Dirtbike Graphic Media - Problems !!

[K-Style Kid]

Hello Everyone -

I am new to this group and it seems very helpful so here goes with my
questions for you experts. Let me first say I am a sales guy so I am
not that technical....

We have a Roland SP-300 Versacamm - and we are creating crazy
hi-resolution graphics kits for dirtbikes, we do all of our own
designs.

So on a recommendation we got some Convex 6mil glossy w/adhesive from
GMS - and it seems like cool stuff - we used the profile suggested by
the Master Sign Wizard and it still looks like junk....too much ink -
you have to really heat it a LOT too.... Our gradients do not display
correctly and it looks too dark.

Then used some of the Roland material - the ESM-GCVP 1024 and it looks
AWESOME. Problem is, the adhesive is not very strong. So we think it
may not stand up to the rigors of the application...

But why does the Roland stuff look so great with minimal
tweaking...and the GMS Convex is so hard to get to look right ? Is it
just not the right stuff ?

Or does everyone here go through all of this and we just need to keep
on at it ? Becasue we don't want to spend all month fooling with
Convex if we arent going to be happy in the end.

Can someone give us some insight or maybe some suggestions / ideas ?

If so it would really help us out and if you help us and have a
dirtbike we can help you too !!!!

Thanks a lot in advance,

Sean - Hogart Designs

 

[Jon O'Brien]

We have a Roland SP-300 Versacamm

I don't know that Roland model but the Hi-Fi Jet Pro models come with a
number of colour profiles installed in the printer. If the Versacamm is
the same, it may be that there's a profile for the Roland material but not
the GMS Convex. If you're not using profiles, it may just be that the
Roland material has been optimised to work with the printer's default
settings and is better at absorbing ink than the GMS Convex.

If you can give a bit more information about how you're printing the
graphics it would help. How do you tell the system what material you're
printing on? What software are you using?

Jon.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Generally speaking, each medium requires special profiles. The ones
that are most likely included with your printer, since it is sold by
Roland, would be profiles that work best with Roland media.

The machine in question uses Rolands Eco-Sol inks which are solvent inks
that require heating to cure. They claim the inks can be used on either
coated or uncoated PVC stock with the built-in heater. This unit also
has automated cutting of irregular shapes for decals.

It is very possible the Roland materials are coated stock. This means
it has a receptive layer for the ink which holds it in place before it
is cured in the heat. Coated stocks are designed to take more ink load,
but they also usually also can therefore produce more vibrant and
saturated colors.

The material you are using (Convex 6 mil glossy) may not be coated at
all, so it will hold a lot less ink, and therefore the profiles require
changing.

Roland has a user group which can be found at:


http://www.rolanddga.com/boards/


There has been some discussion there.

Also, below is a series of postings from Signs 101, discussing profiling
of Convex vinyls, which may prove helpful to you,

There seem to be a number of dirtbike decal makers on these groups.

This group you are currently on is probably not the best one to find out
the information you require.

Best of luck,

Art

Here's the discussion form Signs101.com

Still having problems with the Convex 6 mil
I ordered 10 yds of convex 6 mil before I bought my versacamm to make

sure it would print on that vinyl. It did print on it, but the profiles
were not right and it came out bad. I then posted a HELP with convex
on this forum as well as others and have been helped by the
signmasterwizard and barry who responded. Both have profiles of their
own that seem to work for them. But I run those profiles in my machine
and get decent results. The print does look better but it has flaws
in both. Corey (Signmasterwizard)'s lays down the ink really hard
and looses all the detail we wish to have in our design. Barry's is
perfect for the detail but has white dots throughout the entire print.
The dots are lightly in the background, but can be easily seen. I am
very new to this machine and industry for that matter. Am I being too
picky? I've seen it print the exact way I need it on roland vinyl but
roland does not offer a sticky enough adhesive for the plastics of
offroad motorcycles and ATV's. Maybe someone has a better solution.
I like the guys at GMS (the people that manufactor convex), they are
as helpful as they can be, but have no REAL solution for me. So once
again, can someone lead me into the right direction? I own this thing
now so its either going to work or be a very expensive flower box.
Thanks

James Slaughter
====================

Ive printed on the convex 8 mil with no problems. I used the

Generic 2 profile, tured the heat up to about 116 and adjusted the
ink limit until I got the results I wanted.

What kind of problems are you having?
Barry
======================

10-07-2004, 08:45 PM
James Slaughter

Barry,

Mainly grays were lost and the ink was layed on too thick. I am

new to this industry and was testing this product during a demo of
the versacamm. the machine printed on the roland material perfectly.
I spoke with a few people today and will be having the versacamm
delivered on Monday, so I can use the help once it is in house. I
will post again once it is here

Thanks

James Slaughter

========================

10-07-2004, 10:35 PM
Barry


James,

Feel free to give me a call at 832-515-6458, I would be more than

happy to help you with some of the start up issues like this.

========================

 

[Arthur Entlich]

My browser sent me back half a year, so that last posting iI responded
to is very old... sorry.

Art