What is vinyl weeding?
Vinyl weeding is a term for an action used to prepare lettering & decals.
When ordering vinyl decals or vinyl lettering the term "weeding" (or picking) might come up. If you are not familiar with sign shop terminology you'll be wondering what this word means and what it has to do with decal and lettering orders. Weeding, simply put, is the act of pulling away the excess material from cut vinyl lettering or custom cut decals. Weeding a decal or vinyl lettering is one of the last steps in the process of making custom decals that have no background.
Decals that need to be background free will always need some level of weeding to produce that specific look. If a custom cut decal or lettering wasn't weeded to be ready to install. After a vinyl decal or vinyl lettering are weeded then are then taped for application so that the whole entire piece can be applied at once. If your decal or lettering wasn't weeded, then it can't be taped for application, leaving just a large printed decal or solid colored lettering that will need to be placed piece by piece.
Printed decals, whether on white or clear vinyl, don't require any real intricate vinyl weeding and therefore cost less. Whereas custom cut decals or cut vinyl lettering require more intricate weeding, to achieve a specific die-cut decal look, can cost more to produce because of the vinyl weeding involved.
On a normal everyday basis knowing what vinyl weeding is isn't really important to anybody trying to purchase a decal, sign or lettering. But weeding is very relevant to pricing a decal or lettering, it is a good term to understand when trying to purchase decals and lettering, because if your decal or lettering doesn't really require a die-cut look then you might be able to save a few extra dollars on different decal finishes that require less vinyl weeding.