How to Install a Vinyl Decal
These are the quick and clean instrutions. Are you a visual learner? Maybe by the grace of god I have finally uploaded a how to vid here.
We loosely worded it as surfaces, cause in theory a wall decal, a car decal, and even company fleet graphics on an 18 wheeler are all applied the same way.
The surface you are applying the vinyl on must be completely clean and dry. Ensure the surface is free of dust, oil and dirt.
Make sure your hands are clean and dry before handling the vinyl.
Take a squeegee (or a credit card in place of one) and firmly sweeping it across the application tape on top of the cut vinyl graphic. This is helping to remove any tunneling (long air bubbles) that might have occurred during transportation and secures any pieces that might otherwise lift off the app tape when the backing is removed.
The couple inches of application tape that has been folded over and stuck onto the back grid of the backing is meant for you to hold onto. Peel off one side and slowly* start pulling the tape off the backing exposing the adhesive. The tape will pull the decal design off the backing and those couple extra inches helps you to not potentially touch the vinyl adhesive.
*Be very careful and slow when doing this part to make sure you don't tear the vinyl in the process. If at any time the vinyl does not want to come off the paper backing, lay the application tape back down and firmly run your squeegee over the part. Lift masking tape again to see if that worked. On very rare instances you might need to take a box cutter and loosen up, if you have a whole decal like that, I'll replace it unless it's from the pre-cut sale stack.
Once backing paper is removed, align design above desired surface, and when happy you can press the squeegee to the center of the decal. Making sure the graphic has contact with the surface move up and down from the center, working your way out to the sides.
Before removing the application tape, take notice of any air bubbles. They are easier to remove with the tape still protecting the vinyl. Take a box cutter and hold it so you would be slitting into the air bubble from it's base, leaving a longer cut than a poke but far less noticeable entry than the poke when the tape comes off in the end. Smush air out the slit, repeat.
Peel away transfer tape slowly and gently at angle starting from the top and pulling down. If the letters of your vinyl or decal start to lift with the transfer tape, lay tape back down and get the squeegee out. Firmly pressing down on the area again until vinyl is stuck on the surface.