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Layering Up Multiple Decals – looking for advice, please?
Just quoting on a job at the moment, and it’s got me stumped.
100 2 Colour cut vinyl graphics 270x60mm… what’s the best/easiest/quickest way to get these done?
Print/Plot isn’t going to be cost effective as they need laminating and to be a consistent colour match over repeat orders.
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8 Replies
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just quoting similar. Client opted for registration marks and supply in 2 parts one for each colour rather than laying up
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Set up a jig and bosh them out, quick stylee – we use a large home-made squeegee
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Had the mad idea of cutting them up on 1220mm vinyl, app-taping through the laminator, and then layer up through the laminator with registration marks in each corner?? 😕
I’m really not confident it’s going to work too well….
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Forget the comment about setting up a jig – I didn’t really understand what you meant until I reread your post 😳
What about this:
• Use a long thin square as reg mark/s, running the length of the graphics (it’s better than normal reg marks 😎 )
• Apply app tape to top layer stickers only
• Cut all stickers – the neater the better
• Place one base layer sticker on bench (no app tape)
• Fold the backing paper back on the top layer sticker to expose the reg rectangle – leave at right angle
• Line up the reg rectangles – care needed here, you could mess up the rectangles and then they both could be FUBAR 🙁
• Squeegee with 1 hand on bottom layer – the backing paper will push away automatically as you squeegee, due to the backing paper you left at a right angle
• Cut off rectangles – quicker to do them all at the end, factory line styleMaybe someone else has a better method though?
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pretty much as leon says above, though I do it with a large square or rectangle on the nearest edge at either end. trim to the squared on the top layer, tape down the bottome layer, lign up, hinge and apply, did exactly that today with some 2 colour graphics, 40 simple text stickers cut, weeded, taped and layered within 30 odd mins.
look in the demo section of this forum, Phill Phenton shows how to do it….
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Will try that method Hugh.
I’ve done it a few times today for some graphics I am fitting tomorrow, but not for 100+ sets.
Always seem to have snags getting te registration marks to align correctly out the plotter, usually a few mm variation. 😕
I could cut each layer the same size, and line up that way. More waste but quicker to layer up :-/
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The few mm out prob has been an issue for me too on large stuff, I do a number of taxi fleets with reflective vinyl which I back onto clear (slightly oversized to allow for human error), I’ve had to reduce the cut files from 2x 2m files to 3 or 4 smaller files, less impact then.
I also find.. do not tape up the top layer until you’re ready to use it, especially when the app paper or tape is nearer the end of the roll, I believe the paper / tape stretches a little and will then contract by the time you’re ready to layer up. I always pull the app paper off and let it sag for a few moments before dropping it down on the vinyl, less stress in it!
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a square cut on each corner is a suitable registration mark to do a whole sheet at once. You may waste a little material but the time saved will make up for that.
You need to use air release vinyl for the bottom layer or you will get air bubbles when you apply two layers at once.Simon
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