Your business is on show long before anyone walks through the door. A work van in the morning traffic into George Town, a truck parked outside a job in Savannah, the glass front of a plaza unit on West Bay Road: each one puts your name in front of people who would never have searched for you. Vehicle graphics, window graphics and vehicle magnets all do that job, but they differ in whether they stay put, what surface they need and how easily the message can change.
This guide compares the three. For the wider range, see our page on signs and large format printing in the Cayman Islands.
Permanent, changeable or removable: decide that first
- Stays put: full wraps, partial vehicle graphics, and frosted or clear vinyl on office and shop glass, for branding you do not plan to change soon.
- Changes with the calendar: window cling and other promotional window graphics, swapped as offers and seasons come and go.
- Comes off when you want it to: vehicle magnets, for a car that works in the day and does the school run in the evening.
Removal depends on the surface, how long the graphic has been up and the conditions it has faced, so we never promise a surface will be left exactly as it was. If the vehicle or premises belongs to someone else, such as a leased van or a rented unit, check with the owner first.
Vehicle graphics: full wraps and partial coverage
The vehicle graphics Cayman drivers see every day range from full wraps to a logo and phone number on each door. A full wrap covers most of the painted body in printed vinyl. Partial graphics cover selected areas, such as the doors, tailgate or rear panel, and let the paint do some of the work. If the paint already suits your brand colours, partial coverage often says enough; for a vehicle nobody can miss, choose a full wrap.
Printed vehicle graphics are ordered as 3M Vehicle Wrap, priced per square foot of printed material. Rather than measuring panels yourself, tell us the vehicle make, model and year along with the areas you want covered, and we will confirm the coverage and arrange the project with you. Photos of each side help. Not sure whether a job suits 3M Vehicle Wrap or Adhesive Vinyl (Calendered)? Describe the surface and we will recommend one.
Check the paintwork first
Vinyl follows the surface beneath it. Dents, chips, flaking clear coat and rust stay visible through a graphic, and tired paint carries more risk when the graphic eventually comes off. If the vehicle has been resprayed or shows wear, mention it when you ask for a quote.
Lettering without a background
If you only need your name, number and website on the doors, cut vinyl decals may suit better: contour-cut lettering, logos and shapes with no printed background, for glass, walls, vehicles and equipment. They are quoted to your specification.
Vehicle magnets: branding that comes off at the end of the day
Vehicle Magnets suit anyone who uses one car for business and personal driving: an estate agent between viewings, a mobile pet groomer, or a contractor heading to a site in Bodden Town each morning. They come off at night and can move to another vehicle if your team changes.
Make sure the panel will hold a magnet
A magnet only holds to steel, and some body panels are aluminum, fibreglass or plastic, as are most bumpers and trim. Test the exact spot with a fridge magnet before you order. The area must also be flat: a magnet laid over a deep body line, a handle, a fuel cap or trim cannot sit flush.
Size and corner options
When you configure Vehicle Magnets, enter a size up to 23.5 in on the short side and 600 in (50 ft) on the long side, in either orientation. Measure the flat steel area clear of handles and creases rather than the whole door; it is usually smaller than people expect. Choose a 1/2 in Round Corner for a softer outline or a Straight Corner for a design built around a crisp rectangular border.
Window graphics for storefronts and offices
Which window product suits depends on whether you want to be seen, to screen the view, or both.
Window Perf for full-coverage graphics
Window Perf is a perforated vinyl. From outside, the glass shows your full-colour graphic; from inside, the perforations still let people see out, although the view is softer than through clear glass. After dark, with the lights on inside, the effect reverses and people can see in. It suits large promotional images across a shopfront or a branded office frontage.
Premium Window Cling for promotions that change
When the message is tied to a date, such as a Christmas offer, a Pirates Week promotion or a seasonal menu, look at Premium Window Cling. Cling is the usual choice for smooth glass and for graphics you expect to take down and replace.
Frosted Vinyl and Clear Vinyl
Frosted Vinyl gives plain glass an etched look. It lets daylight through while blurring the view, a natural fit for ground-floor offices, meeting rooms, clinic windows and glass partitions.
Clear Vinyl keeps unprinted areas see-through, so a logo, opening hours or door lettering appear to sit directly on the glass. Think about contrast: colours that look strong on screen can disappear against a dark interior.
For any window graphic, tell us which side of the glass it goes on, where it will be read from, and whether the glass is tinted, textured or coated. For a sign on the wall beside the door instead, our guide to choosing between coroplast, PVC and aluminum composite signs covers the rigid options.
Sizing and layout
Window and magnet products are priced per square foot, with your size entered in feet and inches, so accurate measurements matter. For windows, measure each pane separately, inside the frame. Window Perf, Premium Window Cling, Clear Vinyl and Frosted Vinyl can each be ordered up to 52 in on the short side and 1,800 in (150 ft) on the long side.
Need a larger size? Email or WhatsApp us to discuss your project.
Design for a glance, not a read
A driver in slow traffic on Shamrock Road has seconds to take in a van door, so give them the business name, the service and one way to reach you, in large, high-contrast lettering. Storefronts work the same way: one offer, stated plainly.
Artwork and everyday care
Set up artwork with no crop marks and no bleed, and upload it as a single-page PDF at the finished size. Keep text, logos and any critical design elements away from the outer edge so nothing important sits on the trim. If you are not sure the file will work, ask us to check it first.
A few habits help keep graphics tidy through Cayman sun, salt air and dust:
- Vehicle graphics: hand wash with mild soap and a soft sponge, keep pressure washers away from the vinyl’s edges, and avoid harsh solvents and abrasive pads.
- Window graphics: use a soft cloth and a mild, non-abrasive cleaner, and never run a blade or scraper over the graphic.
- Vehicle magnets: lift them regularly, wipe and dry both the magnet and the panel, then refit them flat. Take them off before a car wash and store them flat, not folded.
Plan your vehicle and storefront branding with Creative Exposure
A photo is the fastest route to a recommendation. Request a quote for vehicle or window graphics with a picture of each side of the vehicle or of the glass from the street, plus the make, model and year or the pane measurements, and say whether the branding should stay or come off. We will recommend the product that fits and price it. The same details can go to sales@creative.ky or to Creative Exposure on WhatsApp.
If you already know the size, configure Vehicle Magnets or a window product with live pricing in the Print Shop, under Vehicle Graphics and Window & Adhesive Vinyl. Allow 6 to 10 business days from artwork approval, counting back from the day the van starts work or the shop opens its doors. We deliver across Grand Cayman.