NatDragon

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Posts posted by NatDragon


  1. To take this one step further, I have done back and side windows no problem. Now I am looking at doing the top of a windshield. Being that the windshield is curved and a graduated angle on the sides, I am thinking of taking butcher paper to make a template. I'm pretty sure the dimensions are available, but I have not been able to locate them. Is there a particular site that offers car window templates?


  2. Thanks! I set them all up as 1.50" stacked. That puts the 2 long names at 15.50" length. Would you still keep the short names at 1.50"?

    Surprisingly, the M and L sleeves seem to be pretty close to the same length, I have read some put the names centered and some put them 2" down from the shoulder seem, opinion?


  3. :huh: Pouring through different forums and I can't seem to find a general consensus on the size of lettering for sleeves. I did read on one post they use 3". Does anyone out there think this is a good size? The customer wants the letters stacked and a couple of kid's names are too long to make them 3" and fit down the sleeve.

    What do I do in this case? Reduce the size of all the names so the long names fit or just make those two names' lettering less than 3"?

    Thanks


  4. I am ready to go out of my mind! I'm pouring over this subject, trying all the suggestions, and it's looking like I need a "Text from Illustrator to SignCut for Dummies" tutorial!!!! My cutter is flipping out and cutting all kinds of crazy things when I try to cut text! Shapes, no problem. I know I have the letters converted to paths - compound paths. Is that the problem? I've tried them with and without shapes and fills. Could anyone just point me in the right direction? There are a few different answers here and I don't get whether I need to do all of them or if they are just different methods to achieve the same thing.


  5. I have 2 Hix presses. One is over 20 years old! I have to use a laser heat sensor because the gauge is no longer accurate, but other than that it is a champion! I even e-mailed the Hix corp with a question about it recently and had an answer the next day! Now that's great customer service! There are lots of good machines on the market now, you might want to figure out what style will fit in your price range. Clamshells take up less space, but the swingaways allow more work room for layout.


  6. I am sure someone will be able to give you the technical side, but the hands on side is they are two completely different processes. Sublimation is applied to porous surfaces like specially coated substrates or polyester coated clothing. When you apply heat the pores open up to accept the gaseous ink and then as it cools the pores close and hold the ink in making the print very durable and long lasting. The chromablast is a chemical reaction between the ink and the coating on the transfer paper that causes it to bond to each other therefore it can be applied to cotton instead. It leaves kind of a residue that washes off after also achieves a very durable print. You need two printers for the separate processes. The printers are inexpensive, but the inks are very pricey for both. I use sublimation primarily for hard substrates and the chromablast (and vinyl etc.) for shirts. Hope this helps!


  7. I am only able to do letter size with dye sub. I have never had the need to do any bigger because of the process. I would love to help you, but it sounds like FutureSgtsWife may have a newer system. I have only had two dye sub printers and never had a problem with the inks; however, I have heard really good things about the new gels.


  8. I wish there were some kind of logo royalty clearing house. Some way to download the logo legally for small shops. Like at some of the art websites. I mean it is free advertising for the company they shouldn't get their panties in such a knot over it. They should have some way where you say pay them $1 for the use (more if for several uses). I have only started doing decals, but it doesn't seem like you make a ton of profit on them; however, being on a car in public with potentially thousands or more people seeing it, the name recognition surely makes the manufacturer money, how can that be bad for the company?:huh:

    How about making the plaintiff prove that the defendant had intent to harm by producing a couple of stickers?


  9. Not up for a new cutter yet, but the different blade brand is certainly worth a try! I am getting somewhat concerned that I will be getting an order of about 20 of these decals and will be spending 20+ hours weeding! Thanks for the additional tip!