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Post Router, vinyl colouring flatcut letters.
Client has now changed mind from white to a coloured lettering and that’s his pantone ref. from his brand identity.
Have you guys printed and then applied to flatcuts, these are very thin letters, not much flat surface to work with!
I would appreciate any suggestions 🙂
Cheers
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7 Replies
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Hi Mike.
Direct print the letters. Saves printing vinyl/applying/trimming.
john
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We’ve flood coated flat cut acrylic in the past with vinyl. Works OK, but really need clean all the dust from them before attempting it.
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I agree with John, direct print. Less time and will eliminate vinyl failure
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Am i missing the obvious?
sorry if i am guys, but when you say "direct print" are you meaning like using a flatbed printer to achieve the colour?Printing to vinyl may work if you can hit the required colour. But it is a tedious task to apply the vinyl and then trim around the letters. Even then, it really never looks just as good unless you get them applied spot on.
That said, we have done it lots and have applied the vinyl using our rolls roller and never had any questioned, i think its just the sign maker in me knows its not just right.If they already have the locaters attached, I would just rub them down with flattening paper and give them a spray paint.
Easy to get a close paint match and easy to do with a nice finish. thats IF you have some experience in painting of course.
if you do spray them, make sure build up the colour in thin coats and allow time to dry between each coat. last thing you want is fingerprint impressions in the letters pressing them into place. Oh yes, i have that t-shirt from many years ago too! 😉 -
I’ve done this (as Robert has already suggested) by printing the colour onto vinyl then applying to the letters and trimming out by hand. A tedious task and one not ideal for lettering that has a fine stroke.
I have also tried (with limited success) flood coating some PVC with a vinyl print of the specified colour – then routing out the letters only to find the vinyl is ragged.
Perhaps with a brand new sharp router blade, and cutting a soft plastic (foamboard as opposed to acrylic) this might be the better option?
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Phil, next time you do this, rout the letters in reverse so the flutes of the cutter are’pulling’ the vinyl
up onto the solid material you’re using, done this loads of times with very little problems.Fred
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Thanks Fred – I need to try this :thumbsup:
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