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The Complete Overview of Vinyl Wraps & Accessories - Types, Benefits and Customization Options

The Complete Overview of Vinyl Wraps & Accessories - Types, Benefits and Customization Options

Types of Vinyl Wraps

Vinyl wrapping has become an increasingly popular way to customize and protect vehicles. There are several types of vinyl wraps to choose from depending on your goals and budget.

Full Body Wraps

Full body wraps cover the entire exterior of the vehicle. This is the most expensive option, but allows for complete creative freedom in terms of color and design.

  • Can transform the look of a car completely
  • Protects original paint from scratches and UV rays
  • Costs $2,000-$5,000 on average

Partial Wraps

Partial wraps only cover specific sections of the vehicle like the hood, roof, trunk, or fenders. This is a more affordable way to get a custom look.

  • Less expensive at $500-$2,000
  • Can highlight or accent certain parts of the vehicle
  • Popular for racing stripes or two-tone designs

Racing Stripes

Racing stripes are a straight forward way to give a car or truck a sporty, high-performance look.

  • Often applied longitudinally along the vehicle
  • Come in many colors and widths
  • Cost $200-$800 depending on complexity

Decals and Graphics

Custom decals and graphics allow you to add images, text, or designs to your wrap.

  • Let you showcase hobbies, interests, or business branding
  • Variety of materials like reflectives and carbon fiber
  • Cost varies greatly based on size and complexity

When choosing a vinyl wrap, consider factors like your budget, the look you want, and how much of the vehicle you wish to cover. Consult with a qualified wrap installer to determine the best options for your specific car or truck.

Full Body Wraps

Of all the vinyl wrap options, full body wraps make the biggest visual impact by completely changing the exterior color and look of a vehicle. Here's what you need to know about full body wraps:

What is a Full Body Wrap?

As the name implies, a full body wrap covers the entire exterior of the car or truck with vinyl. This includes:

  • Hood
  • Roof
  • Trunk
  • Doors
  • Fenders
  • Bumpers
  • Mirrors
  • Spoiler

The vinyl conforms to every contour and curve of the vehicle's bodywork. Full wraps require extensive material and labor to install properly.

Benefits

Full body wraps offer several advantages:

  • Complete color/design change - Fully customize look of car
  • Protect original paint - Vinyl shields from scratches, sun damage
  • Advertising/branding - Feature graphics/logos
  • Resale value - Can be removed without affecting paint

Considerations

Things to keep in mind with full body wraps:

  • Most expensive wrap option - Average cost of $2,000-$5,000
  • Long installation time - Can take days for proper application
  • Difficult to install - Complicated contours require expertise
  • Maintenance required - Proper washing, waxing extends life

Overall, full body wraps allow for stunning vehicular transformations, but require a significant investment and proper care. Consult a trusted professional installer to ensure satisfaction.

Partial Wraps

For car owners looking to add some custom style on a budget, partial wraps are an excellent option. Here's an overview of partial wrapping:

What Are Partial Wraps?

Partial wrapping only covers select sections of the vehicle's exterior rather than the entire body. Typical partial wrap applications include:

  • Hood
  • Roof
  • Trunk/rear deck
  • Fenders
  • Mirrors
  • Spoiler
  • Front/rear bumper

Varying wrap amounts allows for unique designs and coloring.

Benefits

Reasons partial wrapping is popular:

  • Less expensive - Average cost $500-$2,000
  • Custom look - Highlight/accent specific parts of car
  • Creative designs - Two-tone, racing stripes, etc.
  • Lower commitment - Easier to change than full wrap

Considerations

Things to keep in mind with partial wraps:

  • Limited change - Less dramatic transformation than full wrap
  • Color matching - Blending wrapped and unwrapped areas can be tricky
  • Maintenance - Proper care important to prevent peeling/damage
  • Less protection - Only wrapped parts benefit from vinyl shielding

Trending partial wrap approaches:

  • Matte black hood - Aggressive, high-contrast look
  • Colored roof - Mimics contrasting hardtop look
  • Two-tone - Combine colors to accentuate lines
  • Racing stripes - Lengthwise vinyl graphics

Partial wrapping provides an affordable compromise between customization and cost. A skilled installer can achieve a unique, eye-catching aesthetic with partial wraps.

Racing Stripes

Racing stripes are a classic vinyl wrap style that adds vintage motorsports flair to any vehicle. Here's an overview of racing stripe wraps:

What Are Racing Stripes?

Racing stripes are vinyl graphics applied longitudinally along the body of a car or truck. They usually extend from front to rear in straight or curved shapes.

  • Most commonly placed on top/centerline
  • Can be applied to hood, roof, trunk, fenders
  • Varying widths from thin pinstripes to wide bold stripes

Types of Racing Stripes

Popular racing stripe approaches include:

  • Single stripe - One straight line down vehicle center
  • Double stripe - Thinner stripes along edges of center stripe
  • Triple stripe - Additional thinner stripes along vehicle sides
  • Curved stripe - Contours along body lines for custom look
  • Offset stripe - Asymmetrical placement creates dynamic style

Customization Options

Racing stripes can be customized with:

  • Colors - Match or contrast vehicle color
  • Graphics - Integrate unique designs into stripes
  • Materials - Gloss, matte, carbon fiber, brushed, chrome and more
  • Length - Partial or full vehicle length

Benefits

Reasons racing stripes are a popular wrap choice:

  • Sporty look - Suggests speed and performance
  • Retro style - Classic motorsports aesthetic
  • Affordable - Average cost $200-$800
  • Customizable - Many options for unique style

Overall, racing stripe wraps provide an easy way to give a vehicle a eye-catching, race-inspired appearance.

Decals and Graphics

Beyond colors and racing stripes, vinyl wrap decals and graphics allow for full customization and self-expression on your vehicle.

What Are Decals and Graphics?

Decals and graphics come in endless options to apply images, text, shapes, and designs to a wrap. Some possibilities include:

  • Logos
  • Text/words
  • Patterns
  • Shapes
  • Pictures
  • Abstract graphics

These visuals can be created from client ideas or chosen from a designer's portfolio. They can be applied to partial or full wraps.

Decal Materials and Effects

Specialty vinyl films allow for unique decal options like:

  • Gloss - High shine and depth
  • Matte - Understated, non-reflective
  • Chrome - Mirror-like metal finish
  • Carbon fiber - Popular composite pattern
  • Brushed metal - Textured metallic look
  • Glow in the dark - For special effects

Customization Examples

Some creative ways clients have used decals:

  • Business name/logo to advertise brand on work vehicles
  • Hawaiian floral patterns for unique island-themed car
  • Photo of pet made into decal for memorial tribute
  • Nickname or favorite quote in stylized text

Benefits of Decals

Reasons to consider decals/graphics for wraps:

  • Showcase personality, hobbies, interests
  • Draw more attention with eye-catching images
  • Affordable additive customization
  • Change decals without rewrapping entire vehicle

With limitless possibilities, decals and graphics let your imagination run free when customizing your car or truck vinyl wrap.

Coolest Car Wraps

Here are some of the coolest car wraps that you can find:

  1. Wrapstock: This website offers a wide range of designs that fit any type of car and make the wrapping process smooth. They have a product catalog loaded with awesome designs that can be modified to every vehicle. They also offer a one-of-a-kind wrap design service that will make your car the center of attention.
  2. Pinterest: Pinterest is a great source of inspiration for car wrap designs. You can find over 900 ideas for car wraps, including commercial and artistic designs. Some of the most amazing wraps from the web are showcased on this platform.
  3. Carwraps.com: This website offers 50 amazing car wrap designs that are among the best and most creative. They have solid colors, partial wraps, and customized wraps that will help you with branding. They also encourage people to design their own wraps with the help of vehicle wrap professionals.
  4. TeckWrap: This company produces and sells vinyl wrapping films that provide quality services to stores, wrap shops, and customers. They have a range of colors that stand out like no other vinyl brand. TeckWrap surface is very strong against scratches and hard to get dirty compared to other brands.
  5. Reddit: Reddit has a community called CarWraps that is dedicated to everything related to vehicle wrapping, car wraps, vinyl wraps, car graphics, paint protective film, and more. You can find discussions, learning, and inspiration on this platform. They also have a list of rules that encourage respectful behavior and quality content.
  6. Roland DG: This website offers a collection of vehicle wraps that are designed to provide the perfect basis for lettering and allow you to present a modern and professional image. They have a range of car wrap designs that are creative and unique. You can also find inspiration on their Pinterest page.