1. Gather your supplies

Before you peel anything, check the design, size, and color on your decal. Then gather everything on this list and check each item off as you go.

• Your Bullard decal
• A clean microfiber cloth
• Isopropyl alcohol, suitable for the surface
• A plastic application squeegee or a clean plastic card
• Masking tape
• A tape measure or ruler
• A clean, dry work area

Large or detailed decals are easier with a second person. The Next button unlocks when every item is checked.

2. Clean and prep the surface

This is where a good installation begins. The surface must be clean, dry, smooth, and free of grease, wax, silicone, dust, and other contamination.

• Wash the surface first and allow it to dry completely. Then wipe the application area with an appropriate surface cleaner or isopropyl alcohol where compatible, and wipe away all residue with a clean cloth.
• Painted vehicle surfaces: wash away dirt and road grime, remove wax and polish residue, dry completely, and check for peeling paint, rust, or damaged clear coat. Never apply a decal over loose paint or deteriorating clear coat.
• Glass and windows: clean thoroughly, remove dirt, fingerprints, and cleaning residue, pay special attention to the edges of the application area, and dry completely.
• Metal surfaces: remove dirt and grease, check for corrosion, make sure the metal is dry, and clean away any remaining residue. Avoid rough, heavily textured, or flaking surfaces.

Do not apply vinyl over freshly painted or incompletely cured surfaces. Always test compatibility on an inconspicuous spot on unfamiliar coatings or painted surfaces before committing to a full installation.

3. Check your conditions

Temperature matters. For ORACAL 651, the manufacturer's minimum application temperature is 46°F. Best results come around 65-75°F, with the surface and the air at a comfortable, stable temperature.

• If the surface feels cold to the touch, give it time to warm up before applying your decal.
• Choose a sheltered place out of direct sun. Avoid applying your decal in direct sunlight, strong wind, rain, or dusty conditions.
• Use a dry application. For our standard cut decals, we recommend the dry method - it gives you direct control over positioning and avoids leaving moisture beneath the decal.

4. Position and hinge with tape

The hinge method is our recommended starting method for many larger decals. It helps keep the design straight and prevents the entire decal from sticking before you are ready.

• Before peeling anything, hold the decal against the intended location with its backing paper still attached and confirm the placement. Measure from fixed reference points. Measure twice. Apply once.
• Place the decal on the surface and use masking tape to position it exactly where you want it and to mark its position.
• Create your hinge: run a strip of masking tape vertically through the center of the decal, attaching it to the surface above and below the design.

5. Peel the backing

• Rub the transfer tape firmly first, so the design stays on the transfer tape.
• Lift one half of the decal carefully and peel the backing paper away from the transfer tape and vinyl. Do not pull the vinyl away from the transfer tape. Work one half at a time - the hinge holds the other half in place.
• If a piece of the design stays on the backing, lay it back down and rub that area again.
• Cut away the exposed backing paper without cutting the decal or the transfer tape.

6. Squeegee it down

• Hold the exposed transfer tape slightly away from the surface.
• Starting near the center hinge, press the decal outward with your squeegee in overlapping strokes, pressing from the center outward. Work slowly and evenly, in small sections.
• Do not stretch the decal or force it into deep recesses.
• Then remove the center hinge, lift the remaining half, remove its backing paper, and apply it the same way.

7. Remove the transfer tape

• Press the design down firmly first, and let the decal settle.
• Peel the transfer tape back slowly at a low angle, back over itself and close to the surface.
• If any vinyl begins lifting with the tape, stop, lay the tape back down, and press that area again. Avoid pulling directly away from the surface.

8. Final check and first-day care

• Inspect the entire decal. Press down edges and small details with your finger or a soft squeegee, and take your time around small lettering.
• Small bubbles are common - do not panic. Leave them alone at first, because a few warm days settle most of them. If one is still there after that, press gently toward the nearest edge with your finger or a soft squeegee.
• Keep the newly applied decal in a controlled environment for at least 24 hours when possible, and avoid a sudden temperature change during that first day.
• Avoid washing the area for at least 24 hours. After that, use gentle cleaning methods, avoid abrasive scrubbers, do not pick at the edges, and avoid directing high-pressure water at the edges or corners. Inspect the decal periodically.

Done - nice work

That is the whole install: prepped, hinged, applied, and settled. Give it a full day before washing the area, and it will thank you for it.

If anything looks off - a bubble that will not quit, edges lifting, tape that will not let go - the full Installation Center has the complete troubleshooting walkthrough.