Vinyl Decal Application Question (Premask and Lines)

quickray

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Hi all, I have a Vinyl Decal Noob Question about premask and lines…

1. When applying the decal, how are you supposed to see any imperfections on the vinyl through the premask? I know most folks squeegee the vinyl smooth, but how are you supposed to know if there is any imperfections you may have missed through the premask material? I know you remove the premask at the end, but what if you pull the premask off and realize there are errors in your work?

2. I noticed my artwork has a bunch of creases and lines on it. Even I applied my artwork some of those slightly transferred over. I believe it's from the premask material, but not sure. Again, they were on there BEFORE I applied the artwork, saw them when I opened the shipping tube. Just curious how folks deal with these.
 
ok so ignore the premark, no idea why people even put that on unless the decal is die cut in a wierd shape...

anyhow.. super easy.

1. clean your surface well with rubbing alcohol. then i like to use a swiffer on both that back of the art and the surface to get all dust off.

2. lay your are down as you want it placed... get it exactly in position.

3. at about 3/4 center of the decal (top to bottom) tape the edges across the the width to hold it to your surface. we're starting with the shorter side.. you can put a line of tape across the whole thing if you want.

4. fold back one the short side completely like you're folding the art in half, don't crease it. pull the backing offstarting at the top about maybe 6 inches . you can fold the backing paper or cut it to leave about 6 inches adhesive exposed.

5. lay the decal flat again and hold up the adhesive a little shile you squuege back and forth at a 45 degree angle until that 6 inchhes is locked down. you really shouldnt get any bubbles here as you're holding up the end and applying with the squeegy a little at a time as you go.

once that top 6'' is locked down. take off the tap and roll back the bottom 34 until the part where it's stuck.. pull the backing off a little bit so it's leading in front of the decal. now one hand pulls the backer forward exposing the adhesive while the other goes back and forth squeeging . this way you're not trapping air bubbles by laying the whole thing adhesive side down. I never recommend that even with air release unless you're doing a vehicle wrap.


honestly you shouldnt get bubbles unless you trap them in there purposely. if you do you can generally take a pin and work out the bubble but we won't go into that because you won't get any. :)

once it's all on make sure you pull the premask off as parallel to the decal as possible or you can risk pulling it up, stretching the decal.. and then you're generally screwed.
basically pull the premask at the corner and lay it on the decal and pull with your palms laying on the decal if that makes sense.



looks like you're in AZ. if you want to come down to Maricopa i'm happy to walk you through it.

I print large format vinyl graphics, arcade artwork, and commerical vehicle wraps.
 
1. When applying the decal, how are you supposed to see any imperfections on the vinyl through the premask?
When I did my Asteroids Deluxe side art and my Centipede Cabaret side art, I used Rapid Tac and laid a flashlight on it's side.

I turned off all the lights in my garage and laid the flashlight on it's side shining down the side of the artwork. Doing this will cast a shadow where every single bubble remains. I found this step to be absolutely critical. The light allowed me to remove even the smallest bubbles with my J-Roller. I don't have pictures of this but I did this same trick on my Mario Bros side art that had pre-mask and it worked just as good.

BEFORE
1731457961616.png

AFTER
1731458260551.png

FINAL PRODUCT
1731458293256.png

what if you pull the premask off and realize there are errors in your work?
Use a needle and poke a small hole in one end of the bubble. (Even better if you can find a pattern on the artwork to hide the hole) Then, apply pressure from the other end of the bubble using a felt squeegee to work the air out.

Basically this video:

 
Regarding premask. I guess people put it on there so you dont scratch the art when squeeging.

Pro tip, dont use a squeegee that will scratch the art. Mousten your squegee with water. Or, wrap it with a microfiber cloth.

The creases you talk about are the issue with premask. Depend8ng on vinyl used and if it was laminated or stored in heat, the vinyl can shrink at a d8fferent rate than the backer or premask. This usually leads to tunnelling where the vinyl pulls from the back8ng in a line and when you squeegee it, you crease or push that crease d9wn. Unless the vinyl is damaged you can almost always restore the vonyl to original shape with a little heat from a hair drier or heat gun.

F the premask. I say remove it if there are any signs of tunnelling or creases before you install it. You can then salvage the art.

I hate seeing people waste money on artwork.

If youre not happy w8th h9w it came out and we can get the files, pull it off. I'll reprint it for you at cost and help you install it right if you bring the game down.
 
I just want to add a photo for everyone to show you what I'm talking about, just to make sure I'm making sense. Look at all these creases and lines. This is how the artwork showed up from This Old Game. IMG_0463.jpeg
 
Did you already apply the art to the game?

Its possibpy those creases are simply the premask. Its basically thin sheet of masking tape and doesnt always go on well. It does protect from scratches but its not necessary.

Ive had to scan premasked art and you can generally lay it on a table and remove the premask without removing the printed vinyl from The back8ng paper... but it will want to come off the backing paper because thats made not to stick.

If you are worried the art is creased i wouldnt try to apply it with the premask.

If you peel the premask and it rips, that ok. Just carefully remove it from the print. If the print separates from the back8ng paper, just lightly squeegee it back down to the back8ng and come at the 0remask from a different angle.

Sorry for typos. Fat thumbs on a little phone
 
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I have some screen printed Burgertime front artwork from ThisOldgame that I'd like to apply. It has the premask, which I don't want, and would prefer to remove prior to applying the vinyl, but the premask seems to be stuck to the vinyl stronger than the vinyl is stuck to the paper backing. My concern is that I'll install this artwork, then the vinyl will be removed from the cabinet when I try to remove the premask. :|
 
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