CyberChuck

I just came across this page on 3M's site: http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Graphics/Scotchprint/Solutions/SampleRequest?WT.mc_id=www.3mgraphics.com/samples Just fill out the request form for 5 - 57"x5yd sample rolls. Charlie

If you go to oracle's website and join up (there's a login link at the top of the homepage), you can get to a member's area where you can get dozens of 8"x10" vinyl samples. You can also get a free instructional DVD on wrapping vehicles. Once you're logged in, go to https://www.oracal.com/members/catalog-categories.asp?ccID=11&catName=Samples and browse around. Charlie

I don't know what size they send out as samples, but Avery has a page where you can request a sample: http://www.na.averygraphics.com/AvGrNa_Contactus.asp Charlie

I have been trying to vectorize our company logo. My boss is okay with me making myself some work shirts, but I can't get Sign Blazer to recognize the eps file and I can't get the png to vector correctly (the arched letters always get screwy). Here is the eps and the png. Can anyone give me any pointers? Thanks, Charlie RockIt 4.eps

That worked beautifully. I can't thank you enough.

skulls flaming skulls.eps flaming skulls.eps

Skull

Well, after a year or so hiatus, I have decided to get back into cutting vinyl. I have learned that the learning curve is similar for newbies and folks like me who have forgotten. I'm sure I'll have to come here and pick the minds of BannerJohn and others as I try to remember exactly how I was doing all of this in the past. Charlie

Just made my first newbie mistake. Laying out a design for heat transfer tshirts and tried to use inkscape to vectorize text. Naturally, it looked like %$#@^&*. After repeated attempts, I remembered that I don't have to vectorize text - Sign Blazer lets me put the text in. Doh!! Charlie

When you need to aim. crosshairs.eps crosshairs.eps

With thorns heart thorns.eps heart thorns.eps

http://mactac.com/index.php?id=61&no_cache=1 You have to ask for the specific product you'd like a sample of, but there is a link to their pdf catalog on the left that opens in a new window so you can look at it while filling out the form. Charlie

Glad it worked out. Charlie

Your form has info missing in the action part. But, just a side note, a mailto form won't work on my Windows 7 maching with Windows Live Mail. I'd look into an actual form script (something like http://www.freecontactform.com/free.php) or a hosted contact form (you can google that phrase and come up with dozens.). Charlie

You can try to place a scrap piece of cotton cloth over it and press it again, using less pressure and time. It should warm the adhesive enough for it to stick to the scrap. This is all in theory, as I haven't done so myself. Charlie

My only issue with fighting a traffic ticket (which I do not waste my time with) is that I earn over $400 a day at my regular job. For me to miss work and, in effect pay out $400 in lost wages, just to prove a point is foolish in my opinion. I get a ticket probably once a year (I drive over 1500 miles a week), and the most expensive ticket I have ever paid was one for $395 for doing 98 in a 70. They caught me, I paid the fine. I basically broke even on that one. The others typically run around the $150 mark, and it wouldn't make sense for me to "pay" $400 to save $150. Charlie

According to the US Copyright office, the burden of proof belongs to the person filing the suit. You'd have to prove you had it first. Charlie

I suppose this discourse would be better suited to an academic site pertaining to legal issues. Charlie

I understand that the blatant taking of an artist's work is illegal and that the law (generally) supports the artist. But, I am enough of a realist to determine that if someone wants to take it - they will. There are laws that prohibit burglary, robbery and murder as well - but criminals undertake those activities daily worldwide. Unlike criminal law enforcement, the average person does not have the means to protect their copyrighted material exclusively. Additionally, the US Copyright office has never fully addressed the doctrine of fair use. So it is a very shaky area to litigate. For example, I can legally copy your fish logo and place it on a website that either praises the design or makes derogatory statements about it. The current US Copyright laws would permit me to have your art on my site indefinately. The traffic generated to my site by having your artwork on it would be considered incidental and not subject to any compensation to you. The above is one example of fair use that is permitted that would generally irritate an artist. I understand that I cannot sell your artwork, but I could charge a "subscription fee" to my site that critiques your work. In this instance, you would not be entitled to compensation for the use of your work. (http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.pdf - page 19, Section 107). In summation, while copyright laws do protect an artist's work, there is no reasonable way to determine when one's copyright has been infringed upon other than through sheer luck of the draw. There is no way to know which visitors to your site have used your artwork illegally and who has not. If you elect to publish your artwork on the internet, every person who visits your site downloads the image. Once it has been downloaded, there is no way to control what is done with it until after the fact. Charlie

EBay would probably send a notice to the offender. And might even kill their account. But, the damage would be done and the person could create another account as quickly as EBay could kill the first one. I have been scammed by an EBayer who changed names three times in the time it took me to get a resolution. He actually listed the same item, with the same photos (with the same furniture in the background) and the same description - verbatim. In a nutshell, you really can't stop a dedicated thief. Charlie

I didn't say they couldn't be persued for the theft. I simply said that there is no way to know if it has been misused unless you get lucky. The very nature of the internet makes it entirely too easy for people to take what they want with relative anonymity. I can route my connection through several countries and get what I want. There is no way my IP would be traceable. Some countries simply won't share the information. If I was going to steal something of value over the internet, I would take the time to reduce my odds of being caught. If someone steals a graphic from a website, there is no guarantee that they are even in a location with the same laws that protect us here in the US. If someone in Europe decides to steal your image and sell it on EBay, there isn't much that can realistically be done. Charlie

Nuk, you are right. But the truth is that if you don't want to risk having it stolen, don't put it online. I can walk to the restroom in my favorite bar and leave my wallet with all of my cash on the table. But if someone takes it, I have to live with it. Charlie

I recently found out how ruthless they can be. I filed all of the necessary paperwork; obtained all of the required licenses; etc. Three moths later, I received a bill from the Louisiana Dept of Revenue for over $700. It seems that I was not aware that one is required to file a monthly sales tax report here. When I did not file them (as I had no initial income), the state somehow figured an "average" of what I probably earned and billed me accordingly. I had to go to the Revenue office and file ammended monthly reports for the missing ones. Luckily, the rep I spoke with was understanding and was able to rescind the bills. Charlie

I am in South Louisiana. When I decided to start doing this as a source of income (rather than a paying hobby), the first thing I did was to separate my business from my personal assets. I filed the necessary paperwork to form an LLC. I also obtained an EIN from the Infernal Revenue Service. I obtained all of the required sales tax permits (city, parish - we don't have counties, and state). I also opened a business checking account (since my company's name is nothing remotely close to my own - makes depositing checks easier). Charlie

Crash, Where are you located? You said you are 10 minutes from Denver Sign Supply. I live just outside of Baton Rouge. Charlie