tammy h

I need to buy some plotter paper. Do you have to use "kraft" paper like sold on US Cutter? I don't need 1100' but would like a larger size (40-48"). Anyway- will any plotter paper work or do I have to look for something specific? Tammy

Sorry I didn't explain more. I have a laserpoint II and the pen that came with it. I am just looking at being able to plot out a couple of things before I cut them as I started cutting and ran into problems. I think I have the file "fixed" but I'd like to be sure before I waste a lot of vinyl. Plus I've been asked to make some t-shirts and room decals. I figured the easiest way to show them the designs is to print it out on the laserpoint II. With SCAL I show an option to print to my inkjet but it never goes.

I've still not made a final decision -on a heat press. I've been going back & forth several times. I was seriously leaning towards a swing away on ebay listed by Sun-ie. Then I noticed that it said 1" thick or less material for application- 1" adjustable? I would think on a really bulky hoodie this could be an issue... Please advise if the one you linked to on USCutter has the ability to do more than 1". Also- I don't see that listed on the clamshells. One more question- on the clamshells is a 50% opening for a 15x15 pretty wide? Sorry for all the questions- I just don't want to get something that's not useful. I would prefer to buy from USCutter because that's where I've bought everything else but the warranty is 90 days where the Sun-ie is 1 year for the swing away and 2 years for the clamshell. They are a lot less expensive.

Sorry to ask for more advice- but I'm really confused on this subject. I see sublimation printing option w/ special transfer papers, printer and ink. I see where that blends more into the fabric. I also see inkjet vinyl that can be printed it appears and heat applied? I see inkjet heat transfer papers - all different brands. Can you use just a regular inkjet printer w/ out special ink? That seems too simple... so I assume there's a lot more to it. Can someone help point me in the right direction? I am getting ready to purchase a heat press- and want to know what my options are besides using just the colored vinyl. But- if it's a huge investment I might just stick with the vinyl for the time being. Tammy

I've been doing a lot more "editing" in SCAL. I love - the tracing feature as it seems much better to me than the other programs I've used. It could be more user friendly and that I'm just that inexperienced at it... but I love it. I tend to go to "cut w/ my us cutter" to view the preview in between editing so I can see what I am doing better. I like this better than preview. Anyway- I adjust the screen size every time by making the viewing box larger and zooming in on the image. I'd like to see this preview image "remember" how you'd adjusted the screen size the last time- so every time you open that up - it comes up the same way you adjusted it the last time? I'd also like to see on the editing mat - if you could select a grid line and it would highlight that row in a color - so you could see that everything is lining up perfectly without scrolling the mouse along the whole thing. What I'm suggesting is something like excel does- if you put your curser on a row - it highlights that row. I find myself moving things around to make sure they are lined up equally on both sides and it would be easier if the row were to highlight somehow. Just my 2 cents... Tammy

tammy 2.pdftammy 3.pdf I strongly suspect this logo I'm working on may have been hand drawn. I am having a lot of problems "cleaning it up" - although I had to work from a scan of a koozie because I don't have the original art files. But- when looking at the t-shirt/ koozie I have with the design on it- done by someone else - it's not really clean. I'm now doing this for a semi box in a very large size. When I blow it up in SCAL you can really see the distortions (jagged lines). I have cut it in a smaller version and it doesn't look terrible- it matches the koozie / t-shirt pretty close. But- I don't want to make a huge decal for a semi bed and have it look sloppy. Thought if I could identify the fonts - I could at least replace the text to make the clean up go faster... Tammy :tammy 1.pdf] tammy 1.pdf

I have decided (I'm 90%) on a swing away due to all of your advice. I feel more comfortable working under an open space vs. the clamshell top. I am afraid I'd hurry to avoid burning myself and end up applying something crooked ruining a product. I think I'd also be able to get better light on the subject without the top overhead. I've noticed though that on ebay a lot of the warranties are 6 mo to 1 year vs. US Cutter 90 days? I also have noticed that some of the combo's aren't much more than the regular swing aways. I know that people don't like them - but I'm wondering if I can get a combo for a little more- even if I don't use the accessories ... I wouldn't be out much? So it boils down to the question -- is there any difference on the t-shirt part of the combos vs. the regular swing aways? It looks like they are basically the same except some are smaller plates. I was looking at an 11x15 tshirt plate. But if there's a difference in the combo vs. the swing away t-shirt plate I would probably go back to the stand alone swing away (which I might do anyway). Tammy

Have you tried the print on vinyl and do you know if inkjet works for that as well? I think a majority of the time we're going to want to use the heat applied vinyl and /or a combination of the printed/ vinyl. I agree- I'm trying to buy things as much as possible, that I will be able to use for quite a while- so when I have the money to spend I can buy something different instead of replacing something I bought too cheaply. But- sometimes you have this demand for something and you have to start somewhere and I guess we can always use the cheaper or smaller equipment as back up later. I am leaning towards a swing away heat press after reading all the posts. I really liked the idea of the combo but have read and received feedback that these are not really as great as the marketing would like you to believe. I really thought I'd go with a clamshell - but I'm a little worried about working under the heat and being able to get things perfectly lined up with the top over head. I'm hoping to make a decision soon... I have people wanting to know when I'll be able to do t-shirts/ sweatshirts etc. Tammy

Thank you for all the feedback. I have another question- sorry for so many... Is there a huge advantage of the swing away vs. clamshell? I don't have a ton of room so the clamshell seems better to me, but at the same time, I see where the swing away might be easier to use. Tammy

thank you! I've never run into this before- but it's a new PC so I must have my settings to sleep faster. Plus this took a long time to cut because of the detail- size. Thanks again!

I ran into a similiar issue this morning. I'm cutting a large (47" x 60"ish) and it seems to have cut the print out - with the exception of 2 rows of text at the very bottom (47" side). It just seems to have cleanly left of that part of the picture. When I went to check on it - it had stopped and moved back into the "start" position like it always does like it was finished- when I noticed that it didn't cut that text. I think everything else is there- I will check again tonight. My pc seemed to have "fallen asleep" and I'm wondering if it lost communcations at that point -or if it's something funky with the software seeings that it was a large graphic... Any ideas would be helpful. If I change my mat size to move everything else off of the matt - would it just cut the text that I am missing? I don't want to try to re-cut the whole thing if it's all there for fear that it might be off just a bit and I'd run into a problem.

Thank you Jay 2703 & Mz Skeeter! I was shocked when I read the response because I'd never seen anything like this from someone on this forum before. I re-read the post because I thought I'd read it wrong. I have found this forum extremely helpful - and the advice on here has helped me get rolling! I re-read several posts with people having similar issues and just as you suggested I wasn't being careful enough about lining up my vinyl. I thought I was- but - I guess I wasn't. Then- I think a second part of the problem was that I had increased my pressure to 105 based on what someone else said they used. Although this made for much easier weeding, I think it was adding to my issue. Thanks again- and Merry Christmas!

I have the Laserpoint II and I know when I purchased it I stumbled accross some instructions for the typical speed/ pressure settings, but now I can't find what I did with that information. I have been able to use it for basic things... But I need help with setting up the cutter (and what blade to use) for things with tiny- tiny details. I am working on a semi design that has tiny lights/ grill details etc. I am having a lot of trouble weeding it. I have the blade depth correct I believe because I used the instructions (cuts thru a top piece of paper and not the 2nd) but the details want to "stick" together and tear a little when weeding. I'm wondering if I should be using the different degree blade and/or a different cutter setting. Please advise if there's more information out there on this type of setting info... Tammy

With all due respect, I asked for a little constructive advice ... I didn't have "$500" to spare- and thought this would be fun- I bought the 50" cutter and wanted a good starting point because there are a lack of businesses in our area to provide this service satisfactorily. My husband needed decals for his truck and hadn't had great success getting what he wanted when he wanted it so we thought we'd give it a go. It sounds to me, like everything else, even the most experienced of user have issues, but it's a lot of trial and error and listening to advice from those that have more experience. I didn't want a costly investment on something that I might not like to do on an ongoing basis. Everyone has to start somewhere and so far this seems to have been a good small investment. I have had a ton of success cutting with this machine so far thanks to the willingness of the helpful people on these boards that help out - and the great advice from the UC Cutter people. I have narrowed down the possible issues and am trying again this morning. I had increased the pressure and it seems my depth might be too deep -so I might have been using too high a pressure & too deep a cut for this type of big project. Tammy

I hate to ask - but I need more help and this time a little urgently... I am cutting out a 5" long x 24" wide piece in 2 colors. I ran the 1st color and noticed my tracking was slightly off. Then when I started the 2nd color- the tracking varies by about 1" or more back & forth. I've not run into this problem before and have no clue what to do. On this machine it appears that the pinch rollers need to be set on the white marks above them. I've done that and never had an issue before. This was supposed to be a Christmas gift and since I've never had a problem before- thought I could run it tonight with no problems. It's for a family member who knows they are getting it - so it's not a biggie in this case. However, I have a "job" for a semil box that will require a long length of material to be cut. I read on here to try cutting the material and not pulling from the role. I've done that and no luck. Please help! Tammy

Thank you very much . Have a Merry Christmas! Tammy

We have painted concrete block in part of our basement and we tried affixing the vinyl to it and it absolutely won't stick. Is there a special application fluid that would help or does anyone have a tip on applying/ preparing? Tammy

We didn't paint the block ourselves, but it's shiny/ glossy paint. I was surprised it wouldn't take since it adheres to glass well. Thank you very much for the suggestions!