Help And Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to the decal and stencil questions I get asked the most. If you don’t see your question, send me a message through Contact and I’ll reply in that chat.
Quick Paths
- Ordering And Sizes
- Decals And Stencils
- Applying Your Decal Or Stencil
- Shipping, Tax And Payment
- Shipping
- Cancellations, Returns And Damage
- Returns And Cancellations Policy
- Contact
Ordering And Sizes
What’s The Difference Between Cut To Order, Ready To Ship And Clearance?
- Cut to Order items are custom made to your size and color after you order.
- Ready to Ship items are already cut.
- Clearance items are already cut with transfer tape, and quantities are limited.
How Do I Choose A Size?
When choosing the size of your decal or stencil, you are choosing the longer side of the design’s width or height. The other side adjusts automatically, keeping the design’s look.
What Do The Color And Layer Options Mean?
Color shows the material name and manufacturer item number from our stock list. Premium films (for example ORACAL 951) may add a material surcharge shown in the live price.
Layers on multi-layer designs mean separate vinyl pieces that stack — not just different color chips on one sheet.
Can I Get A Custom Size, Color Or Design?
Yes. Each cut vinyl decal and paint stencil is a handmade item that can be configured in lots of different ways. Not every option is listed or available for every item, so please Contact me with any questions before ordering.
If you don’t see the design you’re looking for, send me an image for review through Contact. Once I receive it, I’ll review it and estimate how much time it will take to convert and or illustrate. Artwork you provide for a custom decal or stencil will take longer and may have additional charges.
Decals And Stencils
What’s The Difference Between A Decal And A Stencil?
Decals are the end result. Stencils are used to create the end result, usually using paint.
What Vinyl Do You Use?
Decals are cut from ORACAL 651, my standard decal vinyl. Its permanent adhesive bonds strongly to the surface. Decals can still be removed with effort and, when needed, a solvent.
Stencils are cut from ORACAL 811/813 stencil film, which is made for painting and is removed after the paint has dried.
Is There A Special Vinyl Material For Painting Stencils?
Yes. Regular decal vinyl can work in some cases, but it isn’t made for painting. Stencil vinyl has a removable, water based adhesive that isn’t supposed to damage the surface or your first color layer. Standard decal vinyl has an acrylic based permanent adhesive and bonds strongly to the surface.
The opaque white stencil vinyl is a thin material, good for light textured surfaces and surfaces with curves. The translucent blue stencil material is a little thicker and is better for flat surfaces and when you need to slightly see through the stencil to line it up.
What’s The Difference Between A Positive And Negative Stencil?
A negative stencil lets you paint the design onto your surface. This is the default for paint stencils.
A positive stencil protects the surface, or the color underneath, using the design’s shape while you paint over it. The surface under the design stays unpainted.
If you need a positive stencil, Contact me before ordering. Remember paint is permanent. If you want something long lasting that can be removed later, order a decal.
Can I Use A Decal As A Stencil?
Yes. Using a decal as a paint stencil is called a positive stencil, and I recommend stencil vinyl rather than decal vinyl. Its removable water based adhesive won’t damage the surface or color underneath. The design protects the surface while you paint over it.
These photos were kindly shared by one of my customers:
Are Your Stencils Reusable?
Yes and no. The design is what makes a stencil reusable or not. Most designs aren’t reusable because the inner parts don’t connect to the outer parts. Think of the letter O: the inner part isn’t connected to the outer part, so it stays behind. If the inner part connects to the outer part, you can reuse it.
Some materials work better than others for reuse. The white stencil vinyl is thin and not very reusable. The translucent blue stencil vinyl is more rigid and better for reuse. Contact me before ordering if you want to know whether a particular design is reusable.
How Long Will A Decal Last?
All decals are temporary and will weather and eventually need to be replaced. How long depends on the environment. Indoor decals won’t need replacing for a long time, while a car decal may need replacing in a few years. Vinyl stencils are one time use and may not work for every project.
Will Decals Hold Up In The Dishwasher?
Yes, they will hold up, but I suggest not using the heated drying cycle.
Are Window Decals Street Legal?
I don’t claim any window decals to be street legal. They are intended for show purposes only. Please follow your local, state and federal laws.
Applying Your Decal Or Stencil
What Comes In The Package?
Each decal or stencil arrives in three layers:
- Decal or stencil — the design, cut out of adhesive backed vinyl.
- Backing paper — the bottom layer that protects the adhesive. You remove this first, then apply the design to the surface using a plastic squeegee.
- Transfer tape — the top layer that holds the design in place while you move it to the surface.
What’s The Difference Between Clear And Opaque Transfer Tape?
Opaque transfer tape is my default for single color decals and paint stencils. It’s good for curved or slightly textured surfaces and works with the wet application method. It’s also my preferred tape for wall decals and large decals, because it makes them more rigid and easier to work with.
Clear transfer tape is good for flat surfaces and the dry/hinge method only. It’s thin and can build up static, so large decals or stencils may need a helper. The benefit is that it’s clear, so you can line things up precisely.
What’s The Dry Hinge Method?
- Tape one edge of the decal or stencil to the surface with masking tape. This makes a hinge so the decal can fold back without losing its place.
- Fold it back and remove the backing paper.
- Starting at the hinge, use a hard, flat plastic tool such as a squeegee to smooth the transfer tape, with the decal or stencil still on it, down onto the surface.
- Smooth the whole thing a few times, applying pressure.
- Carefully pull the transfer tape off at a sharp, low angle, back over itself.
For large or long decals and stencils, put the tape hinge straight down the middle instead. Remove half the backing paper and apply that half with your squeegee. Then remove the hinge tape, lift the other half, remove the rest of the backing paper and smooth it down. Finish by removing the transfer tape at a sharp angle.
How Long Can A Decal Or Stencil Sit Before I Apply It?
Some people have had success applying decals after months or even years, but I recommend applying decals and stencils within a few days of receiving them.
Are There Application Videos?
Yes. Check out my YouTube videos on how to apply decals, stencils and more.
Do You Apply Decals?
In southern Arizona, yes. Simple vehicle decals can be applied at my home studio in Red Rock by appointment, and I can come to your home or business in the Tucson and Phoenix areas. There is a minimum application fee of $50 for Tucson and $100 for Phoenix. Contact me for a quote.
Decals made by others? Maybe. I don’t usually apply decals made by others because not all vinyl is the same. Contact me to talk about your project.
Shipping, Tax And Payment
How Much Is Shipping?
All orders ship by USPS. At checkout you can pick:
- USPS Ground Advantage — $8
- USPS Priority — $14
Large decals need bigger packaging, so there’s an oversize add-on based on the decal’s shorter side:
- Under 22" — no extra charge
- 22" to 31" — adds $10
- 32" and up — adds $20
The oversize add-on is charged once per order. More detail is in the Shipping section below.
How Long Will My Order Take?
Cut to Order items are handmade to order and need at least 1 business day to be made before shipping. Once made, delivery takes another 2 to 7 business days depending on the shipping method you choose.
Where Do You Ship?
US addresses only. I no longer ship internationally. You can order from your country and ship to a US address, such as a friend or a forwarding company.
Do You Charge Sales Tax?
Orders shipping to Arizona are charged 6.7% sales tax on the full order, including shipping.
How Do I Pay?
Payments go through PayPal at checkout from your Cart.
Do I Need An Account?
See Members for account details.
Shipping
Every order from Decals and Stencils by VINYLINES ships from Red Rock, Arizona by the United States Postal Service.
Shipping Options
Pick your shipping method at checkout:
- USPS Ground Advantage — $8
- USPS Priority — $14
Oversize Add-On
Bigger decals need bigger packaging. The oversize add-on is based on the decal’s shorter side:
- Under 22" — no extra charge
- 22" to 31" — adds $10
- 32" and up — adds $20
It’s charged once per order, not per item.
Note: when you pick a size on a product, you’re choosing the longer side of the design. The oversize add-on looks at the shorter side.
How Long It Takes
Cut to Order items are handmade to order and need at least 1 business day to be made before shipping. Once made, delivery takes another 2 to 7 business days depending on the shipping method you choose.
Where I Ship
US addresses only. I no longer ship internationally. You can order from your country and ship to a US address, such as a friend or a forwarding company.
Arizona Sales Tax
Orders shipping to Arizona are charged 6.7% sales tax on the full order, including shipping.
Damaged Or Wrong Shipments
If a shipment arrives damaged or incorrectly shipped, please take pictures and Contact me promptly so I can correct the problem by the best means possible.
Cancellations, Returns And Damage
Can I Cancel My Order?
There is no cancellation fee on orders that haven’t been made yet. Once your order is made, there are no cancellations or refunds.
Can I Return A Decal Or Stencil?
All Cut to Order decals and stencils are made just for you and are non-refundable. Please Contact me with any questions before ordering. See Returns And Cancellations Policy for the full policy.
My Order Arrived Damaged Or Wrong. What Do I Do?
Please take pictures and Contact me promptly so I can correct the problem the best way possible.
Returns And Cancellations Policy
Every Cut to Order decal and stencil is a handmade item cut just for you, so please read this before you order. If you have any questions, Contact me first and I’ll help you get it right.
Cancellations
There is no cancellation fee on orders that haven’t been made yet. Once your order is made, there are no cancellations or refunds.
Returns
All Cut to Order decals and stencils are cut to order and non-refundable.
Damaged Or Incorrect Orders
If a shipment arrives damaged or incorrectly shipped, please take pictures and Contact me promptly so I can correct the problem by the best means possible.
Before You Order
- Sizes are the longer side of the design. The other side adjusts automatically.
- Paint stencils are one time use for most designs. See Decals And Stencils above for reusability and positive vs negative stencils.
- Decals are temporary and will weather over time. There is no warranty or guarantee. See Terms.
Contact
Use Contact in the footer for questions, custom requests or to send an image for review. I’ll reply in that chat.
You can also call or text 612-226-2719, usually Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm Arizona time.