
Discover the ins and outs, dos and don’ts of installing vinyl graphics over rivets. What you find out may surprise you.
Tips and Tricks for Installing Full Wrap Vehicle Graphics
Vehicle wraps are now used in place of expensive custom paint jobs. In addition to being a lower cost option to paint, the vinyl can be removed when the advertising campaign is over or you are ready to turn in your leased vehicle. This article will take you step-by-step through the process of installing a full vehicle wrap. It will offer tips and tricks on how to provide your customer with a high quality wrap.
Wrapping Done Around the World
Are wrapping techniques any different in London than they are in Los Angeles? Find out from one of the United Kingdom’s top vehicle wrapping companies.
Dealing with the 'R' Word...Rivets
Learn the time-tested techniques of how to properly apply vinyl over rivets. Discover a five-step process that will help you deal with these annoying, yet necessary fasteners.
Benefits of Flexible-Face Mounting Systems
Vendors are manufacturing a variety of mounting systems to making installing flexible face signage a snap (and click).
Avoiding Bubbles and Wrinkles During Vinyl Applications
Learn how to avoid these pesky problems during vinyl installation with advice from the pros.
So You Want To Be a Vinyl Pro
Before you can claim professional installer status, you have to learn the basics to avoid common mistakes. Discover some fundamentals tips that will serve you well for many years.
Vinyl Hints: Don’t Damage the Vinyl During the Installation!
Preventing damage to vinyl film and substrates during installation is a matter of planning, technique and tools.
Can I Apply Vinyl to This?
Vinyl is a profitable trend, but attempting to apply film to certain substrates is a money-losing proposition.
Applying Vinyl to Glass
Installing window graphics takes knowledge, skill and a steady hand. Find out how to ensure bubble-free applications.
Vinyl Techniques: Considering Environmental Conditions
Temperature, humidity and other weather conditions could mean the difference between the success and failure of your vinyl application.
Choosing ADA-Compliant Signage Material
Which ADA signage materials are vandal-proof? What works best in an upscale building project? Read on to find out.
Heritage Graphics and Scaffold Wraps
From Manhattan's Times Square to an Argentinan Palace, outdoor graphics has put unsightly construction under wraps with over the top picturesque renderings, art images or patriotic beautification panels
Vehicle Vinyl Expert Reveals Tricks of Trade
Don't make costly mistakes with your vinyl applications and removals. Let vinyl expert Rob Ivers give you some practical dos and don'ts.
Sign Makers Restore Historical Flying Red Horse
Find out how architectural sign makers recreated a legendary Dallas icon.
Planning The Right Adhesive Product For The Right Job
With every job that you prepare, one must consider which adhesive best matches the application. You should not only consider the substrate, but also your reputation as a sign professional.
Neon At It's Best
Restoring a piece of history-- the neon legacy lives on.
Making the New Look Old
Did you ever dream you could have so much fun pleasing a customer?
Designing A Sign From Within The Box
5 Point Flashers
Winning Sales Tax Jeopardy
Are you prepared for the sales tax audit?
The Total "Language" of Signs
Nothing speaks louder to a potential buyer than a bold display
The Sub-species: Subcontracting in the Sign Industry
To be or not to be a subcontractor?
Shop Reputation is Gold
So you don't work in a dog-eat-dog rat race of an industry...
Setting Schedules: Creating Service Out of Order
Late signs or are your jobs off schedule?
Selling Logo Design: A Psychology for Profit
Understanding advertising, branding and marketing
Scan, Edit, Save, and Create: Innovative Sign Design
'What you see is what you will get.'
Ending the Shop's Nightmare Circus
Is your sign making business as a three-ring circus?
Dealing with the Less-than-Perfect Customers
Surrendering to whatever customers want can be bad business
Building a Team
Essential elements in building a team for your business
Applying Vinyl Dreams
Follow the modernized basics of vinyl application
