Vinyl shop talk

[scr8pnHard]

You guys that have the vinyl cutters you may are may not no this but it's bad ass. I use to have a business called hpgrafix1 and just sold out about 3 weeks ago because 2 jobs wasn't worth it and I hope my wife gets out of school and I can party lol. Anyways I came up with what I called gost graphics that looks like it was etch instead of a decal. I just thought I would tell you guys and you may have already done this but may help you out on motorcycles are something one day. Here is my headlight on my bike.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p90/rcchad/100_1928.jpg
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p90/rcchad/100_1929.jpg

[HybridImages]

chrome vinyl on chrome right?
looks cool...honestly though man I hate chrome vinyl. It's harder to cut and weed. It scratches very easy...doesn't have a long life, curls on the ends after time. Then when you do want to get it off it's like foil and tears instead of pulling in big pieces. Although I do etch so would like to try that on some chrome one day, would just have to go easy on it so not to break through.

[scr8pnHard]

Yea that is what it is. I also HATE chrome and every big truck driver wants it lol. Just charge alot to take it off but isn't to bad if you have like a red are some other color backing. Ihave done helmet also. painted them flat black and put black vinyl on top. I have done alot of motorcycle like this with other things.

[NissanXEPilot]

I'm still trying to find not just a decent software package for my cutter, but more vinyl. I have 3 rolls of white, black, and blue performance cast vinyl, but thats to be used for vehicle graphics, I need to order some more white calendared vinyl for window stickers. I'm also trying to figure out how to cut window tint, I cut a sample and tried to put it on the Sentra. Screwed it up right off the bat.

[HybridImages]

split from original thread that was hijacked ;)

[O.G.Tierdrop]

im not a chrome fan at all, but that hella cool

[scr8pnHard]

Nissan, what are you using? I my self really like Corel but that was really all i ever used.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p90/rcchad/100_1081.jpg

[NissanXEPilot]

Well heres the deal, this will help explain what I have, how I got it, and maybe some of you guys that make a living with this stuff can give me some advice (hint hint)

I helped a guy move a frdge into his graphic shop / tanning salon, and as payment he gave me a vinyl cutter that was damaged when the tanning booths were being delivered awhile back. Well I fixed the cutter, the cutting head was knocked off track and the ribbon cable had a couple of wires cut. The software im using is Sign Blazer Elements, but I'm having to use it in trial mode because it looks like the company that produces this software seems to be im the processs of being bought out. The sotware works great, it just has alot of features disabled and I'm plagued with pop up reminders.

[pugz]

looks good

[KERRi]

SignBlazer is a really REALLY good program to use, its really simple but you can still go into heaps of detail if thats required, i have an older version of it but i got told that you can't save, export or send any files to the cutter/plotter unless you have the 'key' which is quite expensive... ie, you can download the software from anywhere for free but you need this key thing from the company and they charge a shiteload if i remember... hope that helps in anyway, Lol

[NissanXEPilot]

Well, the version have will allow me to import, export, and save and load projects.
I have a copy of paint shop pro (the predesssor to corel draw) that I have been using for years to edit images, so I do my images wits that, save it as .EPS and import it into sign blazer.

[HybridImages]

you need a vector base software the new corel is bad ass...I'm still waiting for supporting drivers to come out for my plotter to use it they are up to x3 but haven't got x4 just yet. Also if you have an old ass cutter you may need the supporting drivers to even be able to use it properly with XP. I bought a Roland, a well known company...and I registered my plotter new. This is a big help when it comes to tech support, just give my name and cutter serial number and I can get what I need.

[NissanXEPilot]

cool. This one I have is a US Cuitter. If there is a model number, it must be on the bottem, and I've got too much crap setup to even try and check it out. The drivers though are up to date, and I know there are diffrent software packages that will work with this. They just dont come cheap. I did find Corel draw on ebay though, and these are new versions that are much cheaper than if I bought them from Tiger Direct or Newegg.