Wall Decal dilemma

[JGGraphics]

Hi,

So I have to do 3 different wall decals like this in a dive bar across some support beams. The longest one (shown here) is 71"x6.25". The others are 65"x6.25 and 39"x8". I should print out the full length of these 3 decals on my 52" printer and take up 71.5"x 22" on my print tray, and hope to use the remaining 30" scrap for something? Or would it be easier to separate all the words and install them individually, and carefully measure and level them all out perfectly?

 

[Bengt Backhaus]

I always use version 2.
Mostly I do markings and tape the words together in the shop before I go on site.

 

[victor bogdanov]

30" x 71" waste vinyl will cost you $6

Don't overthink it.

I would rather save a few minutes install time vs saving a some material

 

[Boudica]

Looks like you could nest a couple of of those. I wouldn't do the words individually though. You could chunk it up and tile it into efficient peices. After weeding and taping, use a pencil & straightedge to draw lines above and below the letters. Then line them up, use some tape like blue tape to make marks. A couple of pieces holding the two pieces together. then Gently cut through the blue tape and use that to line it up later on the wall.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

If your time isn't worth anything, sure... spend it saving $5. I don't save any vinyl scrap.... I use to put it in a bin and never use it because it was full of a bunch of sizes I couldn't use. Throw it away. But you may also consider buying smaller width rolls if you do this often.

 

[ProntoPrinter]

Hi,

So I have to do 3 different wall decals like this in a dive bar across some support beams. The longest one (shown here) is 71"x6.25". The others are 65"x6.25 and 39"x8". I should print out the full length of these 3 decals on my 52" printer and take up 71.5"x 22" on my print tray, and hope to use the remaining 30" scrap for something? Or would it be easier to separate all the words and install them individually, and carefully measure and level them all out perfectly?

I agree with Victor. The time you’ll save installing will be worth more than a few dollars worth of vinyl. If you don’t prefer to use remnant material, you could use the “waste” material now by centering your lettering in a trim box that’s the same height as the support beam(s). Then you only have to find center left to right, top to bottom will already be figured out.

 

[The Sign Goddess]

If you're pricing correctly, the job should pay for the waste. I always make the installation easier than production.

 

[DL Signs]

Bid materials on jobs like this by the lineal foot, not square foot going forward. Like everyone else says, the amount of time you'll save not having to tape them all together, or lay them in pieces and have them all line up will outweigh the cost of what you throw in the trash.

Another good use if you have a lot of extra is to print some decals of the place's logo and throw em' in with it. Normally they'll come back and order a bunch of those too somewhere down the road. Great way to turn a one off job into future work, and printing a handful of logos alongside a print-cut file costs almost nothing.