How to Design and Apply Custom Stripe Decals For Your Car
Your vehicle is personal to you and represents your style and flare. Designing your own large race stripes, sleek pin stripes or logos can really enhance the way your car looks and give it more definition!If done properly, with some thought and imagination, you can really change the look of your car, in a very cool way!
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Things You'll Need
- Decal material (usually sold in large pieces or rolls at auto parts stores)
- Straight edge ruler
- Tape measure
- Scissors and sharp box cutter razor blade
- Wax/oil remover or fine rubbing compound
- Car wax
- Painters Tape
- Fine Line marker
- Construction Paper or Thin Cardboard
Instructions
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Think about what image you want to project and in what colors you will be working with that will go with the color of your car. Maybe you want to use bright red decals on your white car or maybe something subtle like a smoke grey over your black paint. The possibilities are endless as well as the designs you can create. Simple one inch stripes or maybe some fat ones will look best?
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Once you have a design concept and colors in mind , draw it out on some paper and try to visualize on your car. The next step is to find the colors, pattern and size of the decal you need. Typically auto parts stores have a section designated to decal stock. Usual size in package is 6 inches wide by 6 feet long.
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Create a template for your design on construction paper or thin cardboard, cut it out and then using your painters tape place on the car to test fit and to help you determine if you are happy with the placement and size. If you are simply working with straight stripes, go ahead and cut the stripes right out of the decal material taking careful measurement and making precise cuts using a razor using and straight edge ruler as a guide. Then tape them on the vehicle to get an idea of where they look best before peeling the back liner and affixing permanently. If you feel unsure about the stripes, then make a paper template for them as well before doing any cutting.
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Once you are happy with your template placement of a design trace out the pattern onto the back side of your decal with a fine line marker. You may consider making a second template first though of your final pattern to leave taped on the car so when you come back with the actual decal you will know exactly where you wanted it or take an accurate measurement or you can mark the area on the car with your painters tape.
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Cut out the decal with sharp scissors or use a razor to precisely cut out your pattern so that the edges are very clean and then tape the decal on the car before peeling the back and affixing it just to be sure once again that you are happy with the placement and the colors. Stand back and check it out from different angles to be sure. You did this already with the template but now you will really get to see what it will look like with the actual decal.
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Once you are satisfied you will need to use a wax and oil remover over the area where the decal will be placed or a very fine rubbing compound can be used to remove any wax. You want a wax free and very smooth surface.
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Place the decal design or stripes on the car now and starting at one end pull back the liner and using a small flat plastic flat edge or the palm of your hand slowly press the decal down being sure you are removing any air bubbles along the way. This may mean pulling up the decal now and then starting again to be sure it is right where you want it and as bubble free as possible. Be careful if you pull it up that you have a decent grip and remove slowly so as not to tear it. Follow up by going around all the edges with your thumb, pressing down to insure a good seal around the edges.
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Once pressed firmly in place I suggest you let set for a day and press down a final time, then you can apply car wax over the entire area, especially getting wax over the edges of the decal. I suggest a paste wax for this since it is thicker than the liquid waxes and will provide a nice protective barrier over the decal and edges.
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Tips & Warnings
* Test fit the decal numerous times until you are really satisfied with the placement.
* Be sure the edges of the decal after your cut have no ridges or rough edges.
* If you will be duplicating the same pattern for another area of the time use your first decal as a sample to trace from so they will match up exactly.
Once the adhesives in the decal have dried and cured there is a great possibility that removal may also peel up some of the paint on the car, so be sure you are willing to live with your new decal!
