AboveCreations

I am curious (if anyone knows). Seen this on Pintrest and thought it was really nice. I do custom hand-routed signs that look pretty good. But these are accurate. I am new to the CNC Router and have been researching for weeks. I am going to eventually splurge for a one, but was wondering if it can do signs like the attached picture.

Hello. I am rather pleased with my VM Pro... except one very annoying feature that is getting on my nerves. I have 3 different computer in my setup which I do design work with VM Pro. Since I am going through a network, these auto backups build up and eat away very precious space on the network. I see I can select [F]ile and ackups and turn the auto backup off... HOWEVER! If I close the program, the dumb things reverts to auto backups when I restart the program. I don't see anywhere else to turn it off. Is there a way to disable these backups permanently in VM Pro. If not, then this feature is VERY important and will make me throw it out and chose a program which is not annoying!

Hey folks. I am new at all of this and I am considering moving into screen printing. I've researched a bit and watched a few youtube videos, but none of them really give any details of what vinyl they use. I am planning to do the shirt screen print. I have some 631 vinyl. Would that be ok for screen printing, or do you recommend something heavier or thicker? Also, do you ever mix-match screen printed garments with something like Siser Easyweed? That may look funky, I am not sure. I ask that because if I am doing a bunch of screen print of say 2 color, but the customer wanted a person's name on the garment... kind of a hassle to setup a screen print for each name. Just wondering how anyone handles something like that? Thanks.

Well thanks for the post. I will certainly check out superjetusa.com and note you (Que) referred me. Your print on the phone stand looks awesome. Great blues, shades and colors. My only reservation is that once I move to the sublimation, that I have a nasty habit of letting it sit for prolong periods and kinda forgetting it... and it clogs and ruins it. This is mostly a hobby with some perks for me right now and I work out of my basement... I have so many things going on that it would be a bit difficult to place a weekly maintenance for printer in my schedule. lol. I know that sounds dysfunctional... but it's my only excuse... lol. I had a recent client that really wanted a nice company logo with colors and graphics. Of course screen printing and vinyl is rather limited for that. Oh, and be careful noting that cobra ink prices are high... it offends some on here and you'll get email-bitch-slapped if the cobra folks hear or see it.... lol. Lastly, I will note that Emma (from cobra inks) once again emailed me, stating that she is the mother and Ashley is the daughter. She claimed they are a family owned business and she claimed they got offended because they thought I was complaining about their prices and their website. But she wasn't apologetic or anything. You know, some folks just have to have that last word or it eats them alive. It again wasn't a pleasant email... just bitching mostly. I replied and told her she was wrong and I have shown the email thread to others who have no stake... those two are rude. I again stated I was not complaining about your prices, but the costs of this sublimation so far with the cartridges and that I still don't see a place on the website to view my account. [reading comprehension 101] However, I did one time see my name floating on their site, but it disappeared and remained invisible to my browsers. I know it's a HTML5 issue, but who cares! Again, she replied with a snotty, "good for you". lol. I thought, whatever. I'm done clowning with them...

Ok, I realize some folks on here don't like to see negative posts about Cobra Ink, but I have to explain my recent, short experience with two sales rep from Cobra Ink named Emma and Ashley. After reading many positive things about Cobra and sublimation, since I happen to have a Epson 1400 I normally just do 13x19 posters, I wanted to try to move to sublimation, but I wanted to be able to use the CS/6 cartridges so I can hopefully go back to inkjet if I wanted too. So I ordered the cartridge set (around $80) from Cobra Ink and the special paper (around $30). Then searching their website, I tried to find out if I could easily go back and forth to the inkjet or sublimation. Nothing. So I emailed them and asked. Emma replied and stated that I would need their cartridges filled with cleaner, so I could exchange and also keep the nozzles clean if sitting. So I replied and stated that the cartridges with cleaner is around another $50. I commented to Emma that this is getting expensive, but I heard nothing but good things. Plus, I tried to search their website for my account details/orders.... there is nothing on the website that I could see. I told Emma about the website. That normal online businesses allow customers to view their account details and orders. She replied with a nasty email saying that she is sorry I feel their prices are too high and their website is confusing to me... and cancelled the order. I said sheezuz! I replied and said that I didn't ask to cancel the order; besides I placed two different orders. And I looked again on their website. There is nothing on there about account details or orders. So I replied and asked which order did you cancel because I placed two... plus I again mentioned that there is no where on their website to view my account details or orders. Now a sales rep named Ashley replied. She said you simply sign in to their website and select account and then orders. And yes they cancelled both orders. She ended the email with this quote, "We do not like starting business with customers this way and we won't be insulted because you don't know how to operate our website." My wife said RUN! Don't do business with that nasty company... EVER! I replied to Ashley and explained that I've been designing, building websites since the 90's and I don't need to be scolded about using websites. I looked again at their website. There is NO PLACE to view account details or orders. If there is something hidden, then I don't see it clearly like most online stores. I also told her that I will be reaching out to Richard regarding how this was handled... but after thinking more about it... I am taking my wife's advice... I hope others get better customer service... but I personally will rate them a negative 1 (-1)... Very poor! With that last email, if she was my employee, she would be immediately fired! Here is the link: https://www.cobraink.com/ please have fun finding this account details and orders details after you sign up or sign in! So much for sublimation with this company!

Exactly. this was all an experiment for me since I happen to have a Epson 1400 just sitting here that I've had for many years. It sits in the basement, in the box most of the time. Occasionally I done 13x19 poster pictures for friends and family. I read good things and thought I'd try with the sublimation. Oh well... I hope others have a better experience than what I did,

I wasn't complaining. After I placed the order for the carts and paper, that was over $200 and then $50 for the cleaner carts... I expressed that I've read good things about their sublimation, but I was finding it a bit high. I didn't say your prices were high... I was commenting that it might not be in my interest for cost. They didn't read what I said and assumed I meant their prices were high. And the way they followed with such negativity. Very disappointing. For now, I'll stick with the inkjet for my printer.

I am not really sure you would be very happy if someone cancelled your online order without your approval just because you didn't understand something on their website... My day is fine. Its like any product.. some love it, some hate it. Some just don't know how to act.

Well please tell us how you really feel about someone you know so little... my website wasn't for public viewing because my business isn't online selling anything yet and not sure it ever will. And who is really the DICK? You still mad?

Not on my browser. I do not see anywhere where it says my name or account. I am using Internet Explorer 11 (all up to date) and I have absolutely no problem on any other website. I could take screen shots, but I won't bother. I also tried with Chrome... same thing. when I go to their website, all I see for a menu is: Home | Store | Contact Us | Blog | Support | Profiles nothing else about my account. But, who cares anymore. If you like them, fine.

Help me? With criticism, negativity and cancelling an order because their website is screwy? And I disagree. I done a simple search here and found others with negative experience. And yes, I will do what I want... I don't need your approval or blessing. I knew there were going to be some on here with negativity. But please do show yourselves... it's a public forum.

Yes, I understand that the cartridges would be a bit more costly. And I understand the cleaner concept... just wasn't too happy paying $50 for a set of just cleaner. But my main point is that I read that many had a pleasant experience with Cobra Ink... unfortunately, I did not and I truly believe everyone needs to know there is a darker side to Cobra Ink... and I am keeping the emails to prove it. I was not being nasty to them... I just commented that I wasn't expecting the costs to be so high for everything. And then their website is the pits! They claim to select the customer account, then orders. I've attempted to nicely tell them there is no link or button for that... all they would do is reply with nasty criticism and cancelled my orders like I am the problem. I do not like companies with sour customer service and I believe they need to be exposed! Perhaps it was just a couple of rude employees... but the company needs to fix it or get reported/exposed I'll be posting this writeup on several other blogs/forums and consumer reporting sites. I personally find their email handling offensive!

Oh! I have one more question. You mention about the temperature and formula, but I searched their website and can not find any reference for that. Can you give me some idea for a heat press setting (temp & time) for their transfers? For Siser, I follow what is recommended from the manufacturer of 305 degrees for 15 seconds. Depending on the material, I usually add a few seconds of a second press. Then peel. If I see anything not bonding, I usually re-position the item and press again for a few seconds.

Yes, I placed a small order with the discounted one-color program just to try it out. Their website is a bit hard to get use to. I think it is a modified wordpress tho. Anyway, I decided to check out a 2 color 9x6 graph and after uploading the .jpeg, the screen was kinda stuck and gave no options to move on. Then I finally figured out to highlight the picture and a little window appeared bottom-right... you had to order 8 or more and each was about $11 a pc. Whew! a bit high for me. Hopefully the one-color works out... but 2 or more color, guess I'll revert to Siser or screen print. Thanks again for the assistance and advice.

Ok... I am certainly open to advice or suggestions. When the other person simply said have someone else do it (without explanation), first thing that popped into my head was cost. I looked at the F&M Expressions and unfortunately I don't see any kind of help pages. Am I understanding that they only charge .15/.20 for a custom one color job. What do you actually get? A vinyl like easyweed which you have to weed, then apply or what.... sorry, I am not understanding. Even when I select one of their stock heat transfer selection, it doesn't tell me what exactly I get. I have considered the screen print setup to eliminate the weeding of large jobs. If I have to weed a large order from them, I think I'll stick to the screen print setup. Otherwise I am interested in knowing more.

Not sure I follow what you mean. Why would I pay someone else to do something I can do myself? I've built a screen print work center with speedball screen print hinge clamps, a 16x17 plywood and a 2x4. I got a couple of 110 speedball screens and ordered some speedball garment ink, however, I have read that the speedball garment ink is not commercial quality ink. Can some one give me some ideas of quality commercial ink for fabrics for screen printing? Just a note. We normally do Siser Easyweed for most small jobs. But the weeding can be a hassle if there are more than a few. We don't do multi-color too much. So a screen print setup would benefit us for large orders such as clubs, schools, etc.

Great... that does help. However, I want to ensure that I understand... so you would calibrate, print the vinyl, laminate, then cut... of course you would laminate the printed glossy side of the vinyl. We would cut that same side like normal 651 vinyl, correct? I ask this because the cutter will be cutting through both the vinyl and the laminate now, which could be pretty thick.

Ok, I found 8 1/2 x 11 vinyl made by Greenstar in packs of 25. http://www.uscutter.com/Desktop-Printable-Vinyl I watched the video on that product page and they also use this carrier sheet. But I can't seem to find it. The video adds that to use a spray or laminate to last longer. My question is, if they use laminate, when do you apply it? Do you laminate right after you digitally print the emblem, then contour cut. And am I to believe you still cut on the glossy side (now laminate side) for this outdoor type of vinyl? OR... do you contour cut it THEN laminate the cut out? Sorry for all the newbie questions, but I am trying to learn this.

Ok, searched youtube and found a video showing how to contour (generic). This isn't Titan 2 or VM Pro specific. But I think it might be enough to get me started. The confusion is the vinyl size... this guy is printing on a normal paper size 11 1/2 x 8. Then places it on something he calls a "Carrier Sheet". I looked around uscutter.com and don't see that size for any vinyl. So my questions are; do you use regular 15" vinyl and cut out the sheet for paper size. And if I use this carrier sheet, where can I find it or is it really called something else? Again, a simple instruction (pdf or video) showing this process for the Titan 2 and VM Pro would be so much better... thanks for any help..

I must apologize for such a newbie question, but I am new to a lot of the vinyl stuff. I have a Titan 2 and use VM Pro. Most of our projects are simple weeded Oracal 651 signs and Easyweed for shirts... May I ask what the registration marks are for? Is this so you can print the vinyl on a digital printer, then contour cut that same vinyl on the cutter? Is there any short tutorial on how to do this contour cutting for the Titan 2 and VM Pro? I recently watched a youtube video of a guy that prints various emblems on his regular digital home printer using Oracal 651. He then laminates the printed vinyl. Then he manually uses scissors to cut out the emblem (then transfer paper and apply). But he did note that the pros use contour cutting, so I would like to learn how to do that, but I can't find any detailed instructions. I did find one pdf for the titan 2, but it covered the apple Sure Cuts program and normal 8 1/2 x 11 vinyl. All of my vinyl supply is 15" or 20" width. Must I manually cut our the 8 1/2 x 11 first? And for those that use this process, do you laminate before cutting the outline? Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks for the follow up and fast support and update! Really appreciate it!

I find it rather appalling that some software company thinks this feature is unimportant and gives no control to the user (purchaser/customer). I do not want to have to chase down backup files plastered all over our network drives. Batch files would work if there was only one folder or drive. That is not our situation. Especially when there are many projects/folders/users. When I turn something OFF, I expect it to be off... not have to re-turn the thing back off every time I start the program or load a project. No other software does this annoying and unnecessary auto backups without some user control. I understand that some find this feature useable... but it does not work in our workflow. And it is more annoying that I have to take time to create a ticket to the software company to plead and urge them to understand that the feature is not necessary and should be a user control feature which we should be able to turn it off permanently in the first place. Being a 'C' programmer since the 80's and old-school... the old saying, "hard-coded features in software IS un-user friendly!"

That looks really good; however, I see that as nearly impossible to weed. Just too many dots. Cutters go by lines, not dots or pixels. I don't think you blurred it enough. That is why I use the "box blur" in photoshop. If you look at my conversion above, you'll see it is not that much detail, but it won't be impossible to weed either.

Sorry to appear naive, but I am not really sure what you want or what you expect. Are you asking for a complete re-design/re-drawn of your pictures? If so, what are you expecting? A single color (ie. black) that is easy to weed? I am new to the vinyl stuff, but not new to graphics. A little trick I learned in photoshop, which I can take nearly any graphic and convert it to a vectorized, one color item that is not impossible to weed. Example, I took your photo of the Indian with the tablet, concerted it to black & white. Next, a trick that I learned along the way when doing this is that it is important to blur the image just a little... it removes a lot of the tiny details (which make weeding impossible). So I use the box blur, but only a small amount... then lastly I hit it with the photocopy plugin... then use the eraser to clean up the outer areas and such. Then vectorize it in VinylMaster Pro. See attachment. Is this what you are trying to do? new.eps

Hi. I am a newbie at both cutter and VM, so please be gentle. I tried to read thru these threads to find something close to my issue, but my eyes are popping out and nothing is close. Most conversations are way above me skill level right now. I watched dozens of youtube videos on VM and still nothing is answering a simple issue I have. I am using VM Pro and a Titan 2 cutter. I made my first sign that had letters and then I imported a tree graphic. I vectorized it (I think that is what it is called) and replaced it with a trace. I wanted the tree sitting right before the letters start.... all is well until I send it to the cutter... it puts the tree on one page and the letters on another page. I don't want that. I want the cut to do it all on the same page. Can someone please tell me what am I doing wrong? It would also be an extreme waste of vinyl to be cutting stuff separate when in fact I built the sign on one page. Why is it separating the letters from the traced graphic?. If I can't cut a sign the way I design it, then I think I need to find another program. Please help or some advice?