Car & Ute Wraps!

Vehicle Branding Design Considerations

When designing for vehicle branding, it is essential to remember that your platform is constantly moving. And that most of the time, the branding will be noticed by drivers who only have a short period to see your design. For this reason, make your imagery clear and your message brief and straightforward.

 The best place to put vinyl messaging is always on the back of a van or car because this is the area that drivers will most likely be staring at when motionless. Short and sweet is the way to go, and adding a bit of humour is an excellent way to make a brief message memorable.

Colours and Graphics

There are various vinyl colours, textures and finishes to choose from, including gloss, satin, matt, reflective, metallic or even carbon fibre. And where specific effects or prints are not available, we can print custom patterns to suit.

Vehicle graphics are created using cut vinyl graphics or digital print and are designed using specialised image software like Corel Draw, Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. 

The Designer will usually start with a detailed template custom suited to your vehicle, onto which they will superimpose their design and messaging. This template helps to ensure that the team can effectively map out the placement at the installation stage.

If business vehicles need their branding to cover window areas, this is achieved using a window-vision product. Window vision or Contravision is a perforated vinyl with an image or colour on the outside, which allows light in and enables the driver to see out. It is important to note that only non-public forms of transport are legally entitled to cover their windows in this manner.

Practical Design Factors

Image resolution is key for vehicle graphics as often the chosen pattern will be viewed up-close or in motion. For this reason, hi-resolution images and clear-cut vector graphics are preferred. Additionally, the Designer must add the correct amount of bleed in certain areas as the Installers will require the vinyl to stretch over and around doors and curved panels.

 Our team produces outstanding car graphics with maximum exposure. Whether you need racing stripe decals, a full rally car wrap or an entire fleet re-brand, we can help.

Preparation

Vehicle signage is prepared, printed, and cut on the plotter machine if necessary before being sent to the installation team. Graphics are provided on backing paper and covered by a layer of application tape.

The first step is to meticulously clean the vehicle to remove all dust, grime, wax or oil, before leaving the vehicle to dry thoroughly.

Placement

The following step is to position the graphic correctly. The Installer needs to measure up the spacing according to the plans provided by the designer and reposition the image slightly if necessary. Each different vehicle will need custom adjustments made. For this reason, the graphics are temporarily held onto the vehicle by magnets to keep them in place and allow for modification.

Once a final position is decided, the graphics can be taped into place.

Application

Ideally, decals should be applied indoors at temperatures ranging between 10-32 degrees Celsius (with an optimum temperature of 20-25 degrees.). Too hot, and the vinyl sticker can be too pliable, resulting in overly sticky, stretched letters and forms. Alternatively, too cold could mean that the vinyl membrane is not stretchy enough or could have adhesion issues.

The vinyl application direction must be decided upon in advance, depending on the size, form and placement. Next, the backing paper is removed, bit by bit, and a squeegee is used to secure the sticker to the substrate. Those applying the graphic must ensure all bubbles are removed from each form and that no part of the sticker hits the substrate prematurely.

Finishing

Once the decal is securely attached, the Installer can remove the application tape and must be careful not to remove the newly placed image in the process.

If the image or text runs over two panels, the vinyl is cut once the entire graphic has been placed. In this case, the vinyl should be cut flush with the edge of each panel which will mean making two careful incisions on either side, taking extreme care not to cut or damage the vehicle.