Design Guide

01Getting Started

The Wheel Decal Designer lets you create custom rim decals in real-time 3D. You can use text, choose from dozens of fonts and colors, or upload your own artwork. The tool renders your design on a realistic carbon wheel so you can see exactly how it will look.

02Text Decals

Enter your copy in the Upper arc and Lower arc fields. Both lines stay centered at 12 and 6 o'clock and curve along the rim. Long copy scales down automatically to remain inside its half of the wheel. Adjust Size and Tracking for the intended density; for large ZIPP- or ENVE-style designs, use 60–80px with tighter tracking.

03Custom Image Upload

Upload any PNG or SVG file to use as a decal. The image will be placed on the rim ring area. For best results:

• Use transparent PNG (no background) for clean edges
• Design your artwork horizontally — it will be mapped to the rim curvature
• The image height maps to the ring width (rim depth area)
• Use the downloadable SVG template as a guide layer in your design tool

04Arc Warp Mode

When Arc Warp is enabled (default), your uploaded image is bent to follow the rim curvature — like wrapping a sticker around a tube. This is the correct behavior for most decal designs. Disable Arc Warp for logos or artwork that should remain flat (e.g., a single logo placed at one point on the rim).

05Design Template

Click "Download Template" to get an SVG file matching your current rim dimensions. Open it as a layer in Photoshop, Figma, or Illustrator:

• Red dashed lines = outer and inner rim edges (clip boundary)
• Green dashed line = center line (ideal placement for text/logos)
• Tick marks every 30° for precise angular positioning
• The template updates with your rim depth and width settings

06Image Controls

Once an image is uploaded, additional controls appear:

• Position (0–360°) — rotates the image around the rim
• Scale (0.25–3.0×) — resize the image relative to the ring height
• Arc Warp — toggle between curved and flat placement

07Rim Presets

Choose from popular rim models (Vision SC55, Zipp 404, ENVE SES 4.5, etc.) to set accurate rim depth and width dimensions. This ensures the decal preview matches real-world proportions. You can also set custom dimensions with the sliders.

08Export & Sharing

Export your decal as PNG (raster) or SVG (vector) for printing. Use "Copy Link" to share your exact configuration — all settings are encoded in the URL. Anyone opening the link sees the same design.

09Tips for Best Results

• Use high-contrast colors against carbon (white, neon, chrome)
• Test your design at different viewing angles by orbiting the 3D wheel
• Preview with motion blur enabled (set roll speed > 0 km/h) to check readability at speed
• For print production: export SVG for vector cutting, PNG for digital proofing
• Metallic and holographic finishes look best on glossy or satin decal surfaces