Vinyl Lettering Video Instructions

Vinyl Lettering Application Instructions

The vinyl lettering is composed of three layers (see figure at right). The top layer is called application tape, which resembles masking tape and covers the vinyl lettering. The middle layer is the lettering itself. The third layer is a quick release backing (white gray grid).

Surface Preparation

Please make certain your surface is non-porous, smooth, dust free and grease free. Vinyl lettering is not suited for textured surfaces. Repair any cracks or small blemishes in your wall with spackle and repaint before applying your vinyl lettering. If your wall is newly painted, we recommend that you wait at least 2 weeks for the paint to properly cure to your wall.

Method 1 - Hinge method for lettering lengths 24 inches or less

MOST IMPORTANT STEP: Place your vinyl lettering, right side up so that it is readable, on a table or flat surface. The applicaton tape layer should be on top and the gridded backing should be against your flat surface. With the edge of your white plastic applicator scraper, rub/burnish the lettering. This ensures good contact between the vinyl lettering and the application tape and will help the vinyl lettering to properly release from the backing.
Position your vinyl lettering on your wall, lining up the horizontal line that has been drawn on your lettering with the line you lightly penciled from step 1. Place tape in several spots along the top of your vinyl lettering to create a hinge or you can place one long piece horizontally on your lettering to make the hinge. The line on your vinyl lettering and the penciled line on your wall should line up.
Place a single piece of painters tape across the entire top edge of the lettering. This piece of tape should not extend past the right or left edge of the stencil. This piece of tape will act as a hinge when you begin to remove the backing. NOTE: if your lettering is near your ceiling, create the hinge by placing the tape across the bottom of the lettering. You will then flip the lettering down instead of up in the next step.
Once this tape hinge is in place, flip up the vinyl lettering so that the gridded backing is now facing you. Slowly remove the backing, keeping the peeled back portion of the backing flat against the wall as you peel off. The vinyl lettering should stay attached to the application tape (masking tape layer.
If you see that a portion of the vinyl lettering is coming off along with the backing, replace the backing over that portion of lettering and push firmly with your finger. Scratching this portion on top of the backing with your finger nail is also helpful. Slowly resume removal of the backing.
After you have removed the white backing, keep the vinyl lettering slightly taut and away from your wall. With one hand beginning in the center near the top, begin smoothing the vinyl lettering. Go from top to bottom. As you are smoothing from top to bottom, allow the vinyl lettering to come down gently. Smooth the rest of the vinyl lettering beginning in the center and work your way out to the right edge and then from the center to the left edge.
Take your white scraper and firmly rub/scrape your lettering going from top to bottom beginning in the center. You are scraping on the top layer - the layer that looks like masking tape. Work from center to either end or top to bottom. This step helps to remove any bubbles that may have formed and ensures excellent contact between your wall and the vinyl lettering.
Gently remove the top application tape layer (looks like masking tape). But this time, as you slowly remove the application tape layer, make certain that the vinyl lettering remains stuck to your wall. If the vinyl lettering begins to come off with the top application tape layer, replace the top layer, push firmly with your finger onto the portion of lettering that was coming off. Again try to remove the top application tape layer. Repeat this procedure until the entire top layer has been removed.

METHOD 2 - For lettering lengths greater than 24 inches.

MOST IMPORTANT STEP: Place your vinyl lettering, right side up so that it is readable, on a table or flat surface. The application tape layer (top layer) should be on top facing you and the gridded backing should be down against your table top surface. With the edge of your white applicator scraper, rub/burnish the lettering. This ensures good contact between the vinyl lettering and the top layer application tape and will help the vinyl lettering to properly release from the backing.
Secure the vinyl lettering to your wall, using a few pieces of blue painters tape. Use a level to make certain your lettering is perfectly level. Use the line that has been drawn on your lettering as a guide. With a light pencil, mark all for corners. Remove the vinyl lettering.
Place the vinyl lettering face down on a table. The gridded backing should be facing you/up. Slowly remove the backing, keeping the peeled back portion of the backing flat against your table top. Do not lift the backing up towards you, keep close to your table top. The lettering itself should stay attached to the application tape (masking tape layer.
If you see that a portion of the vinyl lettering is coming off with the backing, replace the backing over that portion of lettering and push firmly with your finger. Scratching this portion on top of the backing with your finger nail is also helpful. Slowly resume removal of the backing. After you have removed the gridded backing, keep the vinyl lettering slightly taut as you do not want any portion of the back of the vinyl lettering to touch itself.
Keeping the lettering taut, position the lettering using the 4 lightly penciled corners from step 3 above. NOTE: It is very helpful to have a second person helping you at this point. It helps to have a second person helping to keep the lettering taut. Beginning at the top center, traveling from top to bottom, begin smoothing the vinyl lettering. As you smooth from top to bottom, allow the vinyl lettering to come down gently. Smooth the rest of the vinyl lettering working your way from center to all edges of the vinyl lettering.
Take your white applicator/scraper and firmly rub/scrape your lettering going from top to bottom beginning in the center. You are scraping on the surface of the top layer – the layer that looks like masking tape. Make certain all letters have been rubbed/scraped. This step ensures excellent contact between your wall and the vinyl lettering.
Gently remove the top application tape layer (looks like masking tape), keeping the peeled back portion of the application tape flat against your wall. As you slowly remove the application tape layer, make certain that the vinyl lettering remains stuck to your wall. If the vinyl lettering begins to come off with the top application tape layer, replace the top layer, push firmly with your finger onto the portion of lettering that was coming off. Again try to remove the top application tape layer. Repeat this procedure until the entire top layer has been removed.