Old School Vinyl Stacking Graphics

[EbsWeb5150]

Do someone make a tool so you can stack graphics on top of another
for example yellow text with a black outline. In prepress printing you would use your registration marks and alignment pins but what do you use when your stacking vinyl?

[letterman7]

Usually I can eyeball it pretty well, otherwise I'll do the same registration marks as in printing, just cut them out in vinyl and line the layers that way. Then peel the reg marks off your vehicle!

[GAC05]

yep

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTSPgkdDgEE

wayne k
guam usa

[ProWraps]

or hit print :Big Laugh :Big Laugh

[Jillbeans]

I usually eyeball it and do a wet app, but if I have to, I cut little stars in the same spot on each layer (or squares) and make sure those line up.
I never pre-assemble layers, I apply them one at a time to avoid Mr. Bubble.
Never I thought I'd see "Old School" as a vynull method description.
:)
Love....Jill

[neato]

I usually eyeball it and do a wet app, but if I have to, I cut little stars in the same spot on each layer (or squares) and make sure those line up.
I never pre-assemble layers, I apply them one at a time to avoid Mr. Bubble.
Never I thought I'd see "Old School" as a vynull method description.
:)
Love....Jill

HA! I was thinking the same thing. This industry sure has changed dramatically in the last 5 years.

I feel old now. Think I need to go make my oatmeal and read the paper...

[Brandon708]

lol "old School"

[astro8]

'old school vinyl?'...I'm feelin' old after that.

[Craig Sjoquist]

Ancient School rules ... lol

[3dsignco]

I just Do mine wet and Eyeball it.

My Life is Complete.. I am Finally Considered Old School.. Wahooooooooo.

[vinylbarry]

Pretty good eye so old school here also.:cool:

[trik]

Usually eye ball it as well, also just depends on what I am applying it to, we are mostly a digital shop now, but on occasion I will still do a few things, and I prefer my speed press for banners for laying cut vinyl in multiple colors.

[Arstron]

I eye ball it and put it on wet, if I am making a set for a customer to put on, I add triangles for them to line it up with.

If thats old school, then what is hand painted letters? :D

[SeaWriter]

What ever you do, make sure you put the black down first...or is it the other way round?

[zapblam]

make a 1/4 inch rectangle border around the layered graphics. have the same border for each color. install your bottom color including the border box. snip the corners off the next layers. line up the notched corners to the already installed border box. hinge and slap. no guess work. been doing that for a decade

[GypsyGraphics]

I like to make a solid diamond for my first layer and graduating diamond outlines for each layer that follows. I put them on the left and right, either top or bottom. Prefer not to have to pull them off the substrate so I trim them off once all layers are in place.

[weaselboogie]

I like to make a solid diamond for my first layer and graduating diamond outlines for each layer that follows. I put them on the left and right, either top or bottom. Prefer not to have to pull them off the substrate so I trim them off once all layers are in place.

Seems like a lot could go wrong with that. Are your cuts EXACT, meaning that the vinyl butts up against each other or is there overlap? And when your vinyl is layed together edge to edge, when the vinyl shrinks won't that leave you with a gap between each color.

I prefer to stack solid color on top of solid.

[Sign-Man Signs]

For the handi-capped that can't line up 3 beans, I use a Speed Press for a lot of jobs otherwise, my "old school" eyes are still working. Like Jill said, wet is best.

[GypsyGraphics]

Seems like a lot could go wrong with that. Are your cuts EXACT, meaning that the vinyl butts up against each other or is there overlap? And when your vinyl is layed together edge to edge, when the vinyl shrinks won't that leave you with a gap between each color.

I prefer to stack solid color on top of solid.

If your cuts aren't exact, your going to have a problem no matter what form of registration you use.

The open diamond gives additional points to align. A solid diamond means eyeballing it to center the diamonds.

This is one of those "whatever works best for you" deals. Input from several people should be helpful. You try out the different suggestions and go with what works for you.

[GypsyGraphics]

For the handi-capped that can't line up 3 beans, I use a Speed Press for a lot of jobs otherwise, my "old school" eyes are still working. Like Jill said, wet is best.

Yep, I'm defiantly handi-capped... had my vision surgically impaired a few years ago. I'd give just about anything to get my "old school" eyes back again.

I'm not bashing LASIK, I know it's been great for millions of people, I just had the misfortune to walk into a "LASIK mill." The fact that you walked in the door made you a good candidate. I spent 6 months bruised form head to toe because I couldn't see the ground in front of me.

Sorry, to go off in a different direction.... it's such a sensitive subject for me. I'll shut up now.

[blackmarketdesigns]

I usually eyeball it and do a wet app, but if I have to, I cut little stars in the same spot on each layer (or squares) and make sure those line up.
I never pre-assemble layers, I apply them one at a time to avoid Mr. Bubble.
Never I thought I'd see "Old School" as a vynull method description.
:)
Love....Jill

I have had the same experience with pre-assembling layers.

[kstompaint]

We print a lot of that stuff now, but not all. If the customer is installing, I pre-assemble (because they almost always screw it up otherwise), or instruct them on wet application. I very rarely apply anything wet, it takes too long.

Very rarely I will use the old cut squares in the corners of each layer in the same spot. Mostly I eyeball 'em. If it's big, center hinge. Clear transfer tape helps too, especially with colors like silver.

[Rich]

When doing layers of vinyl......it can be done easier if you use 3M ElecroCut vinyl. The vinyl is more expensive, however it has a clear backing which makes it easier to see. Along with using clear application tape, registration by eye can be done much faster and without the need of application fluid.

It's worked for me for many years.

I also get a kick out of it when I hear someone accociate vinyl with the word old school!

[fenris242]

What ever you do, make sure you put the black down first...or is it the other way round?

actually i'd put the yellow down first and the black on top.....otherwise the yellow might be dulled down because of the black underneath....yellow with a little outline...black with the original text cut out....creates a choke/spread....

i don't do this with all color combos...but would definitely do it with black and yellow

[k6media]

That's like watching paint dry... print it =)

[Blizare]

Oh yea, I barely even stock any vinyl colored vinyl anymore.... Only black and red. haha.

Print it.

I can print and hammer 20 2' x 2' signs before your rapid tac will be dry enough to peel that wet nasty tape :)

It's a money thing I can't help it. Some spend so much time trying to save money that it doesn't make any ;)

[gnatt66]

i just cut registration marks with every layer...doesn't most every design program have them in the toolpointerarrowthingy?

i pre-layer for customers if it's an outline and not vinyl on vinyl. when that's the case they can assemble on the substrate or they'll probably meet Jill's bubble friend. ;)

[HeathSignCompany]

When I 1st started in this business, I couldn't eyeball ****e! Now it seems like anytime I go to eyeball it...it ends up perfect, right down to the 1/16! I'm not bragging, I even amaze myself when I go to double-check it with a tape. It comes from years of experience, and more importantly, knowing how to prepare your media whether you are using registration marks or not!

Personally, I think clear masking is useless...if you're using registration marks...you shouldn't need it, and if you're eyeballing it...you better be good enough not to need it!

[Grafix USA]

I have never layered vinyl as I'm not "old school" so I have a serious question. Why would you want to layer vinyl instead of just printing the whole thing and contour cut to shape? Is it simply an equipment cost issue or is there some benefit to layered vinyl?

[Edserv]

We recently did a black vinyl on top of a gold foil print that had no room for error. Our production guru pulled it off perfectly (we still have remnants of his "practice" on our windows! Since then, we realized you can really print on colored vinyls. For example, our production guru (David Tatera) figured out you can run gold vinyl through our Mutoh with black print on top. Then we run the vinyl through our cutter and wa-la, contour cut vinyl (two-color). Ready to go!

I hope this helps,
thanks,
Chris
Lets Go Banners

[HeathSignCompany]

I have never layered vinyl as I'm not "old school" so I have a serious question. Why would you want to layer vinyl instead of just printing the whole thing and contour cut to shape? Is it simply an equipment cost issue or is there some benefit to layered vinyl?

One benefit is that most intermidiate vinyl films are rated for 6 years outdoors, and high performance vinyl is 9!

[Grafix USA]

One benefit is that most intermidiate vinyl films are rated for 6 years outdoors, and high performance vinyl is 9!

Thanks. I hadn't really thought about that. From my personal experience I would be happy if a design lasted 6 years... I tend to want a change before the vinyl is bothered by the elements. Maybe it's just me.

[Malkin]

Obviously if you only have plotter, this is the only way to go. This seems to be more rare than it used to be.

The other benefit I can think of is that there are lots of colors that are quite difficult or plain impossible to hit using a printed method. Obviously metalics fall in this category too.

Most of the time I prefer print/lam/cut over layered.