Helmet Decals

[Sabernathy]

I currently use a Gerber Edge FX film printer, Ledco Laminator and Gerber en Vision plotter to produce helmet decals. The process is time consuming, expensive to buy films, limited to film colors and I can only use the Gerber to cut what has been printed on the tractor fed vinyl. I need help finding a better, faster, more efficient process to produce these decals. Adidas wants more output than the machines I have now can produce and there's too much room for error. Anyone have any recommendations?

 

[victor bogdanov]

any wide format printer cutter set up, white ink might be good to have also

 

[Ryze Signs]

A printer cutter setup will work if you don't want to laminate the decals. Otherwise you would need a plotter that can automatically read registration marks like a Graphtec. You can even print a barcode that the Graphtec will scan to bring up the proper cut program.

 

[Geneva Olson]

I currently use a Gerber Edge FX film printer, Ledco Laminator and Gerber en Vision plotter to produce helmet decals. The process is time consuming, expensive to buy films, limited to film colors and I can only use the Gerber to cut what has been printed on the tractor fed vinyl. I need help finding a better, faster, more efficient process to produce these decals. Adidas wants more output than the machines I have now can produce and there's too much room for error. Anyone have any recommendations?

can you farm out your decals to wholesale printer to increase output? like firesprint?

 

[VinylWorksLLC]

...great time to upgrade your business and get a Printer/Plotter. This is the way we grow.. that one good customer who pays for our new equipment

 

[MarkSnelling]

I currently use a Gerber Edge FX film printer, Ledco Laminator and Gerber en Vision plotter to produce helmet decals. The process is time consuming, expensive to buy films, limited to film colors and I can only use the Gerber to cut what has been printed on the tractor fed vinyl. I need help finding a better, faster, more efficient process to produce these decals. Adidas wants more output than the machines I have now can produce and there's too much room for error. Anyone have any recommendations?

Pick up a Roland VG or SG print+cut machine. They aren't too expensive, easy to operate, and you can print, then laminate, then put it back into the printer and cut everything out. If you are in the midwest, I can send you pricing on some of the models if you want to have a conversation...and if you aren't in the midwest, I'm happy to still share any information which would be helpful.

 

[jfiscus]

Find a business to partner with or outsource to until you can upgrade to large format if that is your plan. But you'll need a printer, laminator, plotter and software to make them all happy.
The main problem with large format is that the registration is not going to be as good as with the Gerber setup.
The colors are not going to be as solid/smooth as your Gerber colors, and the white is not going to be the same/opaque on clear decals.
Large format is for really larger decals to be viewed from further away where registration isn't as important... if you're coming from Gerber you'll be disappointed.

You could also purchase additional Gerber setups, we have a couple here as just one cannot keep up with our workload. (we also have 4 large format printers and cutters but still use the Gerber machines a LOT)
I do NOT recommend a printer that also cuts, as I've never seen them work well, and if you're printing you can't be cutting or vice/versa.

 

[Geneva Olson]

Find a business to partner with or outsource to until you can upgrade to large format if that is your plan. But you'll need a printer, laminator, plotter and software to make them all happy.
The main problem with large format is that the registration is not going to be as good as with the Gerber setup.
The colors are not going to be as solid/smooth as your Gerber colors, and the white is not going to be the same/opaque on clear decals.
Large format is for really larger decals to be viewed from further away where registration isn't as important... if you're coming from Gerber you'll be disappointed.

You could also purchase additional Gerber setups, we have a couple here as just one cannot keep up with our workload. (we also have 4 large format printers and cutters but still use the Gerber machines a LOT)
I do NOT recommend a printer that also cuts, as I've never seen them work well, and if you're printing you can't be cutting or vice/versa.

im convinced, i could run a business solely on farming projects out to wholesale bulk printers.

 

[VizualVoice]

I've done plenty of helmet logos and numbers on Substance vinyl with their 10 mil laminate. Printed on Roland, cut on Graphtec, they come out just fine. I've tried the 15 mil laminate but it just seemed like overkill to me and the clients didn't care either way in my case.

 

[4RE]

Hey guys . . . .
just getting back into the game here. I'd like to start off with a decent sized printer/plotter. Any suggestions on good, better, best?

 

[jfiscus]

I recommend Epson S60600 and a Graphtec FC9000 plotter for ease of use. Very easy to setup and run for anyone.

 

[truckgraphics]

For large helmet orders, I would look into hydro-dipping. I don't have experience with it, but just saw it at a trade show and it does a professional job. Unless you are just sticking numbers or simple decals on a helmet, that would be the way to go. At least it deserves a look. I understand you can get into the equipment at about $5,000 or so. Don't know if that includes a specialized printer or if you farm that part out.