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making decals
when making printed decals of a rectangular or oval shape how do you cut them so they are exactly the same shape as the backing paper? – So that when they are contour cut it cuts through the backing paper as well.
Is it just a matter of turning the blade depth up so that cuts all way through?
I would have thought it would make a mess if this was the case? -
6 Replies
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It’s easy if you have a flat bed plotter. I wouldn’t recommend die cutting on a regular plotter as it will damage the cutting strip. If the quantities are big enough you could get them press cut with a tool.
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I would be using a cadet. Has anyone had any experience doing this on a cadet?
Big G – Whats this ‘press cut with a tool’?
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Sorry, that was a bit vague. Basically a series of blades mounted on a wooden base which was then used in a press to cut out the decals. We used a company in Northampton called Fast Finish for this type of work, that is, for large quantities. Smaller amounts we used to cut ourselves on a flatbed plotter with a sacrificial blanket on the bed to protect it.
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You can do this , with difficulty. There is no point however.
You COULD put a low tack papaer adhesive behind the decal and backing paper and cut thru both. You would then strip the backing and get stand alone labels. Problem is , unless you “crack” the backing , you will have major problems with the consumer trying to detach the decal. Easier to print and then cut up to manageable strips and weed. Paper will blunt your blade big time anyway , it’s highly abraisive. -
Hi Stuart5,
I agree with Rodney. There is no point to contour cutting the paper.
I have just done 2000 decals on my soljet sc540. I cut the shape within a rectangle. Once I weeded out the shape within the rectancle, I then used the box created by the weeding, to use a knife and ruler to cut the decals into rectangles.
They were all the same size, packed neatly, and the client was happy.
Hope this is of some help.
Cheers
Shane -
Yeah, I agree with them 2 blokes. Once upon a time I worked for a co. that supplied oem graphics to car manufacturers. These people had to stick 1000s of badges a day and preferred the badges with a border of silicon paper around them to make lifting easier. Die cutting (as you describe) can be useful though, if you want to leave a guide or lay edge around a graphic for positioning purposes, you die cut it after application tape has been applied. Not easy to do on a ‘regular’ plotter though.
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