« March 2008 | Main | May 2008 »
We get a lot of questions and feedback about wall decals. Many readers will benefit from the answers we give, so we are going to start posting them in this blog as well as in FAQ section on the Cool Art Canvas website.
Q: Is a wall decal the same as a sticker?
A: No. We all know stickers are on a sheet, and you peel up the corner of the design and pull it off the backing paper and then stick onto another surface. Basically a sticker is a print onto paper which has adhesive. Sometimes this paper is glossy, sometimes it is plastic coated etc.
A "true" wall decal is cut from vinyl. Vinyl is a synthetic material that appears like a thin plastic, but it is not plastic. A decal will have a backing paper and a front transfer paper. Vinyls are self adhesive, much thinner than a sticker, and are able to withstand heat which can be used to ensure it sticks properly to the surface. A sticker would just bubble, but vinyl likes the heat and will contour to the surface.
Image: Stickers just peel off, decals sit between two layers for application.
Q: I bought a wall sticker from Ikea and now parts of it are not sticking. Can you give me any advice?
A: If the sticker was a peel and stick product, it is more likely to peel off the surface. There is no solution unfortunately and many consumers are tricked into thinking the wall stickers will look "just like the picture". These stickers are often thicker than walldecals and therefore it is more difficult for them to stick to the wall.
If the product was a decal made from vinyl you could try using a hair dryer or heat gun to assist in adhering to the wall. Don't do this to a sticker because it will burn and bubble.
Q: Can you print full colour wall decals for us?
A: Wall decals or surface graphics usually consist of a design that is cut from a solid piece of vinyl. We put different coloured vinyls into the machine depending on what you order, and then we cut the design and prepare the decal for you.
To print full colour onto vinyl, essentially you are moving into the "sticker" idea where you would be printing colour onto a white vinyl and then cutting around the design. The vinyl is much thicker.
Yes we print full colour vinyl, however, this is only normally used for large signage for shops, offices and corporate applications. All of our consumer decals consist of a single solid colour.
Watch this space for more answers to your wall decal questions....
