Help contour cut and gatorfoam

[Tony Rome]

So, this is the first time I have used Gatorfoam.
I designed some signs and sent the cut files to the cutshop.
I printed out the contour cut logos to go onto the contour cut foam, but I have to be honest, I have no idea how to line it up to apply to Gatorfoam.
Any suggestions?

 

[Tony Rome]

I'm thinking maybe I don't contour cut the vinyl first, maybe just apply as a big uncut rectangle and then cut the excess off by hand after i apply?

 

[rjssigns]

I did a couple recently. Contour cut the graphics then applied. Graphics had a "bleed" 0.125" bigger then the cutout, which allowed me to trim exactly. Worked great, but then I was only doing a couple. Not so swift for production.

 

[Tony Rome]

thanks but how did you line it up to apply, did you us a premask (tape)?

 

[Sign Eagle]

We have had gatorboard routed by Harbor Sales and then applied the graphic, we printed the graphic with a 1/4" outline apply transfer tape to the graphic, make a loose trim around the graphic thru the transfer tape, graphic and backing paper, aline the graphic over the gatorboard cutout, tape it in place then remove the packing paper from half the graphic, apply that half then the other half and trim the excess to the perimeter. We have also applied graphics to uncut gator an then trimmed the gator to the contour with knife or jig saw. Depending on the detail of the contour, cutting gator can be tough. We have recently started using Ultraboard, which has styrene surfaces and is a lot easier to cut.

 

[Tony Rome]

We have had gatorboard routed by Harbor Sales and then applied the graphic, we printed the graphic with a 1/4" outline apply transfer tape to the graphic, make a loose trim around the graphic thru the transfer tape, graphic and backing paper, aline the graphic over the gatorboard cutout, tape it in place then remove the packing paper from half the graphic, apply that half then the other half and trim the excess to the perimeter. We have also applied graphics to uncut gator an then trimmed the gator to the contour with knife or jig saw. Depending on the detail of the contour, cutting gator can be tough. We have recently started using Ultraboard, which has styrene surfaces and is a lot easier to cut.

Thanks,
So, you contour cut through your cutter, or by hand?
I have something so detailed I can't see cutting by hand, so I contour cut through my cutter.
I got it from Harbor as well.

 

[Sign Eagle]

We just do a rough cut by hand, you aline the graphic to the gator by feel, then just a knife around the perimeter of the gator.

 

[Sign Eagle]

I missed the part that you had a lot of detail, I'd use clear transfer tape. Side comment, routed gator will have a lot of loose particals and static this time of year, blow it off with compressed air and wipe with moist paper towel.