How To Cut Sign Vinyl?

Many people can become confused when they come to cut vinyl. However, when you have the right instructions and equipment this process can be simple.

To produce a vinyl sign for advertising purposes, whether this is for a shop window, in-store display, or vehicle graphic, the first requirement is to obtain the correct type of sign vinyl. The vinyl industry has evolved tremendously over the past thirty-five years since The Vinyl Corporation first imported sign vinyl from the USA for making vinyl signs out of cut vinyl, as opposed to the screen-printing processes that were an alternative sign making method in the 1980s. With the invention of cut vinyl machines and the ability for shops and small sign studios to process cut sign vinyl and then applying vinyl to many different media to advertise and create a big visual impact at a relatively small price, this drove the Cut Sign Vinyl market in many new directions and so the affordability of the sign making equipment became a factor in the profusion of machines and firms producing cut vinyl signs. Some vinyl sign companies brought the cut vinyl Signs in from a third-party vinyl sign maker and applied the vinyl signage, rather than cutting vinyl signs they were professional and specialist vinyl applicators and vinyl decal Installers. This practice still happens today, primarily with large fleet vinyl signs such as railway decals delivery vans, or supermarket vinyl signs.

How To Make Vinyl Signs

After selecting the correct type of sign making vinyl to produce the cut vinyl lettering and logos, you can then start to make vinyl signs. When the compatible self-adhesive vinyl has been selected to pass through the sign making machine the vinyl is cut and weeded out, pre-masked up and then the vinyl application takes place. Applying the vinyl decals is a skilled operation and should really only be carried out by the professionals, who have been trained and have the correct sign making accessories and sign tools for the job.

What Is Needed To Make Vinyl Decals?

In order to make cut vinyl decals, as previously mentioned the correct sign vinyl must be selected whether this is for an Internal vinyl sign for directional purposes, for example, exhibition signs to locate different company locations and stands, or external vinyl signs which can be either gloss vinyl or cut matt vinyl. The brand and manufacturer of these can vary depending on the client’s priorities whether this is quality of Oracal vinyl, Avery graphics vinyl or Ritrama economy vinyl. Buying vinyl which is made from these brands will guarantee you have quality vinyl which will last for many years to come. Here at The Vinyl Corporation, we stock a variety of quality sign vinyl discover our vinyl today!

How To Apply Vinyl Without Bubbles?

There are many tutorials on YouTube and sign making forums that show how to apply vinyl without bubbles. However, the reality is that to apply vinyl decals without bubbles the correct materials and sign tools must be used for the job. A skilled vinyl installer will make a dry application without any bubbles, the key to this is good preparation and a top-quality squeegee. One of the best vinyl squeegees’ is the blue felt. The blue felt has felt on one edge to avoid scratching the vinyl decals whilst applying vinyl decals, and the harder plastic edge is to ensure a good downward pressure during vinyl application. Should one be unfortunate, or inexperienced enough to be left with bubbles after applying vinyl decals then maybe a wet vinyl application process or the use of rapid tak should be considered. Then as a last resort when applying vinyl decals if residual bubbles are seen, then to puncture them very carefully with a Swann Moreton Scalpel or the tip of a weeding tool.

If you would like to find out more information about how to cut sign vinyl or if you would like any further tips on applying vinyl, then please get in touch with us today. You can get in touch with us by using our contact form, by emailing us at: dmtvc.march@btconnect.com or by calling us on: 0115 930 1133. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about applying vinyl.

Read Our Previous Blog Post: Refective vinyl, Retroreflective Materials and Mircoprismatic