Wraps are large vinyl decals that cover a vehicle.Even though a paint job can make a car look good, wraps can give it a colorful, complex, and completely unique feel.Understanding the process will help you create the best product possible.
Step 1: You should get a template for the specific model you are working on.
If you want to design an accurate vehicle wrap, you will need a template for the specific model you are working with.Though some manufacturers provide good-quality templates on their website, you will most likely need to search for a free template on sites like http://mr-clipart.com or purchase professional templates from businesses like https://vehicle-templates-unleashed.COM/.To make sure the template is correct, take a picture of the car you are working with.import the picture and vehicle template, line them up, and open an image manipulation program.If there isn't a template for the vehicle you're working on, you can create your own by taking photos of the car's left, right, front, back, and top sides, placing them in a program like Adobe Illustrator and tracing them using a digital pen tool.Do your best to make each side look flat when taking the photos.A distortion could lead to an inaccurate template.
Step 2: To use a computer program, you need to pick one.
You will need image manipulation software to create your wrap design.Adobe Photoshop is available on both Windows and Mac.If you can't afford a computer, look online for free alternatives.Adobe Illustrator is a better choice if you want to create a heavy design.
Step 3: Learn how to use it.
Powerful, complex software suites like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator take time and practice to learn.There are tons of resources that can be used to make the process simpler.There are many guides for each program on the websites of Adobe and similar sites.How to create, manipulate, and lock layers are some of the skills you will need to know when designing vehicle wraps.How to change images.How to use brushes.Adding and manipulating text.
Step 4: You can import a vehicle template file.
Look for an option labeled import when you open your image manipulation program.The vehicle template file can be found on your computer.Click the file to bring it into the program.If your template doesn't open, you should check the Read Me or Instructions files included with the template to see if there are any specific instructions you need to follow.
Step 5: The files should represent each side of the car.
You should be able to see either one side of the vehicle or all the sides on top of each other after opening the template.If you see one side, save it as a new working file, then open the other side and repeat the process.If you can see every side, you should save it as a new working file.Next, close the file, open the template, and save another side.For each side, repeat this process.Working files are designed to be used with an image manipulation program.These are known as.psd files.
Step 6: Before you use the computer to create your design, sketch it out.
You can make a rough sketch of your vehicle by printing it out.Draw your design.When working with a client, ask them what they want and use their ideas as a guide for your sketch.To make sure they approve of the design, show them it before moving to the computer.
Step 7: A big and easy to see design is what you should make.
It is important that your design is clear and legible from afar.The most important elements of your wrap should be the largest.Big graphics will be eye-catching and easy to understand.It will take longer to comprehend a large word like a company name or phone number.
Step 8: Strong colors show well outside.
It is important to use colors that pop because people will encounter your design in non-optimal situations.Red and green are bold colors that can be seen outside.Light or pastels are hard to see in bright sunlight.Since it will be difficult to distinguish between them quickly, stay away from colors that blend together.
Step 9: The amount of writing you use should be limited.
If you want to include writing in your design, try to use it as little as possible.When the vehicle is in motion, using a lot of words will make your design hard to comprehend, and it will be nearly impossible to read.Even if segments are cut off, the most important words should be at least 8 in (20 cm) tall.Simple, bold fonts are easier to read.Make sure your letters are at least 2.5 in tall.Phone numbers and website urls are important words.slogans and similar types of flavor text are non- important words.
Step 10: There should be at least 2 in (5.1 cm) of space for the graphics.
It is important to give your wrap plenty of space in order to make it stand out.Make sure that other design elements, including text, are at least 2 in (5.1 cm) away from any important graphics.Make sure the major elements are at least 6 in (15 cm) away from each other.Product photos and logos are important graphics.Generic stock imagery and background elements are not important graphics.
Step 11: Keep in mind the vehicle's body.
It is important to remember that your design may look different on the actual vehicle.It's a bad idea to put important elements over areas of the car that move.Your design should be saved for the flat areas of the vehicle.
Step 12: It's a bad idea to make complex designs that wrap around.
Complicated designs, like patterns and continuous images, can make a car look stunning.It can be difficult to get right when they are wrapped from one side of the car to another.Unless you or your client are sold on the design, try to create wraps that place elements in a single portion of the car, making them simpler to put on, easier to comprehend, and less prone to alignment mistakes.Instead of creating a wrap-around design, use graphic-heavy elements to the left and right sides of the vehicle.
Step 13: Check your design for flaws.
Before you print a vehicle wrap, make sure you are completely happy with the design.Look through the design to see if there are any small flaws 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 14: Save your design as a separate file.
The front, back, left side, right side and top of your decals need to be saved as separate files in order to print properly.You can save the working file if you disabled the template layer on the image.To create a flat image with LZW compression, click Save As and choose the TIFF option.This should be done with each side.Resize your files so they are the actual length and height of the car, if you worked on a scaled template.The resolution of each image should be between 150 and 300 ppi.
Step 15: You can create a folder with any of your resources.
The printer can create the best wrap decals possible by preparing a folder containing the working files, the TIFF files and the source files for any external images included in the design.Make sure to include a copy of the specialty fonts you used.You should include the uncompressed versions if you used the original files.There are different printers.Some may only take your TIFF files, others may want everything, and a few may need different files.The submission process will be made easier by having them all in one place.
Step 16: You can send your files to a printing company.
Because vehicle wraps are large and require special materials to print properly, you will most likely need to send your designs to a specialty printing company.You can search online for printers that make large decals and car wraps.Contact them for pricing and details on which files they need and how to submit them.Try to meet with the printers in person if you plan on doing a lot of work.It is possible to create a relationship with the company that will lead to lower prices in the future.