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  • Help design and print an accurate 7ft ruler?

    Posted by Leslie Anderson on June 1, 2022 at 12:33 am

    hi guys

    i wonder if you can help. i am trying to make a 7ft ruler.

    the plan was to design the ruler. print and laminate and fit it to composite and double side tape it to a wall in a theatre school. you will know the type of thing, kids/students stand against it and get their height taken.

    the problem i am having is when i design the ruler and print it. the measurement lines are not accurate with my tape measure and it is driving me crazy! 😭
    has anyone done this type of thing successfully and can advise me on it?
    is there a place online i could buy one that will work but at a reasonable cost?

    any help would be greatly appreciated as i hope to finish it before i close up for the jubilee holiday.

    Leslie Anderson replied 2 years, 3 months ago 6 Members · 7 Replies
  • 7 Replies
  • David Hammond

    Member
    June 1, 2022 at 7:42 am

    How are you designing it? What software?

    If the sizes are correct in the artwork, then it points towards the printer.

    How are you printing it? Up the length of the media, or printing across the width and joining it the vinyl?

    Have you checked the feed calibration, as that can have an affect.

    Also what machine and material are you using, as heat will cause the media to stretch. It can also stretch when applying if for example it’s not laminated.

    Could you print the background if there is one, and manually lay vinyl on top for the heights using your measure?

    Or are you 100% sure the measure you’re using to check it against is accurate 🧐

  • Kevin Mahoney

    Member
    June 1, 2022 at 8:55 am

    If these kids are measuring up to 7 feet, we’re in serious trouble now Leslie. Just leave the standard measurements off & just mark it with:

    Nightmare

    Irritant

    Nuisance

    Liability

    That should cover it

  • Joe Killeen

    Member
    June 1, 2022 at 10:04 am

    Try this and see how it works 1/2 inch increments you can add the numbers. I just use step and repeat set the distance to 0.5”.

  • Joe Killeen

    Member
    June 1, 2022 at 11:01 am

    Added numbers and printed some off 48” to mount on magnets for use on vehicles, before laminating they have printed spot on

  • Simon Worrall

    Member
    June 2, 2022 at 9:09 pm

    Have you tried printing it laterally on the printer?

    Printers are usually very accurate laterally, but lengthwise not so much.

    You might have to do it in two pcs depending on which printer you have.

    Update…David already said that. Apologies for repeating 🤣

  • RobertLambie

    Administrator
    June 5, 2022 at 12:27 pm

    it is so long ago now and it wasn’t me that was doing it. but I vaguely remember the lad that worked for us designing having a problem printing a ruler accurately. I don’t know if it was in photoshop or illustrator he had the issue with because in my head I know exactly how to do it in Signlab, and we had that back then too. I’m curious now. 🤔

  • Leslie Anderson

    Member
    July 1, 2022 at 9:17 am

    David, Kevin, Joe, Simon, Rob. Thank you so much for all your help.

    i was using photoshop but without luck. i then opened joes ruler in signlab, printed a test and it worked!
    there was a slight difference in the sizes but i think that had more to do with me applying it. but the main thing was it worked! i just overlayed the ruler on my background image and printed it.

    sorry for not replying sooner.
    thank you all, again!❤❤

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