Creating complex weeding lines

[taggianto]

So one of our biggest clients has this dot pattern that gets put onto the windows at all their locations. Every dot gets cut out individually. One location can have 20+ feet of dots that go onto 8'-10' high windows. I'm trying to find a way to create weeding lines for this behemoth.

This is the current master cut file, just the dots:

This is an illustrator file that gets saved as a PDF, ripped through Onyx Thrive 22, printed on an Epson S80600, and cut on a Graphtec FC9000-160. I'm open to any and all suggestions that don't involve creating lines one-by-one for thousands of dots...

Thank you!

 

[Solventinkjet]

I'd ask them if they are ok with it being printed on clear with a white back layer on the dots. Should yield similar results with a lot less work.

 

[taggianto]

I'd ask them if they are ok with it being printed on clear with a white back layer on the dots. Should yield similar results with a lot less work.

Unfortunately, this is the third year my company will be doing locations for them and the cut vinyl is the look they want. (or else yes, I agree that would be SO much easier)

 

[GAC05]

So one of our biggest clients has this dot pattern that gets put onto the windows at all their locations. Every dot gets cut out individually. One location can have 20+ feet of dots that go onto 8'-10' high windows. I'm trying to find a way to create weeding lines for this behemoth.

View attachment 164024

This is the current master cut file, just the dots:

View attachment 164025

This is an illustrator file that gets saved as a PDF, ripped through Onyx Thrive 22, printed on an Epson S80600, and cut on a Graphtec FC9000-160. I'm open to any and all suggestions that don't involve creating lines one-by-one for thousands of dots...

Thank you!

Looks like the pattern is mirrored and repeating so you just need cut lines for one section copied onto the next repeat. Can you post up that sample you have there in vector?

 

[unmateria]

Use ecut for coreldraw or illustrator. Very cheap and fantastic allinone tool

 

[CanuckSigns]

Can you not just add a wavy cut line in-between each row of dots? Are you printing the exact same pattern each time?

 

[taggianto]

Looks like the pattern is mirrored and repeating so you just need cut lines for one section copied onto the next repeat. Can you post up that sample you have there in vector?

Unfortunately, I can't share the client's assets, thanks tho.

Use ecut for coreldraw or illustrator. Very cheap and fantastic allinone tool

Our IT department blocks their website because it's Russian. If this is a viable solution I can call them and see about getting it unblocked however.

Can you not just add a wavy cut line in-between each row of dots? Are you printing the exact same pattern each time?

That's what I'd like to know how to do without having to draw each section between dots individually. If I just draw a solid line, Onyx will cut all the dots in half.

 

[The Vector Doctor]

Looks like you will have to draw in lines for a repeating section. Use the mirror/duplicating functions in your software

 

[signheremd]

I don't see the issue weeding this. But a tip is to put the cut on it and let it sit overnight before weeding - often the adhesive will pull away from itself a tiny bit where the vinyl is cut and be easier to weed.

 

[Applied Graphics WY]

Gerber Omega 7 has a feature that automatically allows weed lines to go straight through without cutting the graphic itself. I'm not sure if Cutting Master, Graphtec Pro, or Flexi do the same.

 

[JBurton]

The problem is the dots aren't uniform in the least for vertical weed lines. These programs won't create irregular lines around objects, just straight ones.
So options are to print and plot and then hand place all the weedlines with your knife in hand, or sit in your comfy chair and draw a few dozen lines for the plotter to run. Looks simple enough for the bezier tool...
Or you could add outside contours until they start to overlap, which causes them to weld together, hopefully they are spaced apart vertically different than horizontally, so they weld together at different degrees, allowing you to stop adding an offset when one run welds together, break it apart, and use that wavy line for the weed line.
Or just draw vertical lines, then use the trim feature to generate an outline. Of course! It won't give you pretty weed lines, and it will double cut some areas, but it will give you 1" (or whatever) strips that you only have to worry about the dots within that region, definitely better than nothing.

 

[taggianto]

The problem is the dots aren't uniform in the least for vertical weed lines. These programs won't create irregular lines around objects, just straight ones.
So options are to print and plot and then hand place all the weedlines with your knife in hand, or sit in your comfy chair and draw a few dozen lines for the plotter to run. Looks simple enough for the bezier tool...
Or you could add outside contours until they start to overlap, which causes them to weld together, hopefully they are spaced apart vertically different than horizontally, so they weld together at different degrees, allowing you to stop adding an offset when one run welds together, break it apart, and use that wavy line for the weed line.
Or just draw vertical lines, then use the trim feature to generate an outline. Of course! It won't give you pretty weed lines, and it will double cut some areas, but it will give you 1" (or whatever) strips that you only have to worry about the dots within that region, definitely better than nothing.
View attachment 164056

Awesome, thanks so much for the suggestions!

 

[victor bogdanov]

I think what I would do is weeding circles. Select all the circles, offset path some. Now you have a circle around each circle.

Pull away the bulk fast when weeding and then weed out each individual circle. Should go pretty fast weeding that way and minimal chance of losing any circles

 

[JBurton]

I think what I would do is weeding circles. Select all the circles, offset path some. Now you have a circle around each circle.

Pull away the bulk fast when weeding and then weed out each individual circle. Should go pretty fast weeding that way and minimal chance of losing any circles


View attachment 164073

I thought about this but it kinda doubles the number of parts to weed around. Yours traced out much smoother than mine.

 

[MGB_LE]

What ended up being the solutiuon here? That's question 1. Question 2 is: how does estimating price this to capture the labor required? Do they have an understanding of the workflow?

 

[MGB_LE]

Unfortunately, this is the third year my company will be doing locations for them and the cut vinyl is the look they want. (or else yes, I agree that would be SO much easier)

As true as this is, it's possible that the cost could be significantly less if printing panels on clear subtrate with white on back for opacity and ease of installation? Enough to change minds and still have a similar look.