How to best apply a graphic on a door?

[sfalexi]

Not for me, but for my wife's vehicle. She's wondering how to put on a graphic or sticker on her car so that it'll look well done and stay on. She's looking to it maybe being across the side of her vehicle, and possibly custom made. I was initially thinking of using a sticker or decal and then bringing it somewhere to have a layer or two of clearcoat paint on the car to seal it in and protect it. She was wondering if she could somehow have a design she wanted painted on it and how much that might cost. Does the clearcoat sound like a decent idea? Can anyone say how much it'd be to have it painted on? Thanks.

 

[Scott]

If you decide to use vinyl, it's not too hard.

1. Do it outside on a warm day.
2. Clean the car (and clean it well) where the decal will be applied.
3. Get a spray bottle with some water and a little bit of soap in it.
4. Apply soapy water to the surface, and apply the vinyl.
5. Carefully move the decal wherever you want it to remain.
6. Using a hard-edged squeegee, or a credit card, slide any bubbles under the vinyl to an outside edge and out of the vinyl surface.
7. Use some painter's tape to secure the exterior paper holding the vinyl onto the car.
8. Once it's dry, remove the tape and exterior paper.

Typically, any indoor/outdoor vinyl will last for a couple of years on it's own. The paint idea will work also, but will be far more expensive, and if you don't like it, you're pretty stuck with it unless you strip down the paint on the entire area and have it repainted.

 

[redspeed3tk]

you cant put a clear coat over a sticker and anyone who will do it is nuts it will peal right off
painted on would be hard to find someone to do it and better be sure ya like it vinyl is really the way to go with decals