Fooling the Optical Sensor

Plotter Cutting Prints on High Gloss and Reflective Media Some printer manufacturers, such as Mutoh, Summa and Mimaki, have systems that utilize a separate plotter to contour cut the printed graphics. To ensure accurate cutting of the printed graphic, the plotters utilize an Optical Positioning System called OPOS.  The electric eye or photo sensor of...
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Laminating Application Tape and HotMask™ Films

Stick It In Reverse How you apply an application tape to a vinyl graphic or a HotMask™ transfer tape to a printed heat transfer applique can affect the appearance of the finished product. If you get wrinkles or bubbles in the paper application tape, I can just about guarantee that you will get wrinkles and...
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Power Carving with Flexible Shaft Tools

Flexible shaft carving systems are not a necessity for woodcarving, but they sure are nice to have for several reasons. Carving with gouges or knives is generally a slow, thoughtful process. To save time I often will use my high speed flexible shaft tool to rough out a carving. With a coarse carbide burr you...
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Shop Safety Plan

In some cases, your employees will not recognize the hazards in your shop or on the jobsite. Your responsibility is to educate your people about these hazards, such as those posed by contact with solvents or other hazardous materials. If your employees are exposed to hazardous fumes, vapors, dusts, etc. over OSHA s permissible exposure limits...
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Hands-On Banners

Discover how and when applying vinyl graphics to banners makes good business sense. Vinyl banners are big business indoors and out, from grand openings to pole displays to trade show booths and beyond. Consider the statistics for outdoor advertising alone: In 2006, outdoor advertisers spent $6.8 billion, according to the Outdoor Advertising Association of America....
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Making the Most of Application Fluids

Using application fluids isn’t rocket science, but it’s not child’s play, either. Discover what you need to know to make the most of application fluids. There’s been an ongoing debate in the vinyl industry over the use of application fluids. Some swear by them for most types of vinyl installations. Others swear against them for...
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Stadium Advertising: A Sporty Opportunity

Why do you need to understand the advertising opportunities in stadiums? So you can help to sell it to your client. Discover what you need to know about stadium wrappings sporty opportunity. Have you ever considered wrapping a stadium? No job is too big for skilled vinyl installers. You could cash in on these megawraps....
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Puff, the Magic Inflatable Heat Transfer Film

Textile screen printers have used plastisol puff inks for years. These inks contain a special additive that causes the ink to expand after it is exposed to heat.  RTape/SEF FlexCut Sweet Puff films work in much the same way. Before the film is processed, FlexCut Sweet Puff looks like and cuts just like any other...
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Reflective Heat Transfer Films

Attention-getting films provide motorists with advance warning to prevent accidents. Most people avoid the limelight. Others need to be seen. This is especially true of people, who work and play in poor visibility environments. By wearing garments decorated RTape/SEF ReflexCut retro-reflective heat transfer films, these people get all the attention they desire. ReflexCut is a...
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Arlon’s DPF 8000

An Ideal Solution for Wall Graphics Many shops, which have printed wall murals in which the ink bleeds to the edge of the panel, have experienced edge curl issues with a variety of vinyl films. For permanent wall graphics applications, I would consider using Arlon’s DPF 8000 film.  DPF 8000 is a 3.5 mil (90...
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