HOW TO APPLY A VINYL DECAL

Applying a Decal is easy

Please watch the video or see the detailed instructions below. You may also click the button labeled "DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS" to download and/or print a copy of the detailed Vinyl Decal Application Instructions.

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

STEP ONE: Gather Your Supplies

Gather your supplies.

You need the vinyl decal, PVC card or popsicle stick, the cleaning wipe, and application instructions included with your Stellar and Stark decal order.

You will also need tape. Masking tape works best.

STEP TWO: PREPARE THE SURFACE

Choose a smooth, hard, dry, and flat surface to put your decal on. Examples of appropriate surfaces include walls, glass, ceramic, painted wood, the outside of a vehicle, etc.

PLEASE NOTE: Adhesive decals will not stick to all surfaces. Avoid uneven, wet, porous surfaces such as brick, cement, fabric, leather, or surface listed on our FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS page under the heading CHOOSING YOUR SURFACE. Attempting to apply your decal to an incompatible surface will result in your decal not sticking properly.

PLEASE NOTE: Oracal 651 (outdoor vinyl) can be used outdoors or in high-moisture environments. It is possible to use Oracal 631 (indoor vinyl) outside or in high-moisture environments but the decal may not last as long as expected.

Ensure the chosen surface temperature is between 50–90 °F (10–32 °C). Surface temperatures outside this range will not adhere properly and may possibly damage your decal.

IMPORTANT! DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP. Clean the chosen surface with soap and water and let dry. Complete this step even if your surface is brand new. The surface must be free of dirt, lint, hair, soap residue, oil, etc. A surface that is not clean will result in the decal not sticking properly.

Wipe surface using the alcohol cleansing wipe (lens cleaning cloth) provided with your purchase and let dry.

STEP THREE: Prepare the Decal

Before applying the decal to your chosen surface, firmly rub the top of the transfer tape with the PVC card provided with your order several times to ensure the decal will cling to the transfer tape and not the backing paper of the decal.

If the decal has not fully adhered to the transfer tape, DO NOT KEEP PULLING, lay the transfer tape back down and rub the top of the transfer tape again. Repeat until the decal is fully attached to the transfer tape.

STEP FOUR: Position the decal

Position the decal where you want it to be applied and tape the top or side edge of your decal to the surface with masking tape.

Don’t remove the transfer tape or the backing on the decal yet.

PLEASE NOTE: Be sure of placement before beginning the application process, decals cannot be moved and reused once applied to your surface.

STEP FIVE: APPLY THE DECAL

Using the tape as a hinge, fold back the decal, and remove the backing paper.
DO NOT allow the sticky side of the decal to touch the surface.

Lift the decal up and slowly lower the sticky side of the decal to the surface, rubbing the top (non-sticky side) or side (non-sticky side) of the decal using the PVC card (or popsicle stick) provided with your purchase to remove air bubbles and ensure the decal adheres properly to the surface.

To remove the transfer tape from the decal, start at the corner of your decal, slowly and carefully lift the transfer tape.

If the decal starts to lift with the transfer tape, DO NOT KEEP PULLING. Lay the transfer tape back down and rub from the top or side (non-sticky side) – depending upon where you put the tape hinge – of the decal again using the PVC card provided with your purchase.

Additional Application Tips

WASHER/DRYER DECAL APPLICATION - IMPORTANT! DO NOT SKIP!

The surface of your washer and dryer may look clean but there is soap and chemical residue that can ruin your decal. Failure to remove the soap/chemical residue from the surface of your washer and dryer prior to applying your decal will result in your decal not sticking to your surface.

Use a commercial soap scum remover with a non-scratch scrubber. Follow with soap and water. Be sure to rinse the surface thoroughly.
Use a Magic Eraser to remove soap residue.
Saturate a rag with rubbing alcohol. Wet the surface thoroughly and let dry.
TEST YOUR SURFACE. Use a piece of masking tape or Washi tape. Though not foolproof, this simple test may indicate whether your decal will stick to your chosen surface.

LARGE DECAL APPLICATION

Allow the decal to lay flat for a while before applying. It was rolled for shipping and the curling will make it difficult to apply correctly.
Grab a friend for extra hands. Extra hands will make the application process easier.
Tape the entire decal in place. If the decal is horizontal (width is greater than height), start from the middle of the decal, cut, and remove the decal backing from the right side only. Apply the decal, working from the middle of the decal to the right side. Repeat this process for the left side. For decals larger than 24” wide, if the decal design is not one piece, consider applying the decal in sections. For large vertical decals (width is less than height), work from the top of the decal to the bottom.
If you have difficulty getting the decal to stick to your chosen surface, use a hair dryer to warm the surface and the decal. Rub the top of the decal again with the PVC card while the decal cools. Then try lifting the transfer tape from the decal again.

STEP SIX: Enjoy Your Decal

You rock!

If you feel like showing off, take a picture of your new decal and attach it to a review. We love seeing what our customers do with their decals.

I hope you enjoy your decal as much as we enjoyed making it.

Still need help?

No worries! Sometimes things don’t go as well as you hoped. We want you to have a positive experience.

Before leaving a negative review, please contact us via our contact form or directly at hello@stellarandstark.net if there is a problem with your order. Decal application can be a tricky business and sometimes things don’t work out as expected. Most decal problems are fixable.