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So I’m looking for small vinyl letters…! Advice/etc
Ok, so I’m probably going to be told it can’t be done, but fingers crossed!
I’m looking to print/plot vinyl letters, but they gotta be small. By small, I mean maybe 1/8".
I’ve umm-ed and ahh-ed over this for months. Screenprinting is maybe the sensible solution, but I don’t think I have the patience for that! 🙂The kind of lettering I’m looking to do would be to apply to something like this :
http://www.roland.com/products/en/SH-32/images/top_L.jpg
I’ve looked at (and tried) large stickers, but they end up being a nightmare for various reasons. They’re ok, but it’s not what I’m looking for as a long term option. Lazertran is no good either, as it leaves me with edges.
So… I came across these things, and it started me thinking – can it be done with a plotter? :
http://www.mdpsupplies.ie/ce600040machineonly.aspOr could I even get the results I want with this self-weeding heat transfer paper? :
http://www.serigraf.ie/heat_laserdark_nocut.htmlI’d end up with lettering that I could clear coat over.
So yes, any suggestions would be most appreciated!
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8 Replies
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Sticking my neck out here, I’m guessing that the panel has been printed on, using a direct to substrate printer
Mimaki do one for about £22k
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quote Denise Goodfellow:Sticking my neck out here, I’m guessing that the panel has been printed on, using a direct to substrate printerMimaki do one for about £22k
Yeah, I can’t afford £22k! 😀
Hence my looking for alternative poor-man methods….
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The specs for this http://www.mdpsupplies.co.uk/silhouette … tAod90cAiA say it should get down to 1/4" if thats close enough for you. If you give me some text you need doing Ill give it a try and see how small I can get it and maybe post you the results or depending where you are in the county pop in and try yourself if that helps. I got it as a back up but have never really used it so it will be an experience either way lol but would say if anything is going to cut small this would be the thing.
Cya
Kev
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I can’t see it being likely that you could cut 1/8" tall letters with any real success. depending on the font & material it may be possible but I wouldn’t think consistent.
on 3mm tall letters, think how small the centre of an o, e, a etc. will be, the blade will literally turning on the spot and will probably just gouge the vinyl out.
Iif it’s something you have a decent market for I would probably look at either a gerber edge, which can print white and small detail, or maybe the desktop BN roland print & cut which could print white or metallic onto clear and be cut out.
I gave up trying to humour small lettering jobs a long time ago. anything with a lot of text under 20mm gets a 10% small text surcharge, under 15mm gets a 20% surcharge. under 10mm and it’s the 25%, has to be as often to get one good decal full of 5-6mm letters will be at the cost of much time and a number of failed attempts!
Hugh
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quote Hugh Potter:I gave up trying to humour small lettering jobs a long time ago. anything with a lot of text under 20mm gets a 10% small text surcharge, under 15mm gets a 20% surcharge. under 10mm and it’s the 25%, has to be as often to get one good decal full of 5-6mm letters will be at the cost of much time and a number of failed attempts!
Hugh
Totally agree with you, its hard as hell with loads of failed attempts and something I try not to do, hadn’t thought of putting a surcharge on it but will consider it in the future for sure, thanks
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quote Kevin Busby:quote Hugh Potter:I gave up trying to humour small lettering jobs a long time ago. anything with a lot of text under 20mm gets a 10% small text surcharge, under 15mm gets a 20% surcharge. under 10mm and it’s the 25%, has to be as often to get one good decal full of 5-6mm letters will be at the cost of much time and a number of failed attempts!Hugh
Totally agree with you, its hard as hell with loads of failed attempts and something I try not to do, hadn’t thought of putting a surcharge on it but will consider it in the future for sure, thanks
Reverse weed it 🙂 , put the whole cut decal on the panel and weed the excess leaving the txt, Work very well
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Ok will give that a try next time.thanks
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quote Ian Johnston:quote Kevin Busby:quote Hugh Potter:I gave up trying to humour small lettering jobs a long time ago. anything with a lot of text under 20mm gets a 10% small text surcharge, under 15mm gets a 20% surcharge. under 10mm and it’s the 25%, has to be as often to get one good decal full of 5-6mm letters will be at the cost of much time and a number of failed attempts!
Hugh
Totally agree with you, its hard as hell with loads of failed attempts and something I try not to do, hadn’t thought of putting a surcharge on it but will consider it in the future for sure, thanks
Reverse weed it 🙂 , put the whole cut decal on the panel and weed the excess leaving the txt, Work very well
it’s not so much the weeding, more the cutting, occasionally I can do 4-5mm lettering, most of the time it’s no good, probably down to temperature, vinyl etc. but it hacks out really tiny stuff… despite the cutter having received new belts, cutting strip etc.
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