Adhesive Vinyl

What is adhesive vinyl? 

Self-adhesive vinyl is a thin flexible material with a pressure sensitive adhesive backing. The adhesive backing is covered by a protective peel and stick layer, making it easy to use with any craft cutter. Adhesive vinyl is also known as peel and stick vinyl, self adhesive vinyl film, adhesive film, decal vinyl, craft vinyl, sticker vinyl, sign vinyl, permanent, removable or wall vinyl; it is both easy to use and very versatile. For basic shapes made adhesive vinyl simply cut your design, peel off the protective backing, then stick your custom decal to any smooth, hard, flat surface. In most instances designs will have details or smaller cuts that can be stretched, torn, or misshapen if you try to hand place your decal. For best results always use decal transfer tape to lift your weeded vinyl design and transfer it to any surface. The transfer tape will help ensure the design is not distorted during placement. 

What is Adhesive Vinyl used for? 

With Adhesive Vinyl you can make stickers, decals, signs, bumper stickers, wall art, window art, stencils and more; your creativity is the limit. Use sign vinyl to add your name to the company door. Use wall or removable vinyl to leave a special message on painted surfaces. Use permanent adhesive vinyl to create custom decals for cars, laptops, phone cases, cups, picture frames. Whatever your project, you can find the perfect adhesive craft vinyl when you shop our vinyl warehouse online. For DIY craft ideas and "how to" guides explore our free tutorials

What does adhesive vinyl stick to? 

Adhesive vinyl can be applied to a wide range of hard, flat, and smooth surfaces. It is not intended for use on porous surfaces, fabric or textiles; If you use adhesive vinyl to create a custom t-shirt it is not permanent and will come off quickly. Since adhesive vinyl is not melted into the textile fibers like HTV, it only makes a temporary bond on fabrics in the same way a sticker does. Adhesive vinyl can not be used in extreme heat, however it can be use in medium and low heat conditions. The ColorSpark temperature sensitive color changing vinyl a fun addition to coffee cups and tumblers which warm or when liquid is added to the cup. Color changing decals on cups are only the tip of the iceberg when crafting with adhesive vinyl. You can easily stick it to metal, glass, plastic, ceramic, smooth cardboard and paper. Adhesive vinyl is ideal for stickers, greeting cards, wall decals, bumper stickers, car window decals, wall signs, electronic decal stickers, customized mugs and personalized water bottles.

Can you iron on adhesive vinyl? 

No, self adhesive vinyl is not an iron on material. Although some adhesive and craft vinyls are dishwasher safe, they are not intended for use with a heat press. Unlike heat transfer materials which are made to withstand the 200 - 300 degree temperatures, adhesive vinyl is not intended for heat transfer and will melt under those conditions. Adhesive vinyl will not stick to polyester, cotton or other fabrics and should not be used for creating custom shirts or apparel. 

Can adhesive vinyl be machine washed? 

Adhesive vinyl is not machine washable. To create a machine washable garment, use the appropriate HTV and a heat press.  Some adhesive vinyl is dishwasher safe. To select the best material for your project, check the specific product description to determine durability. Some series are created for both indoor and outdoor use, offering a stronger resistance in changing conditions.

Do you mirror adhesive vinyl? 

You do not typically use a mirroring technique with adhesive vinyl unless it is is being placed on the back of something clear. For example, if the design is being used on the back of a clear plate or on a window, it will need to be mirrored before cutting so that the same vivid color is visible on both sides of the glass.

Can you use adhesive vinyl on leather? 

Because leather is a porous textile it will not form a strong bond with the adhesive vinyl and should only be considered temporary under that use. When working with leather, a heat press vinyl should be used for lasting results. 

How to cut self adhesive vinyl? 

Self adhesive vinyl is available in a variety of unique colors, patterns, finishes, textures and types. Each material and craft cutter have their own recommended cut setting to insure the cutter cuts through the vinyl completely. Thicker vinyl's like ColorSpark Glitter Adhesive Vinyl or Siser Brick vinyl requires more cutting pressure than thinner materials like the ColorSpark Opal series or Siser Easyweed series. All types of vinyl can be cut with a simple pair of scissors or a handy x-acto knife. For ultimate precision, an electronic craft cutter allows you to upload intricate designs and let the machine do the work. The most popular brands of craft vinyl cutting machines for beginners are Cricut and Silhouette For advanced crafters and small business owners, Graphtec, Roland and GCC cutting machines offer higher speed and reliability. Vinyl cutters use a small blade to precisely cut the outline of your designs from a piece of vinyl. That design can be uploaded directly from the design software associated with your vinyl cutter. The cutters blade moves side to side while the motorized holder glides it back and fourth allowing it to cut intricate designs into the vinyl with ultimate precision. Material and blade life will alter the pressure needed to cut adhesive vinyl, so it is recommended that any time you are using a new vinyl color or material in your electronic cutter, do a test cut first using the recommended cut settings. This will minimize wasted supplies and ensure the quality of your finished product by allowing you to make adjustments before cutting your final product. Self adhesive vinyl is available in a variety of unique colors, patterns, finishes, textures and types. Each material and craft cutter have their own recommended cut setting to ensure the cutter cuts through the vinyl completely. Thicker vinyl's like ColorSpark glitter adhesive vinyl or textured vinyl requires more cutting pressure than thinner materials like the ColorSpark Opal series. Throughout TheRhinestoneWorld.com you will find recommended cut setting for each brand of adhesive vinyl.

How to use adhesive vinyl?

When using a craft cutting machine you create or upload a design into the cutters software program. Design Space, CorelDraw and Design Wizard software are the most common. The design uploaded is called a cut file and is typically an EPS or SVG file type. Once you load in your vinyl into your cutter and dial in your recommended cut settings the craft cutter will use a small blade to precisely cut the outline of your design from the piece of vinyl you loaded into it. Full sheets of vinyl can be fed directly into the cutter, while vinyl scraps can  be placed on a cutting mat and then fed into the cutter for smaller designs. The vinyl is held by a set of rollers allowing it to move with the blade as it cuts. The result is a cut design, with its protective carrier sheet still intact. After the design is cut and the excess material is weeded using a weeding tool, transfer tape is smoothed down over the design with a scraper tool. This application tool smooths out any air bubbles and ensures all elements of the designs are secured to the tape before being lifted from the carrier sheet and placing your custom decal.

What are the types of adhesive vinyl?

Adhesive vinyl is categorized into three categories based on the strength of the adhesive backing. The first category is permanent adhesive vinyl also known as sign vinyl. Permanent vinyl is intended for both indoor or outdoor use, permanent adhesive vinyl is ideal for long lasting projects that require durability. The second category is removable adhesive vinyl also known as wall vinyl. Removable vinyl is intended for indoor use and temporary projects such as vinyl messages on painted walls that need to be removed later with minimal damage to the paint.  General craft vinyl lands between permanent and removable varieties in their level of durability and adhesive properties. They typically come in a wide variety of colors, patterns, finishes, and textures that are versatile and easy to use. Craft vinyl is offered in a world of colors and series including glitter, matte, metallic, opal, glow, patterned, holographic, opal and color changing varieties. Craft varieties are a great option for multi use projects. Whether shopping for permanent, craft or removable vinyl, you can trust the The Rhinestone World to provide quality craft supplies at a great price.  For larger quantities at a lower price, check out our Mix and Match section for buying in bulk. Self adhesive vinyl rolls are essential for any decal business to thrive; with bulk vinyl discounts the more you buy, the more you save.