Front windshield decal

[TSi Kid]

I'm having a vinyl made for across the front of my windshield and I was wondering, when it's made does it need to be curved or can it be printed regularly?

Also, what would be a good width to make the vinyl?

 

[knochgoon24]

Get a tape measure to figure out the width.

Most vinyls aren't printed, they're cut. There's no curing of ink or vinyl. I'd wait a few days before washing it, just like tint. But otherwise, just make sue it's not stupid and that it doesn't hit the wiper blades.

 

[camsmurdered2g]

6-8 inches for the width, and you can get it either way. Me and a friend have a vinyl cutter and make all our own banners and decals and we did both my eclipse and his mazdaspeed protege in one night, both cutting out and laying down a peice straight across then trimming acordingly with a razor.

BTW our wipers damn near are as tall as the windshield so it would be impossible to get one to not touch the wipers. I used "5 year" vinyl and have had it on for about 2 months now and have used the wipers no problem. Just make sure you get as many bubbles out as possible and let it "set" for a couple days, sunlight/heat is always a good thing.

 

[TSi Kid]

It's going to be across the front of the top part of the windshield so the height would be about 8 inches but how far across should it be? Or should I just span the entire windshield?

 

[Paching]

It really depends on what you want or like...or do you want other peoples opinions for something going on your car.

 

[camsmurdered2g]

IMO, it should go across the entire top of the windshield. The only way you could get around that would be if you had just the lettering/logo without a background vinyl. Heres how I do all of mine:

1-background vinyl that goes across the entire windshield
2-center and lay the logo/lettering if there is any

Pretty simple process but you can go more indepth with more colors and more layers. Once again this is just my opinion, it's your car..

 

[TSi Kid]

It really depends on what you want or like...or do you want other peoples opinions for something going on your car.

I'm really trying to start this thing were I don't flame idiotic responses, so i'll do my best. I'm asking for specifications, not opinions. Thanks though.

IMO, it should go across the entire top of the windshield. The only way you could get around that would be if you had just the lettering/logo without a background vinyl. Heres how I do all of mine:

1-background vinyl that goes across the entire windshield
2-center and lay the logo/lettering if there is any

Pretty simple process but you can go more indepth with more colors and more layers. Once again this is just my opinion, it's your car..

What i'm asking is how I need to lay it out, do I need to curve the vinyl or do I do a straight print?

 

[camsmurdered2g]

Like I said above, do a striaght cut then lay it down, then trim the curves out with a razor...

 

[evil tsi]

Like I said above, do a striaght cut then lay it down, then trim the curves out with a razor...

that is not what he is asking at all...

you will want it to span the entire windshield and yes have it curved to contour the windshield, otherwise it wouldn't look right

 

[camsmurdered2g]

that is not what he is asking at all...

you will want it to span the entire windshield and yes have it curved to contour the windshield, otherwise it wouldn't look right

I guess I see what he is saying now but it really isn't rocket science. Out windshields don't have that much contour to them so even if you got a straight bottm cut you wouldn't have much "frown" to the vinyl.

 

[TSi Kid]

that is not what he is asking at all...

you will want it to span the entire windshield and yes have it curved to contour the windshield, otherwise it wouldn't look right

Thank you for a response that actually helps. Do you happen to know the bend that I would need to place? I was looking at my windshield and it seems like it wouldn't need to be too much but around 10 degrees.

 

[cola]

I work in a print shop, yes you want to know the curvature. Ask them if they know the dimensions because we have software that gives us guides/dimensions for almost every car, and I know other places that also cut vinyl have it.

edit-also you can just take a length of paper and press it on the windshield and use a protractor for an idea on how it curves, its really not that hard

 

[TSi Kid]

edit-also you can just take a length of paper and press it on the windshield and use a protractor for an idea on how it curves, its really not that hard

Yes, that's how I got the 12 degree ish estimate previously stated.

I think i'm going to try contacting extreme psi and seeing if they can help give me the exact specs and then if I find out I'll post my finding for others in the future.

Thanks for the help.