Print, Laminate and Perf Cut Decals with Flexisign and Graphtech (PLUS a little trade secret!)
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- Опубліковано 10 жов 2024
- I show you a easy way to perf -cut (pop out) printed decals, why print, laminate, contour cut then perf-cut? This video explains how we do it and save a bunch of time and makes the process simple. Using a Vinyl Express Q54 (Graphtec FC8600) vinyl cutter and Flexisign 12 paired with our go-to media and laminate (our secret house brand is revealed!)
Just a tip from a fellow Graphtec user. I noticed your setting for the up position was up. This causes the blade to come fully in the up position which increases wear on the head and also can cause jagged edges on the vinyl. If you adjust this value to the same value you would normally use for contour cutting, it will only lift the head to that force which stops the up and down motion, still cuts through the vinyl as if it was a continuous contour (‘but only perf cuts through the backing sheet) and makes the running a lot less noisy. Hope that helps and thanks for the video.
Have to try that, thanks for pointing that out. Many people are self taught and just need a direction to go in. This is one of those situations.
So on the “Cut pattern menu” do you recommend leaving “Up mode” to “off” ? Is this what you’re talking about? I just started using my Graphtec ce7000-60 for perf cutting and I wanna make sure im doing it right lol Their training video doesn’t mention this and they have theirs set to “up”. Also is a 1.5 mm blade recommended for this only? I also think in the training video they’re using the 0.9 mm blade. Appreciate the help.
Thanks for the tip on Substance! Really really good laminate! I love their silver metal flake also for stickers, customers love it!!
Just about everyone loves it, glad it's working out for you as well. I hope to get an update on their new media coming out soon!
I really need to step my game up. You've used waaay more of those ULINE sticky-notes than I have lol. Thanks for the tips! Just got a used fc8600 yesterday and I'm frantically trying to dial in the perf cut settings. Appreciate you sharing the info!
Ever since I purchased 60° blades on Amazon for $12 (pack of 10) I only do cut-through/diecut. It is night and day compared to perf cut. I have an FC8600
Got a link for the blades?
GREAT JOB! Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Been trying a ton of things on my graphtec, ended up pulling the blade back in a ton to almost standard cutting levels and driving the force up only 10+ from the original cut, my perfs come out a lot better with a custom perfing line but they're still jagged. Never going to be as good as a die cut with these things.
You are 100% correct. I dont adjust the depth of the blade from die cutting or perfcutting it stays the same. And I'm still using the 45 degree blade for 2 mil vinyl up to print/lam works great for me.
What do you recommend for cutting settings on the Graphtec (Speed, force, etc.)?
Thank you sir! I use cutting master 4 through corel, but using these numbers for the fc8600 has helped tremendously...the only thing I may differ on is I use the cb15u blade and the cb15u setting for perf cut, but the setup is basically the same! I never got perfs that would actually "pop" out until now, maybe it was the "up" setting that I had wrong?
When the video was made I was using the 45 degree blade, now the 60 degree blade (cutting the media and laminate) is the way to go. Glad it helped, it really depend on the media you are perf cutting.
What printer do you currently use? Do you use eco-solvent, latex or aqueous inkjet? What do you prefer?
I'm currently using a Graphtec CE7000 for die cut decals, but plan to switch to printed stickers and product labels.
I use a PrismJet 54. It's a rebranded Mutoh ValueJet sold by Sign warehouse.com. It's a 54" eco solvent printer that will print on just about any type of media. Before our 2 Eco Sol Mutoh printers I had a encad aqueous printer and a thermal Roland pc600. They were so slow but each has their place in the shop.
i have a vinyl express q42 its pretty much the same. Could you help guide me through setting it up for stickers? what printer do you have may I ask, is it eco sol? i have a bn20a
I HAD a MUTOH 1324x 54" Eco-Sol. I'm currently retired from the sign industry and went another direction after 30 years in the business. Thanks for watching, best of luck to you!
Curious do you always use type 1 marks, or find they get picked up better than type 2 or is it just personal preference?
Have been using type 1 even since we had an inkjet printer. 99.9% of the time I don't have any issues with the type 1 marks. I can make them as small as .300/.025/.075 and it will pick up fine on white media. Reflective and mirror media I try to make them .500/.050/.100.
Great video. In regards to the laminating? it doesn't need to be heat treated? Would the laminate peel off or does it adhere permanently?
No you do not need heat when you laminate. I know heat assist laminating is better in certain situations. I have seen laminate separate from the media but 99.9% of the time it's never been an issue for me. Grab the BIG Squeegee and laminate away!
This perf cutting has really puzzled me , in your video is it just one cut?
I wanted to do two, a contour cut , then the perf cut a bit wider to make sticker removal easier , would i contour cut , then move/switch blade position and run the cutter again?
Im using a roland 54" cutter with flexi
Hello Ken, Yes in my video I just do 1 perf cut. You can do what you want but it will be 2 separate cuts, 1 contour then move the blade to do the perf cut. Sorry I have zero experience with the Roland cutters but you should be able to set the conditions in flexi
I'VE HAD THE SAME QUESTION FOR A YEAR. I'VE ASKED THE COMPANY I BOUGHT THE GRAPHTEC FROM A FEW TIMES AND HAVE'NT HAD ANY LUCK. HAVE YOU FIGURED THIS OUT SINCE YOU ASKED THIS QUESTION?
Using flexi and same cutter. So do the settings at printer override settings in flexi? Or can you also change settings through flexi without manually changing on cutter?
Flexi will override the cutter so in Production Manager pay attention to the "cut" tab, and your driver options. You can set the condition there but You should set up a special condition in flexi but it will also require a special "perf-cut" cut line within flexi. I prefer doing it at the cutter because you have to move the blade holder out anyway and sometimes I forget to move it to the back position.
what kind of material you use for stickers, media and laminated? thanks so much
Substance.com 2755 media and 3150 laminate been using them for about 8 years now.
To be able to cut the adhesive completely, do you use a special Teflon? Does this type of cutting damage the Teflon?
With the 8600 it has a "gutter or channel" in front of the Teflon strip. You have to move the blade to the front position of the holder and select perf cut option.
Sorry im confused are these decals to put on your car? Are you gonna put something over it so you can put on the window
Yes, generally these types of stickers are for vehicles and outdoors. They have a laminate over them to prevent scratches and fading.
Wondering if the any of the decals are meant for being outside (attached to a vehicle) ? Wondering if the weather would fade the color? Would you ever consider putting a laminate on something as small as the stickers shown?
All of the decals I print are for outdoors use and vehicle safe that are printed with ECO-Sol ink, granted you clean the surface you are putting the decal on. Weather (hot/cold) does not effect the color, the sun's UV rays will fade the colors. I laminate 99% of everything I print, even the smaller items.
Could this be done with a grapthec 7000, you think?
Awesome video
That I'm not sure of, I would assume if it can read the marks and you can align to the registration marks then yes it could work
@@TheSignGuy thanks for the reply. That was a little ignorant of me to ask that. After further research I figured out what you were explaining and what machine you were using. Awesome vid!
can u make a video of the machine cost and profitability and different costs in this business?
It will vary from business to business. LOTS of variables but I can try to put something together for you. Maybe I should do a livestream instead?
@@TheSignGuy sure...:)
What would your settings be if you were to perf cut non laminated stickers?
Try around 15 on the 8600 with a 45 blade, not as much with a 60.
@@TheSignGuy Hey Boss Man, Quick Question using 45 Blade does the Perf Settings "Up" and "Cut" the same??
@@coachdonhighdfw My setting is #3 CUT .315 / #4 UP .006 this is with a 60degree blade. The 45 was just barely getting through the backing and the 60 seems to be a better cut.
What's your sensor levels to scan successfully marks on glossy material?
I sold the plotter and it's been a while but I think it was in the mid eighties.
I thought I followed the instructions but my blade holder doesn't move when I switch between users. Did I miss a step?
Not sure, must be something in the setup. I sold that cutter about 2 years ago and don't remember the specifics.
i bought some of the substance ICON® PL-3150 overlaminate. There seems to be a lot of silver even with lots of pressure added. Also looks like some metallic flake in the vinyl. I just applied it today so maybe i need to wait a bit. Any tips?
So I do get some Silvering when I laminate with the Big Squeegee but it goes away in about 12 hours. Also once I'm done laming, I use a smaller (4") Teflon squeegee to remove more silvering. That's odd about the metallic, I know Substance makes a Galactic series with metallic in the laminate. Never had the chance to use it so not 100% sure what it looks like up close. Pretty sure they don't offer a metallic media, so again it's odd you see flakes.
I see that you have a 54 inch printer and cutter but it looks like you are using 30 inch vinyl and laminate. What's the reasoning behind this? Easier to work with because of the smaller size? Just wondering because I have a 54 inch printer and cutter. Thanks
It's more cost effective for me to print and laminate with 30", If I use 54" I waste more media. I've designed most of what I sell based on the 30", I still have some 54" in the shop but don't print on it much.
👍
Hope it helps!
60 degree blade, what happens if you try it with a 45 degree? ....where can I find a Big Squeegee ?
Well depends on the material you are cutting through, thinner media and lam (6-7mils) should work on the 45.
bigsqueegee.com/
@@TheSignGuy Thank you Sir. Sadly it looks like big squeegee is out of business. :(
There is a link on his page to where they are being sold. ramination.com/
How long are you waiting in between printing and laminating?
Generally a few hours depending on the profile and how much ink was put down. A heavy Black at 720x720 will take a bit to outgas, not that I've ever had a big issue with it. Latex you don't have to wait, EcoSol give it a few hours if you're in a rush.
Where did you get that killer size squeegee...!
it's from bigsqueegee.com!! Some sign suppliers sell them as well.
@@TheSignGuy Thank you for getting back to me. This video was very helpful and looking to work much bigger in my studio. Best of Luck and Contined success...!
@@philbailey2330 good luck and go get em'
is there any option in flexi to smooth out the edges for per cuts so its easier on the cutter
The blade is only following the contour line, so I try to make them as smooth as possible. I'm not sure of any option to make them smoother, you can always slow the cutter down too.
nice..but haw too setup the cutter..tx
I show my set up in the video ua-cam.com/video/qVZpV3Y5-s0/v-deo.html
@@TheSignGuy thanks
@@mariusdocea438 You are Welcome, I think that's what you were looking for?
@@TheSignGuy yes..THANKS ..I did not understand very well, I have a smaller model CE7000 - 60, I don't know how to work with it ... I have a Konica 2060L digital printer and I want to try to make some stickers too. I've been searching the internet for how to learn to use CE700-60, how to set and how to cut and punch, but I haven't really found a video made from the beginning..with adobe illustrator, layout and settings..that is something clear ... I only found the pieces of film. NICE WORK..TX
Are these decals pr stickers?
Not sure what you mean by pr?
questions, so is perfcut the same as diecut stickers?
I generally refer to "diecut" as solid color vinyl cutting, contour cutting is cutting a "contour" around a printed image generally with a square backing. Depending on the size of the item being printed, sometimes it faster to contour cut and leave the backing square and straight. Where a perfcut is also contour cutting but also cutting into the backing to make a "pop out" or perf cut sticker.
@@TheSignGuy thank you for sharing your knowledge. I guess I have been using the terms incorrectly 🤣. Also doing my cuts incorrect . 🤣.
@@fifiearthwanderer No problem, we all started somewhere.. Oh the stories I could tell... LOL
which decal media is this I dont think u said
I mainly use Substance Media 2755 with the 3150 laminate
Hi, i know this vid is a year old but i have a question , i have set my cutter to 8mm cut 0.2mm up / line pattern setting 1 / same as the vid, but the cutter is not cutting 8mm lines its just doing dots no matter what setting i choose its just dots not lines any feedback on this please /
It might be the sign program overriding the cutter settings?
Hi i have a roland evo solvent can i use this stuff
If you are using Flexisign and a graphtec cutter yes. I don't have any experience with the Rolands, sorry!
roland is a print and cut machine eco solvent
I don't think they can perf cut. Only certain cutters can do that. The Roland will contour cut but not perf cut.
@@TheSignGuy i just looked it up on roland it does
What kind of printer is that??
It's just a MUTOH Valuejet 1324X 54" Eco-Sol printer.
I think I added my comment in the wrong space. Do you have a good file that follows this process that you could share so I can follow.
The magic does not come from the file, it's in the plotter condition. When setting up the file just add 1 normal contour cut. Set up your Graphtec plotter so it will perf cut (go back and look at my settings to get you close) and you will need to change to that condition (I used #8?) move the blade to the forward position on the holder and send it.
@@TheSignGuy Thank you for responding. The reason I think its my file is because I have condition 1 and 8 for per. Still my cut is not clean. Can I show you what they look like?? Please help me
I just want to know what super squeegee that is lol link? I need that lol
Here ya go, mine are a little older but they all to the same thing. www.bigsqueegee.com/order.html
@@TheSignGuy Hi there, this video was awesome. Can you help me understand this process better. I have a new plotter and Graphtec guy is confusing me. Can you walk me through the process
Why do some people perf cut and others diecut?
Um, good question LOL. I assume because pef-cut looks a bit more professional. But also in my opinion customers really don't care unless they are re-selling the decals.
@@TheSignGuy so I guess my question is what's the difference really? Perf cut is when the blade moves up and down and diecut the blade doesn't...right? I typically just do kiss cuts and never really done anything else. Check out this video on diecuts. Skip to 4:20....
ua-cam.com/video/3tPcWwkm4cs/v-deo.html
@@blueghost4121 Basically yes but your cutter has to have that option to Perf-cut, some dobut most don't. A perf-cut will cut through the media/paper backing and a contour cut is just through the "Sticky" media. I refer to contour cutting with a print//cut, I refer to die-cut with normal solid color sign films. I've never used the term kiss cut
Did you look at the Summa cutters?
Not enough to sway me from the Q54. I know they are great cutters but we also got a package deal with the old Mutoh 1204. Before we bought the PrismJet we were looking at the Summa DC3
lol that perfs a little rough lol
Yea, but it gets the job done!
You don't need a machine for laminating?!
No. I use the www.bigsqueegee.com/