Printing Multi-Layer Decals

Question

Does anyone have experience creating artwork and printing decals? Specifically, how do decal printers work? For an AI file with 2 layers, is the bottom layer printed first, and then in a second pass the top layer is printed directly over it? I would like to create a decal to be applied on the inside of a window to be viewed correctly from the outside. I would place a mirror image of the artwork on the bottom layer, and then an identical white image over it on the top layer to make the image opaque when viewed from the outside.

Thanks Joe

Bobby Henderson · Accepted Answer

Most companies use large format printers to print decals, especially if the decal is going to be kind of big and applied to a window.

Typically the artwork is printed on roll vinyl. The graphics are then fed through a laminator to provide UV protection for the graphics. Finally the graphics are loaded into a vinyl cutter/plotter where the outline of the decals (or other kinds of graphics) can be contour cut.

An app like Illustrator can be used to create the graphics and the cut path to go around the graphics. Usually the line stroke of the cut path is assigned a custom spot color (often "CutContour"). The artwork is saved as a PDF. Then the PDF is opened in a Large Format RIP application to create the print job. The app can do all sorts of things, such as mirror artwork, print many copies of one piece of artwork, control the vinyl cutter/plotter doing the contour cutting, etc.

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