Decal

For other uses, see Decal (disambiguation).

Decal on a Plymouth Superbird automobile

A decal (Template:PronEng) or transfer is a plastic, cloth paper or ceramic substrate that has printed on it a pattern that can be moved to another surface upon contact, usually with the aid of heat or water. The word is short for "decalcomania." The word Decalcomania is derived from the French word "decalquer," and was coined by Simon François Ravenet about 1750. The "mania" was added during the Decal craze of the late 1800s.

Different variations of decals include: A vinyl decal or "peel-and-stick" decal is a petroleum based decal that transfers upon peeling off the decal from its base. There are also decals that are Static Cling Decals, which usually are applied to windows and are easily removable. Another type is also a Double Sided Decal, which is a print message on both sides. They can be static stick of adhesive.

Government agencies of all types also use decals on vehicles for identification. These decals are referred to as fleet markings and are required by law on all fire and law enforcement vehicles in the US. Most fleet markings are created from reflective vinyl with an adhesive backing that is applied in a peel-and-stick manner. Vinyl comes in large rolls that are fed through a plotter (cutter) or large-format printer/cutter. The designs are created in specialized computer software and sent to the machines via cable link for production. Once the design is cut into the vinyl, the excess vinyl on the sheet is removed in a process called "weeding". Finally, a paper pre-mask is applied to the top of the vinyl design to allow easy application of multiple letters and shapes at one time.

There are many types of decals available for all types of uses: Vinyl Decals, Double Sided Decals, Static Cling Decals, Glow in the Dark Decals, Removable Decals, Relective Decals and many more.

You can see a great image gallery of different types of decal here: Custom Decals You can see a great galley of different types of decal and also information about the printing process also. They have a great directory of custom decals and images so that you choose from a great selcection. Custom Service was great, and they also had great pricing.

External links

• [1]
• Industrial Transfers and the Art of Decalcomania
• History of Decals
• [2]