About Vehicle Wraps

Introduction

Vinyl wraps (also known as vehicle wraps, auto wraps, bus wraps, boat wraps, wall wraps, window wraps, etc.) are an exciting indoor/outdoor advertising and personalization medium. A vinyl wrap is like a big sticker really. They are created by applying ink-jet printed or solid-color pressure-sensitive adhesive vinyl onto nearly any vehicle, boat or plane, piece of furniture, object, interior surface, or building exterior. For more durable long-term wrap applications and to protect the printed surface, a thin crystal-clear vinyl overlaminate is often laid over the wrap as well. The simplist vinyl wraps use only solid-colored pressure-sensitive vinyl to literally change the color or appearance of a painted surface such as turning a gloss-black vehicle into a matte black appearance. Almost all race cars, from dirt track truck racing to drag racing and NASCAR events, use wraps and vinyl decals to display their sponsors or to promote special events since they are easy to change.

What is a Wrap?

A vehicle wrap is a process whereby any conceivable design or photograph is printed onto special pressure-sensitive vinyl and applied by hand with heat onto a vehicle’s painted surface. Some vehicle wraps are even simpler and just use a solid-color pressure-sensitive vinyl to literally change the color or appearance of that vehicle. A wrap is the most innovative thing to hit the advertising world! Think of a wrap as a full-color mobile billboard. However, a wrap doesn’t have to be only on a car, van or truck; wraps can also be on walls, floors, or just about any surface.

Vinyl wraps are non-permanent and can be removed or changed out quickly. Depending on the original application, if treated well, a single vinyl wrap application can last for years.

The Vehicle Wrap Process

The vehicle wrap process involves a few simple steps:

1. Design, the fun part with custom-car-wraps.com easy 4 step process
2. Production
3. Installation

The first step is the design process, you create the design on the vehicle of your choice, e.g. sedan, van, subcompact, etc. with our unique four step process. You then make a choice of one or more wrap shop in your area to send the design to for a quotation. Choose from the several quotes that you will receive and the wrap provider of your choice will re-create your design during which you will consult with them for the final look for your exact vehicle. The wrap provider will then work up a proof for you to approve.

Once the design is finalized, the production phase of your wrap will begin. Your design will be printed on large sections of a special kind of vinyl meant for use on vehicles, and then laminated to provide weather-resistance and the desired finish – usually either gloss or matte. For  more information about the vinyl used to wrap car, trucks and boats and even race cars, visit our About Wrap Materials page

Installation typically takes 1-2 days, depending on the size and difficulty of your particular vehicle, and will usually occur in the wrap provider’s own facility. The providers utilize a variety of industry tools, including a plastic squeegee for application, a razor knife to trim edges, and a torch to heat the vinyl for application on contoured surface parts of your vehicle.

Why do you need a wrap? Check out the benefits here