DESIGN VINYL INSTALLATION
BY JIM CIRIGLIANO BY ASHLEY BRAY
TURNING THE IGNITION
ON INSTALLATION
W
hat separates a good vehicle wrap from a stellar one is the quality of the install. And planning for the install starts at the design stage. “When designing graphics for a new vehicle type, it’s worthwhile to involve the installer to get on the same page,” recommends Adrian Cook, digital print marketing manager at 3M. “Know the body lines, the curves, the dimensions, and the panels and create a design to fit it so you don’t have alignment or overstretching issues.” 26
Sign Builder Illustrated
October 2020
Pete Kouchis, owner of VisuCom Signs & Graphics in Mokena, Illinois and PRINTING United Alliance PDAA committee co-chair, says it’s also good practice to take full-frame photos and detailed closeups of non-flat areas to refer back to during installation. “Once you cover the whole side or bumper with your panel, it’s easy to forget the details of what’s underneath,” he says. “Mask off any unremoved emblems, handles, or other obstacles to help the vinyl slide over them when tucking.” In fact, not checking for these non-flat
areas is one of the top installation mistakes Kouchis sees in wrapping: 1. Not checking all panels for location of handles, hinges, or other obstacles before beginning. There is nothing worse than a handle in the phone number or a body molding through the URL! 2. Confirming that you have enough bleed on all four sides before starting. 3. Aligning the first panel—choosing the correct “plumb line.” This starts with making sure the template was level in the design software. signshop.com
All Photos: Avery Dennison.
Tips for improving the wrapping experience.
