Vinyl Graphics How-To
9 x 12 Paperback 44 pages
Price $18.95 Buy Me
Want to make your car stand out from the crowd? Customize it with vinyl graphics like many show and race cars do. Todays premium vinyls come in a rainbow of colors, even metallics and are more durable than paints. Perfect for the do-it-yourselfer because there’s no risk involved and little skill required. If you mess up or it gets damaged, simply peel it off! You can change colors later or remove it entirely. Sure beats the time, skill and mess required to learn custom painting. Even painters can use custom cut vinyl masks to paint intricate designs. The picture below shows what can be done with somle imagination .
Years ago when I was a mechanic I watched a guy come into the dealership and apply vinyl graphics and stripes to new cars. I was amazed at how much personality that added to the cars. He charged a modest amount and the dealer tripled it but the customer was still happy. Despite the stunning results, he only used a few simple tools and techniques. I thought to myself, anyone could do this if someone told them how and sold the materials, and now that’s possible. Since then I’ve applied my own graphics and lettering for trade show displays, signs, vehicles and even model airplanes. Got a big key scratch down the side of your new car? Don't repaint it,.. just apply an attractive stripe in a contrasting color. You can even fill any door dings and cover them at the same time!
Today the computer cut sign and graphics industry is huge with more sources of better materials that are even easier to work with. Just look around at car shows or race tracks to see the custom designs possible. You can even buy pre-cut graphics or create your own bold graphics for just the cost of materials. Here’s a book to show you how, and I’ll even include a separate list of sources and suppliers of pre-made graphics.
Finally a professional installer shares his secrets and its easier than you think Learn how to chose the right material for the job as well as all the tricks for layout and application. Learn how to apply graphics wet with a special application fluid that makes it easy to position the vinyl. Dry application is also easy using a temporary transfer mask to help align and space elements like lettering. Become an expert at layout and registration of multi-color designs and learn how to master pinstriping. Lots of great info on dealing with repairs, bubbles, wrinkles and contamination. Get creative with specialized vinlys that are translucent, reflective, or metallic.
Thin stretchy films can even conform to compound curves and coarse textured surfaces like the roof shingle shown above. Express your creativity and get spectacular results with this book. Many sign shops will sell scraps or partial rolls of material but I will include a source list with each book.