A vinyl wrap is made of a very thin, flexible sheet of vinyl with an adhesive on the back. Think of it like a really big sticker.
Vinyl comes in a wide array of colors, visual effects and finishes. It can also be printed on to achieve the full vehicle graphics you see on commercial vehicles around town. When it is not being used for advertising, it is often the preferred choice when looking to change the color of a vehicle. It is much more cost effective than a new coat of paint and has the same effect.
Vinyl is incredibly versatile and has countless applications. It can be applied to almost anything a sticker will stick to. Vehicles are the most common thing we apply it to but storefront windows, doors, freezers and signage are also often requested.
The hundreds of color options and variety of finishes and visual effects make vinyl a great way to change the color of a vehicle or almost anything else a sticker will stick to. Let’s dive a little deeper into the different finishes available.
Gloss: The most common is the standard glossy finish and it has the most color options available. This allows you to change a vehicle’s color without changing the finish.
Satin: A middle ground between gloss and matte, satin is less shiny than gloss but more reflective than matte. It has a soft, lustrous finish without the full effect of matte.
Matte: A true matte finish is the complete opposite of gloss. The non-reflective finish gives any vehicle a subdued look. Matte vinyl does show some fingerprints but not nearly as many as a matte paint does, making it the preferred option over paint.
Each of these finish options have their own set of color and visual effect choices, including color shifting and shimmery looks. Gloss vinyl comes in hundreds of options and the others have less but still plenty of choices. Since there are too many color options to list here, let us know when you would like to stop by the shop to go through our sample books. If you can dream it up, we likely have what you are looking for!
Have you ever seen a vehicle and thought that it just looks a little sleeker but didn’t know why? It might have had all it’s chrome parts covered with vinyl. The window trim, grille, around the headlights and other chrome parts of a vehicle tend to stand out when they are a shiny silver color.
Wrapping them “deletes” them from your attention giving the vehicle a sleeker and cleaner look. This is often done in a black vinyl with whichever finish you prefer (satin, matte or gloss) but can be done in any color. It’s just one more way to customize your ride!
Printed vinyl wraps and decals are the ultimate customization of any vehicle or surface! Because it is printed in sheets that are applied together like hanging wallpaper, any size or shape vehicle or surface that vinyl sticks to can be wrapped.
The process begins with a graphic designer with experience in designing wraps. The designer finds or creates a template to match the size and shape of the object being wrapped and fills in the artwork from there to create a high resolution image. Many of our customers already have a designer but we are happy to suggest a few if needed.
Our oversize full color printers take it from there and print the design in segments that are assembled to look like one big seamless image during application. Vehicles are often partially disassembled to ensure a seamless application, which is why a full vehicle wrap often takes 5-7 days.
If it is a decal you need, the printer and cutter work together to print and cut any shape you would like. The possibilities are endless.
Because we use high quality vinyl, printed wraps on vehicles in the Arizona sun often last 2-3 years before showing signs of fading. Vinyl on items inside could last longer. To protect a vehicle wrap and roughly triple the length of time it lasts, ask us about installing PPF over the wrap.
So you’ve decided to change the color of your vehicle – or table tops, bar area, freezers, storefront windows, menu boards or anything else it will stick to. Now it’s time to decide between vinyl and PPF. They both do a great job in changing the appearance of the vehicle but have some pretty big differences in other categories.
Lasts 2-3 years
(depending on sun exposure)
No Protection – Cosmetic Only
Vinyl can be Custom Printed
Hundreds of Color Choices and Visual Effects
Many Finishes Available
Budget Friendly compared to PPF
Lasts 8 years
(depending on sun exposure)
Full Self-Healing Protection
PPF can NOT be Custom Printed
Select number of Color Choices and Visual Effects
Gloss Available (+ Satin Black)
Roughly Double the Price of Vinyl
Vinyl is intended to be cosmetic only. A full vinyl wrap will provide a small amount of protection from the sun simply by being an opaque layer shading the paint but it does not have technology built in to block UV rays.
Mild soap and water with a microfiber cloth is the best way to wash the vehicle and maintain the vinyl. Drive through car washes, pressure washers, abrasive cleaners and rough brushes are not recommended.
Thanks to the extreme sun in central Arizona, we expect a vinyl wrap to last 2-3 years. This number depends greatly on sun exposure and the level of wear and tear to the vehicle. A vehicle that is kept in a garage most of the time will maintain it’s appearance for a longer time.
Typically it is a 5-7 day process for a full vehicle wrap on a standard sized vehicle. A single decal might only take a day to complete. This can vary greatly as every project is unique. We will give you a time estimate when we discuss the project in detail.
