Cut vinyl decals are a seamless and clean way to convey a message to consumers, display art, or show off your favorite interests. Of course, cutting decals isn’t as smooth and seamless for those trying to DIY the project from home. While it’s feasible to design, print, and cut your own vinyl decals by hand, having the right steps to do so successfully helps. 

With that in mind, we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to cutting decals. Here, you’ll learn the most popular applications to use vinyl decals, a step-by-step process to take your idea from design to execution, and best practices for applying the decals with precision and ease. Ready to learn more about cutting decals? Keep reading for the ultimate guide! 

Where to Apply Vinyl Decals 

When used personally or professionally, hand-cut or exact-cut vinyl decals are versatile tools for decor, branding, marketing, and messaging. If you’d like to put the decals to good use or explore your skills in designing, printing, and cutting, here are some of the most popular applications to consider: 

• Branded packaging labels
• Custom signage for your shop or market stall
• Vehicle graphics featuring your business name
• Promotional giveaway items
• Product identification labels
• Custom price tags or size markers
• Decor for
  • Water bottles
  • Travel mugs
  • Laptops 
  • Tablets 
  • Electronic devices 

• Custom wall art
• Unique gifts for friends and family
• Storage container labels 
• Decorative seasonal items

Now that you have some inspiration for your upcoming vinyl decal project, let’s get right into the steps for making one from start to finish. 

Cutting Decals: Step by Step Process 

Whether you’re launching a small decal business, want to advertise with stickers, or simply cutting decals for a project or craft…the process is the same. If you’re taking on the task yourself, here are the steps you’ll follow to design and cut decals that will meet professional and personal standards. 

#1: Gather your tools and equipment 

Like any project, the first step involves collecting the necessary tools and supplies to begin cutting decals. That includes: 

• Your design (we’ll cover that in more depth next!) 
• A professional cutting tool like an X-Acto knife with replaceable blades
• Self-healing cutting mat or protective work surface
• Commercial-grade adhesive vinyl 
• Precision tweezers - needle-point is recommended for professional decal cutting
• Transfer tape 
• Scotch tape
• Scissors

#2: Prepare your design 

While you may already have a design in mind, you may have to make minor changes to prepare it for cutting. If you don’t already have a design, start with one that best suits your skill level. For example, beginners should choose a visual with clean lines and minimal intricate details, making the job easier to complete cleanly.

Avoid gradients, as a best practice for at-home projects, as they’re nearly impossible to cut by hand. In fact, stick to two-color designs when first starting out. We recommend starting with simple monogram decals for personalizing water bottles or laptops before attempting more complex designs.

When designing and cutting decals for business purposes it helps to balance production efficiency with marketability. Simple yet bold designs require less cutting, which allows you to create more stickers in less time (something every business wants to accomplish for efficiency!). 

Print your design at the desired size with a half-inch margin around the edges. This template will guide your cutting and help with placement. Print separate copies for multi-layered designs (like your business logo with multiple colors) for each color layer.

#3: Prepare your vinyl 

The next step in creating your own vinyl decals is preparing the vinyl for cutting. Like printing with a wider margin, you’ll also want to cut a piece of vinyl just slightly larger than your design to allow yourself the space to cut precisely. If your vinyl begins to curl, which is common with larger pieces needed for large signage, secure it to your cutting surface with small pieces of scotch tape. 

Next, carefully position your printed template on top of the vinyl and tape it down securely. Place small pieces of tape around the edges and in large open areas to prevent the template from shifting while cutting. The smaller the tape, the better, as it will be easier to remove later in the process. 

#4: Cutting your decal 

Here’s where the patience and precision comes into play. To cut your decal with the utmost success and to avoid common mistakes, follow these professional techniques: 

• Always cut interior shapes first (like the inside of letters in your business name) before cutting outer borders
• Cut slightly deeper rather than too shallow to ensure clean separation
• Make sure cut lines overlap at corners to prevent gaps in your design
• Take regular breaks during detailed decal-cutting sessions to maintain accuracy
• Occasionally step back to evaluate your progress across the entire design
• Save any corrections for after template removal

#5: Remove blank space 

Next, it’s time to remove the blank spaces or what’s called “negative” space. These are areas of the decal that won’t stick to the final project but must be removed to adhere it to its final position. To remove the vinyl that won’t be a part of the design, it helps to section off the bordering area to remove in smaller pieces. 

This is where tweezers come in handy to carefully lift and remove unwanted vinyl, starting from corners or edges where it's easier to grip. Instead of working quickly, work methodically, pulling the correct pieces to ensure the integrity of the original design. As you progress, the design will naturally take the shape you intended. 

Once all unwanted vinyl is removed, fine-tune any edges or straighten lines with your X-acto knife as needed for that professional finish on both business materials and personal projects.

#6: Transfer tape time 

Before applying the transfer tape, the first step is to ensure your cut decal is lying completely flat. This could take an extra set of hands or eyes, especially when applying decals for business signage or larger craft projects. 

Again, like the other steps, it’s wise to cut the transfer tape just slightly larger than your design. You’ll then carefully roll it onto the vinyl working from one end to the other, while pressing firmly to remove wrinkles and bubbles as you apply simultaneously. 

Next, you’ll trim the transfer tape, leaving about a half-inch border. One end will extend further to create a tab for easier application.

Cutting Decals: Application Best Practices 

So, now that your decal is designed, printed, and ready for application, the last step is where all the magic happens!  The final result of your hand-crafted vinyl work depends greatly on proper application technique. To ensure a smooth application to the surface you’re adding the decal too, here are the final best practices and tips to keep in mind. 

1. Clean your surface: Before applying any decal, ensure the target surface is immaculately clean. Use isopropyl alcohol on a lint-free cloth to remove oils, dust, and residue that could prevent proper adhesion or create visible imperfections beneath your vinyl.
2. Learn the hinge method: For precise positioning, especially with business logos or detailed designs, employ the "hinge method." Place your decal in the desired position, then apply a horizontal strip of masking tape across the center. This creates a hinge that allows you to lift half the decal while removing the backing, then precisely lower it into place.
3. Get proper pressure tools: Rather than using just your fingers, utilize a plastic squeegee, credit card, or felt-wrapped edge to apply consistent pressure. Work from the center outward in overlapping strokes to push out air and ensure complete contact between vinyl and surface.
4. Handle curves strategically: When applying decals to curved surfaces like water bottles or vehicle contours, slightly warm the vinyl with a hairdryer on low setting. This temporarily increases flexibility, allowing the decal to conform to curves without creating stress points that could lead to lifting.
5. Transfer tape tips: Remove transfer tape by pulling it back at a 180-degree angle (parallel to the surface) rather than straight up. Pull slowly and watch closely for vinyl lifting from the surface. If any part begins lifting, press it back down and continue more slowly.
6. Address air bubbles: For stubborn air bubbles, implement this professional technique: Use a pin to create a tiny escape hole at the bubble's edge, then press flat with your squeegee. For business materials, be especially careful, as these punctures may be visible under close inspection.
7. Proper setting: Avoid washing or exposing newly applied decals to extreme temperatures for at least 24 hours after application. This allows the adhesive to set and achieve maximum bond strength for long-lasting results properly.

The Final Word: Skip Cutting Decals with StickerGenius 

While DIY cutting decals is doable, it takes careful attention and patience to complete the job just right - especially when using the decals professionally. That’s why businesses turn to StickerGenius for all their decal, advertising, and sticker needs for promotion and internal branding. 

Want to achieve the look of vinyl decals without the trouble of designing and printing yourself? Look no further than the StickerGenius team! StickerGenius is the leading provider of exact cut transfer decals, offering a professional hand for business or personal projects. 
Whether you’re creating a large-scale project for your business or bulk orders of small decals to pass out for promotion, our team are experts at creating and executing quality vinyl decals. Save yourself the work of cutting decals, and work with StickerGenius. Send us a message to get started today!