What's the best way to put outline vinyl letters???

[decalman]

I admit that I'm not the most up on modern methods and technology.
I've been supporting myself in the vinyl business for about 20 years.

I haven't made many signs in the past nine years because I've been doing just graphics for vehicles.

When I put an outline on a 36-inch Word.
I usually just take some clear transfer paper and eyeball it best I can , and then roll It on by free hand.

Often the outline doesn't go on perfect.

What's the best way to do this so it lines up perfect?

Signed...... better late than never.

 

[equippaint]

Cut squares in the same place on each file, then line them up

 

[JR's]

Make your outline solid. Then put the lettering on top of the outline.

 

[eahicks]

Make your outline solid. Then put the lettering on top of the outline.

You still have to line that up so the outline is consistent around each letter. You need registration marks of some type, as mentioned, or a light table.

 

[Billct2]

Agree, lay the outline as a solid first and drop the letter on top. Registration marks help and/or app fluid. Just be sure you're using vinyl with opaque adhesive.

 

[myront]

 

[Johnny Best]

I prefer the outline being solid also and apply top layer with clear transfer film with application fluid.

 

[Jay Grooms]

If I'm doing cut vinyl, I too like the outline solid so there isn't a "bump" in the vinyl. I usually just put boxes in the top two corners and some rapid-tac. I usually don't use clear tape.

 

[TimToad]

You still have to line that up so the outline is consistent around each letter. You need registration marks of some type, as mentioned, or a light table.

We plot our registration marks in the same exact place in each layer of vinyl color.

 

[Stacey K]

I also prefer the solid outline and lay the letters on top. Use application fluid and registration marks.

 

[myront]

I prefer the outline being solid also and apply top layer with clear transfer film with application fluid.

If the 2nd layer vinyl is of a lighter color it will produce an undesired darker color when applied over a dark solid fill. i.e. yellow over black could make for a slightly darker yellow. Even the image i posted earlier would actually be best to stick a slightly expanded blue first then the black outline.
And I still believe registration marks (triangles) work best. No need for application fluid or clear transfer.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

Even if I have a solid background and boxes.. I still manage to get them off track somehow. If it's something long I'll break it up so I'm not doing one piece

 

[equippaint]

If the 2nd layer vinyl is of a lighter color it will produce an undesired darker color when applied over a dark solid fill. i.e. yellow over black could make for a slightly darker yellow. Even the image i posted earlier would actually be best to stick a slightly expanded blue first then the black outline.
And I still believe registration marks (triangles) work best. No need for application fluid or clear transfer.

If you expand the bottom then you have this ugly little ridge bordering all the letters. If you dont and it shrinks a hair, you end up with a gap. Solid is the easiest, even if theres a slight color shift.

 

[Johnny Best]

I use to do a lot of boats and when you have a long transom you won't be able to line up squares or triangles very well, plus moving around on a swim platform can limit your movement.
And,If you putting a thin outline, lets say 1/8" wide and you put it over the solid part it will come off with all the cleaning they do on boats, so that is why I like putting the solid back as the outline on first and coming back over the top with the top color lining up with my eyes and transfer liquid. And, if using 24k gold vinyl I stack my copy so as to save on material, so the registration thing won't work. After doing a dozen or so outlines you can line things up really good and fast. Really did not have problems with lets say yellow over a darker color because I used dark blue or black with gold outline or reversed. If customers wanted the lighter colors then I would purchase the opaque ones.