What's the difference between a decal and a label?

A decal is designed to go outside and a label is designed to go inside. Decals are built to resist sun, weather and corrosion; labels go indoors, though they can be manufactured to withstand moisture, chemicals and temperature extremes. That single distinction drives every material decision that follows — substrate, thickness and adhesive class. If you are not sure which you need, describe the application and we will tell you.

How long do custom decals last outdoors?

Decals can carry warranties against fading and cracking of up to ten years. The figure depends on the substrate and finish: die-cut graphics in pigmented vinyl last longest, printed and laminated graphics somewhat less, and decals on rough or textured surfaces are specified at three to seven years depending on the application.

What file formats do you accept?

AI, BMP, EPS, GIF, JPG, JPEG, PDF and TIFF. Vector artwork produces the cleanest result on die-cut and small-format work. If you do not have production-ready artwork, our creative department will develop it.

What is polyurethane doming?

Doming is a clear polyurethane resin applied over a printed decal and cured into a protective cap over the graphics. It produces a raised, high-gloss finish with genuine depth that flat printing cannot reproduce, and the dome itself protects the artwork underneath.

Products · Decals

Custom Decals Built for Exterior Service

A decal is designed to go outside. That is the difference between a decal and a label, and it drives every material decision that follows — sun exposure, weather, corrosive environments, pressure washing, and the surface it has to stick to.

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Arctic Cooling Systems · Die-cut van lettering

Airmark manufactures decals from vinyl and reflective vinyl, polyester (Mylar), polycarbonate (Lexan), polyurethane for doming, and a range of other substrates.

We select the substrate around the adhesive requirement — removable, permanent, all-temperature, opaque — according to your job specification. Decals can carry warranties against fading and cracking of up to ten years.

Finishing and processes

Decals can be die cut, embossed, polyurethane domed, serialized, barcoded or laminated, and printed in spot colours or four-colour process depending on the specification. Screen printing handles medium and long runs; digital printing covers short runs and large formats.

DIE CUT · EMBOSSED · DOMED · SERIALISED · BARCODED · LAMINATED

Range

Types of decals we manufacture

One process, specified differently for each application.

Window and floor decals
Vehicle cab door decals
Parking decals and permits
Product I.D. decals
OEM decals
Emergency vehicle decals for police cars, ambulances and fire apparatus
Reflective safety decals and striping
Serialized and barcoded decals for asset tracking

Specification

Choosing the adhesive

The adhesive matters more than most buyers expect. A permanent adhesive on a leased vehicle creates a removal problem. A removable adhesive on a rough-textured bin fails within a season. Tell us the surface — smooth painted metal, textured plastic, stainless, powder coat — and the environment, and we will spec accordingly.

Substrates we work in

Vinyl: General exterior and interior; reflective and pigmented grades
Polyester (Mylar): Overlays, labels and nameplates; excellent wear resistance
Polycarbonate (Lexan): Durable labels and panels; 5 to 20 mil; subsurface printable
Polyurethane: Doming resin for nameplates and raised-finish decals
Adhesives: All-temperature · opaque · permanent · removable

Which do you need?

Decal or label?

Decals go outside and are built to resist sun, weather and corrosion. Labels go inside, though they can be manufactured to withstand moisture, chemicals and temperature extremes. If you are not sure which you need, describe the application and we will tell you.

Recent work

Decals in service

Arctic Cooling Systems
Die-cut van lettering
Die-cut vinyl lettering and logo for Arctic Cooling Systems — pigmented film rather than print, for the longest exterior service life available.
DIE CUT · 3M PIGMENTED VINYL
Smurfit Westrock
Floor decal
Floor decal applied to polished concrete — slip-resistant laminate over the printed graphic so it survives foot traffic and floor scrubbers.
FLOOR VINYL · SLIP-RESISTANT LAMINATE
First Choice Services · Blue Tiger
Rear door graphics
Rear door graphics for the Blue Tiger programme — artwork registered across the door split so the image stays continuous when the doors are shut.
CSC ServiceWorks
Serialised asset labels
Consecutively serialised equipment labels for CSC ServiceWorks — bilingual service copy, a scannable barcode and a unique asset number on every label, supplied on the roll.
CONSECUTIVE SERIALISATION · BARCODED · SUPPLIED ON ROLL
Gold Coast Ambulance
Ambulance graphics
Graphics package for Gold Coast Ambulance unit 606 — reflective striping, unit numbering, agency seal and directional chevron detail, photographed in the apparatus bay.
3M REFLECTIVE VINYL · UNIT NUMBERING · AGENCY SEAL
First Choice Services
Transit van wrap, driver side
The driver side of the First Choice Services Transit wrap — lifestyle photography set into the magenta and violet gradient, with the Daiohs First Choice panel and a QR code on the rear section.