APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS & HINTS FOR SELF-ADHESIVE GRAPHICS & LETTERING
STICKER APPLICATION
BEFORE APPLYING THE GRAPHIC, FIRST MAKE SURE THAT THE APPLICATION SURFACE IS CLEAN AND DRY. IT IS ALSO ADVISABLE THAT THE SURFACE BE COOL. FIRST, HOLD THE GRAPHIC IN PLACE TO SEE WHERE IT WILL FIT BEST. YOUR GRAPHIC WILL COME WITH A BACKING FILM (AGAINST THE ADHESIVE SIDE OF THE STICKER)AND AN APPLICATION FILM (APPLIED TO THE FRONT, OR NON-ADHESIVE SIDE OF THE STICKER). THE BACKING FILM PROTECTS THE ADHESIVE SIDE OF THE STICKER WHILST THE APPLICATION FILM HOLDS THE VARIOUS PARTS OF THE GRAPHIC IN PLACE DURING APPLICATION. THE APPLICATION FILM WILL BE FOLDED AROUND (2) SIDES AND STUCK TO THE BACK OF THE STICKER. UNFOLD THESE TWO PIECES (WHICH WILL THEN PROTRUDE FROM THE ENDS OF THE STICKER) AND PLACE THE STICKER IN POSITION. STICK ONE END (PROTRUSION) OF THE APPLICATION PAPER TO THE SURFACE. LEAVING THIS ONE END STUCK TO THE SURFACE, FLIP THE STICKER OVER UNTIL IT IS FACE DOWN. REMOVE THE BACKING FILM BY PULLING IT SLOWLY BACK ALONG ITSELF ENSURING THAT ALL THE STICKER MATERIAL REMAINS STUCK TO THE APPLICATION FILM. HOLDING THE LOOSE END OF THE STICKER, FLIP IT BACK UNTIL YOU ARE HOLDING THE STICKER ABOVE WHERE IT IS TO BE APPLIED. WORKING FROM THE END THAT IS ALREADY STUCK DOWN, RUB THE STICKER DOWN IN AN UP AND DOWN MOTION WHILE MOVING FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER. (A FLAT PIECE OF PLASTIC SUCH AS A CREDIT CARD CAN BE USEFUL FOR APPLICATION) FINALLY, GIVE THE ENTIRE STICKER A FIRM RUB DOWN BEFORE REMOVING THE APPLICATION FILM. THE APPLICATION FILM SHOULD BE REMOVED BY SLOWLY PULLING IT BACK ALONG ITSELF AND AT A SLIGHTLY DOWNWARD OR UPWARD ANGLE. ANY BUBBLES CAN BE POPPED WITH A SHARP PIN OR KNIFE. MAXIMUM BOND IS ACHIEVED AFTER ABOUT TWO DAYS. IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO WASH OR RUB THE GRAPHIC FOR THIS INITIAL PERIOD, BUT IN MOST CASES, THE GRAPHIC CAN BE IMMEDIATELY EXPOSED TO MOISTURE OR SUNLIGHT.
STICKER APPLICATION (HINT)
IF THE SPACE WHERE THE STICKER IS TO BE APPLIED IS CRAMPED OR RESTRICTED, YOU MAY NEED TO REMOVE THE BACKING FILM BEFORE STICKING ONE END DOWN.
STICKER APPLICATION (HINT)
IF THE STICKER IS FAIRLY LARGE, IT MAY BE ADVISABLE FOR TWO PEOPLE TO FIT IT.
STICKER APPLICATION (WET)
AN ALTERNATE METHOD OF FIXING LARGE STICKERS IS TO DO IT WET. THIS METHOD GIVES YOU MORE TIME TO POSITION THE STICKER AND LESS CHANCE OF ERROR. MIX SOME DETERGENT WITH SOME WATER AND METHYLATED SPIRITS (NO MORE THAN ABOUT 25% METHYLATED SPIRITS). USE JUST ENOUGH DETERGENT SO THAT THE SOLUTION IS SLIPPERY BETWEEN YOUR FINGERS. (DISHWASHING DETERGENT IS FINE) REMOVE THE BACKING FILM AND WET BOTH THE STICKER AND THE APPLICATION SURFACE. (A SPRAY BOTTLE CAN BE USEFUL TO APPLY THE SOLUTION) APPLY THE STICKER AND RUB OUT THE MOISTURE, WORKING FROM THE CENTRE OUTWARD. (A FLAT PIECE OF PLASTIC SUCH AS A CREDIT CARD CAN BE USEFUL FOR APPLICATION) DRY ANY EXCESS MOISTURE WITH A CLOTH. THE APPLICATION FILM MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE REMOVED FOR SOME HOURS IN SOME SITUATIONS AND AT LEAST 20 MINUTES IN MOST SITUATIONS. SOME AREAS OF THE STICKER MAY NEED TO BE CAREFULLY RUBBED DOWN AGAIN AFTER THE APPLICATION FILM HAS BEEN REMOVED. GRAPHICS FITTED WET SHOULD NOT BE EXPOSED TO EXCESS MOISTURE FOR SOME TIME, MANY HOURS IN SOME SITUATIONS.
HINT (COLOUR CHOICE)
WHEN CHOOSING YOUR STICKER COLOUR, IF YOU WANT IT TO STAND OUT WELL, IT WILL NEED TO BE IN A CONTRASTING COLOUR TO WHAT IT IS TO BE APPLIED TO. FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT IS A WHITE OR YELLOW SURFACE, YOU WILL NEED TO USE A MEDIUM TO DARK COLOUR. IF IT IS A DARK SURFACE, YOU WILL NEED TO USE A MEDIUM TO LIGHT COLOUR. IF THE SURFACE IS A MEDIUM COLOUR, IT IS ADVISABLE THAT YOU ADD AN OUTLINE OR OUTLINE & SHADE TO YOUR STICKER. THE OUTLINE YOU ADD TO YOUR STICKER WOULD NEED TO BE IN A CONTRASTING COLOUR TO THE STICKER. IF YOU ARE APPLYING YOUR STICKER TO GLASS, LOOK AT THE GLASS FROM A NUMBER OF ANGLES AND DIFFERENT TIMES OF DAY. IN MOST SITUATIONS GLASS IS CONSIDERED AS A MEDIUM TO DARK BACKGROUND, EXCEPT IN SITUATIONS WHERE THERE IS LIGHTING OR SOMETHING SUCH AS A WHITE CURTAIN BEHIND THE GLASS. IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING APPLYING A MIRROR REVERSE STICKER TO THE INSIDE OF GLASS, EVEN THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF WINDOW TINTING WILL SUBSTANTIALLY "KILL" THE VISIBILITY OF THE STICKER.
