Signage FAQs | How To Apply Vinyl Letters and Graphics

One of the many items available from your sign manufacturer is RTA, or Ready To Apply Vinyl. RTA vinyl will typically consist of 3 layers. The bottom layer is a backing sheet. One side of the backing sheet (or release liner) has a slick waxy surface that allows the vinyl to be removed more readily. The next layer is the adhesive vinyl that you’ll be applying. The top layer is transfer tape. The transfer tape holds your vinyl letters or design in place during the installation.

Environmental Considerations
It’s best to install vinyl in moderate weather. The surface temperature should be between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures outside this range will reduce the vinyl adhesive’s effectiveness. If installing graphics outdoors, avoid installation in windy weather if doing a dry installation.

Determine Installation Method
Vinyl can be installed wet or dry. A wet installation is more forgiving but takes longer before the vinyl is completely adhered to the installation surface. Though a dry installation is faster, it doesn’t allow for mistakes since the vinyl  will be adhered permanently as soon as it touches the installation surface. The adhesive is aggressive enough that any attempt to remove or reposition the graphic will probably ruin the vinyl. Both wet and dry installation methods are described in this article.

Clean The Installation Surface
To ensure adequate adhesion, thoroughly clean the surface that the vinyl will be applied to. Isopropyl alcohol works well, but soap and water will work as well. Use a clean, lint free cloth to wipe the surface.

Squeegee the Vinyl
Use a blunt surface such as the edge of a credit card to burnish the application tape thoroughly to the vinyl. This ensures that the transfer tape is completely adhered to the vinyl graphic so that the transfer tape will lift the vinyl off the backing paper.

Dry Installation
Thoroughly dry the installation surface after it has been cleaned. Using masking tape, tape the vinyl graphic in place where you want to install it. Start with a small piece of tape in each of the top corners. Adjust the graphic as needed to ensure that it’s level. Once in place create a hinge of masking tape the entire width of the graphic along the top.

Lift the bottom of the graphic using the masking tape at the top as a hinge. While holding the transfer tape up with one hand, use your other hand to carefully remove the backing sheet from the transfer tape. It’s best to pull the backing sheet back over itself at 180 degrees to separate the vinyl from the backing sheet. Work slowly, and if you see that the vinyl adheres to the backing sheet instead of the transfer tape, go back a bit on the backing paper and try again by pulling the sharply creased backing paper back across the vinyl.

Once the backing paper is off, hinge the transfer tape down but hold the bottom well away from the installation surface. Starting at the top where you have the masking tape hinge, use the edge of a credit card to squeegee the transfer tape down. Start in the middle of the graphic and squeegee to one side with the credit card held at a 45 degree angle so that any bubbles are pushed toward the edge and downward. Your next swipe of the card should be from the middle toward the opposite side, again with the card at a 45 degree angle to force bubbles toward the opposite edge and downward. Repeat this squeegee swiping with overlapping strokes until the entire graphic is smooth and adhered to the installation surface.

Dry Installation – Wide Graphics
Very wide graphics may make installation as described above difficult. Because the transfer tape is fairly thin, it may be difficult to hold a very wide graphic off the installation surface. To account for this, the following describes an alternative that’s better suited to installing very wide graphics.

Tape the graphic in place in the top corners only. Reposition as needed to ensure proper placement, and that the graphic is level. Make a vertical hinge with masking tape in the middle of the graphic. The masking tape should cover the entire graphic directly on the transfer tape, and extend a couple of inches above and below the graphic.

Remove the small piece of tape in the upper right corners and pull the graphic back to the left, over itself as if folding the graphic in half – but do not crease the graphic. Separate the release liner from the transfer tape at the far left end. While holding the transfer tape against the installation surface, remove the release liner by pulling it back over itself at 180 degrees. Just before the vertical hinge of masking tape, stop removing the liner. Cut the release liner an inch or so from the vertical masking tape hinge. Use the procedure described above to squeegee the graphic into place (though the swiping motions will be up and down from the center, working from the center to the right side). Once the right side of the graphic is completely installed, remove the vertical hinge and masking tape at the left corner.

Repeat the installation process described above for the remaining half of the graphic, this time folding the left side of the graphic over the adhered right half. Remove the release liner and squeegee the left side of the graphic starting from the center and working your way to the left edge.

Wet Installation
A teaspoon of liquid soap in a quart of water can be mixed and put in a spray bottle to facilitate wet graphic installation. The soapy water temporarily deactivates the vinyl’s adhesive to allow removal or repositioning while the graphic and installation surface are both wet. If installing vinyl to be seen through glass, use Johnson’s Baby Shampoo instead of liquid soap to eliminate a cloudy soap film on the glass.

As an aid in placement, tape the graphic in place where you want it installed and use a grease pencil or pieces of tape to use as registration marks on the corners of the graphic.

Spray the installation surface with soapy water. Turn the graphic over on a flat surface such that the release liner is facing upward. Separate the release liner from the transfer tape at a corner or edge of the graphic. Pull the release liner back on itself at 180 degrees so that the vinyl sticks to the transfer tape and lifts freely from the release liner. Work slowly, and if you see that the vinyl adheres to the backing sheet instead of the transfer tape, go back a bit on the backing paper and try again by pulling the sharply creased backing paper back across the vinyl.

Once the backing paper is off, spray the adhesive side of the vinyl well with the soapy water. Position the graphic on the installation surface. Use a credit card to squeegee the graphic onto the installation surface. Start at the middle of the longest side of the graphic and squeegee to one side with the credit card at a 45 degree angle. This will force any air bubbles toward the edge and downward. Repeat from the center going in the opposite direction, again with the credit card at a 45 degree angle to force air bubbles toward the edge and downward.  This will also force most of the soapy water out from beneath the graphic. Repeat this swiping motion to the sides with overlapping strokes until the entire graphic is smooth and flat against the installation surface. Let the graphic and transfer tape completely dry before removing the transfer tape. The graphic should be completely dry after 24 hours.

Remove Transfer Tape
Carefully lift the top edge of the transfer tape away from the installation surface. Once the edge has been lifted, pull the transfer tape straight down, parallel to the installation surface so that the transfer tape is coming back over itself at 180 degrees. This will ensure that the transfer tape separates from the vinyl graphic, and the vinyl graphic will remain adhered to the installation surface.

That’s it, your graphic installation has been completed – stand back and admire your handy work.

Spectrum Signs is an independently owned sign manufacturer located in Mission Viejo, and serving Orange County CA.

For more information, contact:

Spectrum Signs
23382 Madero Suite L
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
(949) 297-3800

Spectrum Signs