IAM Melodic Techno Middle Finger Car Decal

Preparation – What is required?

Before you can tackle the second step, you should already have the necessary accessories ready. The following items are required for applying stickers:

• Plastic squeegee (an ice scraper with a water blade or a plastic kitchen spatula, etc., is also possible) for smoothing down the sticker
• Sharp knife (e.g., utility knife) or scissors
• Folding rule
• Adhesive tape (must be easy to remove so as not to damage the adhesive surface), e.g., masking tape
• Pin (for popping air bubbles)

Structure of the sticker

For the following dry application instructions, it is good to know how a sticker is structured and which components it consists of.

1. Backing paper (thick, white film on which the motif/lettering is stuck)
2. Adhesive motif (the actual sticker that remains on the desired surface after application)
3. Transfer paper/film (thin, often transparent film), not always present

Further general tips on applying stickers that you should consider before you begin:

• Apply stickers at a temperature between 15°C and 25°C
• Avoid direct sunlight and strong wind
• Do not apply in a dusty environment
• Do not cut lettering into individual letters; this makes straight application significantly more difficult
• Get help from a second person
• Allow enough time for the application
• Carefully pop small air bubbles with a needle and smooth them out
• For stickers to be applied to uneven surfaces, heat them with a hairdryer; this makes the sticker more flexible and allows it to conform to the substrate
• Avoid car washes or hand washing for at least 2 weeks

1. Clean the surface

The first and most important step is cleaning the adhesive surface. Any dirt, such as grease, dust, wax, or silicone, must be removed without leaving any residue. A greasy substrate, for example, can significantly reduce the adhesive strength of a sticker. Contamination increases the chance of bubbles and unevenness forming. The following steps should therefore be carried out at the beginning:

• Thoroughly clean the application surface
• Clean vehicles completely with a sponge at the desired application spot or in a car wash
• Clean windows with an alcohol-based cleaner and a cloth
• For gentle cleaning of almost all materials, a professional cleaner, such as industrial quick cleaner, can also be used
• Let the cleaned surface dry
• Check the surface for dirt again before application

2. Cut the sticker/lettering to size

To make it as easy as possible for you, you can cut away excess backing paper around the edges. This allows you to see the actual sticker much better and makes measuring and applying it later easier. If the lettering or motif is particularly large, it is also possible to cut the sticker into individual segments. If you measure carefully, this will not be visible afterward.

3. Press down the transfer paper

Before you align the sticker and measure the distances, rub firmly over its entire surface again. This strengthens the bond between the actual sticker and the transfer paper, which is important for hassle-free application.

4. Measure, mark, and fix the adhesive position

To ensure the sticker is not applied crookedly, these steps are of great importance:

• Hold the sticker to the desired location
• Find a straight line you can use for orientation (e.g., the heating wires on a rear window)
• Hold the sticker with one hand and measure the distances with the other
• Distances to the orientation line should be the same at the left and right ends of the motif
• Secure the sticker with masking tape in the middle at the top and bottom
• Re-measure to see if the distances are still correct

5. Apply the sticker

The following steps sound more complicated than they are. The application is best explained with pictures. Therefore, be sure to use the illustrations at the end of the text.

• Lift the right half of the sticker and carefully peel back the backing paper to the secured center
• Cut off the excess backing paper
• Smooth the sticker down outwards using the transfer film
• Remove the masking tape
• Fold the left half toward the middle and remove the remaining backing paper
• Smooth down again from the inside out
• Carefully peel off the transfer paper at a flat angle