What we make / Die-Cut Vinyl Decals
Cut vinyl decals & letteringDie-Cut Vinyl Decals
Single-colour vinyl cut to the exact shape of your artwork. No background, no ink — just your design.
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What a die cut vinyl decal actually is
Die cut means the blade cuts all the way through, so the finished piece is the shape of your artwork instead of a square with your artwork printed on it. A die cut vinyl decal — also called cut vinyl, a vinyl transfer decal or simply a custom decal — is cut from a single colour of solid vinyl on a plotter, weeded by hand, and pre-masked with transfer tape so the whole design lifts off and goes on in one piece. There is no printing, no laminate and no background: just your logo, name or design in solid colour, with the surface showing through everywhere else. On glass or a truck door there is no visible sticker edge at all.
Die cut, kiss cut and printed — which one do you want?
Most online sticker shops selling "die cut stickers" mean a printed sticker: artwork printed on white vinyl, laminated, then cut out, each piece sitting on its own backing square. Kiss cut means the blade cuts only the top layer and leaves the backing sheet whole. What we make here is the third thing and usually the one people picture when they say decal — real cut vinyl, one colour, no printed background, applied with transfer tape. It outlasts printed work because there is no ink to fade, and it is the right choice for lettering, logos and any clean single-colour shape. If your design has photographs, gradients or a dozen colours, it needs printed stickers instead, and we will tell you so before you order. If you want several designs on one peel-off backing, that is sticker sheets.
What people order them for
Business logo decals for doors, windows and equipment; car and rear window decals; truck door lettering and fleet numbers; trailer decals; toolbox, tool chest and hard hat stickers; boat registration numbers and boat names; snowmobile, ATV and sled graphics; gym, shop and office wall decals; helmet decals; laptop and tumbler decals; and custom-shaped vinyl for packaging, display and signage. If it is one colour and has a clean outline, a die cut vinyl decal is the sharpest and longest-lasting way to make it.
Any colour, any size
Decals are cut in any single vinyl colour we stock — standard colours plus metallic, matte, gloss, reflective, holographic and etched-glass finishes — at any size from roughly half an inch up to four feet wide on the roll, and larger as tiled panels. The price per piece drops quickly with quantity, so tell us the number you are considering and we will quote a couple of options against it.
Built for Canadian outdoors
Standard Oracal 651 permanent vinyl is rated up to six years outside by its maker — rain, sun, road salt and Canadian winters included. For curved surfaces, vehicles or longer life we use cast Oracal 751, rated up to eight years. One thing worth knowing before your decal arrives: vinyl needs a surface above roughly 10°C to bond, so a decal that shows up in January should go on indoors or in a heated garage, and should then be left a day before it sees a car wash. Our decal guide covers application, removal and cold-weather work, and the materials guide covers which film suits which job.
How it arrives and how it goes on
Your decal ships as three layers: backing paper, your design in vinyl, and transfer tape holding every letter in position. Peel the backing away, position it, squeegee it down, then peel the transfer tape back on itself at a shallow angle. Spacing and layout are already correct because the weeding was done here. Instructions are in the package, and larger pieces come with wet-application notes so nothing has to be right first try. Our application guide walks the whole job through, including removal.
What to send us
Cut vinyl needs vector artwork — SVG, PDF, AI or EPS — because the blade follows the outlines in the file. A JPG or PNG has no outlines to follow. Only have a photo of your logo, an old sign or a sketch? Send it anyway; we can redraw it as vector for a small fee, and you see a proof before anything is cut. The artwork guide covers file formats, resolution, fonts and line thickness.
Ordering die cut decals from anywhere in Canada
Cut vinyl travels better than almost anything else a sign shop makes, which is why much of this work goes out of province. Decals ship flat or rolled, pre-masked and ready to apply, with free standard shipping to every province and territory and no surcharge for distance — the same decal costs the same in Victoria as it does in Kingston. Expedited shipping is quoted on request. We are based in Eastern Ontario, Canada and install on site across the 613 area; see the areas we serve.
Getting a quote
Email info@signs613.com with the size, quantity and colour, or use the request form — both land in the same inbox and a real person replies. Every job is proofed by email before it is cut.
Common questions
How do I get a quote?
Email info@signs613.com or send the request form on this site — both land in the same inbox. Tell us the size, the quantity and where it is going, and attach your artwork or a photo. A real person replies with a clear price and turnaround. We do not publish a phone number; if you would rather be called, leave your number in the form and say so.
Do you ship across Canada?
Yes — standard shipping is free anywhere in Canada. Expedited shipping is available on request; tell us your deadline and we will quote it alongside the free option.
Will I see a proof first?
Always. Every job gets a proof by email showing size, colour, spelling and layout, and nothing is cut or printed until you approve it.
How long does it take?
Most decal, sticker and lettering jobs are made within about five business days of proof approval, plus shipping. Larger signs and installations are scheduled with you. In a hurry? Say so and we will tell you honestly what is possible.
What file format should I send?
Cut vinyl needs vector artwork — SVG, PDF, AI or EPS — because the blade follows the outlines in the file. A JPG or PNG has no outlines. Only have a photo of your logo? Send it anyway and we can redraw it as vector for a small fee.
How long will a cut vinyl decal last outside?
Standard Oracal 651 is rated around six years outdoors; cast Oracal 751 around eight. Sun exposure is what decides it — a decal on a south-facing window ages faster than one on a shaded door.
What is the difference between die cut and kiss cut?
Die cut means the blade goes through the vinyl AND the backing, so the finished piece is the shape of your artwork. Kiss cut means only the top layer is cut and the backing sheet stays whole, so the sticker sits on a larger square you peel it off. One thing worth knowing: most online sticker shops selling "die cut stickers" mean a printed, laminated sticker cut to shape. What we cut here is solid colour vinyl with no printing and no background, pre-masked with transfer tape — on glass or a truck door there is no visible sticker edge at all.
Should I ask for permanent or removable vinyl?
Permanent vinyl uses a strong adhesive and is what belongs on vehicles, storefront glass, equipment and anything outdoors. Removable vinyl uses a lower-tack adhesive meant to come off cleanly after months rather than years — right for a seasonal promotion, a leased vehicle, a rented space or a wall you do not own. "Permanent" describes adhesive strength, not a life sentence: it still comes off with gentle heat and patience. Tell us how long it needs to last and whether it must come off cleanly, and we will pick the film.
What surfaces will a vinyl decal stick to?
Vinyl wants smooth, clean and non-porous. Glass, painted or enamelled metal, powder-coated panels, sealed or varnished wood, acrylic and smooth rigid plastics all hold well. Gloss and semi-gloss painted drywall is fine; flat paint is less reliable and heavy texture is a gamble. It will not hold on brick, concrete, stucco, raw or weathered wood, or anything chalky or flaking — there is nothing continuous for the adhesive to grip. Send a close-up photo of the surface if you are unsure and we will tell you before you order.
Will a decal damage my paint or my window tint?
Applied and removed properly, no. Vinyl sits on the clear coat, not in it, and comes off with gentle heat from a hair dryer, lifted at a shallow angle — never a blade, and never a heat gun held in one spot. Factory tint is inside the glass and is not affected. Aftermarket tint film is the exception: it is a film on the inside of the window, so put the decal on the OUTSIDE of a tinted window and it is a non-issue. Paint that is already cracked, flaking or freshly resprayed is the real risk — let new paint cure for at least a month first.
Can I put a decal on in winter?
Not outdoors in a Canadian February. Vinyl adhesive needs roughly 10 degrees Celsius or warmer to tack, and both the air and the surface have to be there — a sunny minus-five afternoon is still a cold truck door, and cold vinyl cracks instead of conforming. Bring the vehicle or panel into a heated garage, let it come up to temperature for a few hours, clean it with isopropyl alcohol and apply indoors. Then leave it a full day before rain, a car wash or a freeze-thaw cycle. Once cured, road salt and winter are not a problem for permanent vinyl; it is the first day that matters.
Can you cut any shape, any colour and any size?
Any shape your vector artwork describes, in any single vinyl colour we stock — standard colours plus metallic, matte, gloss, reflective, holographic and etched-glass finishes. Sizes run from roughly half an inch up to four feet wide on the roll, and larger again as tiled panels. The practical limits are at the small end: strokes thinner than about a sixteenth of an inch and text under half an inch are hard to weed and tend to lift. We check your artwork at the finished size and tell you before anything is cut.
How does a cut vinyl decal arrive, and how do I apply it?
In three layers: backing paper, your design in vinyl, and transfer tape over the top holding every letter in position. Peel the backing away, position the whole thing, squeegee firmly from the middle out, then peel the transfer tape back on itself at a shallow angle and the vinyl stays behind. Spacing and layout are already correct because the weeding was done here. Clean the surface with isopropyl alcohol first, not a household cleaner — wax and detergent residue is the usual reason a decal lifts later. Instructions ship in the package, and there is more detail in our decal guide.
Can you ship cut vinyl decals to my province?
Yes — every province and territory, with free standard shipping. Cut vinyl travels better than almost anything else a sign shop makes: it ships flat or rolled, pre-masked with transfer tape, so it arrives ready to apply and there is no surcharge for distance. The same decal costs a customer in British Columbia what it costs one in Ontario. Expedited shipping is quoted on request — tell us your deadline when you ask. Only installation stays local, across the Belleville, Kingston and Napanee area.
What if something is wrong when it arrives?
Custom work cannot be returned for a change of mind, because it is made specifically for you — but if it arrives faulty, damaged or not as proofed, contact us within 14 days with a photo and we will remake or refund it.