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what would be best option for image cut vinyl or printed?

Posted by Declan Holland on 11 January 2007 at 14:49

Hi Folks,

Perhaps some of you more experienced sign makers out there can offer me some help.

I’ve been asked to do an outdoor sign for a company that do Costume Hire and Fancy Dress. The sign is approx 5ft (W) X 3ft (H), and I intend to use Di-bond.

I’ve attached an image that they want on the sign, and the size of the image with be approx (1.5 ft X 1.5 ft).

My problem is that I only have a Vinyl Cutter (I don’t have a digital printer) so I have to attempt to do the image using vinyl. It doesn’t have to be an exact replica of the image but should be as close as possible I guess.
I could do the mirror using silver chrome vinyl. Would any one have vectorised images of the image in the mirror (prince/king with crown), and also the image of the man looking into the mirror.

Would I need to laminate or cover the completed vinyl image with transparent vinyl to prevent it from lifting due to weathering.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Declan.

Attachments:

Declan Holland replied 18 years, 10 months ago 9 Members · 11 Replies
11 Replies

Andy Gorman

Member
11 January 2007 at 15:43

Apart from the red fade on the bloke’s shoulders, that’s do-able in vinyl. However, the amount of time you would spend getting a decent trace from it, it may be worthwhile getting someone to print it for you. Especially as it’s a one off.

If I was going to redraw that, I would print it at A4, then trace it with some tracing paper, then scan and autotrace.
Martin Pearson

Member
11 January 2007 at 15:56

I would have to agree with Andy, the time taken to re-create their logo in a vector format might not be worth it and you may be better getting someone to print it for you. You could always ask the customer who designed the logo as if it was someone like a printer you may be able to get a copy from them that you could use.
I would also try and stick as closely to the existing colours as you can. If you are going to use something like chrome don’t forget that it doesn’t have a very long exterior life span. I think 2 years is about the best you will get from chrome unless things have changed fairly recently.
Richard Urquhart

Member
11 January 2007 at 20:10

i think for the time involved i would not bother to redraw this due to the fades and if the customer has already used this image then i think it will look better printed

i how ever you did redraw this and apply in vinyl you would not need to laminate although may be the chrome would last longer

the only time i would laminated an image when made from cut vinyl is when the colours are made from tiny bits and if its an area that needs to be cleaned i.e a van because when cleaning the vinyl can become dog eared

rich
Hugh Potter

Member
12 January 2007 at 09:38

as others have said, the red fade is the only bit that cant be done in vinyl, depending on the customers budget, i don’t think it would cost that much to do in vinyl,

1hr (or less) to make a decent redrawn version, 1/2hr to cut, 1/2hr to layer up, 2hrs + a small amount of material, perhaps £50 for time + a few bob for materials ?????
Lorraine Clinch

Member
12 January 2007 at 09:50

I would definitely look at having this printed, if you are not too hot (yet) at digitising, it will take an age. The cost for a print will be less than the cost of your time (and hassle), and the customer will view it as having more monetary value because it has been printed. They never seem to appreciate the time and trouble you may have gone to to get their image ‘just so’!

Alternatively, if you do decide to cut, send it to Andrew at Vectorwise, and get him to do the hard work for you!
Dave Harrison

Member
12 January 2007 at 09:55

Personally I’d get this printed. However it could be done with Vinyl and an Airbrush / touch-up gun quite easily.

First vector the image cut a mask on the plotter. . spray red area and fades . . then apply black and white vinyl.

😀
Andrew Bennett

Member
12 January 2007 at 15:59

quote Andy Gorman:

If I was going to redraw that, I would print it at A4, then trace it with some tracing paper, then scan and autotrace.

Andy’s a top bloke and certainly knows more than me but for scanning I would trace it onto overhead projector film like they do to make powerpoint and projector slides.
Andy Gorman

Member
12 January 2007 at 16:04

That’s a good idea. Sometimes I put stuff into those clear plastic wallets and trace onto that.
Chris Wool

Member
13 January 2007 at 16:05

quote :

I would trace it onto overhead projector film

thank you that will work nicely on some images top tip. better than on to thin paper.

chris
Lorraine Clinch

Member
14 January 2007 at 01:38

quote Andy Gorman:

That’s a good idea. Sometimes I put stuff into those clear plastic wallets and trace onto that.

And that’s another excellent tip!
Declan Holland

Member
18 January 2007 at 20:03

quote Andrew Bennett:

quote Andy Gorman:

If I was going to redraw that, I would print it at A4, then trace it with some tracing paper, then scan and autotrace.

Andy’s a top bloke and certainly knows more than me but for scanning I would trace it onto overhead projector film like they do to make powerpoint and projector slides.

Thanks folks for the your helpful replies.
I’ve asked the customer to get the original image in vector format from the printer that printed his flyer’s (where I scanned the image from in the first place). However, I’d say the printer just used a jpeg when printing the flyer’s.
Anyway, failing that, I’m gonna attempt tracing the image using the method suggested by Andrew above.

Thanks again, Declan