Whether for advertising purposes or simply as a hobby, applying adhesive vinyl is becoming more and more common on many types of objects. However, applying adhesive vinyl is never an easy task, and it has to be done correctly in order to get a result that will last a very long time!
Here are the 5 steps to successfully apply your vinyl.
Step 1: Choosing the Design
The first step is simply to choose the design you want and load it into your cutting machine (for example a Silhouette Cameo or Cricut). When it comes to choosing the visual, if you are just starting out we recommend picking something simple that will not be hard to weed. During this step, it is important to carefully check the size of the design to be cut as well as the size of your surface.
Step 2: Cutting the Vinyl
Cut a section from the vinyl roll and place it on the gridded plastic sheet of your machine, which will serve as the backing during cutting.
Then position the gridded plastic sheet with your piece of adhesive vinyl (also called sticker vinyl**)** in the machine and go ahead and cut your logo.
The cutting settings of cutting machines can differ depending on the material you are cutting, so we recommend testing with a small piece of vinyl, which will let you see whether the settings are right.
Step 3: Weeding the Vinyl
The weeding step consists of removing the excess vinyl after cutting.
To do this, slowly and gently pull away the extra vinyl (everything that is not part of your design).
Once that is done, you will need to use tweezers to remove the small bits of adhesive that have stayed on the design.
During this step, it is important not to go too fast so as not to damage the visual.
Step 4: The Transfer
Take a piece of transfer tape the size of your logo and apply it fully over your design.
The transfer tape will allow you to transfer the visual onto the object you want.
It is recommended to use gridded tape for better precision during application.
Once you have placed the tape on the design, before removing it, take an application squeegee and go over your design again. This process lets your logo adhere perfectly to the tape.
Step 5: Applying the Vinyl
Now take the object on which you want to apply the design and gently place the tape onto it. All that is left is to go over it once more with your application squeegee and you are done!
We hope these tips will have helped you when applying your vinyl. For quick weeding and easy application on surfaces, take a look at our adhesive vinyl shop to create and personalize all kinds of stickers!
