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do i overlay vinyl or cut it in?
From a novice – Is it considered improper to overlay vinyls rathet than cut and fit in vinyls – For instance, I have produced a couple of simple vehicle graphics 6 inches high in metalic gold with a dark green shadow. The easyest way (I thought) seeing it was only a cheapy job was to cut two graphics and overlay/offset the gold on top of the green to create the shaddow underneath. 😉 – Being a metalic gold I thought it would be dark enough not to let the green show through but the green is visible and although I could get away with it (just), I wasn’t happy and decided to cut a proper shaddow and fit each letter in seperately to ensure a snug fit.
This looks alot better but I’m wondering that I should of designed the shaddow so that it expands very slightly under the top gold to allow for shrinkage (?) –I have another job in that requires a dark blue that overlaps on a light red and even then you can just make out the vinyl underneath which tends to draw your eye to it rather than the sign it’self 😮
I’m not sure whether I’m being too fussy here but I would like to start out using the right technices (?)
Gary
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18 Replies
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Gary what sign software do you use?
Rod
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Gary,
I know what you mean – personally I hate to do jobs where layers of vinyl go over others and you get a line where it overlaps. Some times you just have to try and grit your teeth and do it because the design is such that it would take ages to sort it any other way.
But as far as regular drop shadows go there was a thread here on the exact same thing a few weeks back – try doing some searches and you should find it ok. I always try and outline the main text with a thin (1-2mm) contour and then “weld” this to the drop shadow. You then fit the shadow section 1st and overlay the letter face colour, leaving the little border showing gives the design that little little extra and makes it easy to line up without any overlaps showing.
Also you can avoid doing separate drop shadows which consist of lots of bits of “crescent” shaped vinyl with real pointy ends that will pick up easily when the sign/vehicle is cleaned.Nigel
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Hello Rod,
Currently, coming from a graphic design and print background, I design in Adobe Illustrator on a mac and then send the files to the PC where I cut using Flexicut 6.6 I don’t know too much about this exept that it’s just the cut only version (£250) and it gets me out of trouble – I’m not too familiar with sign cutting software –
and I’m not sure whether to stick with Adobe Illustrator. as I find it an excellent drawing package or perhaps become a convert and switch to something specifically for the signmaking trade? I guess the latter can help with drop shaddows?Nigel – Thanks for the tip 😀 – Hadn’t thought about those pointy ends 😮 I’d better watch that in future 😉
Rgds, Gary
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Hi Gary,
Nothing wrong with illustrator from these here parts. We use it all the time. I used to use corel but found that when I applied a contour around text I’d have thousands of nodes. Illustrator doesn’t have that problem.
Lee
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did not know that leeroy!! i love to hate mac’s!! in other words I LOVE THEM but can’t get me head round them!! i used a cutter programme from the pc to run from illustrator worked fab!! did not notice the nodes!!
just my luck wiped one of my hard drives a few days ago for a spring clean and cannot remember the software i used!!Nik
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Was it cutmaster Nik?
Cheers, Dewi
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I’ve been using Illustrator for years. i find it excellent when needing to draw something from scratch – once you get the hang of using the vector tools it’s quicker to trace a new graphic from a bad scan than it is to clean up a poor scanned image – and like all vector graphics, no loss in quality when blown up – good for those building wraps we’re all longing to get an order for 😮 – Year right (!) 😮
I’ve heard that there’s a plug in for Illustrator that’s suitable for sign plotters – Any more on this one (?)
Gary
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Why bother Gary? Just either export or do a save as so your cut only programme can open it and cut. I’ve found that my cut programme has some great little tools like speed weed function which you may not get on a plug in type programme. As well, why spend more money? If it ain’t broke…Don’t fix it.
Lee
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Forgot to say Nic, we’re a pc place. Jenny works on macs at her work and has to come home and lower her standards to work on her brand new shiny pc, which has a great screen and a fantastic graphics card…I’m not allowed to install any games on her machine sob! 🙁
Evil beeeaarrrch my wife!
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yes thats the plug-in i am on about!! gary! i know the quality on screen its fab with mac’s & illustrator but you cant beat SIGNLAB 4.95 for making signs!!! it’s faster than adobe anything!! done a landidni tractor logo this afternoon, tried all logo software nope not there!!! only old one!! leeroy my pc has a good graphics card and a 19″ screen but still does not top the 21″ apple mac screen!! i have also!!
scanned logo in signlab from brochure guy had left, tidied up nodes cut within ten minutes!! fab!! 😆 😆
Nik
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Totally agree, signlab for cutting every time! But just for the fun 😀 I’ll dig out cutmaster and see if its postable Nik.
Lee, cunning plan, submit the idea to your spouse that you wish to test the limits of her shiny new machine. This of course is only possible by extensive cross-game testing, which will involve at least 4 hours of Call of Duty and a healthy dose of good ole Red Alert… if she buys it, I’ll have a double tequilla with a little lemon twist 😉 😉
Cheers, Dewi
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Avaiable for download @
http://www.graphteccorp.com/support/sof … otters.htm
hope this is what you’re looking for Nik 😀
Cheers, Dewi
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Lee, I’ve been designing and cutting this way since i first bought my Graphtec plotter, simply becuase as you say “it works” and it’s also been the cheapest way for me to get going 😀 – I’m thinking though that the more expensive, fancy sign software packages have more to offer when things get more complicated, like adjustments for welds on multi-colour graphics or helping with those fill in drop shaddows but since I don’t know much about them, i’m only making that assumption (?) – Perhaps I’m looking for an excuse to burn a hole in my pocket (again) 😮
Gary
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no way!! (burning a hole in your pocket!!) try even a signlab demo!!
you’ll will be blown away!!Nik
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I like the cut of your jib Dewi…
Exceeeellllllent I feel a cunning stunt in the making ( you could read that both ways, depends on if I get caught)
And yes, it’s call of duty I’m looking forward to playing.
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Hi Nik, – Just read your reply on SignLab – You’ve got me exited now 😉 – Just when I thought I would settle with what I’ve got – Looks like I may need to spend some money afterall (!) 😀 😀
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you won’t regret it!! i promise you!! 😀 (adobe no more)!! joke!!
Nik
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Dewi
You never tried Blackhawk down then they got UK severs now brilliant
Goop.
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