the 3M people say apply DRY with a laminator... well, i don't have one. my salesman said "use a helper" and i don't have one of those either. i've got 25 signs to do.

First off, yea it's very thin and will stretch and wrinkle easily so if it isn't pre-masked, I would apply transfer (application) tape to the clear.

If you start in the middle of the sign, any stretching will only have to be chased half way or less so ...

Flip the taped clear over and peal the lining about half way, cut the liner and fold the cut edges back about an inch and reposition and roll the loose liner back onto the clear.

Incidently, 3M recommends a 2" roller for this type of work.

Place the clear over the sign and use a roller to minimize any stretching or creasing and roll the clear onto the sign removing the backing a little at a time. If you use a squeegee, go slow using moderate pressure and overlap you strokes.

You don't want the clear to contact the sign until you apply pressure so keep it elevated as you work.

The idea of rolling onto a core works great and I do this all the time on longer signs that won't fit through my roller or have irregular surfaces.

It's also important to get your application tape down on the clear without wrinkles or bubbles.

the one sample i tried to do was tricky. i'm not used to working on a circle -- there isn't much front edge to start with, so its hard to tell if you're lined up straight or not. i didn't think of rollng the laminate onto a core - that might help keep the pull even.