I know nothing about Aspire brand Vinyl, but most of the non brand name materials I have tried do not work as well as a brand name like Oracal....The difference in cost is minimal....
Vinyl Newbie
Hello all,
My name is Shawn and I am taking my first steps toward starting a business in vinyl sign applications. I am starting off with a brand new 24" Copam 2500 vinyl cutter, and Aspire vinyl provided by my local retailer here in Boise, Idaho. I am very green when it comes to knowledge about options and aspects of the business, but found this to be a low risk, high reward venture to express, and more importantly profit from my artistic, and graphic expertise. My favorite aspect of the vinyl graphics business is the interior wall art. I love its modern, minimal, and transformational properties so much that it's one of the main reasons I've chosen this field. Now that the introductions are aside with your help I hope to learn a lot from all of the brilliant entrepreneurs here on the site, and in turn become a successful sign maker myself! Thank you!
My name is Shawn and I am taking my first steps toward starting a business in vinyl sign applications. I am starting off with a brand new 24" Copam 2500 vinyl cutter, and Aspire vinyl provided by my local retailer here in Boise, Idaho. I am very green when it comes to knowledge about options and aspects of the business, but found this to be a low risk, high reward venture to express, and more importantly profit from my artistic, and graphic expertise. My favorite aspect of the vinyl graphics business is the interior wall art. I love its modern, minimal, and transformational properties so much that it's one of the main reasons I've chosen this field. Now that the introductions are aside with your help I hope to learn a lot from all of the brilliant entrepreneurs here on the site, and in turn become a successful sign maker myself! Thank you!
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Shawn, I'd suggest you find a supplier for more "name brand" materials as royster suggested. You don't want to start a new business and have your first customers coming back in 6 months with their decals peeling off. Cheap vinyl will not last outdoors in the sun. Oracal, Arlon, FCC, MacTac. We generally use Arlon 5000 series Intermediate vinyl for "everyday" decals. Will last 5-7 yrs with no problems. For more permanant signage we'd use their 2100 series cast vinyl. If memory serves me correct, the 5000 series prices out at about 3 cents per inch on a 24" x 50 yd roll. Good luck.
Selling vinyl art is a very good business as long as you are willing to do the work. The best thing you can do is learn the machine. Vinyl plotters are pretty simple machines so the curve is not that bad. Learn the different cutting pressures and blade depths. Also, different angle blades help for different materials. Learn what offset and overcut do. And keep an eye on your teflon strip below the blade. If it gets cuts in it then it can really start affecting your cutting and weeding.
Second vote for Oracal. Use that cheap off-brand stuff for demos, proofing, and for yard signs. At least 651 ("stick figure families" and other kitschy things) or higher (751 or better for fleet graphics, permanent store signs, etc), the cheaper grades of Oracal aren't cheap enough to be worth buying. 651 is calendered while 751 and higher are cast. A lot of people will say that calendered will shrink but so far all the 651 signage I did for the company I work at full-time is holding up after a year with no shrinkage. 651 is pretty much the only calendered/"cheap" vinyl that gets good reviews though, and it's still useless for curved surfaces or going over rivets, etc.
Re: Vinyl Newbie Question
Thank you all for your replies. It appears that local signers are using Denco and the Aspire brand vinyl but I've yet to hear, or read any reviews. I purchased 100 yds, so I have quite a bit if only to use for practice and low level projects. I will post about my experience with the product as I get further along.
My next question is regarding software. I was going to purchase a computer with all of the essentials from a signer who is retiring from the business but they have since flaked on me. I now am left with the previous versions of Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator that are still on my old computer, but don't have the budget to purchase new sign software at the moment. I am literally at a stand still as far as cutting my ready made designs. I have heard about a plug-in for Adobe Illustrator called Cutting Master. Does anyone know if I can use this in the meantime with my Copam 2500 until I can afford a software upgrade? If not do you know of any decent freeware?
Thank you all for your replies. It appears that local signers are using Denco and the Aspire brand vinyl but I've yet to hear, or read any reviews. I purchased 100 yds, so I have quite a bit if only to use for practice and low level projects. I will post about my experience with the product as I get further along.
My next question is regarding software. I was going to purchase a computer with all of the essentials from a signer who is retiring from the business but they have since flaked on me. I now am left with the previous versions of Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator that are still on my old computer, but don't have the budget to purchase new sign software at the moment. I am literally at a stand still as far as cutting my ready made designs. I have heard about a plug-in for Adobe Illustrator called Cutting Master. Does anyone know if I can use this in the meantime with my Copam 2500 until I can afford a software upgrade? If not do you know of any decent freeware?
Did your cutter not come with a basic cut software?
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
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