Looking to Learn New Skills !

[Lee Attewell]

You’ve come to the right place here Paul. Ask and someone will answer.

Lee

[Henry Barker]

Welcome Paul!

I too think this is a great place to keep in touch with “home”, and share info and help.

You are up in the same area that my father lived , Low Farnham outside of Rothbury ( he died in 97, but is buried up there).

Its really beautiful up there 🙂

Equipment….there’s loads to choose from and I guess we all have our likes and dislikes or products we have grown to love or accept.

You may already use a drawing program ( like Corel) that you can get a bridge programme for or I believe you can drive a Roland cutter direct from it.

I have 2 sign dedicated programs Gerbers Omega, and Signlab E6, Signlab is a popular choice amongst people here.

Plotters, we have Gerber and Summa T series, but Summa make a good D series plotter at very good prices, difference being its just a dragknife and not a lifting tangential, but we bought that for cutting sandblast resist.

Graphtec also make some good machines, at good prices.

Then vinyl, in the US most use cast vinyl, over in Europe calendered vinyl is more popular. A make that again is popular here is Oracal 651, and 751, they also make a cast 851, we use Avery 700 calendered and 800 cast, and if the job warrants the extra cost 900 supercast (12 year vinyl)

WE use Avery as its well priced and after doing so many jobs its easy to colourmatch and have one stock, but I am trying abit more Oracal also these days.

AS Handover in London are signwriters suppliers, and have some great books, and carry monthly and bi-monthly Us magazines, like signcraft for instance a great source of help and eyecandy.

Here you have Mikes CD the secrets of design which is a great help for vinyl techniques. Signs of the´Times publish a book called Commercial Sign techniques, which gives a few good step by steps.

You have had 7 years doing graphic design, so you are coming at it from the right way. Its all too easy to buy a plotter and become a signmaker over night, its more of a challenge to think up new ideas, and make graphics and signs come alive more, thats what keeps me going and my interest alive, trying new things and learning all the time its a fun branch to be in, if you look here in the step by steps and show us your stuff, there are some very talented people around.

Anyway fire away with any questions, i am sure you will get lots of help!

[Robert Lambie]

Welcome to the boards mate.. Im glad you found them also..
Henry has given you a healthy brief there.. Not a lot I could add without knowing more about what type of thing you want to do..

Do you have any plans on what type of stuff you want to tackle or are you just trying to get in were you can?
If you have any ideas etc let us know.. We will all have a go at helping you out im sure.

Welcome aboard and don’t be shy asking for help… 😉

[Lorraine Buchan]

hi Paul,

Welcome to the site, Henry has done a great job in providing you with info. But if there’s more you want to know just ask away….

[John Singh]

Welcome Paul

There’s simply bags and bags of information here.
Not just for beginners too!
You’ll be tapping in to a wealth of information.

Enjoy the ride

John

[Mike Brown]

Hi Paul…welcome to the mad house! 😛

[keith]

Hi Paul,

Welcome to the group.Now that you have found the site you will have to say goodbye to all your loved ones. You don’t need them nor will you even remember them. One logon is all it takes to get hooked 😆
It is so jammed with information and I would reccommend you look back at all the old posts etc whenever you get the chance.
Seriously though, it’s good you have found it right at the start, there is enough advice and information from everybody to prevent you making too many mistakes and it can save you an absolute fortune 😀

Keith

[Mark Horley]

Hi Paul & welcome
I’m sure in time you will be able to offer sound advice to someone ‘just coming into the trade’ Its a fantastic & exciting learning curve with an end product that is there for all to see. Welcome again

[Gi Graphics]

😀
Wow ! Thanks guys (and girls) I’m overwhelmed by your warm and welcoming response. Some useful stuff there and some I don’t fully understand, like “drag knife” and “tangential” cutting plotters.
However, when I find more time I’ll be asking a lot more questions (hopefully without becoming a pain in the neck).
Thanks again
Paul
Gi Graphics