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    FAQs

    What are vinyl silhouette decals?

    They are a great way to quickly and easily transform bare walls into places that inspire. Our silhouette wall decals are ideal for decorating a variety of spaces including: daycares, youth rooms, waiting rooms, schools, nurseries, pediatric units, sport stores and complexes, gyms, children's museums, hospitals, theaters, homes, churches, etc. They can be applied to most smooth surfaces including: walls, glass, mirrors, painted wood or canvas, metal, cars, signs, boats, etc. They are durable and easy to apply. They are so thin they look like they are painted on the wall (but with crisp lines). Our permanent vinyl is waterproof (washable) and resistant to UV rays, fading, and tearing. It's great for outdoor settings or public areas. Our removable vinyl is also high quality, but offers easy removal.

    What is the difference between removable and permanent vinyl (adhesive)?

    Removable vinyl is great for indoor areas safe from prying fingers. It looks great, but can be peeled off fairly easily. It has a matte finish.

    Permanent vinyl has a much stronger adhesive and is great for public areas and outdoor settings. It is waterproof (washable) and can take abuse (resistant to UV rays, fading, and tearing). It too can be removed, but not without some difficulty. Permanent vinyl has a glossy finish.

    What is the cost difference between a silhouette made in removable or permanent vinyl?

    There is no difference, the cost is the same.

    What do you mean by "life-size"? How do you determine the size of your "life-size" silhouettes?

    We use the average height for the estimated age of the person in the silhouette and make some adjustments. For instance a 100% life-size silhouette decal of a man standing would be near 6 feet tall. By using this method all 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% life-size persons match each other respectively and can be used together on the same wall or surface.

    What type of surfaces will my silhouette decals adhere to?

    Your vinyl decals will stick to most clean smooth surfaces. Heavily textured, rough or uneven surfaces are not recommended. Some of our most popular uses have been on walls, windows, glass and mirrors, metal, sign boards, painted wood, painted concrete (non-textured), plastic, doors, cars and boats. Our permanent vinyl stick to some kinds of cloth. Test your destination surface with our removable practice graphic (included with every order) to make sure it works well.

    Will your vinyl decals stick to a textured wall?

    Yes and no. The vinyl just need to have lots of contact with the wall. If the texture is very light and mostly flat they should stick fine. If the wall texture is heavy, has protruding peaks, spurs, or is not mostly flat (like "orange peel" texture), then the decals will not have enough surface area to adhere to. Test your surface by placing on it an average sticker of any kind. If that works fine, our high quality material will probably work better. We cannot make any guarantees they will work in your situation, but for textured walls we recommend you choose the permanent vinyl option (instead of removable) because it sticks better.

    Will the vinyl decals work on a painted cinderblock wall?

    It depends. The vinyl silhouettes just need to have lots of contact with the wall. If the cinderblocks have a really good quality coat of paint or have been painted multiple times, they probably now have lots of smooth surface to adhere to. If they are still not relatively smooth with lots of spurs and protruding texture, then the protruding texture will keep the silhouettes from reaching the smoother, secure wall surface. Another consideration is the mortar between the bricks. If the mortar is relatively level with the brick/wall surface (and is painted well), it will probably work. If the mortar is not relatively level with the wall but is concave, it will make it hard (but not impossible) to apply the decals to the wall without them being suspended as they bridge the gap between bricks. We cannot make any guarantees our decals will work in your situation, but for all textured walls we recommend you choose the permanent vinyl option (instead of removable) because it sticks better.

    Which dimension comes first, width or height?

    Width comes first, width x height.

    If I remove a wall silhouette will it damage my wall?

    Removable vinyl can be peeled off fairly easily. We have never known of a single case when our product has caused wall damage. However, we cannot guarantee there will never be a problem nor be responsible for damage: use our product at your own risk. Permanent vinyl sticks much better and could take off loose paint or cause similar problems.

    How do I apply my decal?

    Applying your decal is not hard. All you have to do is peel off the backing paper, stick the decal on a clean smooth surface and then peel off the transfer tape. Every order comes with application instructions and a practice decal. See our Application Instructions page for more details.

    Can I use my vinyl decal outside on a sign, car, boat, etc?

    You bet, just be sure you select the permanent vinyl option. We make our permanent vinyl decals out of the same material used for high-performance automotive graphics (not the cheap stuff). It is waterproof (washable) and resistant to UV rays, fading, and tearing. It can handle all kinds of weather and conditions.

    Do you ship internationally?

    Yes, anywhere in the world.

    How long will it take to get my order?

    About 5-10 business days (in the U.S.) depending on which type of shipping options you select upon checkout. For faster service, there is an additional rush order option and expedited shipping available at checkout. *Alert: See how USPS is delivering for customers and employees during COVID-19. Read More ›

    Will my silhouette decals come ready to apply?

    Yes, your vinyl decals will come ready to apply with the transfer tape already on them. Every order comes with application instructions and an extra practice decal.

    Are your vinyl decals reusable?

    Our vinyl decals are not meant to be removed and reused again. (Some people have successfully done so, but we make no guarantee.)

    How long should I let new paint cure before applying my vinyl silhouette?

    New paint has an oily surface for a while even after it is dry. Allow a month or so for new paint to cure before applying your vinyl decals. If you are concerned, test the surface with the practice decal included with every order.

    Do you offer custom sizes?

    Yes, just contact us and let us know what size you would like.

    What type of photo do I need for a custom silhouette decal?

    Most digital camera photos work great! Higher resolution (larger) pictures make the best custom silhouette decals (captures more detail). Please upload the original image from your camera (the largest file). Some computer programs automatically shrink photos for emailing. A full-size digital picture should be at least 1 megabyte (1MB=1000K).

    What if I'm not sure my photo will make a good silhouette?

    Contact us HERE with details and one of our customer service team will get back to you.

    What if the photo I want to use for my custom silhouette has other people in it?

    No problem, just indicate in the special instructions box what you want to us to include or not include.

    Can my custom silhouette decal be exactly life-size?

    Sure, we will cut the silhouette to match exact dimensions--and it is easy--just let us know how tall you want it in the special instructions, and be sure to purchase a decal size limit large enough to accommodate your requested silhouette size.

    Why don't you offer smaller custom vinyl silhouette sizes?

    Your custom silhouette decal can be any size up to the size limit you purchase. Our first tier is "up to" 22 x 36 inches. The reason for this is because most of our cost is in the creation of the silhouette and not the material. It is very time intensive. (We have to create a cuttable, mathmatical silhouette shape from your photo.)

    Can I see what my custom silhouette will look like before I make a purchase?

    Most of our cost is in the creation of the silhouette and not the material. It is very time intensive. (We have to create a cuttable, mathmatical silhouette shape from your photo.) For this reason we do not begin work on a custom vinyl silhouette until after the order is placed.

    Will you send a proof of my custom silhouette decal?

    Certainly. We will email you an image of the finished custom silhouette for your approval before we make it into a decal.

    How big can you make a vinyl decal?

    Single piece decals can be up to 11 x 4 feet (3.4x1.2 meters). Larger decals can be divided up into sections that size. Really there is no limit on how big we can make a decal. 11 x 4 foot sections can be placed together to create enormous images. Dream big!

    How should I store my vinyl decals until I am ready to use them?

    Vinyl silhouettes should be stored in a closed container. The backing paper needs to be kept dry, away from moisture or too much humidity.

    What is the difference between a decal and a sticker?

    For us, there is no difference. We use the terms interchangeably.

    Can I get the outside of the vinyl silhouette (or lettering) instead of the inside to use it as a stencil?

    Absolutely, just place your order and when you get your confirmation email, reply to it indicating you want stencils. Some people have used the vinyl stencils for glass etching.

    How do I remove my vinyl decal?

    With tweezers or your fingernail, grab the corner of the decal and pull it off at an angle. If needed, the decal can be warmed up with a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive.

    Can I design something and have you make it into a vinyl decal?

    Yes, we do this frequently. Just contact us for a price quote.

    Will my large vinyl decal come in one piece?

    Most of the time, yes. If the vinyl silhouette you purchase is larger than 11 x 4 feet it may come in more than one piece. If so, the pieces should to be placed together slightly overlapping. Our vinyl decal material is made to overlap and so thin it is hardly noticeable.

    What is your return policy?

    We create custom art to the specifications of our customers. Each purchase is made to order. For this reason we do not allow returns.

    What is your privacy policy?

    We keep your email address completely private and do not store any financial information whatsoever.

    Can I overlap vinyl decals?

    Absolutely. The vinyl is so thin, you can easily overlap decals for special effects.

    Can I use the "wet method" to apply a silhouette decal to window glass?

    Yes. Our permanent material is waterproof so the "wet method" works great for applying large vinyl decals to window glass or similar surfaces. To apply using the "wet method," spray liberally the destination surface and the sticky side of the vinyl decal (after the backing paper has been removed) with water containing a small amount of detergent soap. Place the vinyl decal on the wet surface. Starting in the middle, use a credit card or squidgy to press the water and bubbles out the edges. Continue this effort until all of the bubbles have been removed. Leave it for a day or so until the decal has dried and you can remove the clear transfer tape without pulling off the decal. The "wet method" will not work with decals made of removable vinyl. (Removable vinyl it is not waterproof.)

     

    Thank you for visiting! If you still have an unanswered question, please ask! Contact us here.

     

     


     

     

     

    Footnotes:  http://www.vinylsilhouette.com/en/t/FAQs