Q: What is the best way to ensure vehicle wraps are level or following the body lines you intended during installation?
The following answer is courtesy of John Duever, Vinyl Images (Fenton, MO). John is an award-winning vehicle wrapper and an outstanding trainer. Signs of the Times’ February 2021 issue featured a vehicle wrap project and more advice from John.
A: Part 1: The first thing is to speak to the client and make sure the expectation is perfectly clear on which body line is the “level line.” Your idea of what is level could be completely different than what the client deems as level. Talk directly to the client about this and make sure you are on the same page. Use this as an opportunity to educate your client and increase your value to them.
Part 2: To ensure your wrap follows the body line you intend during installation, a very well-placed temporary hinge is crucial at the beginning of the installation. Hinges can be magnets, tape, people power, anything to make sure that once the panel is where it needs to be, it will not move. Then slit the backing and make this temporary hinge a permanent hinge by exposing the adhesive and using an application squeegee to begin the install.