Multi color align help needed !!!

[Robert Lambie]

hi erik and welcome to the site mate. do you mean you want to lay all the colours up together before applying to the sign or vehicle?

[erik]

Yes, that’s right.
Yesterday I tried to align 2 color sign… I don’t want to tell what hapend 👿
I spend 2 hours to complete it and I used almost all vinyl 😆

Sorry for my bad english 😕

[Chris Wool]

some times i place a box around the logo or word – select & cut each colour inc the box then lay up using the box as the regisration some times a bit waistfull but accurate & easy a bit of imagination and save your self a bit of vinyl

chris

[Robert Lambie]

yep thats a pretty good one chris.. i use a line along the bottom or top.

erik/chunkie
to be honest guys, you are better NOT building your graphics at all.
it will only cause you bother with a halo of bubbles forming around each layer of vinyl.

lay it up on site, using registration marks, registration lines/boxes and yes.. clear app tape helps with multilayer work. even though i hate the stuff 😆 😆 wont tear!

[Jill Marie Welsh]

I try to avoid “pre-assembled” graphics…BUT
when I have to do it, I apply just the very lightest misting of Rapid Tac,
stick it to the other color (Using dots as registration marks, make a dot or circle at each corner of the word/graphic, then select the same dots for evety layer & line em up) squeegee it down, carefully peel back the transfer tape until it’s assembled, blot with a paper towel, then I leave the decal sit for awhile to dry. Then I re-apply transfer tape & it’s ready to stick.
Pre-assembling can cause a lot of airbubbles when you go to apply the finished decal. Ask me how I know!
Love…Jill

[Lee Harris]

Hi Jill

How do you know………

Regards
Lee

[Jill Marie Welsh]

Cuz once I was trying to save time, using SignGold.
Had a firetruck to do the next day.
Pre-assembled everything right on my kitchen table.
Next day I stuck ’em. Looked like a pimply teenager’s face!
Love…Jill 😮

[erik]

Thank you!
I’ll try to use lines as reg. marks. But I need a bit of practice.

Today I was trying to do some wet apllication. I use water and drop or two of liquid soap. No success. I wait one hour and it didn’t dry 😥 .
I use Hexis transparent app. tape (mediu glue) and Hexis vinyl also.

What do you think went wrong – is one hour enogh time to dry out ?

[Robert Lambie]

what were you applying it too mate?

[Jill Marie Welsh]

😥
If you are using transparent tape, it is best to apply dry…
j.

[erik]

I try to apply it on glass…

It seems to me that app. tape does not let the water out…

[Andy Gorman]

It can take a very long time for a wet application to dry on glass due to glass being constantly cold. If you must apply wet you could try drying it with a hair dryer before taking the tape off.

[J. Hulme]

quote Robert Lambie:

lay it up on site, using registration marks, registration lines/boxes and yes.. clear app tape helps with multilayer work. even though i hate the stuff 😆 😆 wont tear!

Can’t get signlab to cut accurate registration marks they’re always miles out, so I gave up with them.

Another thing, why in signlab when you duplicate anything (not copy and paste) does the plotter insist in doing one letter (per word) at time,
i.e TEST TEST TEST along the width of the plotter, duplicated word TEST twice, plotter cuts T then T of the next word then T of the final word, E of the first, E of the second etc, etc. Never does it with copy and paste. Drives me mad and take ages (even on my mega quick plotter)!

[Gordon Forbes]

MMMmmm doesn’t do that with me.

Is everything generated in Signlab ??

I get weird outlines importing from Illustrator Duplicating them gets a weird action Signlab comes up with a window about something (can’t remember exactly) but the plot always comes out right, but then I think that is my lack of knowledge. I don’t think Signlab handles transparency from Illustrator well or as I said it may be the docknail ie ME.
One thing I do know is never to instal signlab over its self tried that once and it didn’t like it duplicates some folders etc etc.

Just thinking that it may be something to do with your set up.

[Paul Munford]

Quote:
why in signlab when you duplicate anything (not copy and paste) does the plotter insist in doing one letter (per word) at time

Solution: From the cut menu dropdown select “plot” then fron the options box select “sort” a box will pop up select “nearest sort” then the plotter will cut everything nearest to your pre-defined start point. This can reduce cutting time enormously.

[Robert Lambie]

quote Paul Munford:

Quote:
why in signlab when you duplicate anything (not copy and paste) does the plotter insist in doing one letter (per word) at time

Solution: From the cut menu dropdown select “plot” then fron the options box select “sort” a box will pop up select “nearest sort” then the plotter will cut everything nearest to your pre-defined start point. This can reduce cutting time enormously.

thanks for the tip mate.. 😉

[Robert Lambie]

sorry erik
i was actualy replying to your post when i read pauls tip. 😀 😉

anyway.. i know your new to all this mate, and i know wet is an easy route. but try try try dry.. takes longer to learn granted. but worth it in the long run. i dont mean using live jobs, just use scraps/offcuts on painted metal. (thats the best surface to practice on) or, use Dewis tip. go to the local scarp yard and buy an old car door to practice on. only cost a few pound. 😉

until you do get the knack of dry app. you will have go the wet route..

laying up vinyls, ‘in my view’ should never be done. there should be no reason for having to do it. other than its more conveniant for when you arrive on site and in one go the graphic is on. but causes so much bother with bubbles and the like. ide steer away from it if you can.

appyling vinyl to glass wet is always a hassle when it comes to drying for the removal of app-tape. make sure your using a stiff nylon squeegee that will help expel the air better.
if wet applied dont use a felt squeegee.
i know soapy liquid included helps the vinyl resist tacking better but i would steer from adding any soaps..

my advice, if you have to apply wet, is use rapid tac 2. ive gave it some quick tests and prooved much better than water, or water and soap.

[J. Hulme]

quote Forbie:

MMMmmm doesn’t do that with me.

Is everything generated in Signlab ??

Just thinking that it may be something to do with your set up.

Don’t know? I sometimes bring stuff across from Flexisign, but this just seemed to start of a sudden, I don’t know why?

[J. Hulme]

quote Paul Munford:

Quote:
Solution: From the cut menu dropdown select “plot” then fron the options box select “sort” a box will pop up select “nearest sort” then the plotter will cut everything nearest to your pre-defined start point. This can reduce cutting time enormously.

Will give it a go, many thanks !!!

[erik]

quote :

go to the local scarp yard and buy an old car door to practice on

Thanks, I’ll do that. I will practice on the scarp yard. 😎