A Digital Printing Network
car magnets not working out - digimag - does anyone print direct to digimag successfully?
Well...I am still fighting magnets.
Does any one have any luck printing directly to digimag? My prints are so grainy that I print to sign vinyl and mount on top of the digimag.
Here is my process.
print sign vinyl - let dry overnight
laminate
mount to magnet with laminator
laser cut.
The problem is that when we go to cut with laser and line it up our cuts are off. We have worked on severla issues but still have the problem. We even went to a thicker sign vinyl. Cost more but that does seem to help. There are just too many steps and too many things that can go wrong to get PERFECT custom cuts...I can be a little picky...On larger magnets it is fine but we are attemting to cut perfect ovals with outlines on about a 5 inch magnet.
Long story short. I have a roland SP540V. Does any one have any luck printing directly to digimag with this printer? Would you be willing to share your profile and settings? The web site for digimag list the printer but they have 2-3 rips...not Versaworks. Very odd since I would assume most people run Versaworks.
Or is there a completly different process that I am missing? We tried to cut the magnets first and then mount them but we were getting bubbles, etc...when mounting. Actually we could try with the new thicker material...
I am spending so much in labor and wasted material that I am losing money on this order.
Thanks.
Brent
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by CYW on -
Brent I print the vinyl and then apply to the custom cut magnetic material.
No bubbles............I use Oracal RA and sometimes even a tiny spritz of RapidTac
Crumby phone pictures.
But you get the idea.
Diane
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Permalink Reply by Brent Bolm on
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wow Diane...you never cease to amaze. That is what I am trying to do but going about it the hard way apparently.
So that is the white magent on the very edge or does the vinyl go all the way to the edge? That is why I cut after mounting...To get the vinyl all the way to the edge. I sent some out with the vinyl not al lthe way to the edge and the person did not like them with the edge of vinyl.
Thanks!
Brent
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Permalink Reply by CYW on
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nah, Brent............I leave a little border.
Otherwise, you're right. It can be an alignment nightmare.
Tell your customer.......'tough noogies", that's how you do them.
We've done plenty and plenty of magnets over the years. I only had one customer, one time, question the process.
I told them to go get them screenprinted, spend a small fortune or buy a whole boatload........because that's the only way they are going to get custom cut, multi-color.
Never heard another peep. He's been placing reorders regularly with me.
Those pictures are white and black magnetic, but I've also used yellow and blue.
Is the border the problem or the color of the border the problem?
The only other suggestion I have is contract them out to a printer. Again that will only work if they need a boatload or they'll be very pricey.
Diane
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Permalink Reply by Brent Bolm on
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This is for small amount as well. cheapest way is to print them myself. Maybe I am bring too picky...that one customer scared me off from the border...a little border is not that big a deal I suppose.
Actually I called the compnay that produces digimag and they sent me information on printing direct to the magnet. They do not have a profile for Versaworks but they do have settings. If it works I will post the formula. Pretty sure I can cut after the fact if I print direct to magnet.
Thanks!
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Permalink Reply by Mike F on
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One thing you could do is print a sheet of them with the print/cut crop marks, laminate, cut a sheet of magnetic material to the same size as your print, mount it, and then cut with the versacamm. You would need to check with someone else on here to see what the maximum thickness of magnetic material you can run through it is, but that should do the trick for you. There's a thread that's fairly recent all about cutting magnets actually, see if you can find it, there should be some useful info for you in there.
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Permalink Reply by Brent Bolm on
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This is 30mil thick for car magents so I do not think the roland would cut it. At least mine would not. It does not seem not have force like some people report. thanks!
Brent
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Permalink Reply by CYW on
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I had someone print off a sample from their VC years ago for me...........it was awful
First of all the magnetic was too thin. It was more refigerator weight.
Seconly the print didn't POP!
The surface of magnetic is dull.
Brent, I know you pretty well.
I think (?) your problem is that you want to be able to do it all.
I respect you for that ambition.
But it's just not always possible, my friend.
I understand it's hard for you to say 'no' sometimes but in this case, you're not really saying no.
You'll make them their magnets, you're just gonna' make them the way that you can make them.
Diane
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Permalink Reply by Brent Bolm on
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that's funny because my assistant and my wife think not being able to say no is my biggest problem! well my wife probably has another list as well...
Digimag is "print-able" magnet. it has a vinyl face on it. All of my test prints look horrible though. that is why I started this mess. We will see if the setings from the factory help. If not I guess I will give up and live with the border....if we can mount then without bubbles like you do.
Do you mount center out like masking heat transfers or have any tricks you are willing to share?
Thanks so much!
Brent
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Permalink Reply by CYW on
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How big are these magnets we're talking about Brent?
Small car magnets or magnets for the side of a car or truck door?
95% of all the magnets I make are around 8 inches or a little less
You're not getting bubbles on that size, are you?
What size squeegee are you using?
I always use a 12 incher, makes all the difference in the world
Try an air release vinyl, a nice big squeegee and a teensy bit of rapid Tac if you're still having issues
Let me know.....
Diane
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Permalink Reply by irving donaldson on -
Sorry I did not have time to read the entire post. But if a pix is worth a thousand words - I made up by looking at Lady Di's pixs. So I get digimags from S&F but either 20 or 25 mil. That is your issue - 30 is too thick. Trying to calibrate mags is a nightmare and looks like crap. This is what works for me. Use regular decal material - ensure my adjustments are correct (all calibrations) on low height. I then switch to high and load mag material. I print using GCVP and do color management according to my file. I slow speed of cut and upspeed and do nothing more than a foot. Two long a distance and you will need a good bleed line. I did not get your machine - I am on a vp540. if you have a vs - they have a metal rear so you will need to cover that with cardboard. I did have another cammer who told and show me how they put a piece of the same material over the rear and then feed the material in - IT WORKS. I would say I do not have the patience you guys/gals or steve have - my camm will not be spoiled.
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Permalink Reply by Steven Jackson - Admin on -
Brent - why don't you laser cut blanks and then apply the printed decal to the magnet. Another idea if you really want to print directly onto the magnet is to print the design with a thin border the in the shape and size of your laser bed and then cut the rectangle so it fits exactly into your laser and the you have perfect alignment for cutting there. Many ways to get this done but I think the best is not to print on the magnet ( remember that it has to try and het all that thick magnet to get a good print) but rather print onto a decal to get the best results and apply to a magnetic blank after.
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