Creating custom car decals is a fantastic way to personalize your vehicle, promote your business, or express your unique style. At cardiagnostictool.store, we understand the need for high-quality, custom decals, and that starts with an intuitive and powerful Car Decal Design Program. Our streamlined process allows you to effortlessly bring your vision to life, from the initial concept to the final product on your car. Let’s walk through how easy it is to create your perfect car decal using our online tools.
Step 1 – Selecting the Right Size and Quantity
The first step in designing your custom car decal is determining the appropriate size and quantity. This decision will depend on where you plan to place your decal and the overall impact you want to achieve.
We offer a range of standard sizes to fit various car models and design preferences. Whether you need a small, subtle decal or a large, eye-catching graphic, we have options to suit your needs.
Not seeing the size or quantity you want? Click here and get a custom quote.
Choosing the correct size ensures your design looks its best on your vehicle. Consider the dimensions of the area where you’ll apply the decal and visualize how different sizes will appear. For quantity, think about whether you need just one decal or multiples for different vehicles, promotional purposes, or as spares.
Step 2 – Unleashing Your Creativity with Our Car Decal Design Program
Once you’ve decided on the size and quantity, it’s time to dive into the exciting part: designing your car decal! Our car decal design program is packed with features to make this process simple and enjoyable, regardless of your design experience.
Our program offers a variety of options to kickstart your design:
Pick a Template: Jumpstart Your Design
For those who prefer a quick and easy start, our car decal design program provides a wide selection of templates. These professionally designed templates cover various styles and themes, giving you a solid foundation to begin with.
Simply browse through our template library and choose one that resonates with your idea. You can then customize the template to match your specific needs by changing text, colors, and graphics. Templates are a great way to save time and ensure a visually appealing design even if you’re not a graphic design expert.
Design from Scratch: Total Creative Freedom
If you have a unique vision and want complete control over every detail, our car decal design program allows you to design from scratch. This option provides a blank canvas where you can unleash your creativity.
Our user-friendly online designer is equipped with all the tools you need. You can:
- Upload Images and Logos: Incorporate your own branding, artwork, or photos directly into your decal design.
- Extensive Clipart Library: Choose from a vast collection of clipart images to add visual elements to your decal.
- Text Tools: Add text with various fonts, sizes, and styles to convey your message.
- Shape Tools: Utilize shapes to create backgrounds, borders, or design elements.
- Color Palette: Select from a wide range of colors to match your car, brand, or personal preference.
The drag-and-drop interface of our car decal design program makes it easy to arrange elements, resize objects, and experiment with different layouts until you achieve the perfect design.
Upload a File: For Professional Designers
For users who have already created their design using professional graphic design software, our car decal design program offers the “Upload a File” option. This is ideal for businesses with existing logos or individuals working with graphic designers.
To ensure the highest quality output, we recommend uploading your design as an .eps file. This vector file format preserves the sharpness and clarity of your design, regardless of size.
After uploading your file and adding the product to your cart, you’ll be able to select your preferred shipping method. Before production begins, we will email you a proof of your design for your approval. This step ensures that you are completely satisfied with your decal before it’s printed. Once you approve the proof and complete the payment, your order will be processed.
Payment and Live Order Tracking
We require upfront payment for all car decal orders before they enter production. This allows us to efficiently process your order and maintain competitive pricing. We accept a variety of payment methods, including:
- VISA
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Discover credit cards
- Checks (must be received and cleared before production)
To keep you informed every step of the way, we offer Live Order Tracking. Once you place your order, you’ll receive a unique tracking number via email. This number allows you to monitor your order’s progress through each stage of our streamlined process, from order placement to delivery.
Need an update on your order status? Simply click the link in your email to access our dynamic Live Order Tracking system for the most recent information.
Flexible Production Times
We understand that time is often a crucial factor. That’s why we offer flexible production times ranging from one to five business days, allowing you to choose the option that best fits your schedule and needs.
1 Business Day Priority: Fastest Turnaround
When you need your car decals urgently, our 1 Business Day Priority option is the perfect solution.
- Orders approved after 5:00 PM CST will be processed the next business day.
- Emergency/same-day rushes may be available in certain cases. Contact our customer service for details.
- Production time and shipping time combined determine the total delivery time.
- Turnaround time begins upon file upload completion or proof approval.
2 Business Days Express: Quick and Efficient
If you have a bit more time but still need your decals quickly, our 2 Business Days Express option provides a balance of speed and efficiency.
- Orders approved after 5:00 PM CST will be processed the next business day.
- Emergency/same-day rushes may be available in certain cases. Contact our customer service for details.
- Production time and shipping time combined determine the total delivery time.
- Turnaround time begins upon file upload completion or proof approval.
3 Business Days Standard: Popular and Speedy
Our 3 Business Days Standard option is our most popular choice, offering a fast and free turnaround suitable for most custom car decal orders.
- Orders approved after 5:00 PM CST will be processed the next business day.
- Emergency/same-day rushes may be available in certain cases. Contact our customer service for details.
- Production time and shipping time combined determine the total delivery time.
- Turnaround time begins upon file upload completion or proof approval.
5 Business Days Saver: Economical Option
If you’re not in a rush and want to save money, our 5 Business Days Saver option is the most economical choice.
- Orders approved after 5:00 PM CST will be processed the next business day.
- Emergency/same-day rushes may be available in certain cases. Contact our customer service for details.
- Production time and shipping time combined determine the total delivery time.
- Turnaround time begins upon file upload completion or proof approval.
Understanding Decal Cut Options: Die-Cut, Kiss-Cut, and Transfer-Cut
Choosing the right cut option is important for achieving the desired look and application for your car decals. We offer three main cut types: Die-Cut, Kiss-Cut, and Transfer-Cut, each with distinct characteristics related to the paper backing.
Die-Cut Decals: Clean and Contour Cut
Die-cut decals are cut precisely to the shape of your design, going through both the vinyl and the paper backing. This results in individual decals with no background material around the design, offering a clean and professional look.
Die-cut decals are ideal for designs with intricate shapes or when you want the decal to appear as if it’s directly painted onto the surface.
* Back Slit (Crack and Peel) is available only on Standard and Permanent material options *
Kiss-Cut Decals: Easy Peeling and Versatility
Kiss-cut decals are cut only through the vinyl layer, leaving the paper backing intact. This creates a border of paper material around your decal, making them very easy to peel and apply.
Kiss-cut decals are versatile and suitable for a wide range of designs, especially when easy application is a priority. The extra paper border also provides added protection to the decal during handling.
Transfer-Cut Decals: For Complex Designs and Lettering
Transfer-cut decals are created by cutting your design from vinyl and then removing the excess vinyl, leaving only your design elements. Transfer tape is then applied over the top to hold the individual pieces together.
Transfer-cut decals are perfect for intricate designs, lettering, and graphics with multiple separate parts. The transfer tape ensures precise and even application of all design elements at once.
* Vector File (EPS or Ai – Adobe Illustrator) format is required for Transfer Cut decals. *
Transfer Cut / Pick Charge Considerations
The price for transfer cut decals includes 8 standard picks per square foot, with a maximum of 40 picks per square foot. Additional picks are priced between $0.02 and $0.04 each, depending on the complexity of the design. Intricate designs requiring more picking will be custom quoted. For detailed information, please refer to our transfer cut guidelines.
Artwork Specifications for Custom Car Decals
To ensure your custom car decals are printed with the highest quality, it’s important to provide artwork that meets our specifications.
Preferred File Formats
We accept files up to 100 MB. Our preferred file types are:
- Adobe Illustrator EPS (Encapsulated Post Script)
- PDF (Adobe PDF)
When submitting these file types, please convert all fonts to outlines or curves to prevent font substitution and ensure correct printing.
Additional Accepted File Formats
We also accept these file formats:
- JPG (High Resolution JPEG)
- TIFF (High Resolution TIFF)
- PNG (High Resolution PNG)
File Preparation Tips
- Size Proportion: Set up your artwork at the exact size you are ordering.
- Convert Text to Outlines: Convert all text to outlines or curves.
- Bleed: Only include bleed if necessary for your design.
- Layers: Never flatten or merge layers in PSD files.
- Cut Line Indication: Clearly indicate the cut line for all decal products.
Transfer-Cut Guidelines
Transfer cutting, commonly used for vinyl lettering, requires specific artwork considerations:
- Font Choice: Simple and open fonts are recommended for best results.
- Minimum Text Height: All text must be at least 1/2″ tall.
- Minimum Spacing: The space between characters and design elements should be at least 1/8”.
- Minimum Line Weight/Stroke: Main strokes or art elements should be a minimum of 1/8”.
- Minimum Pick Size: Minimum pick size of 1/8”.
- Proof Recommendation: We recommend requesting a proof for transfer-cut decals.
Disclaimers:
- Transfer cut price includes 8 standard picks with a Maximum of 40 picks per sq. foot.
- Additional picks are $0.02 to $0.04 per pick depending on difficulty/intricacy.
- Intricately cut decals will be custom quoted based on difficulty and time required to pick.
Understanding Vector and Raster Art
Vector Art: Vector art is composed of mathematically defined lines and curves. It’s ideal for logos, text, and shapes because it can be scaled to any size without loss of quality. Vector files (like EPS and AI) ensure crisp outlines and details, regardless of the output size.
Raster Art: Raster images are made up of pixels (colored squares), like digital photographs. Raster images are resolution-dependent, meaning their quality is limited by the resolution at which they were created. Enlarging raster images excessively can lead to pixelation and loss of detail. Common raster formats include JPG, TIFF, and PNG.
If submitting raster files, please follow these resolution guidelines:
- 100% scale (full size output): 100 dpi
- 50% scale: 200 dpi or higher
- 25% scale: 300 dpi or higher
- 10% scale: 600-1200 dpi recommended
Professional Design Services
If you need help creating print-ready artwork, our design department offers artwork recreation services. We can recreate most logos and images in vector format for an additional fee, depending on the complexity of your design. Discounts may be available for artwork design services. Contact our customer service representatives for more information. Payment for design services is required before printing. We retain your recreated vector artwork on file for future orders. Releasing the vector artwork to you for personal use is available for an additional cost.
How to Apply Vinyl Car Decals
Proper application is crucial for ensuring your car decals adhere well and look great for years to come. Follow these six easy steps for successful decal installation:
Watch Die-cut Video Installation Guide
Watch Transfer Decal Video Installation Guide
Shipping Information
We aim to deliver your Decals.com order within 2-4 business days (after production time) to most locations within the United States. Unless specified otherwise, your custom car decals will be shipped via UPS Ground.
For questions about shipping rates or rush production, please contact our Customer Service Representatives at (320) 391-5250 before ordering. You will receive a tracking number once your package ships. For more detailed shipping information, please visit our shipping policy page.
Shipping Methods Available:
- Economy (5-15 Days)
- Standard (3-5 Business Days)
- Three Day (3 Business Days)
- Two Day (2 Business Days)
- Overnight (1 Business Day)
Important Economy Shipping Notes:
- For Economy shipping, include your P.O. Box in the “Address Two” field during checkout to ensure delivery.
- Economy shipping can add an additional 5-10 days to delivery time, depending on the destination.
National and International Shipping:
- We ship throughout the United States and internationally.
- International shipments require customer-provided shipping labels and customs documentation. We accept international shipping labels only from USPS and UPS.
- Contact a Customer Service Representative at (320) 391-5250 for international shipping inquiries.
