Vehicle Decals & Wrap Layouts

Vehicle Decals & Wrap Layouts:

For vehicle layouts, it is essential that the design closely matches the final product. Accurate scaling is critical for providing an accurate quote. The front desk sales team is responsible for obtaining precise measurements, which will then be entered into the work order in Nifty.

The following instructions apply to layouts for simple decal installations. In CorelDRAW, the most efficient way to scale an image is by drawing a rectangle with the desired dimensions. For example, if the truck door in the image below measures 48 inches wide, draw a 48-inch wide box, then scale the image until the door aligns with the width of the box. It is important to ensure this scaling is as accurate as possible to obtain a precise material estimate.

Additionally, ensure the vehicle image is properly rotated and leveled before beginning the layout process. Always level the image first, rather than adjusting your graphics to match the image. This will ensure that your straight lines remain true and do not require tilting for alignment. Once the vehicle image is leveled and correctly scaled, proceed with overlaying your logos, text, shapes, and other design elements onto the vehicle image.

Sometimes the vehicle image isn’t at a perfect angle, just do your best to come up with the best design possible. 

Wrap Layouts:

When designing a wrap however, we will use vehicle templates. We have some templates on a disc, and new ones we purchase from a website. (Request help as needed.) Again starting in CorelDRAW, import your template and scale to full size. All templates start as a 1/20th scale line drawing. Below is a step by step on how to correctly set up a template.

1. Import your template into Corel DRAW

2. Scale to full size by selecting the template, and at the top of the screen next to the dimensions, there is a percentage % scale factor. This will read 100% for width and height. Make sure both 100% are changed to 2000%. This will scale the template from 1/20th scale to 20/20th scale (Full Size).

3. Remove any thing that is not part of the actual vehicle image. Any of the text around the corners of the template, the measurement at the bottom, and the corner angles are not needed.
4. Group each section of the template. Front, Back, pass side, driver side.
5. Move each section a bit closer and get rid of some of the spacing between each. Not touching but reduce by 50% so as to reduce the overall file size.
6. Select all and change outline thickness from hairline to 10pt.
7. Export as an .eps
8. Import into Photoshop.
9. Select all body panels and change to transparent by deleting the white selected area. 

Select the negative space around the vehicle and change to a neutral color like white or gray. Save under the name of the company. Your template should look like this when you are ready to start your design (See Below). 

We use photoshop to design wraps as we have more tools and effects to use for such a high profile project. It is also easier to crop when we are ready to print.

Have fun designing! Just remember to keep your template as the top layer. DO NOT use masks or trim any of your graphics to the template. We will need the full graphic for printing when it is time to do the job. If anything gets trimmed we won’t have the required bleed necessary for printing and the design will have to be edited to include these areas causing a lot of extra time and work. See below how a finished design looks with the template on vs off.