Things You'll Need:
- Picture (optional) and photo editing program
- Computer
- Desktop-publishing application
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Step 1
Decide what kind of statement you want to make and develop a basic idea of what it would look like.
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Step 2
Figure out how big you want your vinyl decal to be. Is it a bumper sticker that has to be a certain size, a warning decal that needs to be seen clearly or perhaps a memorial message that could be very large? Stickers can be smaller than an inch in height and as large as a few feet.
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Step 3
Do you need pictures or graphics to be part of your vinyl decal? Select a picture or artwork that relates to the overall design, such as a football for an NFL team or a cat for a decal relating to felines.
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Step 4
Take any pictures needed for the design, or use clip art, graphics or pictures found in the program you are using, such as Microsoft Publisher (Microsoft Word). Or you can look online for free art.
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Step 5
Edit any pictures to fit the theme of your vinyl decal. Resize, recolor or make other changes as needed. Use a photo-editing program to accomplish this.
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Step 6
Figure out what colors you want to use. Use bright red, orange or yellow for warning or caution signs. Otherwise, match the color with the design, such as the team colors for a sports decal or pink for a cancer-awareness sticker.
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Step 7
Choose your wording for the decal. Many times vinyl decals contain only text and do not have illustrations. Decide what you want to say, and be as concise as possible.
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Step 8
Create a rough sketch of your design. Use desktop-publishing applications like Microsoft Publisher to assemble all the parts of the decal into the layout.
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Step 9
Try various layouts, pictures or wording in your design. Make any alterations or changes to the overall look, if needed. Save a copy of the finished design.
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Step 10
Decide how you are going to print the vinyl decals. Contact local businesses and check online for companies that might print your vinyl decals. Get price estimates, compare findings and select one to use.
