B. Peel the vinyl with a plastic razor blade. Start with an edge of the graphic, slide the plastic razor blade under the vinyl until you have a piece large enough to pull with your fingers.

C. Start pulling the graphic off by hand. If the vinyl isn’t to old it should come off easily and in one piece. Most vinyl however, will break up into smaller pieces and you will need to pick at it again to continue. If the vinyl keeps breaking, try using the heat gun again.

D. Once your vinyl is completely removed, you will see that some of the adhesive has been left behind. You will need to use a product such as goo-gone. Allow this to set in for a minute before scraping the adhesive with the plastic razor blade. It will come off in consistency similar to jelly. Make sure to remove ALL of the adhesive before proceeding to the next step.

E. Once you remove  the adhesive, you’ll need to wash the chemicals off that were left behind. It is important that you get all of the chemicals off because vinyl will no longer stick in that area if you want to replace your graphics. Use an ammonia free multi-surface cleaner and be sure that the area is dry before installing new graphics.

POSITION THE GRAPHIC ON THE SURFACE – Use 2 pieces of masking tape and tape the graphic or decal to the surface at the top 2 corners to temporarily hold the graphic in place. Use a measuring tape or ruler to get the graphic exactly where you want it.

CREATE A HINGE WITH MASKING TAPE – Take a piece of masking tape and apply it across the top of the graphic and to the surface so when you lift it up it will lay back down to the original position.

LAYING AND ADHERING THE GRAPHIC – lift up the graphic and carefully peel off the backing paper. While holding the graphic tight and not allowing slack, slowly squeegee the graphic from top to bottom in a side to side motion, overlapping your strokes with the squeegee while pushing firmly to avoid bubbles and wrinkles.

FINISHING THE INSTALL – Peel off the transfer tape and masking tape leaving the graphic adhered to the surface. Use an exacto or razor blade to pop any small bubbles and push the air out with your finger. Clean the surface when complete.

Don’t worry if you have a few small bubbles in your graphic. Most small bubbles will go away within a couple of weeks as the vinyl is exposed to the elements.

Things to watch for when designing a vinyl banner or sign…

A. Use software that handles CMYK full color output. There are at least three kinds of software you can use:

- Photoshop, PhotoPaint, or PhotoImpact

- Layout programs like Quarkxpress, Pagemaker, or InDesign

- Illustration programs like Illustrator or CorelDraw

Programs that are designed for consumers or general office applications are not recommended: Word, Wordperfect, Publisher, Excel, etc. If you have a specific inquiry, don’t hesitate to ask.

B. Keep the banner or sign design simple and striking. The best designs contain two or three basic elements. Usually a photograph, a large headline, and an “identifier” such as your company name, logo, or phone number.

C. Use brilliant colors. The most striking banners or signs have bright colors.

D. Design the banner or sign so it is readable for your target audience. If it’s going on a building or beside a road on a fence, MAKE SURE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE IS LARGE ENOUGH TO BE READ.

E. Make sure your images have good resolution.

F. Make sure your banner or sign fits the area where you’re going to mount it. Don’t guess at the size. Most people who are not familiar with signage will UNDERESTIMATE the required size.

G. Consider alternative methods for hanging your  banner or sign.