Hi all,
I'm new - clearly - an artist/designer and have decided and am at the point of purchasing an inexpensive vinyl cutter/plotter a.s.a.p. to offset service costs. All I have needed (besides designing tees, etc) is to make up adhesive vinyl letters in large formats and these have cost a lot over time. Quality issues have driven me here. Some service providers are a bit shady and others too costly. Am looking at the cheap Chinese models like Kingcut, Pcut, etc. to run off Illustrator on any platform (pref.Mac) Can any of you give me a heads-up or suggestions on these makes? Budget is small which is why I'm looking that way.
Cheers
I started with inexpensive cutter ( cheap). I bought a rebranded GCC cutter like is sold at Heat Applied transfer vinyl for t-shirt applications . I would also suggest you check out UScutter, I have hard great things about them and they seem to be a strong piece of equipment. They also have a strong user base that helps out with problems. The company also has a support forum for people with cutter problems etc. ..... JB
__________________ "Striving to help others, as I learn myself"www.coedsembroidery.comwww.coedstsaver.com "Heat Press Vinyl Remover" T-SAVERTurn Your Mistakes Into Makeovers
Thanks loads David and JB. I should have filled in my profile but am in a rush...I'm located in Australia where we get basically the same gear but at slightly more cost. I think I can trace suppliers but really need to know what you think of these cheap cutters. I make text pieces in large form - around 12" tall characters - to use as either direct stick-ons or as reverse stencils which I use to paint over (I know it sounds weird - but hey). The recent signs I got from 2 suppliers are pretty thin vinyl and cannot use these on my substrates (painted canvas). Any ideas on what type of vinyl to use and what these machines may be like?
Any help would be appreciated.
I would recommend using paint mask for your painted canvas substrate and BTW, US Cutter ship to Australia, though shipping will probably be quite a bit more. Creation Pcut series is supposed to be a great value, but as I stated earlier, I own Refines and I simply love mine.
OH BTW, your "paint over" doesn't sound weird, I do it a good bit, just reverse weed the graphic, apply it then paint, wait for paint to dry and remove vinyl.
Exactly what I do David.
I've never used a plotter before but as I run a studio (graphic) and am also a painter, I'll try anything. I've been making these paintings for a while now and am in a rush to get a new series done for shows around the place. THe painted substrate is a toughie - it's oil on canvas. Yup, stick-on vinyl doesn't really like it but it seems to have been working until now, with these new suppliers. It costs me $300 a pop at least so 3 pieces would pay for the investment. The new vinyl just tears on the application tape and won't stick down unlike in past. What do you mean by "paint mask"?
I would recommend using paint mask for your painted canvas substrate and BTW, US Cutter ship to Australia, though shipping will probably be quite a bit more. Creation Pcut series is supposed to be a great value, but as I stated earlier, I own Refines and I simply love mine.
OH BTW, your "paint over" doesn't sound weird, I do it a good bit, just reverse weed the graphic, apply it then paint, wait for paint to dry and remove vinyl.
Never heard of it, but like mentioned above your best source would be uscutter.
I think the KingCut is a re-branded Pcut.
I'll probably go for the Pcut then as it's way cheaper and for what I need probably adequate. I just hope I can figure out how to use it as most people seem to have trouble with cutters. Thanks guys
Yes, I've gathered that David. What can one look forward to then?
I run a design studio (no intention of making shirts or signs for anyone else but self) using Macs and PCs with the usual Adobe CS on Mac and old v9 Illustrator and Freehand on PC. Most machines we can get here (and I'm about to buy for quite a lot less than importing) are supplied w/ Artcut. This supposedly allows importing from Ill. but what do you know of these?
I have heard that artcut is the worst cutter software there is but I've never used it myself, so I can't comment personally. I "think" artcut has a plugin for Illy so basically all you'd have to do is get your cutter setup in artcut, then design in Illy, click a button from illy that would open artcut and hit the cut button in artcut. Again I have never used artcut so I'm not 100% sure on those steps but it should be very close. if you can use Illy then you should have no problems with using a cutter.
Thankfully, I can use Illust. but to a point - especially with type and typography which is my interest. Basic functions seem to be all I'll need. I wonder if the PCut and the refine will run on other software?
Yes they both run on Signcut, Signblazer, Flexisign (industry leader) those I know for sure they work on. Signcut I know works with Macs according to their website. www.signcut-x2.com
Plotter to buy 
mentioned above your best source would be uscutter.
