I just lettered(vinyled) a tow truck yesterday. There is an oval in the logo about 16"x30". I can see where the nodes are in the vinyl, if you know what I mean. The oval is not really smooth, kinda choppy like there is not a smooth transition between one node and the next. I looked at the nodes in Signlab and they are all the circle type nodes, not the corner type nodes.
Does anyone have any ideas on what might have happened and how I can fix this. Using Signlab 4.95 and a Roland Camm-1 plotter. I do have the "arc support" option checked in the Move Control menu.
Thanks.. Darryl
[ December 29, 2004, 12:11 AM: Message edited by: Darryl Gomes ]
Posted by Rick Beisiegel (Member # 3723) on :
Hey Darryl
I am not familiar with Signlab, but, What has to be done is refered to as detail editing.
Sometimes creating a node on either side of the existing node can help you get more control, and allow you to tweak the new nodes. usually, I delete the existing node first, and this will lessen the points.
Hope some "Signlabbers" respond. Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
Hi Darryl. I have Gerber software, but it is always important to go over stuff with a fine-tooth comb and alter ot eliminate nodes for a smoother look. I am amazed at some jobs I've seen that look like they need a good shave! Sometimes, like if it is an oval as you've described, rough from a scan, I just draw an identical new one with the shape tool. My shave reference was do-able too, with a careful hand. You could CAREFULLY trim the nodes with a new sharp X-Acto, preferably while the thing is still on the backer paper fresh from weeding or worse yet on the vehicle. But that would only be in an extreme circumstance. Love....Jill
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
I'm guessing that Rick and Jill have addressed the problem....as it sounds like this might be kind of new to you?
One other thing you might consider: Make sure that the settings on your computer match the requirements of your plotter as to handshaking, etc....and just double-check to make sure you don't have a plotter that has a dipswitch that will allow "smoothing".
I had a Roland plotter that had several manually switchable dipswitches, and I recall that one of the switches would aid in smoothing out an image between nodes.
It almost sounds like you cut an oval that was supplied to you as a .wmf or .dxf cad type file, which tend to make all curves out of a series of straight line segments.
Let us know what you figure out the problem was...
Posted by timi NC (Member # 576) on :
I would check the blade offset on the plotter and then the blade carriage cable to make sure it hasn't worked itself loose.
Posted by Gary Hove (Member # 4970) on :
I have a CAMM-1 pro and I use Signlab 5.0, is the smothing on the plotter set to "ON". On the plotter Press MENU, SUBMENU, press till you get to SMOTHING END, select SMOOTHING. This should be "ON". You usually set this to OFF when cutting intricate designs or very small lettering. If it is OFF you would see nodes on a large arc cut. Good luck
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Gary....exactly....this is what I was wondering in my previous post also...
Posted by Darryl Gomes (Member # 98) on :
Thanks everyone.. I will get the manual out and check the dip switches. The smoothing(arc support) is on in Signlab.
This oval was drawn with the circle tool, not scanned.
I have been node editing for about 15 years. I remember before scanners I would photocopy my art on to a transparency and tape it to the screen to digitize it.
Posted by Joe Rees (Member # 211) on :
Side note - I notice some 'jitters' sometimes on large curves that definitely were not in the original file. My plotter is not high-end and about 10 years old (65 in plotter years). I chalk it up to a slight shimmy or vibration in the carriage at certain rates of feed. The slight sawtoothing effect is not noticible to anyone but me really...I can live with.
Posted by Darryl Gomes (Member # 98) on :
I am the only one that noticed it too.. My wife helped me weeding, and the guys at the garage have never said anything. It still bothers me though.
Posted by Jimmy Goines (Member # 5323) on :
Darryl,...I also have an older roland camm1 that gets the jitters sometimes...13 years old and still plotting... I compensate with redrawing ovals, etc. and setting curve parameter settings between software and plotter. Most of my problems occur when doing several color registrations on an oval design... I usually put register marks of some sort on the final plot page so that I can compensate for the "plotter jitters" during application of color layers.
I take particular delight in seeing an old highly reliable plotter machine continue to do it's plot thing. My camm-1 has surpassed 4 of my computers so far.... If I had made a "weed ball" of all the vinyl cut on my camm-1 during it's age, it would be humongous!
I'm also usually the only one that notices the plotter jitters...unless I ask my wife and best critic.
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Darryl, check the tightness of thumb-screw holding the blade-holder. Also check the blade downforce, (not accidentally bumped on to become too hard) and see that the vinyl isn't thick old claendered stuff. Also see that the blade is sharp. There may be sufficient drag in stiff old thick vinyl,a blunt blade, with more pressure than necessary, dragging on the blade, and slop in the blade holder so it doesn't register the changes of direction so smoothly, but waits for the next 'jerk' before it swoops across.
I did have a problem like this ages ago, and a scalpel freehanded fixed the curves as suggested above. It was so long ago that I don't know how or when it the problem stopped.
Gary's idea sounds brilliant though, but I'd check the possible manual/operator error options too.
Posted by Jeff Ogden (Member # 3184) on :
I have had a problem with some jobs...I do the layout in Corel 9, check the letters up close and all curves etc. are smooth. But when I import to my Signlab cutting program, it comes up jaggy. It has only happened a few times, but it was maddening trying to figure out why, as it apparently had nothing to do with the plotter or settings.
Like I say, it has only happened twice, and I can only attribute it to the file somehow getting corrupted during the transfer process.
I haven't had it happen again in the last 5 months, so it seems to have gone away as mysteriously as it arrived. I do remember though that it happened right after I had changed the blade offset to cut some sandblast resist, but the settings were back to the correct numbers when the incidents occurred !!?!Is that just coincidence?
I'm only posting this because your prob and mine were both with Signlab, although different versions.It's been a good program for me other than those 2 times.
Posted by Dawn Ellis (Member # 3529) on :
Hi Darryl, try selecting your oval, then go to "Arrange" in toolbar, then "convert", select 'polygon' not 'polyarc'. Even if the nodes are circle nodes if it's in polyarc mode it will cut the way you've described. Change to polygon and the round nodes will cut smoothly. I use SignLab 6 - so hope this applies to your version as well. Good luck.
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