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The LetterSupply field guide

Know your vinyl.
Make it stick.

Good materials. A little know-how. Everything you need for lettering that looks right, from the first peel to the final press.

See the installation guide
Illustrative upright vinyl rolls in navy, red, white, black and gray
ORACAL® 651 · Our lettering starts here.

Meet ORACAL® 651.

Clean edges. Solid color. The thin, calendered PVC film behind our lettering, made for signs and graphics on flat surfaces.

Film
2.5 mil colored vinyl
Adhesive
Clear, solvent-based and permanent
Finish
Gloss and selected matte options
Best fit
Smooth, flat, non-porous surfaces

Permanent adhesive can affect paint or leave residue during removal. Always test an inconspicuous area.

ORAFOL specifications
Thin red vinyl curling away from its white release-paper backing

A few layers. One clean result.

The paper backing protects the adhesive. Transfer tape keeps the cut letters aligned. Peel both away during installation; the lettering stays.

Gloss black vinyl on the left reflecting light beside matte black vinyl on the right

Choose your kind of shine.

Gloss catches the light. Matte keeps it soft. Shown under the same light so you can see the difference.

Illustrated colors and finishes are examples, not a stock list or physical swatch. Check your item’s options for availability.

A great finish starts here.

Use this nine-step dry hinge method for pre-spaced lettering on a suitable, flat surface.

Lettering with transfer tape, a squeegee, tape measure, painter’s tape, scissors and a cloth

Your installation kit.

A squeegee or firm card, painter’s tape, a tape measure, scissors and a clean, lint-free cloth. Your lettering stays on its backing until you are ready to apply it.

Glass and smooth painted panels used to illustrate suitable lettering surfaces

Before the first peel.

Apply above 46°F (8°C), the ORACAL 651 minimum. Paint must be fully cured, not just touch-dry. Follow the paint maker’s curing guidance and test adhesion first.

For cleaning, ORAFOL generally recommends isopropyl alcohol unless the surface manufacturer identifies an incompatibility. Avoid cleaners that leave residue. Read the preparation guidance ↗

  1. Hands cleaning a smooth white surface with a spray bottle and lint-free cloth

    Clean the surface

    Remove dirt, grease and wax with a cleaner compatible with your surface. Wipe dry with a lint-free cloth and let any solvent evaporate completely.

  2. LetterSupply lettering positioned with tape while its alignment is measured

    Measure and align

    Leave the backing on. Position the lettering, measure from a level reference, and lightly tape the edges in place. Check it from a few steps back.

  3. Hands pressing a vertical strip of tape through the center of the lettering

    Make a center hinge

    Run a strip of painter’s tape vertically through the center. This hinge keeps your spacing and position in place as you work on each half.

  4. Paper backing peeled away from one half of the lettering at the center hinge

    Peel one side

    Fold one half back toward the hinge. Slowly peel the paper backing away, keeping every letter on the transfer tape. Keep the exposed adhesive off the surface.

  5. Scissors trimming the loose paper backing beside the tape hinge

    Trim the backing

    Cut away only the loose paper backing. Hold it clear of the surface and lettering while you cut. Keep the center hinge in place.

  6. A red squeegee pressing the lettering outward from the center hinge

    Squeegee from the center

    Hold the transfer tape slightly away from the surface. Starting at the hinge, press outward with a squeegee in firm, overlapping strokes.

  7. The remaining backing being lifted before applying the second half of the lettering

    Repeat on the other half

    Remove the hinge tape once the first half is secure. Peel the remaining backing and squeegee from the applied edge outward, using the same overlapping strokes.

  8. Transfer tape peeled back to reveal the applied red LetterSupply lettering

    Remove the transfer tape

    Peel the transfer tape slowly back over itself, close to the surface. If a letter lifts, lay the tape down, press it again, and retry gently.

  9. Finished LetterSupply lettering receiving a final squeegee pass at the edges

    Check the finish

    Look over every letter and edge. Press any loose areas through a clean piece of release liner. Keep conditions stable while the adhesive develops its bond.

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Let’s make it yours.

You have the know-how. Now bring your words to life.

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