We want you to have the best experience when using Aura so we compiled tips from our learnings at Driver Aesthetic.

Ordering

If ordering for a customer install, allow yourself enough time to receive and inspect the vinyl prior to the appointment date. When you receive the box, open it and make sure everything looks correct. Contact our support if there appears to be an issue.

Prior to placing the order, be sure you've ordered the correct amount. Standard rolls are 58 feet which is enough to do coupes, Teslas, most sedans, and smaller SUVs. You have the option of purchasing additional footage during the order process. Once the order is shipped, adding additional footage is not possible and a new roll needs to be purchased.

Storing

It is always good practice to keep vinyl rolled tightly at all times. PET (plastic) backing such as our Ultra Gloss series WILL slightly separate from the vinyl causing an effect called tunneling if it is not kept tight. This can create a visible imperfection in the vinyl that isn't fixable.

Measuring + Laying

Make sure your installation temperature is in the range of 70-80 degrees F (21-26 C). As with all vinyl, if it is too cold or too hot the material is more difficult to work with.

We created a video showing techniques such as fender S-cuts, cutting the entire side of a vehicle at once, and how to get additional pieces from the negative space in panels.

Prior to laying a panel, use our specially designed Tack Reducer by misting the panel and wiping it off after 30 seconds. Use it only in the middle of panels and do not get it on edges. If you do get it somewhere undesired, you can wipe it off with alcohol. The Tack Reducer will make the vinyl extremely easy to reposition until you are ready to squeegee in to its final position and post heat.

When laying panels, avoid tension and instead use seams hidden along the body lines to minimize stretch on the vinyl. Adhesive promoter is strongly recommended for areas with sharp bends or deep recesses.

Use a squeegee with a suede buffer strip, squeegee lube, and medium pressure to apply. Keeping the cap sheet on when squeegeeing will prevent micro-scratches on gloss vinyl, however doing so will make installation more difficult. If you remove the cap sheet and get micro-scratches on gloss vinyl you can use a polishing compound and a mechanical polisher on a low setting to remove them.

We recommend only using a heat gun and avoiding torches during installation. Expert installers may opt for a torch, but be aware that satin/matte material may get gloss spots from the concentrated high temperatures of the torch. A heat gun is always the safest for installation.

Cutting

Before cutting, make sure you've post heated with a heat gun! When cutting between panels, be sure to cut along the opposite end of the gap so the vinyl can fold into the gap. This will make sure your cuts look clean and avoid the dreaded short cut.

Post Heating

It's critical to post heat, especially on every edge and seam. This fuses the adhesive to the surface. Not post heating means the seam can separate when exposed to the sun. The best method for post heating is taking a heat gun (never a torch!) and moving along the seam or edge line at a rate of 2 inches per second. You can verify by using a laser temperature gun and ensuring the vinyl is getting to 200 degrees F. The best practice is to post heat every seam and edge when you finish a panel and again doing the entire car as a whole at the end.

Sun Curing

Before delivering the vehicle to your customer (or yourself!), put the vehicle in a warm, sunny spot outside for a few hours and check on it every 30 minutes. This will expose any areas that were not properly post heated and will allow you to correct them while they are lifting as opposed to complete failure.

Long-term Care

The best way to make a wrap last as long as possible is to avoid long term UV exposure, contaminants, and harsh chemicals.

To prevent long term UV exposure, apply a ceramic coating prior to the wrap ever seeing the sun. We have designed a ceramic coating product specifically for Aura vinyl that will give two years of protection and block both UV rays as well as make the surface hydrophobic which will make it less likely for contaminants to stick.

You'll need to wash your wrapped vehicle at least once every two weeks in order to prevent dirt from saturating edges and to remove corrosive contaminants such as bird droppings.

Finally, you'll want to be very careful about what types of chemicals get on your wrap. Never go through a drive through car wash not only because it can scratch or rip the wrap but the chemicals used in the soap/wax, along with solvents in tire shines, can eat away at the protective laminate of the wrap.

We recommend hand washing with WrapFresh car wash shampoo made specifically for vinyl (at least every other week) and wiping down with a ceramic coating enhancement spray once a month.

If you don't have a garage, an inexpensive car cover is a cheap and easy way to reduce the amount of direct sun exposure when parked.