Rufus Xs

Hi, how do I take a regular font, such as Arial Narrow, and make the text that I want to type and cut in to Bold? Or Italic? Unlike other programs that I've used, there seems to be no way to select a font and then select how to modify it, such as with Bold or Italic or Underline, etc. Can anyone help? I looked at Flexi real quick and it appears to allow the modification of text just like a word processor would, e.g., either you select it before typing or highlight the text and then select what you want done to it. But for some reason, this feature seems to be missing from Elements, almost as though if I want a Bold version of a Font, I'd have to go download that as a separate font, e.g., if I want to type something as Bold using Arial Narrow, I'd actually have to find a separate find Arial Bold Narrow! Please help!!!

Wow, Haumana, that worked great! Thank you! I followed your instructions and the only problem was that my graphic then had the top as a solid shape, rather than having the middle cut out - but then, when I followed all of your steps EXCEPT for deleting the small triangle in the middle, it worked! I'm not sure why this image gave me so many problems while the one that I did yesterday did not - perhaps because yesterday's image had no big hollow area in the middle? Anyway, it works, so I'm thankful! I don't know what the "weld" feature is all about, but based on this experience, I'm going to research it Again, thank you!

Hi, I've attached 3 files to this post: 1) The original image that I wanted to cut (not that the attachment is a .jpg, because this message board doesn't allow posting of .bmp's - the original file that I converted was a .bmp) 2) The Vectorized version of same 3) What my SB screen looks like when I go to the "Cut" function Yesterday I successfully downloaded a graphic, converted it to a vector graphic (encapsulated postscript), imported it in to SB (using the "Use Full PostScript Interpreter" choice), and cut it. Today, I did the same thing but with a different image. In SB, I see the image no problem. I performed the same steps today, including grouping all of the image's pieces in to one object. I also made a copy of it, so that I would have two images (same exact process as yesterday's successful attempt). Then, when I go to "Cutter" I see an image that looks nothing like the original image (See attachment). I saw the same thing yesterday, but it cut fine, so today I ignored it; however, instead of cutting OK, all it did was cut what's shown on the Cutter screen I saw another post that suggested unchecking all of the "Save Space" boxes, but they weren't checked on mine in the first place! Someone, please help! Thanks in advance. cbs_caduceus.eps cbs_caduceus.eps

Thank you so much for the detailed advice! You're right - I can't believe that I didn't think of the technique to drop the vinyl roll to the floor! It's one of those great ideas that's so obvious that most folks just don't see it! Anyway, thanks again - all of this advice will be very helpful. Also, as to my other question about priting on vinyl in an inkjet and then contour cutting it, I found this person on eBay: Mammy's Magnets and More Who sells sheets of vinyl that, when printed on with an inkjet, are supposedly water-resistant. I'm going to order a pack and try them out - I'll post back as to how well they do or don't work.

Thank you so much for the detailed advice! You're right - I can't believe that I didn't think of the technique to drop the vinyl roll to the floor! It's one of those great ideas that's so obvious that most folks just don't see it! Anyway, thanks again - all of this advice will be very helpful.

Thanks - I figured it out right after I posted my question, but your instructions are still very helpful. Thank you!!!

Hi, I'm trying to figure out how to cut a gif image out of vinyl. I've figured out how to import it in to SB, so my question is: How do I "convert" it in to a proper outline type of image (vector vs. raster) so that it makes sense to be cut out of vinyl? Thanks!

Thanks all. I don't really have room for the stand and won't be using this unit enough to justify getting one and making the room somewhere - I'm basically just using it as a desktop plotter. I called USCUTTER before I purchased and verified that I could purchase the stand separately later on. I'll try those tricks to line it up. For some reason it seems to sometimes not feed on the left side (as you're looking at it), but I think the problem was that I didn't have enough extra material fed through the front. On a separate note, I have the LaserPoint unit. The little dot from the laser does not seem to line up with the blade. When I try to use that to line up anything, the cutting starts elsewhere. Is the laser supposed to somehow interface with the software so that (when contour cutting becomes available in SignBlazer) it knows where to start cutting? Thanks.

Thank you Daniel T. A couple of follow-up questions, based on your answers: 1) What is the smallest size lettering that can effectively be cut? I tried some very small (<1/4") letters, but the blade pulled up pieces here and there. I tried slowing down the cutting speed on the cutter (by going in to the menu and changing speed down to 10) but that didn't seem to make much difference in how fast it cut, nor did it help cut those small letters. 2) What's the best way to line up the vinyl in the feed rollers? I can never seem to get it lined up perfectly straight - for longer cuts, it seems to never track straight, but rather to "creep" to one side or another. I tried lining it up all the way to one side, but then the carriage hits the little red safety switch on the side. Any suggestions on how to line it up straight? Thanks.

Hi, I'm new to the whole vinyl cutting process. I just purchased a 24"-25" LaserPoint (I think that it's just an enhanced version of the PCUT, but I'm not sure). My only experience with vinyl signage is that I had a friend who used to own a sign shop so I know how the overall process works, how to lay the vinyl, using transfer tape, weeding, etc. But I've never designed patterns or sent them to the cutter. I'm getting my cutter tomorrow so I just did a search on this site for the following questions but couldn't find detailed answers to the following: 1) I know that my cutter comes with 45 degree blades by default. I plan to only cut premium vinyl for things like 6-8" tall numbers, some smaller letters, etc. (for use on race motorcycles). Under what circumstances would I want to use the different angle blades? Or will the 45 degree blades be fine for my purposes? What do the different blades do differently? I understand that the shaper angles, such as the 60 degree blades, are for cutting thicker material, such as sandblasting mask, but why wouldn't I just want to use that all the time? Does it cut too wide of a line, or what? 2) What is "blade offset" and when/why would I need to use it? 3) When my friend's shop closed he gave me his license of FlexiSign 7.6 v2 and the USB key that goes with it. Is that software my best bet, or should I use the software that comes with my LaserPoint (I think it's called "SignBlazer"), or should I buy another program such as SignGo? I have the FlexiSign Pro and I know that it's a top package, but I don't want to use it if it's going to be too difficult to use and learn and I won't be using all of the features anyway. 4) My friend's sign shop used to have something called the "Edge" which basically printed graphics on vinyl. I saw that Avery makes sheets of adhesive backed vinyl that can be fed in to a regular inkjet printer. I understand contour cutting to be when you import an image that you've printed on something, for example the Edge, in to an application and then you take that piece of vinyl and place it in to the plotter to have the outline of it traced and cut. That's the purpose of the laser in my new LaserPoint plotter, as I understand it. Is my understanding of "contour cutting" correct, and if so, has anyone tried it with the Avery 8.5x11" vinyl sheets and how does that work? Or am I better off just getting those kinds of custom stickers made at my local sign shop. I know that these are long questions, but since I'm a newbie I'd appreciate any and all help. Thanks in advance!!!