thesnowgod

Thanks for the replies and assistance everyone! I'm downloading Inkscape now and will try it out again. I was hoping it was something easy like dragging one end to resize it or something like that. I'll use Wildgoose's video for reference. I tried Inkscape once before a few months ago but found it was a lot harder to get used to than SCAL. Looks like I need to step it up and get learning if I want my work to reflect it.

I've been searching around and I'm lost. I'm using SCALP 3 and my cutter is a SC USCutter (love it!). Currently I'm trying to make a 3 digit number that is small on one end and larger on the other to fit a triangulated space. For example, I have the number 707 that I would like to start at the very edge of the first 7 to be four inches tall and by the time I'm finished at the very rightmost part of the last 7, I would like it to be approximately seven inches tall. For some reason I can't seem to do this. I want it to look linear, not one entire number a certain height, then the next a little bigger, so it doesn't looked stepped but like a smooth increasing ramp. Hope this makes sense. Thanks everyone!

Never mind. I got it. Sorry folks. I guess I was making it harder than it really was.

Hello everyone. Thanks to the advice here, I bought and have been using a US Cutter SC series cutter. So far, I love it!!! You guys are great. My question: I have the #48 ready to be cut into my vinyl. Within the #4 of the 48 I was hoping across the horizontal part of the 4 to have the person's name cut. It's a black # going on over a white racing plate. How do I do this? I've searched here and youtube, but I can't seem to find the answer based on how I'm wording it I guess.

Thanks for the info DS! I definitely have a ton to learn. Lets hope I catch on fast!

What is the machine and how much?

Thanks for the replies! I'll research the types of vinyl mentioned. I'm assuming the # has to do with the amount of adhesive? I plan to use My Windows 7 based PC. I am hoping to learn a lot, I simply don't want to go into this wrong and have instant buyers remorse. I know literally NOTHING about cutters or the programs that run them. Currently when I need something I go online and buy a decal someone else made or I find someone locally with some inclination to design and cut what I need with some sort of workable timeframe. As it sits I was looking at a 24" wide or less cutter but don't want to buy junk. I know the big names are good (Roland especially) but I'm trying to just get started and then maybe move up. Reviews on US Cutter products tend to range from raves to hate, nothing in between. I wish there was a way to read more on the whole process. I don't know what kind of cutter to get or programs to run it. Most of my vinyl needs will be logo based (Honda, Yamaha, Mobil 1 oil, things of that nature), the other things I see online in vector files seem to be "clip art"-like and not of much use to me. Is there a decent sub-$500 range unit to start out on or just save up and jump in with something more expensive? I really appreciate the tip on the Oracle vinyls I'm going to research those now.

Hello all, I've been reading through the forums and I thought I'd post. I do paintwork on cars, motorcycles, guitars, etc.... I'm looking for a cutter for occasional use but also looking for recommendations on vinyl to use with it. The decals, letters and images I'd cut out will be used to spray around or to use as a spray mask. I spray a color down, lay on the vinyl letter/design/logo/whatever, then I spray a different color, lift off the vinyl and then clearcoat over it. Occasionally I leave the lettering in place and clear over top of it so a thin vinyl is preferred. I rarely would need anything wider or longer than 24" at MOST and the vinyl doesn't need to be high quality as they won't be used for longer than a few hours, unlike decals placed on cars or signs and left in the sun for years at a time. Would some seasoned veterans care to point me in the right direction? Right now my alternatives are to have someone locally cut it for me(usually part time guys), or I order the decals I need online. Most often they are decent quality but as I've mentioned, I simply peel them off as they were only needed as a mask or reverse mask. I'd ask about software but I'm going to guess it's a no no in here as there will be logos and corporate sponsor type images needed and I'm sure they're copywrited, or perhaps not? Let me know. Thanks!