General Questions

Vinyl Wall Art Questions

General Questions

Do you accept art from other artists?
Yes we do. We accept original designs and can resell these for you for a commission fee. We also buy designs outright which involves a purchase of design and copyright, fees range between $100 and $200.

Do you accept orders from overseas?
We have sent orders to the US, UK and South Africa. We accept payment via PayPal from overseas customers. No direct credt card payments available from overseas, only in Australia.

Are the canvas artworks framed?
All of the artworks are stretched on a wooden frame and ready to hang. If you require unframed painting or prints then you need to request it. Or if you require additional framing such as a black border or wooden frame then we can provide this on request.

We would like a custom design, is this possible?
Unforunately we no longer offer custom design as of 1 May 2009.

Are all of your products hand painted?
No. The item is clearly marked when it is painted or printed. Painted art is refered to as "hand painted". Printed is refered to as "canvas artwork". The vinyl artwork is made of vinyl.

How do you send the artwork?
We pack the art in bubble wrap and then in a special artbox. It is clearly labeled and sent via Australia Post. We send the artworks by regular mail. If you require express post or registered post (extra $2.60) you need to let us know. Please note that we do not replace artworks once they have left our business.

Does Cool Art Canvas supply interior design advice?
We work closely with several leading interior designers and are happy to co-partner on any projects. Depending on your requirements we can decide what type of design advice you require and we can point you in the right direction.

Do you have a retail store that we can visit?
Cool Art Canvas is an online retailer and a wholesaler. Twice yearly we hold warehouse sales and also attend some trade fairs for the public.

There are several retailers stocking Cool Art Canvas products. We can supply stockists details for you.

If you would like to visit our studio for a pick up or to view a particular item not held by a stockist then we can arrange this by appointment.

Where are you based?
Our studio is located in Sydney, Australia.

Can we pay online?
Absolutely! You can pay online via PayPal or by direct bank transfer. We have found that most customers need to discuss either the painting or postage costs with us first. Hence we can take credit card details over the phone, or of course there is COD.

Vinyl Wall Art Questions

What are wall decals and wall art stickers?
Wall decals and wall art stickers are self-adhesive designs that can be applied to the wall or other surfaces. They are a great alternative to wallpaper, paint or stencils and they give you choice. Choose your space, plan the design you'd like to make, and then apply. And when you're tired of your design, say after years, a month, maybe a day – the decals are removable.

Q: Is a wall decal the same as a sticker?
A: No. We all know stickers are on a sheet, and you peel up the corner of the design and pull it off the backing paper and then stick onto another surface. Basically a sticker is a print onto paper which has adhesive. Sometimes this paper is glossy, sometimes it is plastic coated etc.

A "true" wall decal is cut from vinyl. Vinyl is a synthetic material that appears like a thin plastic, but it is not plastic. Similar to your car registration decals, a decal will have a backing paper and a front transfer paper. Vinyls are self adhesive, much thinner than a sticker, and are able to withstand heat which can be used to ensure it sticks properly to the surface. A sticker would just bubble, but vinyl likes the heat and will contour to the surface.

Image: Stickers just peel off, decals sit between two layers for application.

Q: I bought a wall sticker from Ikea and now parts of it are not sticking. Can you give me any advice?
A: If the sticker was a peel and stick product, it is more likely to peel off the surface. There is no solution unfortunately and many consumers are tricked into thinking the wall stickers will look "just like the picture".

If the product was a decal made from vinyl you could try using a hair dryer or heat gun to assist in adhering to the wall. Don't do this to a sticker because it will burn and bubble.

Q: Can you print full colour wall decals for us?
A: Wall decals or surface graphics usually consist of a design that is cut from a solid piece of vinyl. We put different coloured vinyls into the machine depending on what you order, and then we cut the design and prepare the decal for you.

To print full colour onto vinyl, essentially you are moving into the "sticker" idea where you would be printing colour onto a white vinyl and then cutting around the design. The vinyl is much thicker.

Yes we print full colour vinyl, however, this is only normally used for large signage for shops, offices and corporate applications. All of our consumer decals consist of a single solid colour.

How long will the decals last?
They are perfect for temporary applications but can last for years. Indoors they last for 3-5 years. Outdoors the vinyl lasts about 2 years. The problem in stating these timelines is we don’t know what surface you are applying them to. There are many factors in how long they will last.

What are they made from?
They are made from ultra-thin, self-adhesive matte vinyl film.

How can I prepare my surface?
Make sure the surface is clean and smooth. The quote will not adhere to stucco or brick like surfaces. Words can be cut apart and stacked in rows, put on an angle, or arranged around and on windows, doors or on most wallpaper. Taping them lightly in place first will help you plan your layout.

If the wall has been painted wait for 2-3 weeks after painting before applying the wall quotes. The vinyl will struggle to adhere to the new range of Teflon quotes available in paint stores.

The letters work great on windows mirrors, painted walls, wood and metal. Not all wallpapers are created equal. Some have better surfaces than others for our words. The same with paint. If the paint has been applied over a primer and is clean and smooth you shouldn't have any problem removing them. If you are applying wall quotes to a freshly painted surface, wait at least 3 weeks for the paint to dry and cure completely before applying wall quotes. A primer coat under your paint will help it stick better.

How do I apply it?
The quote will come with instructions. First plan the layout and fix the quote with masking tape to the wall. This will allow you to place it where you want it. When you have perfected the layout, the quotes have a transfer tape (looks and feels like white masking tape) on one side and backing paper (white and shiny) on the other.

Before peeling the back paper off, burnish (rub) the surface of transfer tape to insure the quote is adhered solidly to the transfer tape. (Letters may pull away from transfer tape during shipping).

Flip up the quote and carefully peel the backing paper away from the quote, which should remain on the transfer tape. The quotes cannot be repositioned, so be careful to line them up where you want them. SLOWLY place the taped quote on the pre-measured surface, using the lines to position the vinyl correctly onto the surface.

Using the wooden burnisher that comes with your letters, carefully (and lightly) press any air bubbles out from underneath the words. Burnish again, apply even pressure over the entire area.

How do you take the lettering off?
When you're ready for a new quote or you just want to remove your quote, you can use a pair of tweezers to pull them off. If they have been up for a couple of years they sometimes harden a little. Lightly heat them up with a hair dyer then they should peel off easily. There may be a slight sticky residue that will come off with rubbing alcohol or another glue solvent.

For further advice call (02) 8005 1767.

How do I clean around the quote?
Treat your wall quotes like you would letters that were hand painted. Carefully wipe with a clean cloth or use a squeegee.

Why do I get taken to another website to place decal and wall sticker orders?
When we started creating wall stickers we used this website to sell our designs. With the continued growth of our designs we needed to launch a separate website.

This new website is called Cool Art Vinyl and you can order wall decals and wall art stickers from there.

Can I still order decals from this website?
Since launching the new website we no longer sell decals on the Cool Art Canvas website.