User:Vinyllettering

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SELF ADHESIVE VINYL LETTERING
To produce cost effective and professional looking signs, a lot of people use vinyl lettering. Vinyl can be cut into almost shape or font you desire. This can then be stuck onto any surface - depending on the type of vinyl and its durability. Vinyl comes in a range of vinyl colours and shades, a few of which can be found below:

Types of Vinyl
Exhibition Vinyl This vinyl is a soft PVC film with a matt surface. It is ideal for use in die-cut and computer systems for both short and medium term outdoor application, for displays and exhibition stands. The adhesive is temporary, so you can easily remove the vinyl after use. It comes on a backing paper which has one side coated with silicone - this makes removal of the vinyl from the backing paper that much easier. After application, it is expected to last for upto 3 years.

Banner Vinyl Banner vinyl is a very flexible PVC film with a silk - matt surface and has been specifically developed for short to medium-term lettering and decoration, on a range of flexible plastic surfaces. In order to make application as painless as possible, it is recommended that it is applied wet. The adhesive is permanent so as to prevent removal by the weather or otherwise. The backing paper is silicone coated on one side to make removal of the vinyl effortless. This vinyl is expected to last upto 3 years after application.

Intermediate Vinyl This is available with both a glossy and matt surface, both are special PVC films. Because of it’s “special release” characteristics, it is ideal for use in die-cut and computer-cut systems. For outdoor use, it is better for only short to medium-term applications, but indoors, it will last much longer. The backing paper is silicone coated on one side fo easy removal of the vinyl. For black and white vinyls in this series, the service life can be upto 5 years, transparent, coloured and metallics - 4 years.

Premium Cast This vinyl is a high performance cast PVC film, with excellent dimensional stability, meaning it is much more conformable to uneven, or dipped surfaces. It has a high gloss finish, but the black and white are also available in a matt finish. It is ideal for jobs that require durability and solidity, and is also particularly suitable for vehicle and public transport system advertising. The gloss finished surface is more suitable for thermal transfer (with resin ribbons) than the matt finish. The adhesive is permanent. It comes on a one-sided silicone paper for easy removal. The black and white vinyls are expected to last upto 10 years after application, and the coloured, 8 years.

Wrapping Cast This is a cast PVC film with outstanding dimensional stability for application to contoured surfaces. It is available upto a width of 1520mm.

Vinyl can be used for the following applications
Vinyl lettering can be used to Letter all types of Signs, Banners, Vehicles including Cars, Vans, Bikes, Boats, Personal belongings like Drum Skins Ipods etc.

Applying Vinyl Lettering Instructions
What are Vinyl Graphics & Lettering Vinyl graphics are programmed by a computer and cut by a plotter. Once the graphic or lettering has been cut, the unwanted vinyl is removed from the background Silicon coated carrier sheet, a process called "weeding". The carrier sheet with the graphics or lettering is then covered with low-tack application tape. When the lettering or graphics are applied, they are "picked up" by the application tape and peeled off the carrier sheet. They can now be burnished in position on any smooth non-porous surface.

1 Position you complete vinyl sheet Hold the complete un-peeled sheet in position. Measure and make sure the position is accurate. Using masking tape, anchor the complete sheet in position, with two strips of tape, one at the top and one at the bottom.

2 Peel half the vinyl off the carrier sheet Lift one side of the vinyl image by its application tape. NOTE: the vinyl image will adhere to the application tape. With scissors or a scalpel, trim away the carrier sheet for that half of the vinyl image.

3 Apply half of the vinyl image to your surface Hold the application tape with the vinyl image so that it is suspended slightly off the intended surface. Pull the application tape taut so that the graphics will burnish onto the surface smoothly. NOTE: Don't pull to hard as you make release the masking tape anchors. Starting in the centre, begin to burnish down the vinyl image with a smooth flat edge or a burnishing tool. Apply pressure to evenly force the air from beneath the vinyl image. Work your way to the outside edges of the application tape. Be sure to burnish every area of the graphic.

4. Repeat for the other half and remove tape Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the other half of your vinyl image. When it has all been burnished, burnish again, applying more pressure over the entire area. Then starting at one corner carefully peel away the application tape, pulling slowly at an angle. For a perfect job If you want to ensure the vinyl image is solidly adhered to the surface, cover it with the redundant carrier sheet, shiny side facing out and burnish your graphic again. Any trapped air bubbles can possibly be worked to the edges and away, those that can't, just pop with a pin, or the point of your scalpel and re-burnish.