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contour cut help

This page talks about the different ways that we can cut your graphic out from the vinyl on which it is printed. Below are the primary styles, illustrated by a sample graphic being overlaid on a not particularly convincing piece of computer-generated wood. Keep in mind all of these graphics would be printed on white vinyl.
Style: No Outline

This is the graphic without any outline. As you can see, it doesn't show up very well on a non-uniform background. Even pure white text would be tricky to see on the lighter sections.

Uses: Where the background is uniform enough to support the colour(s) used in the design. Where the maximum amount of background is required to show through the design - for example pure white text on a glass door.

Style: Tight Contour

In this example the vinyl is cut wider than the graphic so as to provide a white border. This helps the graphic stand out against a varied background but obviously increases the overall size of the decal. If space is at a premium then the design may need to be reduced in size to accommodate it's increase through the addition of the border.

Uses: Projects where the background is not uniform in colour, but where it's desired that some of the background show through.

Style: Loose Contour

This is a gross exaggeration of the above. In some situations you might want to add such a large contour cut, but in cases where the outline is complex it can become confusing and ugly - as shown! As with the above if space is tight the design may need to be reduced to accommodate the increased border.

Uses: Same as the above, but as the amount of vinyl to install increases, so it becomes harder and more time consuming to apply the vinyl to highly curved or undulating surfaces.

Style: Contour Without Holes

In some situations you might want to remove the 'holes' that are formed when the contours join up. Again, it depends on the design, here's it's shown against the loose contour from above.

Uses: Same as the above. When the design is highly detailed at a small scale and the plotter is unable to cut really small holes.

Style: The Bumpersticker Look

No real mystery to this approach. It's a slab of vinyl on which the graphic is printed. No contouring is employed. On an undulating or heavily curved surface a large graphic can be very hard and time-consuming to apply without wrinkles or air-bubbles sneaking in.

Uses: Where a contour would be far to detailed or simply impractical. Where ease of install is required - but only on a small scale. Where it's desired to entirely cover up the underlying background.