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  • Producing a Complicated design, cut it or print it?

    Posted by Adam McMonagle on July 21, 2021 at 11:14 am

    I have a logo that is going onto a large box van, the design is like a birds nest so not really a cut vinyl option. Would it be best to print an oval with a black background? only problem is the van has a matt finish.

    I did think about printing white onto matt laminate? anyone done this before?

    I have a Mimaki UCJV300 with white

    Adam McMonagle replied 3 years, 6 months ago 7 Members · 19 Replies
  • 19 Replies
  • Tim Hobbs

    Member
    July 21, 2021 at 11:45 am

    Hi Adam

    Difficult without seeing the design but a box van is usually a flat panel. Which means you can use a calendered vinyl with ordinary matte laminate.

    • Adam McMonagle

      Member
      July 21, 2021 at 12:09 pm

      Thanks Tim, that may well be the option, it is a hand sprayed matt finish so not great

  • David Hammond

    Member
    July 21, 2021 at 12:01 pm

    Unless you cover the whole panel, it will always look like an over sticker slapped on the side – It’s something I personally try and avoid at all costs, I feel it just looks lazy and cheap, although appreciate sometimes it unavoidable.

    Is print & cut not an option?

    Or print onto clear with a white base behind the colours, you might get away with edges not being so noticeable with it being black, if you can cut out some of the larger empty spaces.

    • Adam McMonagle

      Member
      July 21, 2021 at 12:06 pm

      Thanks David, am I being lazy or would you attempt to cut the attached out of white?

  • David Hammond

    Member
    July 21, 2021 at 12:26 pm

    Depends how big it’s going, and how thick the stroke is.

    It’s possible, a bit tedious I’d imagine if it’s small. Use a thicker stroke just to get rid of some of the much smaller gaps, leaving all the big bits to weed out.

  • John Hughes

    Member
    July 21, 2021 at 12:49 pm

    Just print white on clear as you said with a matt over laminate… and cut as a circle. Print, laminate & cut. Weโ€™ve done that numerous times and all good.

    John

    • Adam McMonagle

      Member
      July 21, 2021 at 1:04 pm

      Thanks John, seems like the easiest option, in your opinion what would be the best material and lam to use? I could use a matt poly laminate and then laminate it with itself but never tried it?

  • RobertLambie

    Administrator
    July 21, 2021 at 1:56 pm

    As long as it’s a decent size I would just cut it in vinyl, weed it and fit.

    Does your printer have white ink?
    If you print onto clear, then matt laminate you have two layers of vinyl and ink costs.

    • Adam McMonagle

      Member
      July 21, 2021 at 2:14 pm

      Thanks, only problem is that there will be four of them in total, I do have white ink, and it would be easier, just mark it up, he has been quoted ยฃ1800 at the highest and ยฃ350 lowest ๐Ÿ˜…

  • David Hammond

    Member
    July 21, 2021 at 3:10 pm

    Metamarks MD5 laminate in also printable.

    If you print on clear, I’d merge it all and offset the cut path a mm or two, will look tidier than a big circle.

    Or cut and weed it ๐Ÿ˜„ either way is fine. I’d cut it myself, mainly as I don’t print white, and this is the kind of work we do, and are geared up for it.

    Rob has a point about the extra cost, but I suspect you’ll save that in weeding so will be pretty equal.

  • RobertLambie

    Administrator
    July 21, 2021 at 3:13 pm

    Yeah, that’s an advantage then, fair enough Adam. I would create an outline around the graphic then rather than an actual hard to the graphic kiss-cut, or those wirey strands may become a pain.
    Also, as its clear, watch for fingerprints on the adhesive side when installing as they show up once applied and obviously impossible to remove. ๐Ÿ˜ฌ

  • Kevin Mahoney

    Member
    July 21, 2021 at 3:16 pm

    Personally I would print & bubble cut this, thin lines like that wonโ€™t last long with an over zealous pressure wash.

    • RobertLambie

      Administrator
      July 21, 2021 at 7:14 pm

      good point Kev! ๐Ÿ‘

    • Adam McMonagle

      Member
      July 22, 2021 at 8:04 am

      Agreed ๐Ÿ˜Ž

  • Simon Worrall

    Member
    July 21, 2021 at 7:02 pm

    Cut that. Its not that complicated. Half an hour each to weed.

    • RobertLambie

      Administrator
      July 21, 2021 at 7:24 pm

      As long as they were big, I would most likely cut it in vinyl too, Simon.

      As Kev says though, at very least you would need to advise the customer a pressure washer over some of those lines are a no-no!

    • Adam McMonagle

      Member
      July 22, 2021 at 8:04 am

      If I had more time I might ๐Ÿ˜

  • RobertLambie

    Administrator
    July 21, 2021 at 7:21 pm

    save my sanity and pull that “S” in closer to the K in Cooks.

    It looks like the “S” is trying to “fly the nest” ๐Ÿคจ๐Ÿ˜€

    let us know how you get on Adam, would be good to know/see how you got on mate. ๐Ÿ‘

    • Adam McMonagle

      Member
      July 22, 2021 at 8:03 am

      Thanks Robert, After sleeping on it I am going to price it for print and bubble cut, as there are four of them at various sizes I can see the cut and weed option being a drain on time. I love the feedback on here, ill let you know how it goes if he accepts my price ๐Ÿ˜Ž

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