All decals are stickers, but the opposite is not true. So what exactly is a decal?

What Is A Car Decal Sticker? - Auntie Sticker Works

A car decal is an outdoor sticker that is pasted on cars for decorative purposes. It adds an extra touch of style to your car and helps to express your personality. They typically last several years before fading due to wear and tear.

At this point, you may be wondering why we don’t simply call a decal a sticker or if a decal is truly worthwhile getting. If so, fear not, for this article was written as a beginner’s introduction to car decal stickers. To start us off, we shall look into the differences between a decal, a sticker and a label.

About Stickers

All decals are stickers, but the opposite is not true. Simply put, decals and labels are types of stickers.

In the past, stickers were typically placed on paper backing and made into sheets. As technology improved, stickers could now be made from several materials such as polyester and vinyl, which are much more durable materials. This allows them to last for longer periods of time and under tougher conditions.

One thing that has not changed is that stickers are still a fun and simple way to express your personal taste and temporarily decorate any object. They help to make statements and tell passer-by of your interests in a colourful and eye-catching manner. The list of objects that people commonly paste their stickers on include bottles, laptops and their phones.

A sticker generally consists of two layers. Firstly, the decorative layer which contains a design on the front side as well as an adhesive on the back side for functional sticking purposes. In addition, a sticker also has a second layer which is the paper on the back, this part is peeled off by you before the sticker is stuck onto a surface.

About Decals

If labels are informative stickers, then decals are decorative stickers built for outdoor conditions. While they do offer greater durability than a normal sticker, they still are not highly durable but do last for around 3 years when used outdoors.

Unlike conventional stickers, decals has 3 layers – the usual paper on the back, the design layer as well as a paper on the front. They are usually manufactured using latex inks and a thermal colour printer or an eco-solvent printing process. From there, they are either printed in vinyl or clear polyester.

How to Apply a Decal Sticker

Applying a decal sticker involves following a few simple steps but also requires confidence and experience during actual application. Here is our 5 step guide to decal sticker application:

Start by thoroughly cleaning the targeted surface area with both water and soap. This removes any dirt or dust from being trapped between the adhesive and the surface. Do note to avoid using window cleaner or similar products as they may leave a residue behind that prevents the decal from sticking well to the surface.
Next, prepare the sticker for application by taking a card and rubbing it firmly across the length of the decal. Doing so removes any air bubbles that may have been formed before while also ensuring that the sticker clings on to the transfer tape.
Thirdly, you should peel the paper layer off the sticker. As with normal stickers, if the design layer clings on to the paper layer, you should slowly replace the paper backing and repeat the step a second time.
Once the design has been peeled off from the paper, you may proceed to stick it on to the target surface. Then, rub it in firmly on to the spot with a card, similar to how you first removed air bubbles in step 2. Allow the decal to rest for a few minutes before you proceed on to the last step.
Slowly peel the backing paper off from an angle. Extra caution should be exercised at this step to ensure that the design is not also pulled off the surface. Should you accidentally pull the design off, do not panic, simply repeat the previous step.

Decals Can be Removed Without Damage to the Surface

A very apparent contradiction exists in car decals. Decals utilise a strong adhesive that allows them to effectively stick to your car’s surface for a long period of time (3 years or more), making them semi-permeant. However, they are also easy to remove.

Herein lies the true advantage that decals hold over more traditional decoration methods. Take for example paint, if you wanted to change your design or give it a touch up, you would have to paint over the design. This potentially could turn out t be a tedious and expensive process in comparison to simply switching out a decal sticker design.

The only catch that decals have is that they are not reusable. Once you have replaced your car’s decal, the old design cannot be pasted on another surface. This is because the adhesive would have lost its sticking properties by then.

Engaging Professionals to Apply or Remove Vehicle Decals

Fearing that you may ruin the decal application on or removal from your vehicle? Or worse yet accidentally scratch your vehicle’s body in the process by mistake? If so, why not engage professional decal printing services to help you complete the process by sticking or removing the decal. This is a failproof way of ensuring that your no damage is dealt to your vehicle during the process.

Choose Auntie Sticker Works for our Car Decal Stickers

Auntie Sticker Works Pte Ltd was established in 1996. We are professional experts specializing in customised design vinyl outdoor stickers, full vehicle decals, vehicle number plates and body wrap.

Over the years, Auntie Sticker Works has built up a reputable name in the industry for impeccable service and precise sticker printing work. We service a wide range of clients including both personal vehicle drivers and commercial vehicle advertising.

We guarantee quality products and service. With Auntie Sticker Works, you can now easily customize unique and personalized stickers online from the comfort of your home. Enquire about our car decal printing services today.