If done properly, you’ll be able to remove the excess vinyl and transfer tape in one fell swoop. Once covered, remove the backing paper as usual. From there, you can use transfer tape to cover your design the way you normally would. Be extra careful when working with small openings, such as holes in the middle of letters or numbers. Avoid cutting any lines unless they are separating your groupings. When weeding your vinyl, only cut the border. Place it with the sticky side facing up on the weeding area, using clamps to keep it from moving around. If you are working with designs smaller than one-half inch, tape out the entire design first, which will help it to come up in one piece. Start by laying the full piece of vinyl on your table and begin the weeding process at the top right, working toward the bottom left of your design. Luckily, you can make the process easier. The process can be tricky and time-consuming, especially if you are working with small, detailed designs. The term “weeding vinyl” refers to removing extra pieces from your design after it’s printed. This way, you won’t have to make as many adjustments to your machine and software between projects, which will save time and prevent the possibility of mistakes. If you intend to make multiples cuts of the same design of decal, group the projects together. Some people use them to decorate backpacks, label jars or as art on windows or walls. You can create vinyl decals for practically anything, but they are most often found on bikes, skateboards, laptops or cars. Think About the Variety of Designs You Can Createīefore you start creating your designs, consider what you’re making them for. Don’t forget to research the warranty as well.Ĥ. A vinyl cutter with media cut-off makes it easier to end your jobs with clean edges, and an adjustable pinch roller allows you to customize the amount of pressure applied, which makes it easier to work with different materials. If you intend to make large decals for walls or vehicles, you’ll need a larger cutter.Ĭonsider other features as well. If your designs are larger than those used in a scrapbook but smaller than 10 feet long, opt for a desktop cutter. Tiny decals, such as those used in scrapbooks, work well with an entry-level cutter. These motors are usually more expensive but worth the price, especially if you hope to sell your designs. Servo motors are more precise and quieter also, they are better at maintaining a straight line on the vinyl. It uses an encoder that translates your instructions into binary code (a code comprised of nothing but zeros and ones). Servo Motors: A servo motor is digital.However, keep in mind that stepper motors can be noisy and often aren’t precise. While this method is old technology, it is also the more affordable option.

It uses gears to move across your design in tiny increments. Stepper Motors: A stepper motor is mechanical.

Decal printing and cutting machines