learning curve - what am i doing wrong?

[slappy]

How do i do this? I would like to black out my hood with a decal (just the center where it's higher, not the whole hood (like this)
I've gotten up on the ladder and took a picture, but having one hell of a time making a vector for it.
I load the picture into flexi and trace the lines with the benzel tool. I pick the better side, duplicate it, mirror it, align it and weld it. I've cut 2 and got them both wrong size and curve(luckily i'm cutting old brown vinyl and not my matte. Anyways, any suggestions on how i can improve on this? Sorry, i should know better by now, but i've never done one on a hood before.

Any articles for making your own template?

Thanks...

here is my hood by the way too...

 

[SignManiac]

Why not just lay down a full sheet of vinyl slightly oversize. Then take some masking tape and lay down your line on the edge of the contour, then carefully hand cut along the edge of the tape?

 

[Gino]

Like Maniac said, freehand it. Til you make a template and then try to fit it on exactly, you'll have three of these finished and still be home for dinner.

Make sure your blade is super sharp and hardly apply any pressure, so you don't cut into your finish.

 

[Flame]

Knifeless tape. Just lay it out where you want it to be cut, lay down the vinyl, rip and wham bam thank you m'am. It's done.

 

[bigben]

Use Knifeless tape. Very easy to use and you will not cut your paint. Layout your pathern, apply vinyl, then pull the wire. Perfect line. I know there is other brand, but I only find this one in Canada.

http://knifelesstechsystems.com/Products.aspx

 

[SignManiac]

Great suggestion on the knifeless tape. I hadn't even thought about something like that.

 

[allamericantrade]

The biggest problem you are going to have the way you are doing it is you can't trace a 3d object and cut it on a 2d and expect to get any kind of curve correct. either freehand what you have or knifeless sounds like a great idea. I havent used it yet and did not know of it's existence until now. This is why I love this forum!

 

[petesign]

That's a great tip, I was thinking of doing something similar and had no idea how to approach it.

 

[MikePro]

+1 to using pinstripe tape and a knife, if you have the confidence/skill to do so.
+1 to knifeless tape being the "dummy-proof" way to approach this, as well.

 

[slappy]

i think i might have gotten it!

i did another template and i'm okay with how it turned out. i'll find out tomorrow though for sure when i have more time. I wanted to try to get it on tonight, but i gotta leave here soon to pick up ayden, so tomorrow i'll know for sure.

But i'm defiantly going to check into the knifeless tape! I don't wanna cut my finish if i don't end up using this one i just made. she's only a few weeks old fresh off the delivery truck

my other hood was scratched to hell from me using it as a work bench on jobs at other places! not doing it to this one!


thanks everyone! your all amazing! love ya!

 

[slappy]

okay, back this morning. the knifeless tape idea sounds like something that i probably should start stocking here. I'm going to look on youtube next and see if there are any videos on it.
I laid the template i made again last night on the hood, i like it so i'm probably going to cut it today in the matte and stick it on there.
Guess if i don't like it after i get it on there, i could easily take it off.
Thanks everyone again for the great suggestions. You all rock as ususal! I'll post another pic after i get this one on today

 

[OldPaint]

paint would solve all your problems)))

 

[bob]

Knifeless tape notwithstanding, the technique for flattening a three dimensional object is to cover the object with paper carefully following all curves etc.

Then trace a convenient outline or edge, like the gap between the hood and the fenders, with a sharpie.

Remove the paper and lay it flat on a table or floor. This is the correct topography of the object. It is exactly the same shape and surface area rendered in two-space instead of three. As if the thing had been flattened by a giant press. If you cut vinyl based on this shape it should fit perfectly.

Place a framing square on the paper template when it's laying flat and take a picture. Try for no parallax, get right on top of it. Use a step ladder if you have to.

Import the picture and with the framing square image as well as knowing the actual dimensions of the object, it's relatively simple to create a full size template in whatever software you're using.

I do this all the time with windshields, hoods, fenders, etc. It always works.

 

[cha88]

haha im about to do the same thing to my liberty!

 

[MikePatterson]

paint would solve all your problems)))

From one old painter to another. Your spot on.

I could probably mask, scuff, paint, and reassemble in half the time I could make a template, cut, weed, and install.

But these are new times and new ways to do things. We are lucky we can do both. Most customers choose vinyl for one reason or another.

 

[cdiesel]

Except that paint is permanent. More and more people are using vinyl instead of paint to retain resale value.

Bob is spot on with his technique. Just like templating a boat.

 

[tsgstl]

Knifeless tape looks awesome!!!
I wonder if it works on laminated media?
I never have any clue if I'm cutting into the finish or not. I have always hoped it never came back to haunt me. The videos I just YouTube look like it's a piece of cake.

 

[S'N'S]

I did a similar style car bonnet by putting transfer tape and carefully drawing the template, removed the mask and applied to a wall and took a photo which I imported and resized, came out good. Tip.put the transfer tape down nice and flat but don't squeegee down hard or you'll tear or stretch it trying to get it off in one piece.
Must get some knifeless tape for next time.

 

[WrapCut]

You might want to also have a look at WrapCut Fine Filament Edge Cutting tape at www.wrapcut.com.

It is similar to WireTrim Edge Cutting Tape which revolutionized the spray-on truck bed liner industry over a decade ago by eliminating the use of a knife for the trimming process on polyurethane coatings.

WrapCut Fine Filament Edge Cutting Tape has been introduced as the problem-solving tool and method of trimming for the vehicle wrap industry. It is a very cost-effective alternative to using a knife and eliminates all risk of marking, scoring, or otherwise damaging the paint or glass of a vehicle.

 

[OldPaint]

Except that paint is permanent. More and more people are using vinyl instead of paint to retain resale value.

now this is silly. of course paint is PERMANENT. if your putting this on your vehicle, you more then likly leave it on there for the life of the vehicle. if you want it back to orignal 5 years down the road, PEELING OFF THE VINYL IS MORE THEN LIKLY REQUIRE HAVING THE WHOLE HOOD REPAINTED because of the differance in the colors of where the vinyl was compared to where it wasnt!!!
now retaining resale value??? painted on addtions to a vehicle more often INCREASE RESALE VALUE. when they are done PROFESSIONALLY))))) but since most here have no idea how to paint.....puttin on stickers is what they do.
mike patterson said it best....for all the frickin around he or i coulda had it painted and out the door buy now. TIME IS MONEY)))) but when you got nothin but time......)))))