Wraps are extremely large vinyl decals that surround an entire vehicle. Although a paint job can make a car look good, wraps can make it look even better by giving the vehicle a colorful, complex, and completely unique feel. Whether you're creating a wrap for your own car or designing decals for a client, understanding the process will help you make the best possible product.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare a design file
Step 1. Obtain a digital vehicle template for the specific model you are working on
Cars come in thousands of different styles, which means that if you want to design an accurate wrap for the vehicle, you will need to purchase a template for the specific model you are working with. Although some manufacturers provide good quality templates on their website, chances are you will have to search for a free template on sites like http://mr-clipart.com or buy professional templates from companies like https:// vehicle-templates- unleashed.com/.
- To verify that the template is accurate, photograph the side of the car you are working with. Then open an image manipulation program, import your vehicle image and template, and align them.
- If there is no template for the vehicle you are working on, you can create your own by taking photos of the left, right, front, rear, and top sides of the car, locating them in a program like "Adobe Illustrator", and tracing them using an image tool. digital pen.
When taking the photos, do your best to make sure that each side looks completely flat. Any distortion could lead to an inaccurate template and by extension an equal wrap impression
Step 2. Choose a computer program to use
To create your wrap design, you will need to use image manipulation software. The industry standard for decals is "Adobe Photoshop," available for both Windows and Mac. If you can't afford "Photoshop," look for free alternatives online like GIMP and Paint.net. If you want to create a heavy vector design, try using "Adobe Illustrator" instead.
Step 3. Learn how to use the software
Programs such as Adobe Photoshop and [[use-Adobe-Illustrator | Illustrator] are complex and powerful software packages that take time and practice to learn. However, there are many resources to help make the process as simple as possible. Not only does Adobe offer comprehensive tutorials on its official website, but YouTube, Dummies.com, and similar sites also host numerous guides for each program. Some of the skills you will need to know when designing vehicle wraps include:
- How to create, manipulate and lock layers.
- How to import and adjust images.
- How to install and use brushes.
- How to add and manipulate text.
Step 4. Import your vehicle template file
Open your image manipulation program and look for an option labeled import. Select it, then locate the vehicle template file on your computer. Click on the file, then select "Import" or "Open" to include it in the program. If your template won't open, check the Readme or Instructions files included with the template to see if there are specific instructions for the file that you should follow.
Step 5. Create files that represent each side of the car
After opening the template, you should be able to see one or all of the sides of the vehicle placed one on top of the other. If you see one side, save it as a new working file, then open the others and repeat the process. If you look at all the sides, delete all but one of them and save it as a new working file. Then close the file, reopen the vehicle template, and save the other side. Repeat this process for each side.
Job files are uncompressed images specifically designed for use with an image manipulation program. In "Photoshop" these are known as.psd files
Part 2 of 3: Create Your Design
Step 1. Draw your design by hand before creating it on the computer
Print out your vehicle template or sketch your vehicle on paper. So, draw your design. If you are working with a client, ask them what they want and use their ideas as a guide for your sketch. Before moving on to the computer, show them the design to make sure they approve.
Step 2. Make a design that is large and easy to see
As with billboards and posters, it is important that your design is clear and legible, even from a distance. To achieve this, make sure that the most important elements of your wrap are also the largest. Large graphics, such as shapes, images, and logos, will be eye-catching and easy to understand. Big words, like a business name or phone number, will take longer to understand, but can provide more detailed information.
Step 3. Use strong colors that look good from the outside
Because people will find your design in suboptimal situations, ranging from blinding sunlight to high-speed traffic, it is important to use colors that stand out. If possible, stick with strong colors that look good from the outside, like red and green.
- Avoid using light or pastel shades, as they will be difficult to see in the sunlight.
- Stay away from colors that mix, such as pink and purple or yellow and orange, as it will be difficult to distinguish them quickly.
Step 4. Limit the amount of writing you use
If you plan to incorporate writing into your design, try to use it as sparingly as possible. Using lots of words will make your design difficult to understand quickly, and when the vehicle is in motion, it will be nearly impossible to read. Make sure the most important words are at least 8 inches (20 cm) high so they are legible, even if the segments are cut off by things like door handles.
- Stick with simple, bold fonts whenever possible, as they are easier to read.
- To keep them legible, make sure all your letters are at least 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) high.
- The important words are things like phone numbers and website URLs. The words that are not important are things like slogans and similar types of text.
Step 5. Provide important graphics at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) of space
To make the most important parts of your wrap stand out, it is important to give them ample space. To do this, make sure other design elements, including text, are at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) from any important graphics. If you are using multiple main items, make sure they are at least 6 inches apart.
Important graphics are things like logos and product photos. Unimportant graphics are things like generic stock images and background elements
Step 6. Keep the body of the vehicle in mind
When creating your design, it is important to remember that it may look different when applied to the actual vehicle. Avoid placing important items on moving areas of the car, such as windows and points divided by lines or spaces. Save your design essentials for the flat, uninterrupted areas of the vehicle.
Step 7. Avoid making complex designs that wrap on multiple sides
Complicated designs, like continuous patterns and images, can make a car look absolutely stunning. However, they can also be difficult to correct, especially when wrapped from one side of the car to the other. Unless you or your client are absolutely sold on the design, try to create wraps that relegate the elements to a single part of the car, making them easier to position, understand, and less prone to misalignment.
Instead of creating an enveloping design, it isolates heavy elements with graphics on the left and right sides of the vehicle and simpler, text-based information on the rear
Part 3 of 3: Print the wrapper
Step 1. Check your design for failures
Printing a vehicle wrap is expensive, so make sure you are completely satisfied with the design before doing so. Take a good look at the design and look for any minor flaws that you can fix. If you are working with a client, send them a copy of the completed design and make sure they approve it in writing.
Step 2. Save your design as separate, printable files
To print successfully, you will need to save each part of your decal wrap, including the front, back, left, right, and top, as a separate file. To do this, disable the template layer on an image and save the job file. Then click Save As, choose the TIFF option (or whatever file format your printer requires), and create a flat image with LZW compression. Repeat this for each side.
- If you worked on a scaled template, resize your files to be the actual length and height of the car.
- Make sure the resolution of each image is between 150 and 300 dpi; Otherwise, it will be printed pixelated.
Step 3. Create a folder with your printable files and whatever resources you have used
So the printer can create the best possible wrap decals, prepare a folder for them containing the working files, TIFF files and source files for any external images included in the design. If you used a special font, be sure to include a copy of it. If you used original vector files, include the uncompressed versions.
Every printer is different. Some may only take your TIFF files, others may want everything, and some may require different files entirely. However, having them all in one place will make the shipping process much easier
Step 4. Send your files to a printing company
Because vehicle wraps are incredibly large and require special materials to print properly, you will most likely have to submit your designs to a specialized printing company. Look online for printers in your area that specialize in large stickers and car wraps. Then contact them for pricing information and details on what files they will need and how to send them.