Car Film Wrapping
A car wrap will give your vehicle a fresh look that will attract more attention. It will also increase the trade-in or resale value of your vehicle.
Car film wrapping is a durable, long-lasting option that won’t harm your original paint when it’s removed. It is ideal for business-related vehicles, as well.
Getting Started
Car Wrapping is a popular way for businesses to spread their brand. From pizza delivery cars to landscaping trucks, many people are sure to notice a vehicle that is wrapped with an eye-catching color or design.
The first step is to decide which parts of the car you wish to wrap and measure the area. This is an important step and you will want to take the measurements several times for accuracy. It is also a good idea to sketch out the rough diagram of the parts on the board to be extra certain about the measurements. Once you have the measurements, multiply them together to get the total square-feet needed for each element of the car. This will allow you to order the correct amount of vinyl and avoid costly mistakes.
Before you begin, make sure that the surface to be covered is free of any dents or dings. Wrapping cannot cover these issues and they will show through the finish of the car. The car should also be washed and cleaned to remove any dirt or grit. Make sure to use a gentle cleaner on matte and structured finishes, as they will scratch if not treated with care.
Next, make sure you have the right tools for the job. A heat gun, a vinyl-wrapping felt squeegee and a cutting blade are all essential tools for getting the best results. It is also a good idea to work on a warm day, as the vinyl and the adhesive are temperature sensitive.
Designing the Wrap
Car wraps provide an enormous canvas to work with. They offer a great opportunity to get your brand out there and noticed by potential customers. However, it is important to remember that your design needs to communicate a message and a purpose. A common mistake is trying to make a vehicle wrap overly flashy or outlandish in an attempt to stand out. This type of design is not usually the best for most companies’ branding or messaging.
When designing a vehicle wrap, the first step is to choose the right style and layout for your company. Then, start laying out the graphics and text that Cutting Vinyl Rolls will appear on the wrap. Make sure to keep the text short and impactful. Most people will see your wrap at highway speeds, so it is important that the written messaging can be read quickly and clearly.
The next step is to create your wrap designs in vector format. This ensures that the final wrap will be printed at the highest possible quality without losing image clarity or pixelation. This will help ensure that your Car Film Wrapping car wraps look great, especially when they are blown up to large sizes for installation on a vehicle.
Once your wrap is designed, it is important to accurately measure each section of the vehicle that you are wrapping. This will ensure that the wrap will fit correctly and cover all areas of the vehicle. It will also help avoid any mistakes during the install process when you are trying to apply the vinyl.
Installing the Wrap
Depending on the type of wrap chosen, it can arrive in rolls or in a variety of pre-cut sections that are designed for certain parts of the car. The shop or the intrepid do-it-yourselfer can then install it, usually starting in the middle and working toward the exit points at the edges. If desired, the installer can post heat the film to break its memory and accelerate the adhesion process. This will also highlight any areas of the wrap where air has trapped beneath it, which can be corrected by heating the area again and pushing the bubbles out toward one of the edges of the vinyl.
The installer should always prepare the vehicle by first cleaning the surface with non-wax car wash products or isopropyl alcohol and lint-free cloths. This ensures a clean, smooth surface to which the wrap will bond. The installer should also remove any obstacles that will get in the way, such as emblems, trims, mirrors, door handles and antennas. Leaving them in place increases the difficulty of wrapping around them, and may cause imperfections when they are removed.
The installer should work in a large, climate controlled indoor space whenever possible. Outdoor work can be hampered by sudden inclement weather, wind and other elements that will affect the quality of the wrap. It can also be marred by sand and other debris that will contaminate the freshly installed wrap.
Maintaining the Wrap
If you are planning to wrap a vehicle it is important to make sure the vehicle is in good condition before getting the job done. Dents, rust and chipping paint should be addressed before wrapping as the wrap will not look right over these imperfections. It is also a good idea to get the car waxed periodically to protect and preserve the wrapped surface.
A wrap is an investment and should be properly maintained if you are going to get your moneys worth out of it. Proper maintenance will also help ensure that the warranty that came with the wrap is honored. It is common for manufacturers to stipulate strict maintenance guidelines that, if not adhered to, can void the warranty.
When washing a car wrap, be very gentle. Using harsh chemicals or abrasive tools could damage the vinyl. Washing a wrap is best done by hand using mild soap and water solution. If the wrap is a matte or structured film, specialized cleaners may be required to remove contaminants from these surfaces.
Stains of all sizes should be wiped away as soon as they are noticed. If left to harden, they can become very difficult to remove from the wrap and will possibly cause rips or other forms of permanent damage. Hardened stains can be softened by soaking the area in hot soapy water and then gently wiping with a clean sponge.
