RJS GRAFX    Installation Instructions

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When you receive your graphics, take them out of the box and lay them out on something flat and dry. If you can see any wrinkles in the application tape, work them out with a bondo squeegee. Leave the graphics stored flat until you are ready to install them. They will be easier to work with if they don’t want to roll up.

Applying your graphic

First, either get your project inside, or choose a time when the air is very still, if you must apply these graphics outdoors. A warm day (over 60) is best, it also helps if it’s not real humid.

Clean the area where you want to put the graphic. Try to avoid ammonia-based products if you can. If you do use an ammonia-based product, be sure to rinse and let it dry very well before you begin your installation. You want your surface to be as clean, wax free and smooth as possible.

Applying the graphic is pretty simple. It will come to you in a kind of sandwich of two kinds of material. The top layer will be something called application tape (translucent plastic or paper layer) the letters will be under this. Then under the the letters is the paper backing. This is somewhat like butcher paper, slick on one side. When you want to apply the graphic, you take a couple of small pieces of masking tape and put them on the top corners, to hold the graphic while you position it. If you are applying to a curved surface, it’s best to apply with, or around the curve, rather than against or across it. When you have your graphic positioned properly, you will tape down the whole edge of the graphic on the end you want to begin applying from. This should be done with one long piece of masking tape and when you're done it should act just like a hinge.  Placing your tape on one of the longest edges works best but, remember to consider any curve in the surface you are applying to. You want to go in the same direction as the curve. Now, raise up the graphic from the side opposite the hinge and peel off the paper backing, starting at the hinge. On larger graphics, it sometimes helps to only pull the backing paper halfway off, or so, to start with. The rolled over backing paper will help the graphic remain more rigid and easier to control. You can just roll the backing paper back to the edge you are holding on to (opposite your tape hinge) and hold the loose end of the backing and the graphic with one hand. Also see below.*

Now, being careful not to let any part of the graphic or application tape touch the surface before you are ready for it to, you press it on a little at a time, working your way from top to bottom, bottom to top, or end to end. You start from the edge you have taped down. For this you can use a bondo squeegee of something similar that is somewhat flexible. Or, sometimes I just use my thumb or finger. Kinda like your computer printer, back and forth and move up or down a notch and do it again until you have worked your way across the whole graphic. It just takes a little patience. Once you have it all down smooth, take your squeegee and rub the whole graphic down again, be firm. Now, go take a coffee break to let the adhesive set a little. When you come back, you can begin to remove the application tape from on top of the lettering. This is best done by picking a corner loose and slowly pulling, keeping the relationship between the loose part you are pulling and the part that is still stuck down as close to a 180 degree angle as possible. As you pull the application tape, be patient, go slowly and closely watch the lettering as you uncover it. If a letter wants to start coming off with the tape. STOP, take your thumb and rub the edge of the letter and tape down again, rub hard and a lot. Then slowly start pulling again. Once you have the tape off, you are done unless you have to work out a bubble or two. Any little bubbles you might get will go away after the graphic sits in the sun a little and gets warm. If you need to get rid of a larger air bubble, once you have the application tape off, just poke a hole in one end of the bubble with a pin and work the air out through the hole. Do not try to wax over the graphic for a few days, allow some time for the adhesive to set.

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