Your Design.
Cut in Vinyl. Built to Last.

What We Mean by “Custom”

Custom means you tell us what you want, and we cut it. That could be text in a specific font, your business logo, a graphic you designed, or an idea you describe in words. We do not stock pre-made decals and slap your name on them. Every custom order is designed, proofed, and cut specifically for you on our vinyl plotter in Port Colborne, Ontario.

We handle three categories of custom work:

• Custom Text — Your words, your font, your colour, your size. Use our design studio to type your text, pick from 35 fonts, choose a vinyl colour, and see it rendered live before ordering. This covers windshield banners, door text, tailgate lettering, bumper text, and single-line decals.
• Logo & Graphic Cuts — Send us your logo as a PNG, SVG, or PDF. We convert it to a cut path and produce it in vinyl. Complex multi-colour logos may require multiple layers. We proof everything before cutting.
• Design from Description — Tell us what you want in words. “I want my company name in a bold military font with a maple leaf on each side, white on my black truck.” We design it, proof it, you approve, we cut.

No matter which route you take, you always get a digital proof before we cut. No surprises, no wasted material, no arguments.

Where Custom Decals Go

Our vinyl sticks to any smooth, non-porous surface. Here are the most common placements for truck decals:

• Rear Window — Full rear window graphics, text decals, and perforated window film. Rear windows are high-visibility real estate, especially in traffic. Great for social handles, business names, or flag graphics.
• Tailgate — Text, logos, or full tailgate wraps. The tailgate is the largest flat surface on most pickups. A well-designed tailgate decal turns every stop light into advertising.
• Doors — For formal door lettering, see our dedicated page. Custom one-off graphics on doors (like a logo or graphic element) fall under custom decals.
• Windshield — For standard windshield banners, see our dedicated page. Custom cuts (arched text, multi-colour windshield pieces) are custom decal territory.
• Bed Sides & Bed Rails — Brand names, graphics, or stripe kits along the bed. Popular for off-road and overland builds.
• Fenders & Quarter Panels — Small logos, unit numbers, or accent graphics. Common for fleet identification and personal builds.
• Toolboxes & Bed Caps — Business name and phone number on truck toolboxes. Visible when the tailgate is down at job sites.
• Trailers — Enclosed trailers, flatbeds, equipment trailers. Large surfaces mean large text — and maximum visibility on the highway.
• UTVs & ATVs — Side panels, hoods, and fenders on off-road vehicles. Smaller decals, tighter curves, but the same outdoor-rated vinyl.

Material Options

Every custom decal is cut from one of two vinyl types. Both are outdoor-rated and built for Canadian conditions:

Standard vinyl is the right choice for 90% of custom decals. It handles salt, UV, rain, car washes, and pressure washers without fading, peeling, or cracking.

Reflective vinyl is ideal for commercial vehicles that need nighttime visibility, trailer markings, or safety applications. It costs 1.5x standard but adds 24/7 visibility. For regulation-specific reflective products (CVOR, DOT, Transport Canada), visit ComplianceLettering.ca.

Application Guide

Every custom decal ships with transfer tape pre-applied, a squeegee card, and printed instructions. The process is the same regardless of size or placement:

1. Clean the surface. Isopropyl alcohol on paint, glass cleaner (no ammonia) on windows. The surface must be completely free of wax, dirt, and grease.
2. Dry fit. Hold the decal in position (with backing still on) and tape it in place. Step back and check alignment, level, and spacing.
3. Apply. Use the hinge method — tape one edge, peel the backing from the other side, squeegee from centre outward. For large decals, work in sections.
4. Remove transfer tape. Wait 5–10 minutes, then peel the transfer tape at a sharp angle. If any elements lift, press back and squeegee again.
5. Final press. Run the squeegee over the entire decal one more time, pressing firmly on edges and corners.

For curved surfaces (fenders, bumpers), use a heat gun or hair dryer to warm the vinyl as you apply it. The heat makes the vinyl more conformable and helps it wrap around mild curves without wrinkling. For detailed instructions, read: How to Apply Vinyl Decals to Your Truck.

Pricing by Size

Custom decal pricing depends on the overall size of the finished piece. Here are our three size tiers:

Reflective vinyl adds 50% to these prices. Multi-colour decals that require multiple layers may have additional alignment fees — we quote this during the proof stage. Bulk orders (10+ identical decals) get volume pricing.

Us vs. Sign Shop vs. DIY

We are not a sign shop charging $500 for a logo cut. We are not Amazon garbage that yellows in the sun. We are the middle ground — real outdoor-rated vinyl, cut here in Ontario, shipped with everything you need to install it yourself.

Design Gallery

We are building a gallery of real customer decal installations. Have a decal from us on your truck? Send a photo to info@niagarastandsout.com and we will feature it here. Customers who submit photos receive 15% off their next order.

In the meantime, browse our pre-made decal collections for inspiration:

• Custom Text Decals — Your words, any font, any size.
• Flag & Pride Decals — Canadian flags, provincial flags, heritage flags.
• Funny Slogans & Bumper Text — Humour that sticks.
• Off-Road & 4x4 Graphics — Overlander, trail, and adventure decals.
• Driver Aid Decals — Fifth-wheel guides, backing references, safety markings.

How Long Do Custom Decals Last?

Our standard vinyl is rated for 5+ years of outdoor exposure. In real-world Canadian conditions, that means:

• UV Resistance — Pigments are UV-stable. White stays white, red stays red, black stays black. No yellowing, no fading, no colour shift.
• Temperature Range — Rated from -40°C to +60°C. Handles Sudbury winters and Niagara summers without cracking, peeling, or lifting.
• Salt & Chemical Resistance — Road salt, de-icing chemicals, and car wash detergents do not affect the vinyl or adhesive.
• Pressure Washing — Properly applied vinyl handles pressure washers at standard PSI. Do not aim the nozzle directly at an edge at close range, but normal truck washing is fine.
• Adhesive — Permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive. Bonds fully within 72 hours of application. Removes cleanly with heat when you want to take it off.

For the full breakdown of vinyl longevity factors, read: How Long Do Truck Decals Last in Canadian Weather?

Uploading Your Own Design

If you have a logo or graphic ready to go, here is what we need:

• Preferred format: SVG (vector). This is the best format because it scales to any size without losing quality and converts directly to a cut path.
• Also accepted: PNG (300+ DPI), PDF (vector preferred), AI or EPS files.
• Not ideal: JPG files under 300 DPI, screenshots, or low-resolution images. We can sometimes work with these, but the result may not be as clean.
• Colours: Tell us which vinyl colours match your design. We will colour-match as closely as possible from our 12-colour vinyl library.

Upload instructions or a file link at checkout, or email your file to info@niagarastandsout.com with your order number. We proof it before cutting.

Service Area

We ship custom decals across Canada via Canada Post. Free shipping on orders over $75. Local pickup is available in Port Colborne, Ontario by appointment. Most orders ship within 1–3 business days. Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, London, and the GTA typically receive orders in 2–3 days.

Related Services

• Door Lettering — Formal business lettering for truck doors.
• Windshield Banners — Custom text across the top of your windshield.
• Fleet Graphics — Volume pricing for 5+ vehicles.
• Magnetic Signs — Removable vehicle signage.
• Compliance Lettering — CVOR, DOT, and regulation-compliant commercial vehicle decals.