I apologize in advance if this has been asked a million times, but how many people here have actually purchased their own vinyl and hand-cut a custom design? I'm going nuts here trying to find a place that won't charge me thousands for custom work... or something that isn't designed by their in-house art staff.

The majority of the design is black with some pink accents here and there. I'm an artist so I'm capable of taking on the task of cutting and application, I just have no idea where to start and no one seems to give me straight answers (apparently blondes can't like car stuff ). Please and thank you for any help!

 

Really? You've been to your local sign co's and they said this?

Well other than those, there are a couple of vendors here (or were here - I don't keep track) on NAM that do custom work, maybe check with one of them?

Aesthetic Creations is one.......http://www.aestheticreations.net/

 

The one's who have not required I use their in house designer want to charge me thousands of dollars for a barely 2-color design. Gotta love the NYC area for price gouging!

 

I spent $135 for the side graphics & installation on my PW/B MCSa.

I use the contractor that Morristown Mini uses.

 

I've never had vinyl cut out for my car but I did get some cut for a BP table I made for my brother. I just made all the graphics in photoshop and the sign shop printed it all out for about $75. Here's a pic so you can see about how much material it was...

 

I ordered a roll of 3M MATTE BLACK 7125 from Graphicsignsupplies.com, they are very helpful, and I cut them out myself.

 

what size is your artwork? also, do you have an image you can post? I would be happy to give you pricing from the shop I work for.

 

That would be awesome, thank you so much! I still have one more thing to finish on the design and then I can get an image up here. (I was out way too late for my own good last night, so chances of me being productive and finishing it today are slim to none ) I'm counting on being stuck inside tomorrow thanks to a snow storm so that will be on the top of my to do list.

 

I've dealt with bartski and can attest to the awesome work his shop does and the very prompt delivery. :D Oh and not to mention competitive rate.

 

got 3m vinyl from a local shop store and did my own vinyl wrap for headlight/taillight ring wraps

 

Thanks, IzzyG!
I was gonna email you and see how yours was coming. Did you get them installed?

 

Okay, this was the original graphic I was getting estimates on:



I have a second version that eliminates a lot of the pink color and doesn't have overlap (mainly for pricing reasons), but even the quotes for that design were crazy.

I understand that with this design its basically like buying 4 graphics for the car since the black needs to layer over the pink... but when one place quoted me $2,000 i nearly fell on the floor.

 

were they pricing you on cut vinyl, or car wrap material?

 

It was for cut vinyl. 2 pieces for each side of the car. I never even thought to ask about car wrap.

 

Wow! My vinyl cats were two colors and cost me $500 for the guy to design them and install them!

 

Argh! I wish!
This is exactly why I hate living in the NYC Metro Area. The cost of everything is SO inflated. Don't even ask me about real estate...

 

MissMoxie,
I don't own the shop I work for, but I'll see what kind of price I can get for you. $2000 for cut vinyl is WAY out of line.

Also, what did you use to do the design work? is it in a vector format? If not, I can convert it, but the source file would be nice. We can cross that bridge when (and if) we come to it.

 

Its a vector image I created in Adobe Illustrator. I can convert into pretty much any file that you would need. I'm just a big 'ol computer geek.

You have no idea how happy I am to have someone agree with me that $2000 is totally insane. I may just be in love. When I questioned the guy on the phone he got all snippy with me too! Rude...

Anyway, just for comparison... this was the second [simpler] design I was toying around with:

 

Also, thank you SO SO SO much!

 

I hope you have found someone that is reasonable by now. I have a local guy who has done all of my work on some other cars. I just got a bid for a custom design for my MINI. He will make custom stripes and a custom graphic for my bonnet for just $120. I am rethinking what I'm going to actually do now, but $2k seems a rip off. I first used my sign guy for our Police Department, he does all the graphics for the patrol cars and police motorcycles. I did some custom stuff on my motorcycle using reflective graphics. I'm thinking about using the reflective stuff on my MINI, can't be too visible at night!! Good luck and happy motoring.

 

Not that I would put it on my car (too much pink for me ) but the first design that you posted was better, IMO. I think you should go with that

 

I like your first design better too!

 

For $2k they must be smoking some good ****. I mean come on now. I use to own a 15inch vinyl cutter for $2000 you could buy your own cutter, several colors of vinyl and the substrate and still have money left over. i never really understood why these shops charge soo much. Personally Prefer the first design. That would look hot on a white/cream mini.

 

Awesome... I like the first design better too. I'm glad its not just me

 

Hope you don't mind but I temporarily stole your design and showed it to one of my friends who cuts vinyl, among other things. She said she could do it, but she would have to give you an estimate in person (she needs dimension, and I forgot what else she said). If your first deal doesn't work out, I can get you her email/phone number and you can meet up or something. She's in Hacketstown'ish area.