Recent content by Costa Mesa Sign

The only time that I ruler trim transfer masked graphics is when I'm selling the vinyl without installing and the customer picks up as-is. I don't want a finished good to look sloppy.

Pay up and charge accordingly. Let your customers know that you use and provide an excellent product. I know it's painful relative to calendared. My last Arlon SLX wrap kit ran like $1,400.

Insist that it be mounted on rigid substrate. Then sell them a better solution. Too often I've attempted to follow customers wants instead of approaching the project with my expertise. Suggest a preferable solution and they will follow your lead.

UV print them second surface. You'll need to source the print work and they will need to prep your files for their system. Do not waste time attempting these without a white ink config. Take the job as a learning experience and collect your margins with project management / installation.

Use Dr engrave (free) or vcarve (paid). Depending on your frequency of use and job complexity.

What this guy said. That 30mm of savings will add up at the end of a roll. While there is stability reasons to have a solid leading edge, the tailing edge is useless IMO so save the media.

Try setting as a driver preference so that it's a global control. Search printers, model, select print preferences, then modify there. Boom set for all operations.

Release the clipping mask, reassign whatever else has the CutContour swatch, then remask. VersaWorks doesn't ignore cut lines hidden in clip masks. Think pristine when preparing printcut files. Leaving iterative junk in the print file only introduces problematic variables.

Your best best is to just average ink cost as a fixed cost, typically $0.20 a sq ft. Its the media and production costs that I watch more closely. They are the variables that can start bleeding margins the quickest. Ink usage is more in line with equipment payment of power costs.

Chop saw my dude.

Half cut is a feature which scores the perforated tabs. I don't like that and leave it at 1gf. Use a 60 degree blade set your perf pressure and do your testing. Also, I reduce my perf tabs to . 020", but it's a balancing act between perf tab and cut complexity.

Use a 60 degree blade, run the speed slow and insist upon a simplistic cut line. It'll be fine.

At least the messaging is clear and the font readable. I've seen worse visual communication on much more expense signs.

Swap the cap top white you're at it. They're supposed to be changed every 6-12 months, but are easily overlooked. The rubber gets wavery and leads to incomplete suction. I suspect worn caps can cause inconsistentcy. Even when everything checks out visually. I run Roland inks. While there are...