Installing a vinyl sign is a relatively straightforward process once you understand a few basic principles about how the process is supposed to work. Of course that is why you are reading this page, so I will get right to it.

Your vinyl sign will come mounted on a plastic backing sheet. To get more technical, the letters are mounted on the BACK of this plastic sheet. And there is paper on the back of the plastic sheet. So basically, the letters are sandwiched between the plastic sheet on the front and the paper on the back.

It is always very tempting to pull away at the plastic cover sheet on the front of the letters, to peek at the letters underneath. It is not opaque, you can see throught it, but not clearly, so it is a temptation. DON'T DO THIS. I must urge you not to do this. You must keep the vinyl letters stuck to the plastic well, so you can apply them to the wall, or glass later. Trust me.

Usually, the signmaker will leave a perforated paper "straightedge" on the bottom extending beneath the sign. This is what you will use to align the sign, using a carpenters level. This is very important, and you will need to take you time and do it carefully. I like to use two pieces of wide masking tape on each end of the sign. If it is a big sign, you will need a helper to hold the middle of the sign to keep it from buckling and sagging in the middle. Be sure to measure and level in several places. We are talking plastic and paper. It can go out of straight alignment easily.

Sometimes you might get a sign that does not have a straight cut on the paper backing at the top or the bottom. I have had this happen, too. In this case, you will need to take a metal ruler and pencil and mark from the BOTTOM of the letters across the sign, to make your own alignment line. Be sure to find the actual bottom. Sometimes the O's or zero's might extend down further than the Z's L's etc. Use the L's E's etc. to make your alignment line. Most likely you will not have to do this.

Do not get nervous - stay calm. This may sound hard, but can do it. Stay focused. Just read this over several times.

Get the sign well aligned with three or four pieces of tape, not too big. Then, you are going to use the wide tape to create a "hinge" across the top of the sign, and I mean ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE TOP. No gaps. I do not recommend gaps.

Now, you have the sign in place and taped across the top only. It is where you want it on the wall, and hinged across the top. You are going to take an X-acto type knife, and cut the sign into small pieces, about one foot wide, NO BIGGER. They will remain hinged at the top. DO NOT CUT THROUGH ANY LETTERS. IMPORTANT NOT TO DO THIS. So pick places where you can logically cut straight down. Not everyone does this, but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO AVOID A DISASTER.

You need to cut all the way through the sign, but not the tape, so you can lift up each piece and so each piece is DISCONNECTED from the one next to it.

You are now ready to begin applying the sign to the wall. Start on either end you prefer, and first, take your burnisher (rectangular piece of plastic that the signmaker gave you with the sign) and rub the letters. You do not have to do this too hard, but just to ensure that the letters are still adhered to the plastic. Then, s l o w l y . . . begin to peel the paper away from the plastic, making sure the letters remain attached to the plastic. Do not press the plastic down to the wall just yet. Get the paper completely away from the plastic, and then, most carefully and gently apply the plastic down to the wall. Hold the plastic by the bottom corners and gently pull it out at 45 degree angles, to make sure there are no wrinkles, because if the plastic gets wrinkled, there is a good chance that the vinyl letters will get wrinkles, too, or the plastic might be applied in a crooked fashion. You do not want that to happen.

Once you have the plastic in place, gently rub it with your hand, and then with the burnisher. If this sign is for an art show, you will want to burnish it (rub the plastic), but not so hard that you have trouble getting the letters off the wall after your month long show (or however long). But you need to burnish the letters while the plastic is in place before you GENTLY remove the plastic sheet or you may have a letter get pulled up with the plastic. This can be a big problem. Watch the letters like a hawk as you are removing the plastic sheet.

Be sure to check that each piece is dropping down into alignment correctly after you have peeled away the paper, before you stick it to the wall, or you will not be having a good day at that point. Some people like to put small, light pencil marks at the bottom of the sign extending to the wall, to make sure they have each piece lining up correctly. This is a good method, though some galleries do not like the pencil marks. Make them very light on the wall.

I think you now have a professional installation of a vinyl sign on your wall now!

For removal of the letters after the show, I have already stressed not burnishing down the letters too hard. And I like to use a screwdriver if needed for tiny letters. Big letters are usually fairly easy to pull off. Be careful to not pull the surface of the wall away. And you may need to apply a little acetone (nail polish remover) afterwards to remove any stray adhesive. You will need to ask the signmaker about this. Some modern adhesives come off with water, but not all. Some require acetone.