Wall decals come in two basic kinds. Cut vinyl is solid colored film cut into letters and shapes, with no background. Printed decals are full color prints on white or clear film, cut to a shape. Both stick to painted walls, but they look and behave differently.
In this guide
Cut vs Printed at a Glance
How They Look
Cut vinyl looks painted on, because only the letters stay on the wall. It suits clean typography and simple logos. Printed decals can show photos, gradients and detailed logos, but they have a printed edge or a thin outline around the shape.
Side by Side
| Cut vinyl | Printed decal | |
|---|---|---|
| Colors | One color per layer | Unlimited, full color |
| Background | None | Shape or white edge |
| Best for | Words, simple logos, room names | Photos, detailed logos, illustrations |
| Finish | Matte, gloss, metallic | Matte or gloss laminate |
| Fine detail | Limited by minimum letter size | Very fine detail |
When to Use Cut Vinyl
- Mission statements and quotes.
- Room names and department names.
- One or two color logos.
- Metallic gold or silver lettering.
Cut vinyl is made on a plotter, like the work on our vinyl cutting page, using films such as ORACAL 651.
When to Use Printed Decals
- Logos with gradients or many colors.
- Photos and illustrations.
- Large shapes like a map, a mascot or a product.
- Anything that needs to match a printed brand color closely.
When the print grows to cover the whole wall, it becomes a wall wrap.
Mixing Both
Many walls use both: a printed logo with cut vinyl lettering beside it. Layered cut vinyl in two or three colors can also mimic a simple logo without printing.
Minimum Sizes
Cut vinyl needs letters big enough to weed and apply. Very thin strokes and tiny text are hard to cut cleanly. If your text is small and detailed, a printed decal is the better choice.
How Cut Vinyl Is Made
Cut vinyl is made on a plotter that cuts the outline of each letter into a sheet of colored film. The extra film is then weeded away by hand, and transfer tape is laid over the letters so they can be lifted and applied as one piece. Fine details and tiny text take much longer to weed, which is why very detailed artwork is usually printed instead. See our vinyl cutting service.
How Printed Decals Are Made
Printed decals are printed on white or clear film, laminated and then contour cut around the shape. The laminate protects the ink from scuffs and cleaning. For walls, the film must have an adhesive made for paint. Makers such as 3M and Avery Dennison sell films specifically for wall graphics.
Cost Drivers
For cut vinyl, the cost is driven by the amount of weeding: many small letters cost more than a few large ones. For printed decals, cost follows the printed area and the laminate. A wall with a long quote is often less in cut vinyl; a wall with a photo is only possible in print.
How We Handle Wall Decals Jobs
Every wall decals job at Gogi Signs follows the same path from our Linden, New Jersey shop. It starts with a site survey or photos of the space, then a scaled layout from our sign design team. We check the town rules through our sign permits service when the graphic counts as a sign, cut or print it in house through our vinyl cutting and print shop, and our own crews handle graphics installation across New Jersey and New York City. When old graphics or signs have to come down first, the sign removal crew does it in the same visit.
Most clients pair wall decals with related work such as wall wraps, window frosting and gold leaf decals. See the full range on our vinyl graphics page or browse more guides on the Gogi Signs blog.
Common Questions About Cut and Printed Decals
Which lasts longer?
Indoors, both last many years. Printed decals with laminate resist scuffs well.
Which costs less?
Simple cut lettering is usually less. Large or detailed cut jobs can cost more because of weeding time.
Can cut vinyl be printed?
No, it is colored through. Printed decals are a different film.
Can you combine them in one install?
Yes. We install both in the same visit.
Can cut vinyl be metallic?
Yes. Gold, silver and mirror films are cut the same way; see gold leaf decals.
What is the smallest cut letter?
It depends on the font, but very thin strokes under a quarter inch are hard to weed cleanly.
Choose by Artwork
Words and simple logos: cut vinyl. Photos and detailed art: printed. More examples are at Signs NY wall graphics and see the wall graphics from Pixel Wraps, our sister graphics shop. See our wall decals page to get started.
Sources and further reading
- ORAFOL: ORACAL 651 intermediate calendered film
- ORAFOL: ORACAL 751C high performance cast film
- 3M: graphics and signage films
- Avery Dennison: graphics solutions
- 3M: Preferred Graphics Installer program
- ORAFOL: ORACAL 8810 frosted glass film
- Avery Dennison: Supreme Wrapping Film
- 3M: Print Wrap Film IJ180mC
- Avery Dennison: perforated window films
- Signs NY: wall graphics
- Pixel Wraps: wall graphics
