Method for applying a decorative film onto a non-planar surface

A method for applying an inherently stiff decorative film with a decorative layer onto a non-planar surface of an outer body skin of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

• a) providing the decorative film;
• b) applying an adhesive layer onto the decorative film;
• c) applying the decorative film provided with the adhesive layer onto an adhesive supporting film in order to form a sandwich film;
• d) cutting a predefined pattern of compression slits which extend away from one another in a star shape or are designed in a diamond shape and linear expansion slits into the decorative film in such a way that the compression slits and the expansion slits penetrate the decorative film in the thickness direction;
• e) applying the sandwich film onto the non-planar surface, the sandwich film being adapted to convex regions of the non-planar surface by stretching the adhesive supporting film and the decorative film, and the sandwich film being adapted to concave regions of the non-planar surface by compressing the adhesive supporting film and the decorative film.