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kookymonsta · July 30th, 2008

Hi

I want to start vinyl cutting and wand to know what equipment and programs i will need to start? maybe a 30" cutter is more then enough..

what kind of programs is out there... is there any place i can get disc with designs on it like the one you see in sicker stores? and will it work with any cutter?

whats the program called the one where you can draw free hand with on the mouse pad?

i have about $3500 to start with

just vinyl sticker i dont want to make shirts

thanks for your time

ambitious · July 30th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by kookymonsta


	Hi I want to start vinyl cutting and wand to know what equipment and programs i will need to start? maybe a 30" cutter is more then enough.. what kind of programs is out there... is there any place i can get disc with designs on it like the one you see in sicker stores? and will it work with any cutter? whats the program called the one where you can draw free hand with on the mouse pad? i have about $3500 to start with just vinyl sticker i dont want to make shirts thanks for your time

If you just want a vinyl cutter to do just stickers, you don't need a 30" vinyl cutter you can use a 24"-15"-8" depending on the size of stickers your going to be cutting.

Where can you get a disc with designs that are vector ready for your vinyl cutter,i would recommend these guy's Vector Art - by Holmes & Cottrell Graphic Technologies | The highest quality electronic artwork for the sign industry since 1990 i have all 3 of there collections and there fantastic.

There are several programs out there that you can draw free hand with the mouse ,pen tool etc..you have Adobe llustrator CS2 or CS3 and you have Corel Draw x3 or x4 or you can just by a wacom tablet plug it into any of these programs and pretend your drawing on paper.

Hope this helps.

BRC · July 30th, 2008

My first question would be ,where are you located? Suggestions would be different depending on where in the world you are.

COEDS · July 30th, 2008

Hello Kevin, I want to start by saying asking for advice was a great first step.I know a ot of people make decisions without getting any advice prior. I suggest you start by setting your budget, this will allow you to arrow down equipment choices.I agree with ambitious a 30inch cutter is not needed.I suggest a 24 inch cutter and there are several good cutters out there and the price ranges from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. You need to decide if you need contour cutting feature or not. I like the Roland GX24 for a high end unit and a the UScutter brand for a great cutter for a minimal investment. ..... JB

hextex · July 30th, 2008

I'd also like make sure by "stickers" are are meaning like the single color decals you see in windows and things like that? You can certainly do multiple colors with a vinyl plotter, however you have to layer the colors. This takes more time and effort, and normally is not what you would see in stores. You can also purchase a large format printer that prints the stickers out on vinyl, then you cut them out with a plotter. There are two different ways to make "stickers" with vinyl, I just didn't want you to order a vinyl plotter and be like "OK how do I get the colorful stickers?".

If indeed you wish to purchase a vinyl plotter to make your "stickers" or "decals" as some call them:

I'd also like to point out that if you purchase a USCutter, a decent entry level software package is included(SignBlazer).

You ask about purchasing art work:

VectorArt.com has some great art work. You can also find it on eBay sometimes.
GreatDane has some good ark work as well.
ExpressClipArt.com is a great site as well...
SignTorch also has somethings that you can use

Dafont.com has some great "open source" fonts that can be used. Although check the licencing of each font to be sure.

Pretty much any vinyl safe vector art can be used to with vinyl cutters.

spankthafunk · July 30th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by hextex


	I'd also like make sure by "stickers" are are meaning like the single color decals you see in windows and things like that? You can certainly do multiple colors with a vinyl plotter, however you have to layer the colors. This takes more time and effort, and normally is not what you would see in stores. You can also purchase a large format printer that prints the stickers out on vinyl, then you cut them out with a plotter. There are two different ways to make "stickers" with vinyl, I just didn't want you to order a vinyl plotter and be like "OK how do I get the colorful stickers?". If indeed you wish to purchase a vinyl plotter to make your "stickers" or "decals" as some call them: I'd also like to point out that if you purchase a USCutter, a decent entry level software package is included(SignBlazer). You ask about purchasing art work: VectorArt.com has some great art work. You can also find it on eBay sometimes. GreatDane has some good ark work as well. ExpressClipArt.com is a great site as well... SignTorch also has somethings that you can use Dafont.com has some great "open source" fonts that can be used. Although check the licencing of each font to be sure. Pretty much any vinyl safe vector art can be used to with vinyl cutters.

What kind of printer do you need to print full color prints on vinyl?

kookymonsta · July 30th, 2008

wow thanks everyone for all your advise....

well i live in the usa and i only want to start off doing vinyl stickers like the ones on cars.

well my budget is $3500

well a 24 in cutter would be perfect! thanks!

any tools i would have to get to make it easy?

thanks again =)

ambitious · July 30th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by kookymonsta


	wow thanks everyone for all your advise.... well i live in the usa and i only want to start off doing vinyl stickers like the ones on cars. well my budget is $3500 well a 24 in cutter would be perfect! thanks! any tools i would have to get to make it easy? thanks again =)

Application Tape

squeege

exacto knife

a set of tweezers

and vinyl, i use oracal 651 for car decals.

kookymonsta · July 30th, 2008

ok i got more questions.....hehehehehe

thanks ambitious!

whats contour cutting?

wheres the best place to get vinyl?

24in. laserpoint or copam?

thanks

it also asked which program i want

sign blazer element ?
singcut x2 ?
flexi starter 8.5 (cant do contour cutting) ?

ambitious · July 30th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by kookymonsta


	ok i got more questions.....hehehehehe thanks ambitious! whats contour cutting? wheres the best place to get vinyl? 24in. laserpoint or copam? thanks it also asked which program i want sign blazer element ? singcut x2 ? flexi starter 8.5 (cant do contour cutting) ?

The contour cutting feature on the vinyl cutter is used here by many forum members.

It is used to cut around inkjet heat tranfers for t-shirts something you probably don't need since your going to be doing just decals.

I get my vinyl from a local vendor here in California called Screen Printing Equipment, Screen Printing Supplies, Screen Printing you can also order online.

On the Vinyl cutter i heard great things about both cutters LASER POINT and COPAM but they say the copam is better. There's also a forum that discuss the pro's and con's of these cutters and software on http://uscutter.com hope this helps

hextex · July 30th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by spankthafunk


	What kind of printer do you need to print full color prints on vinyl?

The VersaCamm from Roland is a pretty popular model...they are expensive.

plan b · July 30th, 2008

Kevin, seems that you have a good buget to work with I would suggest you get a cutter with servo motor over the stepper motor kind,, you will find with the servo type a more fluid cutting motion and very quite also, and usualy they come with better cutting software also.