How to Make Your Own Racing Decals

Professional racing decals are designed on a computer then sent to a router to be etched out in vinyl. A router is a large robotic machine that syncs a small, sharp blade with the image produced by the designer. When a designer sends the image to the router, the machine reads it and begins cutting the vinyl, much like a printer produces information sent by the user. Routers cost thousands of dollars and are manufactured primarily for industrial use. A racing enthusiast can create his own decal at home using decal paper. The paper is specially manufactured with one printable side that acts as a blank sticker. The material takes standard printer ink.

Things You'll Need

  • Decal paper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Design your decal. Use a computer program that allows you to exercise your creativity such as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw. Using a more advanced program will allow you to make changes in more complex designs, such as flames and lightening bolts. You can also find free graphic design programs on software resources such as freeartsoftware.com. If you design is simple text you may be able to execute it in Windows Paint.

    • 2

      Save your completed design. Add decal paper to your printer. Most printers require that the printable side of the paper is facing up. Double check your printer's requirements for loading paper. Proper paper loading may save a few sheets of decal paper from being wasted. Unlike regular paper, you cannot use both sides.

    • 3

      Print your decal. Do not touch the ink immediately after printing. Lay the image flat and let it dry for at least 15 minutes before applying to the surface. Larger images may need a longer drying time. You can make multiple copies of a small decal on one sheet of decal paper by copying the image in the design program. Select the image and left click. Select copy then click on a space right below, or next to, the original image. Left click on the space and select paste. Leave enough space around each image for cutting out and trimming images. This is an economical move when making tiny decals for model race cars.