How To Make Printable Vinyl Waterproof? [Procedure & Cost]

Printable vinyl is the most popular printing medium used in the label industry. It is used for high-resolution professional printing. Printable vinyl is essentially a clear coated and smooth plastic that comes in rolls and sheets.

It is considered a good option for things like craft stickers as well. Even though this coated plastic is waterproof, it doesn’t guarantee protection against ink smearing due to moisture. For that reason, printable vinyl needs to be sealed and made waterproof.

Printable vinyl used for printing essential information for household products, cosmetics, advertising, car decals, etc., should be waterproof enough to handle the damaging conditions.

Why Do You Need to Make Printable Vinyl Waterproof?

Printable vinyl is specially made to receive inks. Under normal conditions, this ink lasts for a very long time. But exposure to water can cause rapid damage to the reproduced image.

And even if one manages to keep the moisture away, fading of colors might be another problem for unsealed printable vinyl. The image might lose vibrancy on direct contact with air. Thus, once sealed completely, the vinyl stays new for a very long time.

Waterproofing agents not only protect the underlying elements from water, but the added layer is the best way to reduce the damage done by UV light, scratches, and wear and tear.

Moreover, printable vinyl typically comes with an adhesive backing, which includes adhesive along with a release liner.

This adhesive, after being applied, loses its efficiency over time if the entire surface isn’t sealed with something waterproof. All of it makes it essential to waterproof printable vinyl. Now that you know why, read on to know how to waterproof it.

How To Make Printable Vinyl Waterproof?

After the application of sealants, light sensors of printers can’t recognize vinyl surfaces. That’s why waterproofing is usually done after the reproduction of an image on printable vinyl.

4 Different methods to make printable vinyl waterproof:

1. Using Mod Podge
2. Using Acrylic Spray Paint
3. Using Polycrylic
4. Using Laminating sheets

1. How To Make Printable Vinyl Waterproof Using Mod Podge?

Mod Podge is a very versatile medium that is used in many crafts and DIY projects. It is a water-based sealer that comes in finishes like matt, satin, and gloss.

Made up of various ingredients like vinyl acetate, oils, varnish, etc., Mod Podge gives a highly water-resistant layer to printable vinyl.

The dishwasher-safe Mod Podge formulation is very safe to use on printable vinyl which will be withstanding frequent dampness. If not going through a lot of wear and tear, Mod Podge is almost permanent.

Mod Podge is applied after the printable vinyl has adhered to the surface where it is supposed to go. When applied it appears milky, but dries clear. Ink colors underneath Mod Podge stay protected and there is no risk of yellowing.

Required Items

• Mod Podge
• Alcohol
• Brushes

Procedure [Step by Step]

1. Clean the surface on which the printable vinyl is to adhere.

• Dab some alcohol on a clean paper towel.
• Wipe the surface with the paper towel.

2. Stick your printable vinyl to the surface

• Peel off the release liner from the adhesive backing of printable vinyl.
• Gently paste the vinyl at the desired place on the surface.

3. Dab the brush in Mod Podge

• Dip brush in the Mod Podge formulation.
• Remove the excess formulation by rubbing it on the edge of the can.

4. Apply the brush strokes

• Start painting using even and unidirectional strokes.
• Cover the whole surface along with printable vinyl giving a very thin coat.
• Wait for an hour to let the first coat dry.

5. Successive coats

• After the first coat is dry to touch, apply another thin coat in the same manner.
• Wait for another one hour until the Mod Podge dries.
• Coat for the third time.
• After three coats, let the surface sit and cure for around 28 days.
• Use the surface only after the Mod Podge has cured completely.

Precautions

• If the coats applied are thick, brushstroke marks will be visible.
• Thick coats can give a milky appearance, hence the use of very thin coats is advisable.
• Wash your brush with water and soap while the Mod Podge is still wet. Else, the bristles might get damaged.

Time

The total time required for this procedure to finish will be around 1 month.

Cost

Approximate Cost of Items required:

• Mod Podge: $20
• Alcohol: $5
• Brush: $5

Total estimated cost: $30

2. How to make printable vinyl waterproof using Acrylic Spray Paint?

Acrylic spray paints are a very convenient method of waterproofing printable vinyl. Their chemical composition seals a variety of surfaces that it is applied on. This composition is water-based and includes polymer emulsion.

Acrylic paints are capable of expanding and contracting as per outdoor conditions. The strong sealant layer, thus, renders the vinyl surface immune to water damage. It also makes the ink on printable vinyl smudge-free.

Required Items

• Acrylic spray paint
• Safety mask

Procedure [Step by Step]

1. Place the printable vinyl

• Take a paper bag or polythene and place it on an even working surface.
• Keep your vinyl sheet on the bag/polythene.
• Also, wear a safety mask before proceeding.

2. Get the spray can ready

• Shake the spray can well, making the typical rattling sound. This converts all the liquid into fine droplets.
• Hold the nozzle around 7 inches away from the vinyl.

3. Spray the paint

• Spray through the nozzle, firstly in a vertical motion and then in a horizontal motion. Release the nozzle after each pass and make sure the coat is thin.
• Wait for 20 minutes, before putting on the second coat.
• After 2 hours of applying the last coat, the printable vinyl will be ready to use.

Precautions

• The fumes of acrylic spray paint are toxic and quite strong. Direct exposure to them should be avoided.
• The formulation is flammable, so keep it away from heat or flames.
• It is better to spray in an open environment or a well-ventilated place.
• If you plan to cut out the images/stickers on printable vinyl, you must do it before you waterproof it with an acrylic paint sealer.

Time

The complete procedure will take around 3 hours to finish.

Cost

Approximate Cost of Items required:

• Acrylic spray paint: $20
• Safety mask: $15

Total estimated cost: $35

3. How to make printable vinyl waterproof using Polycrylic?

Polycrylic is a good way to seal decals made of printable vinyl. It is a water-based sealer, which means it takes very little time to dry. Its consistency is quite thin, that’s why at least three coats are required to make a waterproof layer on printable vinyl.

Polycrylic solution is made up of polyurethane and polyacrylates. Using polyurethane alone on vinyl might make it turn yellow over time. But with liquid Polycrylic there is no such disadvantage. Polycrylic sprays should be avoided as they don’t give the desired thickness.

Required Items

• Polycrylic
• Flat edged brush

Procedure [Step by Step]

1. Clean the surface

• Put some alcohol on a paper towel.
• Using the paper towel, clean the surface to which the vinyl decal is going to adhere.

2. Stick the printable vinyl to the surface

• Peel off the release liner from the printable vinyl.
• Stick the vinyl at the desired spot.

3. Apply the polycrylic

• Dip the brush into the polycrylic.
• Let go of the excess polycrylic.
• Evenly coat the entire surface including the printable vinyl attached to it.
• Wait for 30 minutes before going for another coat.

4. Successive coats

• When the first coat is dry to touch, brush on the second coat in the same manner.
• After 30 minutes of drying time, paint the last coat.
• Wait for an hour to get a dry vinyl. As it is dry to touch, it can be handled and shifted from one place to another.
• The curing time for polycrylic is 24 hours. Thus, the vinyl shouldn’t be used before 24 hours have passed.

Precautions

• Don’t shake the polycrylic can before use. This might create air bubbles, which can get transferred to the coated layer.
• Even though polycrylic is less toxic and has fewer VOCs, its vapors shouldn’t be inhaled.

Time

It will take 2 days before the entire procedure is finished.

Cost

Approximate Cost of Items required:

• Polycrylic: $20
• Flat edged brush: $5

Total estimated cost: $25

4. How to make printable vinyl waterproof using Laminating sheets?

Laminating the printable vinyl is a great way to waterproof printable vinyl and preserve the look of colors. Laminating sheets are made up of clear vinyl itself. There’s no probability of water crossing the laminating sheet barrier.

Lamination sheets usually come in thicknesses ranging from around 3 mil to 10 mil. Around 4 mil thickness will be suitable as the laminating sheet would be as flexible as strong.

Generally, one-side lamination is preferred with vinyl. It doesn’t shield the adhesive backing of printable vinyl. And of course, laminating isn’t always a practical idea with big posters and flyers, but wherever applicable, lamination is effective.

For instance, decals, labels, and stickers meant for craft can be well laminated after printing them in bulk.

Laminating sheets offer finishes like glossy, satin, matt, or intermediary between any two. One thing that should be noted here is that glossy lamination reflects shine and light.

So if you plan to cut stickers out of the printable vinyl sheet, satin or matte should be chosen. Gloss would not be a good option.

At times it puzzles the cutting machine sensors, and you might end up with wrongly cut stickers. But then, you have an option to cut manually as well. So if you aren’t working in bulk, laminating sheets can be easily cut with scissors.

Required Items

• Laminating sheet
• Paper cutter/ scissors

Procedure [Step by Step]

1. Prepare the lamination sheet

• Take out one lamination sheet and keep it on a smooth surface with the adhesive side up.
• Peel off the small strip (usually an inch or two wide) backing which is at the top of the laminating sheet.

2. Stick the printable vinyl to the top of laminating sheet

• Gently align the printable vinyl with the laminating sheet.
• Press and stick the top portion of vinyl with the laminating sheet where the strip was removed.

3. Laminate the printable vinyl up till down

• Flipping upside down, have the printable vinyl below and laminating sheet above.
• Peel off the backing of the laminating sheet up to some length.
• Press the free adhesive surface of laminating sheet onto the vinyl and smooth it at the same time. The edge of a ruler or credit card can be used to smoothen the laminating sheet.
• In the same manner, keep replacing the backing of laminating sheet with the vinyl this way, till you reach the bottom of printable vinyl.

4. Trim the excess laminating sheet

• Using scissors or a paper cutter and ruler, trim the edges of laminating sheet which aren’t covering the printable vinyl.

Precautions

• Make sure there is no air bubble formation when you smooth the laminating sheet over the printable vinyl.
• If you want to laminate both sides of your printable vinyl, you should opt for self-sealing laminating pouches instead of using one-side laminating sheets.

Time

The whole procedure of laminating will take 5 to 10 minutes.

Cost

The cost of one laminating sheet is around $2-$4.

Final Comments:

Waterproofing printable vinyl is simple. It makes the ink smudge-free and also, vinyl adhesive lasts quite a long time. Sealers like Mod Podge are fit to use if the printable vinyl is supposed to go on things like mugs, ceramics, etc. It is dishwasher safe and highly water-resistant.

Acrylic spray paints also work well with printable vinyl. They give a watertight layer to printable vinyl and dry and cure quickly.

The third option Polycrylic is a popular sealer. It doesn’t leave brush marks and ensures better adherence to vinyl. Lastly, the laminating sheets are fully waterproof. They are great for vinyl items where the colors and appearance matter the most.