Kit Install Instructions

VINYL INSTALL KNOWLEDGE BASE

PRECAUTIONS

PROFESSIONAL INSTALL AND REMOVAL HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - Professional installation and removal of any vinyl are always recommended to ensure the longevity of both the vinyl and paint underneath it. If you are able to, please consider installing/removing with a trusted vinyl wrap shop.

VINYL ON TOP OF WRAP - Installing vinyl on top of vinyl is okay and does work, but is almost always permanent. Removing the top layer of stacked vinyl tends to pull the layer underneath up with it. If you are installing on top of wrap, we recommend using the wet-install method as it is more forgiving.

RECENTLY PAINTED - If your car has been recently painted, you should wait at least one month for the paint to fully cure before applying any vinyl on top of it. You can also ask your painter what they recommend for cure time- some painters recommend waiting longer.

CUSTOM PAINT - OEM paint (paint applied to the car's panels originally at the manufacturer) is by far the most durable base you can apply vinyl to. There is little to no risk of paint damage when removing vinyl from OEM paint. Vinyl removed from a multi-stage professional paint job does come with some risk of paint damage depending on the quality of the paint and the experience of the individual removing the vinyl. Vinyl install is not recommended for surfaces with single-stage or DIY paint jobs.

REMOVAL - Any vinyl should be removed with considerable care to avoid damage to paint. Heat MUST be used during removal of vinyl on top of paint.

DIY IS TIME INTENSIVE - You should account for 2-3 hours of prep time, and 3-6 hours for the actual install. Having a helping hand to hold up complex pieces during install is also important. If you are DIY-ing as a beginner, expect a learning curve and keep in mind that mistakes are common.

USE AT YOUR OWN RISK - TETRAWORLD products are installed and removed at buyer's own risk. TETRAWORLD is not responsible for mishandled, misinstalled, or poorly cared for vinyl applications nor any damage to the application surface.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED

Isopropyl alcohol (~70%) - Also known as "rubbing alcohol" (for use as cleaning solution)

Microfiber cloth - To clean the surface with alcohol

Vinyl install squeegee - A credit card covered by a microfiber towel also works

A utility knife or razor blade - x-acto knive is not recommended! You can also use knifeless tape.
Here is an affordable utility knife on amazon that we personally like to use and recommend

Painters/masking tape - For the physical mockup step of install

Transfer tape (optional) - Transfer tape is not strictly required to install anything in the TETRAWORLD shop. However, it is recommended for pinstripe installation only. See PINSTRIPE TIPS for more details on transfer tape

BEFORE YOU INSTALL

INSTALL ENVIRONMENT - Avoid installing outside during any wind, rain, or severe cold. The best installation environment will be room temperature, clean/dry, and well-lit. You'll want to have enough room around the car/bike to step back and take a picture of the entire side of the car/bike.

KIT PREPARATION

For Pinstripes, see PINSTRIPE TIPS section for more detailed prep instructions. The following applies to all other Livery Kits.

Before anything else, you should cut all the pieces of your kit out from the vinyl roll- this is what the dotted lines are for. Separate the pieces for each side of the car or bike.

You should cut relatively close to the edges of the vinyl, but it doesn't need to be perfect. You also don't need to cut out the inside area of shapes, just the outside.

At this point you can peel the excess vinyl around the edges of the shapes, but we recommend waiting until right before the piece is being installed. If you remove the excess early, you run the risk of dirt or lint getting onto the backing and potentially ending up under the vinyl during application.

SURFACE PREP

Start with a clean, dry surface. Avoid cleaning with oily detail sprays. With 70% isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth, go over the panels paying very close attention to the panel edges. If the panel edges are not clean, the vinyl will peel up. Make sure to do this step right before you are ready to start the physical mockup / install.

DIGITAL MOCKUP INSTRUCTIONS

Every car will be a little bit different, so the example layout for the livery kit purchased may not be the exact same one you'll end up with. If you'd like, you can use one of the provided kit mockup templates to mockup how it will look on your car. Once you're in the physical mockup stage, you'll be able to move around the pieces and customize your layout.

The easiest way to do this is to ask a friend who knows how to use Photoshop or art software for help :D However, you can do it yourself with a mobile app like Instagram or CapCut.

Note: Digital mockup files are not available for pinstripes or bike livery kits. Pinstripes come in one piece, and should be taped onto the car rather than digitally mocked up. Bike livery kits are not one-placement-fits-all and require creative placement for every model, so we can only provide example placements which are in the product page.

DIGITAL MOCKUP STEP 1

Using painters/masking tape, place a big piece of the livery kit on the car where you think it might look good. Take a picture of it, as direct from the side as possible. It doesn't have to be perfect, but the better picture you take the more accurate your mockup will be.

DIGITAL MOCKUP STEP 2

On your livery kit, there should be an additional QR code for mockup files.

If you do not have this additional QR code, please email tetra@tetraworld.co to receive the mockup file for your respective livery kit- Find your order confirmation email and reply to it, asking for the mockup file. We'll respond with the files as soon as possible.

By accessing mockup files, you agree not to share, modify, redistribute, or utilize the provided files in any way other than for your own personal livery kit mockup.

These designs are created by myself and TETRAWORLD partnered artists, and they take a lot of time and effort to bring to life. By providing these files, we risk them being easily stolen.

Please do not share the mockup files OR the QR codes used to access them.

Thank you for being respectful of our work <3

- Tetra

DIGITAL MOCKUP STEP 3

In Instagram, you can choose the picture you took as a story and paste in the mockup PNG. To do so, go to your photo library, options->copy the photo, then back to Instagram and add text. Instead of writing anything, use the paste command. In CapCut, you'd use the overlay option to do the same thing. If you have a computer, but don't have access to photoshop, you can try Pixlr, a free online photo editing app similar to photoshop. Despite all the free trial buttons, the Express version is completely free and no subscription or sign up is required.

Line up the mockup PNG with the livery piece you taped onto your car. This makes it so that the mockup PNG reflects the actual real life size of the kit pieces.

DIGITAL MOCKUP STEP 4

Now that the size of the mockup PNG matches the size of the livery kit in real life, you can move it and rotate it until most of the pieces are placed in a good spot. Just be careful not to make the PNG any bigger or smaller, because then the mockup image size won't match real life.

You should now have a pretty good reference to look at while you're installing the kit-- We like to use a digital mockup to place all the pieces on the car with tape before actually sticking anything on.

The digital mockup may not fit perfectly depending on what car you're installing the kit on, so use your best judgement as you go to move pieces around in a way that flows well. And have fun with it!

VINYL APPLICATION

GENERAL TIPS

Be careful! Vinyl is delicate. Be careful when peeling pieces of vinyl off the backing sheet. If you are not careful, it can rip.

Start with the biggest pieces first and work your way to the smallest. The biggest pieces of the kit are the hardest to install, but their placements determine the rest of the kit layout. For example: If you can make one giant star decal look somewhat good, it will only look better as you add the smaller stars around it.

Use one side as a mockup for the other. After finishing one side of the car/bike, you can take a picture of it and then horizontally flip the picture in your photo app. This will give you a perfect reference of how to install the kit on the other side.

Place pieces partially off panel edges. To make the livery kit really look good, you'll want some pieces to be placed partially off the edges of panels- they'll need to be cut along the panel edge. When this isn't done, it has more of a sticker-bomb look. It flows much better if pieces are partially off edges (I promise!).

Don't force the vinyl. Installing vinyl over curves can be really difficult. If there's too much curve or tension, the vinyl can wrinkle. A bit of heat from a heat gun can help to heal any wrinkles out (heat the piece after peeling it up, not while it's fully stuck on the car/bike). Be careful not to overheat the vinyl.

Apply pressure after sticking. Make sure to apply pressure to the vinyl all over once it's stuck to the car/bike to get the best adhesion. This step is important. Don't skip it!

VINYL CUTTING TIPS

Cut Difficult Pieces On Panel Gaps - This is especially useful for large shapes which are open on the inside (biggest pieces of Rush style kits), or when installing along a complex curved surface. You can install a piece up to a panel gap, cut it, then install the remainder of the piece on the other side of the gap.

Put the X-Acto Knife Away - X-acto knives are not recommended because the round handle makes it really difficult to control and their thin blades cause jagged and messy cuts (just trust us on this one alright? The x-acto knife is not a good idea).

We like to use these knives from amazon.

Snapping Blades - BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN SNAPPING BLADES OFF. PLEASE DO NOT SNAP A BLADE WITHOUT A TOWEL OR SOMETHING OVER IT. UTILIZE PLIERS, GLOVES, AND MAYBE EYE PROTECTION. BLADES CAN SNAP OFF AND FLY INTO THINGS SUCH AS EYES, SKIN, CAR PANELS. TRUST ME, I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE (I cut my hand once while snapping a blade with nothing over it).

Knifeless Tape - If you don't want to use a knife, knifeless tape also works!

BIKE TIPS

HEAT AND WEAR CONCERNS

Our livery vinyls are rated for temperatures up to about 100C/212F. Please be aware of places on your bike which produce the most heat, and keep these spots in mind when placing the vinyl. Please also note any areas which you might lean on or touch frequently when riding. Although our livery vinyl is laminated for durability and scratch resistance, any vinyl that is frequently touched is going to be more susceptible to scratches and lifting.

MOCKUP AND CREATIVE PLACEMENT

Like our automotive livery kits, the bike kits are meant to be universal and open to creative customization. You can place the decals however you like, or take inspiration from some of the provided mockups (in the product page photos). We cannot provide a mockup for every single bike, so you will need to get creative when deciding where exactly to place the decals.

You should tape all the big pieces onto the bike first before laying any pieces down. I like to tell people to start with the biggest piece first- If you can make the bigger pieces look good by themselves (by placing them in a way that flows well), then the smaller pieces will only make it look better.

PINSTRIPE TIPS

PROFESSIONAL INSTALL - Despite being very small, pinstripes are the most difficult TETRAWORLD product to install correctly. If you are a beginner vinyl installer, we highly recommend going to a trusted vinyl install shop or experienced friend for help!

SIZING YOUR PINSTRIPE DOWN - When reducing the size of your pinstripe to fit a smaller car, you should only cut the pinstripe once. Masking/Painters tape the pinstripe onto your car to see how it fits first, and get the back and front taped exactly where you want them. Then, continue to tape down the middle of the pinstripe so that all of the excess material is curling out away from the car directly over a door panel edge. You should cut in the middle of the excess. Then, overlay the two pieces. When installing, you'll cut the excess off at the panel edge. Cutting the excess off early can result in not having enough vinyl to meet the edge of the panel.

TRANSFER TAPE

Transfer tape is recommended for Pinstripe installs - When using transfer tape, your install is likely to be faster, easier, and come out straighter. Installation without transfer tape is possible for an experienced vinyl installer, or a very patient and meticulous beginner.

Transfer tape is not included in TETRAWORLD products for several reasons:
- Large vinyl decals made with air release vinyl (what we use) that have been prepared with transfer tape do not ship well. We cannot control the temperature of the shipping environment which can cause tape to become warped, wrinkled, or bubbles to form. Tape with these issues can lead to a difficult or problematic install.
- Transfer tape is not strictly necessary and causes a lot of additional waste. Whenever possible, we avoid the use of unnecessary plastics. You'll very rarely see us using transfer tape- we limit its use to decals that really require it (complex logo decals, for example).
- The additional labor, materials, and time required for us to prepare kits with transfer tape would increase their cost significantly. We prefer to let the customer make the decision of whether they want to use transfer tape rather than increasing prices, production time, and plastic waste.

To Tape or Not to Tape? - Many people find it easier to install a pinstripe without transfer tape, rather than learning to apply transfer tape. When applying transfer tape to vinyl as a beginner, you run the risk of incorrect tape application which can lead to a difficult, problematic, or crooked install- or, worse case, damage the vinyl. A beginner vinyl installer who is patient and meticulous is capable of installing a pinstripe well with or without transfer tape. There are several tradeoffs to consider, so please read this entire section, externally research if needed, and make an informed decision.

Transfer Tape Brand Recommendations - Brands we use and would recommend are RTape and TransferRite. Painters/Masking tape can also work in a pinch but it can make it difficult to see what you're doing since it's thicker and more opaque than transfer tapes.

If you are using transfer tape for the first time - Please research how to install transfer tape online, as its probably the most complicated part of the process and easy to mess up. Make sure to purchase enough so that you can practice on scrap pieces before taping the whole thing. If you mess up or have bad wrinkles in your tape, it is possible to very carefully and gently peel it away if you have not applied pressure to it yet. Transfer tape adhesive is activated by pressure, so once you press it down fully it will not peel away nicely. If using multiple pieces of transfer tape is easier rather than taping the whole thing at once is easier, this is okay to do.

INSTALLING WITH TRANSFER TAPE

When using transfer tape to install, it is straightforward and similar to general livery kit application. Begin by masking/painters taping the pinstripe onto the car, cutting it once for sizing down if needed. Make sure to have a piece of tape vertically placed along the middle of the pinstripe. Use a few pieces of masking tape on the car around the backing as a guideline to denote where the pinstripe goes. These pieces will be helpful once you peel the backing and are laying the vinyl down. Starting with one end, peel the backing paper up to the middle tape and cut the backing paper away. Gently pull the transfer taped vinyl straight and lay it along the car where intended, within your masking tape guidelines. Apply pressure along the vinyl starting from the middle tape side and working your way out. Repeat the process for the other half of the pinstripe. At this point the pinstripe is installed, but the transfer tape needs to be peeled away and the vinyl needs to be cut along the panel edges. You can choose cut along the panel edges either before or after removing the transfer tape. Apply pressure to the vinyl where it was cut again, after the tape has been removed.

INSTALLING WITHOUT TRANSFER TAPE

The process is generally the same as with transfer tape, but you'll want to first make sure to cut the backing paper as close to the vinyl as possible. This allows you to be more accurate when placing the pieces down. Make sure to utilize painters tape on the car panels next to the backing as a guideline. Rather than installing the whole pinstripe at once in two halves, you should install one panel at a time. To do so, first apply masking tape in vertical pieces on both sides of each panel edge. Use the Band-Aid method (described below) on the biggest pieces of the pinstripe. For the inner pinstripe line pieces, it is easiest to stick one end of the vinyl down completely at a panel edge, then pull the backing away completely, gently pull it straight and lay it down where intended using your tape guidelines applying pressure from the starting panel edge and moving out to the end. Cut the pieces along panel edges and apply more pressure where it was cut.

WET-INSTALL METHOD

Wet-install is specifically recommended for the Ghost and Shadow colors.

Wet install solution: We recommend a mixture of isopropyl (70% strength) and water. The mixture should be roughly 1 part isopropyl and 5 parts water. Some people like to use soapy water, or just water. If you're familiar with wet install, use the solution that works for you.

To wet-install, spray the wet-install solution on a clean surface as well as the adhesive side of the vinyl. Less is not more: the surface should be visibly very wet, you can't go wrong by spraying too much. Place the vinyl on the wet surface gently. If the positioning isn't correct, move the vinyl to the desired position before pressing down. Once the position is correct, apply pressure to the entirety of the vinyl with a squeegee, hand, or credit card wrapped in microfiber towel, etc. Press all of the liquid solution out from under the vinyl in order to get a seal between the vinyl and surface. If you see air under the surface of the vinyl, gently press it out as much as possible. Use a towel to gently dry the surrounding surface. Leave it alone and don't touch it so that it has time to fully dry!

Note on Ghost & Shadow vinyl: If after install you still see any air bubbles underneath the surface (these can look like small light/dark patches), leave it alone for a few days to a week. Heat, sun exposure, and time will help get rid of those small bits of air left under the surface. Air bubbles will be most noticeable on dark surfaces.

BAND-AID METHOD

We recommend the band-aid method for applying large pieces of vinyl.

Place the vinyl exactly where you'd like to install it, holding it up with painters/masking tape.
Peel back half of the backing paper and cut it off so that half of the vinyl is ready to stick down
With a squeegee, start laying the piece down from the middle, working your way outward.
Peel the rest of the backing paper away and again work your way outward from the middle with a squeegee.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Avoid washing the car directly after install. The vinyl adhesive needs time to sit (~1 week recommended, but longer is better and preferred for colder environments).

Avoid automatic car washes altogether. This includes touchless car washes. Automatic car washes have very high heat dryers and unknown soaps/chemicals which can in some cases damage the vinyl finish. It's best to hand wash (pressure washer is ok!) and be very gentle when hand washing small pieces and edges.

Microfiber towels are not all created equally unfortunately, and some are more likely to give you a hard time when drying vinyl decals. A high quality plush microfiber is going to be best for your paint and vinyl, and cause the least amount of headache when it comes to snagging or leaving lint around the vinyl.

If you are worried about a specific cleaning product, you can wash a test spot on one piece of vinyl with it first. In general, most car wash soaps are okay when used in reasonable amounts for washing by hand.

The longevity of vinyl is determined mainly by the weather exposure. A car parked outside in the sun all day will see deterioration of vinyl much faster than a car which is parked under cover or in a garage. Keeping vinyl clean is also a great way to ensure its longevity. Dirt on vinyl edges can lead to vinyl peeling up over time.

SUPPORT

If you have any questions as you're going through this process, please feel free to reach out via email.

tetra@tetraworld.co

We tend to respond within a business day and are happy to help troubleshoot any problems. Replacement pieces are also available, just inquire via email.

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