bearwen

Ok I have a 48" Pcut and I am using Flexi 8 and running from serial port all as been great with this cutter until today. Everything I send to the cutter it cuts a straight line about a quarter inch long then it jumps over about a quarter inch and cuts the graphic. It cuts great offset is great evreything is great except this little line being cut and it has never done this and I have owned this cutter for sometime now. Any ideas?

Ok, I have a uscutter Pcut 24 and loved it worked great ended up closing my side business a yr ago. I loaned the Pcut to a buddy who lost his job a few weeks ago. Well heres the problem I was telling another friend of mine about it and he wants to go into business with me. I am not new to this as I have wholesalers for print jobs and I have done several store fronts and 5 vehicle wraps. I feel confident in my graphic business capabilities (only reason I closed up was more time for the kids but now I will have a partner). Well my partner is saying lets get a 48" or bigger and I have to say that there were a few jobs in the past the 48"+ would have been great (plus lost a few jobs cause they didnt want it pieced) we are looking at starting out slow part time let it grow we have a person to hire in the future who is in the business and is a graphic artist and nows print work also. We are looking to grow into printing hopefully within a year we will purchase the mutoh 64" printer a graphtec 64" cutter and seal 62" laminator package deal from Fell*%$ for $36,000 (buddies got the money but wants to get feet wet and proove to the wife its not a waste of money). Sorry for the off tracking the question is what UScutter to buy the MH the Pcut the Copam? We want to keep the cost as low as possible so we can get in the black with the first 2 or 3 jobs at most and will buy a better cutter within a year (if not in the printer package stated above). As I stated earlier I have owned a Pcut 24" from Usccutter and loved it not a single problem. Also I have Flexi sign pro 7.6 and loved it (still have it gave Signblazer to buddy who's barrowing my Pcut) I am curiouse what does Flexi starter have as I am looking at running 2 cutters when buddy buys his own cutter and gives my Pcut back in the next 2 or 3 months so I thought about buying flexi starter when I buy new cutter but what limitations does it have can you bring bitmaps in and adjust the brightness and contrast and have them vectorized in flexi starter as I did this regularlly in flexi sign pro for logos. Dont want to buy new version of Flexi sign Pro as it comes with the printer package. Thanks for the help Really need to know what you guys think of the different models for my situation ASAP.

You might want to find a company that will just digitally print that on some vinyl for you 7 layers man good luck time invested might be better off to have it printed.

louroberto, I did not look at the file that was posted for you but if you are using CS3 try doing the auto trace but then go in with the individual selection tool that is the white arrow and you can select individual nodes and adjust them or you could blow the pic up and use the pen tool and trace it manually that usually is the quickest if its not overlly complicated.

What exactlly are you having problems with and you said print are you printing this out on vinyl? Post the exact problems in detail and well see what we can do for you. I rereda your post so you dont want the fade of the shadow you just want it solid black? About the color matching concern what is the exact issue and again print? reply back with lots more detail please.

I use Illy cs3 there is so much you can do with illustrator and it along with corel are industry standards so if you can afford illy do it it will have a learning curve but search the net and youtube for tutorials and get some books you wont be disappointed besides if you ever go into other media such as print work then illy or corel and a paint prog such as photshop will be a great arsenal and you should be able to do just about anything anyone ever asks you to do if you learn to use the programs i started out with sign blazer just a few months ago and I had illy and photshop cs3 and I tell you I really only use sign blazer as a cut program but I have just gotten into doing vehicle wraps and will be buying a printer very soon and Illy and photoshop are just great.

The way I charge for this kind of job is I figure up all the materials cost then double it then I charge $60 hr to design manufacture(weed transfer tape etc) and then install I usually will quote a little high on the install time just to be safe my prices are not the cheapest in town but I am in the middle to lowr half. If they complain about the price with install AND I NEED THE JOB I tell them the final can be less depending on the install and any prep they do (such as wash car wash windows etc...) if everything goes well but if there are unfore seen issues your quote should cover your time.

I currentlly charge $45 hr to install but this is a side business I have a regular full time job if this was my bread abd butter I would have more over head and would charge in the $65 hr plus range. I know that I have talked to other local shops and they charge anywhere from $75 -$95 hr.

Ok what is the best vinyl to use on banners outside use? Cast 9yr, 8yr,7yr? or 6yr calendered cheapy 4 yr calendered I know that where and how long outdoors (Florida so lots of sun, wind and rain) plays a part in the selection just wondering what most are using for a standard unless asked for a banner that will last 10yrs. Remember for OUTDOOR use. Thanks.

Ok this seems to be a hot topic and well I have just recentlly started learning to airbrush so I have a question I understand the different paints and auto air for airbrushes is great for the price but the big question I have is well do you guys clear coat it or should you apply a clear vinyl over it the reason I ask is well lets say I cut out some flames then I use paint to really set them off with lots of highlites etc.. then I take the graphic and apply it to a car with all the curves and what not I am wondering if the paint will not flex and will start cracking especially if you spray a few coats of clear on it. So if anyone does this pretty regularlly I would love to know what is best to do if the vinyl is going to be large and painted prior to being installed and then installing around curves. Thanks

I have never seen or used a price guide but I have heard from others that they are a bit steep. Your best bet is to do what I posted earlier and call around to some of the other local sign shops play stupid and act like a business and try to get a basic price out of them ( this can be tough as many want to see art work and want to see you in person) but try to get a basic ball park out of them then look at what your numbers are from my formula and then adjust it up or down but always charge extra for materials helps covering the weeded waste. Good Luck!

I am not sure what to chrage but think about this add up all your materials cost then double it then calculate how long it took you to make it then multiply the number of hours by what you think your worth ( Be realistic) an hour and then add that to your materials cost that you doubled and see what you get adjust as needed. Lots of factors play into the sale price so it will be hard for people to tell you what to charge you have to figure your time, your materials, your over head, and wethere or not you have competition etc... Good luck!

Ok if I am doing a graphic that requires 2 pieces ie its 32" wide and I have 24" cutter what is the standard overlap or is there one? I am curiouse and would like to do it the right way. I noticed in the cutter set up section of SB it asks this but I wasnt sure what is best 1/2" 1/4" 1/8" etc. So please let me know what the best practice overlap is thanks all. Berry

Does anyone have have a formula for making your own wet application fluid? I have read a couple of different peoples stuff here on the forum and I remember them saying something about it was messing up the stickky of the vinyl. So if you have a good formula please post it or pm me as I would like to try your formula. Also if I am doing a graphic that requires multiple pieces that requires an overlap what is the best size overlap to use and can I lay one side down then use the wet application to slide the other half in the right place?? Thanks for all the help you guys have been so great and really got me off the ground. Berry

Is there any way to and borders to the borders list and any other auto lists in SBE like you do with the fonts? I would like to design some of my own and add them to the pop up list. Thanks All Pcut will be delivered in 3 days cant wait. Bearwen