John Simpson
Forum Replies Created
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I bet you got fed up with seeing that sign.
How can they get the measurements wrong………. twice!!!
L J
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Welcome to the club Steve.
L J -
nice one Iain, well done mate.
What happened to the light box front you were doing?
L J
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Sounds a good buy especially offering to install then payment, cannot go wrong.
L J
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46% oops
L J
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quote Craig Gibson:nice one!!!! 😮 you aint seen my wife!
What about your girlfriend then.
L J
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i hadn’t thought of that, nice one.
L J
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Is it to fit on inside of side windows or the one that sits on dashboard.
L J
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ah well, just a suggestion it works for me, so far, but i suppose an awkward customer like that one wouldn’t be happy if you spent all day designing for him.
L J
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I have been down this road with customers before so i usually make an appointment for them to come to me & we design it together on the computer, along with my guidance we usually have it designed & ok’ed in approx 30 mins.
The customer generally thinks he has had a personal service but really it is designed to save me time & effort.I think. right signs it might pay you to give this a try & see if it helps you save time.
L J
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quote Peter Normington:I trust you will send impact the Royalties LJ.
PeterI am sure Marcella will be buying her own version from Brian now that she can see the quality of “Impacts outlines”
Far Superior to the other make that i used to buy.L J
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Try this one, it is the only one on impacts Cd.
L J -
Try this one Rachel.
L J
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I see Peter, you are stood in a hole! yes.
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quote johnchilds:Jill,
Never mind that Aussie. Marry me instead.
With your artistry and my business sense we would make a good partnership and should go far.
😀
Don’t forget the “Harley” John, that should persuade Jill.
L J
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Ian, I should make that 7′
L J
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Lynn, look under post “Rainbow”
L J
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soon got the hang 6
L J -
absolutely brilliant.
L J
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:lol1: :lol1:
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This is the 1st job i have been given from my local Merc dealers body shop, had to travel 55 miles round trip to retrieve the 2 door panels that have been replaced (accident damage), bring them back here & copy the design & return tomorrow to fit.
So as you can see it was rather urgent, so thanks for your help.
L J
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That’s the one Bryan, i have just downloaded it thanks.
Thanks for your help Jill, you can’t be right every time :lol1:L J
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Thanks Bryan, i will have a look.
L Jno, not quite right
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pity i didn’t know you last year, we spent a long weekend in N Y over Xmas. we could have called in for a coffee & dounut
L J
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quote dsi:Your niece is only 12 😮 (oogle)
you beat me to it Shane.
L J
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Think i would need new knickers if i was sat on the back of that bike!
L J -
nice to see you back my friend, nice beach, as you say no tourists.
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quote johnchilds:LJ, I need a smaller number plate. 😀
Think maybe a smaller right boot as well. :lol1:
How’s new bike, or is that what you were caught on?L J
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Andrew don’t trust vehicle outlines for printing. One i have done this week turned out to be 2″ shorter wheelbase than the actual van.
Good job i measured van 1st. could have been nasty.L J
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I think it is the one in Flexi
L J -
there are quite a few words which the dictionary picks up such as colour, i just ignore them as i know mine is right as the dics replacements don’t look right. as i come across them i will add to this thread.
L Jnice one Ian
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yes but it’s American Rob
L J
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Must admit only been once since they joined EEC saw big difference in that all new cars on the road instead of 1950s & 60s heaps & they were repairing the roads.
Wouldn’t think their driving skills have changed much though. Most of the fatal’s were tourists on motorbikes in those days.
good luck.
L J
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signworks, so long as you do the usual touristy things like the Acropolis etc you should have a great holiday. Travel around the city on local buses very cheap & it’s a city where men still give up their seats on buses for ladies AND little girls. takes you back in time mate, anyway have fun when you go & lets see a few pics when you come back.
L J -
forgot to mention that part, frog juice attaches itself to the print but even low tack application tape sometimes pulls off both the frog juice & print even after soaking the app tape with soapy water for an hour. Hence the laminator, sick of reprinting, wasting material, ink & labour.
L J -
That’s the one Rob. All the signposts are in Greek leading up to that area so didn’t know what was there, if you know what i mean.
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signworks, correct me if i am wrong but Corinth isn’t that the famous shipping canal that cuts through the whole width of Greece. I seem to remember going by road for hours & suddenly going over a bridge & looked down at the most awesome sight ever, so unexpected to see big tanker ships passing underneath about 1/4 mile down, you have got to visit it while you are their.
sorry to go off subject hope you enjoy the meet.
L J
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I would suggest the 54″ would be better for you as i think the 62″ is probably too big for my usual work but the 36″ is too small. So i think either the 48″ – 54″ as all suppliers sell material up to 54″ wide but not many sell 62″.
Sorry cannot recommend make of printer but i know a few on here have gone for the “cadet” or it’s big brother.
L J
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quote Robert Lambie:the citrus smelling ones are not as good as the solvent. they come in midway to eco-solvent and solvent.
i agree solvent is best for the sign maker of today.
just one ink is more powerful than the other.
Rob, and does a better job.
Bryan, That clear coat is actually made in the USA usually called Frog Juice, used to be good on the original Eco solvent inks but now we have Eco solvent Plus inks it is not so good, hence the laminator.
L J
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quote johnchilds:Let’s get the ferry booked then LJ.
I seem to recall reversing my car into a ditch at the last one! 😀
I think i had better drive then John, I would like to get back in one piece 😛
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Hi Brian, This is only my opinion but i wouldn’t bother with Eco solvent inks unless you don’t mind spending more money on a laminating machine.
The way to go is full solvent, believe me i have learned the hard way with my Mutoh Rockhopper 62″. I have just spent another few thousand on a lam machine, not through choice i might add but necessity.
L J
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That’s funny John, he owes me 2 beers as well !
Congratulations sign boy.
L J
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Congratulations Rob
(I don’t either Ian)L J
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must be nice (long weekend off)
L J -
I will let you taste it 1st 😉
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Rob, you will be giving us Northerners a bad name !!
L J
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just been looking for you but couldn’t find 1007??
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Hi Andy,
If you are looking for a bit of Northern help i will do all i can.
Not quite sure what you want but if it is any help i have several Cd’s of high res foods. Would gladly email 1 or 2 for you. Trouble is they are all about 25 megs each.L J
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quote Carrie:no tan though just sweating buckets!! ….. theres a nice thought/image to give you of me huh!! 😕 :lol1:
😀
Carrie, Ladies don’t sweat, they perspire!
L J
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I was only taking the **ss with Andy, i use both methods depending on how heavy the light boxes are.
L J -
suggest you look for the “easy taper” manual cold lam machine, by all accounts very good. One of our members on here has just got the agency to sell them Scotland i think.
Do a search on here for the topic “easy taper”
Are you using the “plus” inks or the original?If using the original inks you could use the “Frog juice” to clear lam the prints but not so good on the plus inks.
Lam by hand is possible dry but doesn’t seal if applied wet, a lot easier by machine plus it has many other uses as well.
L J
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Welcome Bob, join the club.
L J -
Yes Andy they are the ones us Northerners have been using for years.
Time you soft southerners caught up & stopped using pop rivets. :lol1:
L J -
I assume that u r using Eco sol plus inks as i am with my Rockhopper 62″.
Have been learning my machine for last 2 years. Finally admitted defeat & just bought a laminator, (more expense).
Just found out recently that the main fault with mine is that it needs a 3rd heater, approx £1,000 (even more expense).
L J -
Peter, I found the big tyre in my clip art book, had to spend quite a while cleaning it up so i could use it.
Drag-on I used light grey to emphasize the tread at the top.
L J
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Yes Shane, all cut vinyl just at the time my 1220 plotter packed in working so had to cut that giant tyre with my 650 plotter in two pieces.
Forgot to mention, customer that well pleased he is calling in on Monday insisting i put our logo on his van as he is getting fed up with people asking “who did it”
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Thanks for your comment Kev, customer didn’t want to detract from his business name so had to find some where else.
I wanted to take off the black shadow as well to actually read that text from a distance.
L J -
sorry, wouldn’t let me add 3 pics together. Try again
L J
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quote big G:The Abbey free banking is very limited. What I mean is, you can’t use the counter in the branch, you have to post payments into the machine in an envelope. I have an account with them but haven’t used it yet because for 3 months the machine hasn’t been accepting deposits! Useless.
What Bi G says is very true, but i can add to that. My wife runs her business with 9 employee’s, my business with 2 full time & a 3rd as part time. My wife went to Abbey, opened two business A/Cs sat back & waited. Sure enough my A/C details, cheque books & cards turned up in the post but nothing for her business. She phoned our local branch who assured her it was on the way.
After several weeks & several phone calls & trips in too see them we ended up with 3 lots of cheque books & cards for my business & still nothing for her business, so as you would expect she gathered all that had come in the post & dropped them on the managers desk & told him to close the A/C.
L J
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certainly seems a good buy but i personally would still be very wary.
L J -
not heard of it but it sounds like one of the Chinese plotters that seem to be popping up on eBay.
Main thing you have to remember is spare parts for servicing or breakdowns. I would be very wary.
L J -
what is the name of them?
L J -
Davey,
The top pic has the fuel cap on!!!
Anyway if you cannot avoid the cap then don’t be frightened to go over it.
So long as it’s cleaned around the lip or edges. At least it is a flat panel.
L J -
I have been using Graphityp for approx 2 1/2 years now & must admit to good service from Joe, one of the managers.
I usually buy the cast vinyl that i print onto from them as it is a lot cheaper than other suppliers. On one occasion the 1550 mm roll turned up in a terrible condition (lack of packing) as i opened the end of the box it came in i noticed there was no plastic roll end that stops it from rolling about in the box, no plastic bag covering the roll & the box it self badly damaged at both ends. The edge of the roll of cast vinyl was badly damaged as well.I did not even take it out of the box, I phoned Joe at Graphityp (insisted on speaking to him) He assured me he would replace same day.
Approx 3 hours later Joe himself turned up in Graphityp van with new roll & uplifted the original damaged roll ( after a coffee) He apologised profusely & i have never had any more probs with them since.
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My wife wants to know where you live so we can claim the beers!! :lol1:
I am pleased to have been of help to you, it’s usually others on here helping me 😳
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Must admit Eddie i have had my Rockhopper for 2 years & i am finding it a big learning curve. As i was one of the 1st to buy this machine (big mistake) i have only just found out that my machines main fault is that it needs a 3rd heater to open up the pores of the vinyl, to stop it “pooling”.
The point is no one has told me over the 2 years that there are faults with this machine! As i am no expert in printing i rely on experts to advise me.
Through experience i now know not to buy the next printer from the same supplier.
On the subject of ICC Profiles, i quite agree with Eddie that they make a hell of a difference, if only you know what to do with them & also if you can find the right ones. There isn’t many for the Rockhopper (as no one seems bothered about them)
So in my opinion any one who thinks of buying one of these is asking for months of pulling your hair out trying to sought out problems with matching materials to the printer that actually have profiles for them.
Anyway sorry to rattle on about this but i will stop now or i could go on all night on this subject.
By the way a big thanks to “Art Systems” engineer who was mending my plotter that told me about the problems with early Rockhoppers such as lack of profiles & the need for a 3rd heater approx cost a further £1,000, otherwise i wouldn’t have known.
L J
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Mike, we went NFU this year thanks to everyone on here. saved us £2,000 on our pub liab & vehicle ins. Brilliant.
L J -
It is just a thought, maybe the gap between the 2 rollers is too tight & they are squeezing the vinyl & app tape together too tight, causing the wavy of backing paper.
Do you have this problem with other tapes?
L J -
Just an idea, have you got your rollers too tight a gap?
I have just bought a lam machine so i am learning.
L J -
Lynn, or bought too many!
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IL, you will have to excuse the soft southerner, to dam nosy.
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What happened about these Rob?
I think you were going to look into a group order?
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Welcome aboard Steve.
from a Northerner
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Welcome to your new home Matt.
L J
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that’s what i said 😮
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as Chris says it’s a design feature to get the peoples attention!
L J -
I always use cast vinyl for this job as it is so thin it lets the light through, but don’t forget to warn the customer that there will be a problem when he / she wants change the prices!
You end up printing a list of new prices to go over the first print.
Other probs occur if there is a spelling mistake, especially if some of the words are foreign to us. The customer usually gives you their printed menu to go by but i have come across lots of mistakes in there as well. So the best way out of this is make sure you have done your best then ask customer to sign the proof to take the owness off you for any mistakes. Even then they find mistakes after it is put up on the wall.Also try to charge as much as you can get away with as there are lots of problems with these types of jobs, eg: the time it takes to copy out onto the computer, get it passed by the customer which sometimes means redesigning it many times until they are happy.
I personally try to ovoid printing the whole menu for the light box by doing the prices as vinyl lettering, cheaper & quicker to replace later as they expect this done for free.
You will find they want the whole menu & more on their lightbox but expect a large area for the photo’s. then you have to explain how small the text will be if they have all these pics as well.L J
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Welcome Doyle, I’m sure you will enjoy it on here just like the rest of us.
Long John -
Swan Morton scalpel every time. The only time i cut myself was once a new blade was put in, in other words quite often.
But I’ve cured that problem over the last 2 years, i employ 2 ladies to do the weeding, simple.
Problem is they never cut themselves.
There must be a moral to this story somewhere!!
L J -
yer well i can’t take anymore I’m off to bed,
nite nite -
That’s what i like about little john Lynn, full of useless information at this time of night.
L J :lol1: -
Nigel, That tiger is 17 MB, all the websites I’ve looked at for similar are about 1 MB if you are lucky. Where would you suggest i look for similar high res, even if i have to pay for them!
Didn’t realise CJ had a tiger print for her birthday 😳
Aitor, why don’t you have a look at Graphityp on our home page, they might have bigger plotters!
L J -
what about leaving it for some other idiot & get on with other paying work.
L J -
Quite right Nige it is a 1220 cut but Aitor was asking for other models for him to look at with opos.
Agree with Peter 1220 seems to be widest vinyl nowadays.
L JPS Nige my printed Tiger is brilliant thanks for the file.
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opened & saved no probs, thanks carrie
L J -
shouldn’t be a problem then Rich, when i do these forecourt cars i use the overhead view & if it’s too big when i get their to put lettering on i just turn it on an angle (diagonal)
Customer usually thinks i have designed it that way. This is the good thing about showroom cars they want all lettering to be big bold & on an angle.
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Don’t forget to have a look at Mutoh SC1400
L J -
Rich,
if outline has overhead view looking down onto bonnet then it’s near enough but i always insist on measuring them anyway, just to make sure.
What are you going to do with it anyway?
Glad to hear you have had a good holiday, now knuckle down like the rest of us have been doing. 😀L J
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I’ve had a look on brandsoftheworld.com not on there so if no one else can help then you have 2 alternatives.
If you have a digital camera go find the right car & take close up photo & if you can not digitize it send it too vectorwise on home page, for small cost Andrew will do it for you.Or go find the car & ask owner if you can do a rubbing of it, scan it then digitize it or again send to vectorwise.
sorry cannot be of more help
L J
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Yep, that’s the one mate. Must be on my work comp, i will find it tomorrow for you.
L Jsorry craig has beaten me to it.
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If i may just add a comment to Rob & John’s post: it is all right using no nails for small foamboard signs, approx 2′ x 18″ so long as you rough up the back of the board with a stanley knife or screwdriver in a criss cross type of pattern.
This will then give no nails something to grab hold of.
I have a 18″ x 18″ sign on a rough wall outside a solicitors which has been up 3 years now, no problem.I have had to take one down & replace with a bigger sign where i had to chisel the board off & it took off a layer of the brick surface which was still attached to the sign, so i think it’s all down to keying the rear surface well enough.
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quote johnalphasign:You look a little cross in that box
makes your post look a bit sick now!!!!!!!!! 😮
L J -
try to go on a nice day as you spend quite a bit of time outside, but it’s a good day out with or without family, plenty for the kids to do & more than 1 cafe.
L J -
Yes been quiet as well for about 2/3 weeks, just ticking over. but wed through to next Tues absolutely flat out, all at once as they say.
Have actually wrapped our bonnet on what was our new van today as there was nothing else to do.
Rob you would be proud of me mate laid the Laminated print on iveco bonnet dry, no problem thanks to your demo’s.
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I will second that, conform every time. In my opinion it doesn’t matter which way it’s rolled when using conform.
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Not too far from you Little John, what is now the imperial war museum M11 Duxford.
L J
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don’t know what happened but sorry to tell you I’m still here.
It’s a Vulcan John.Been trying to post a new pic with no luck this evening, it’s funny but i managed the Concorde pic all by myself without Robs help, but having no luck with this new one. Have bought new digi camera better quality pics but cannot seem to lower the res enough for the boards! If you don’t mind Rob, HELP, I will email it too you.
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Quite agree, it’s nice to see you all back again even though i agree with Robs reasoning behind going invisible.
L J