Wall lettering is a type of sign made of individual letters and characters mounted on a wall. It offers a unique and professional way to brand or personalize any empty wall space.
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The process begins with choosing a substrate (material). The most popular are vinyl and acrylic; however, other substrates like wood and aluminum are also available.
Vinyl is a plastic material made from ethylene and chlorine. It's durable and has a wide range of applications. Acrylic is a clear plastic made from polymethyl methacrylate. It's often used in place of glass because it's lighter and shatter resistant.
Once the material has been selected, the next step is to create the design. The design is made with computer-aided design (CAD) software. Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator offer a wide range of features and tools which make creating intricate designs easy. The design is then converted to a scalable vector file, making it possible to scale the letters to any size without losing quality in the design.
The image is then sent to the plotter, where it is cut with a blade or laser. The plotter is computer-controlled and can easily cut extremely intricate designs.
After the design has been cut, weeding is the next step. Weeding is the process of removing the excess material which surrounds the design.
The next step is to apply transfer tape. Transfer tape is a thin layer of paper or plastic which helps to transfer the design to the surface where it will be installed.
If acrylic or another substrate is used, the letters are sanded and polished before being installed.
Installation
Installation begins with prepping the surface. The surface should be clean, dry, and free of dust and debris. If the wall is new, it should be given time to cure before installation.
Vinyl Installation
Once the surface has been prepped, the next step is to position the letters on the wall. Vinyl letters can be installed dry or with a wet application.
With a dry application, letters are peeled from the backing paper and applied directly to the wall. They can be repositioned if needed but must be rubbed firmly to ensure good adhesion.
With a wet application, letters are applied to the surface after a quick spray of water. This method is used for larger letters, allowing for more accuracy when positioning the letters on the wall.
After the letters have been applied, the transfer tape is removed. They are then smoothed out with a squeegee to remove any air bubbles.
Acrylic and Other Substrate Installations
Acrylic letters are installed with adhesive pads, double-sided tape, or mounting hardware. Adhesive pads are the easiest installation method as they require no tools and can be removed without damaging the wall.
Double-sided tape is the next easiest method as it requires no tools; however, removal can be difficult without damaging the wall. Mounting hardware is the most difficult installation method but is also the most secure. It requires tools and some knowledge of how to install the letters but is the best option for heavy signs and large letters.
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