Vinyl transfer decals and graphics are a popular product, but there is often confusion as to what the product is and disagreement about proper terminology. Interestingly our blog post on the difference between a sticker and a decal is one of our most visited web pages over the past 10 years.
What we consider a vinyl transfer decal consists of cut vinyl (usually without printed inks) with both backing paper and a masking sheet. All vinyl which is not part of the design has been cut and removed (before masking sheet applied) leaving a vinyl graphic or lettering that can be transferred from masking sheet to a window or other smooth flat surface. This can be done with a number of different styles and colors of vinyl leaving a clean painted appearance.
Production methods can vary depending on the design and quantities needed. Usually a plotter is used to custom cut vinyl but in the case of a larger run of vinyl transfer decals a thermal die is more efficient. Regardless of the production method used for custom cutting vinyl, the removal of excess vinyl not used in design is still a manual process done by human workers.
Most of the vinyl transfer decals made by Websticker are used as promotional hand outs or retail products and produced in bulk. For small quantities of large vehicle graphics it is best to contact a local sign shop and have decals professionally installed. For those looking for decals in larger quantities we hope you will contact us here at Websticker. Here is an older video that may help further explain vinyl transfer decals.
Jeff Nicholson is the founder and Creative Director at 
2 Responses
I battle this issue daily. Our company name is Sticker Fool but we sell Vinyl Decals & T-Shirts. I always think of stickers as something that has been printed and decals as something cut from vinyl.
That’s the same way I think of it. It’s definitely a struggle to have so many different search terms all for one product and to gather an understanding of what people are truly looking for!