Whenever we try to print certain things on our Gerber EDGE, sometimes they will come out jagged. Bigger objects and type (ie: above 1" or so) appear to be fine, but when we start getting into smaller letters (1" all the way down to 1/8"), they seem to be jagged. Straight parts of the letters (ie: straight up, straight across) seem to be fine, but any angles (such as curves in letters/objects) are noticably jagged.
Have any other EDGE users noticed this? Is this a problem with our design, hardware, or materials? This is simply unacceptable, because we can clearly see in the sample book that this equipment can do much better than what we're seeing.
Keep in mind, the noticibility of the jaggedness varies with the size of a project, such that a very large sign (3' x 20') it's obviously not noticible, but when you get into business card sized magnets, etc, it starts to become a problem as people tend to look at these things closer.
posted
Laurie, we have an EdgeII and I have not had the problem that you described. You might want to post your question in Edge Talk. The link is below.
posted
We do not have an EDGE II; we have the regular Gerber EDGE. At this point, upgrading to the EDGE II is not an option.
As for the small text; we use Small Text when possible, and it comes out fine. I'm referring to the output of regular Gerber fonts, as well as shape objects. In certain instances, a customer wants a font which is only in the Gerber format, and not TrueType. For this (and many other) reasons, we cannot use Small Text all the time.
Edit: I'll also check out that Edgetalk when I have more time. Thanks for the link!
Is the problem you are having new or has this been happening ever since you got your Edge?
Can you scan a sample of the bad print and post it? If not, e-mail it to me and I'll post it for you. To provide a point of reference, you may want to lay a penny or dime next to the print when you scan it.
A few questions....
1) What vinyl are you printing on? 2) What brand of foil are you using? 3) What software are you using?
posted
Hi Laurie. From your description, it sounds like you are attempting to print a pixilated image...a bitmap file or a .tiff file. When enlarged, these types of files typically produce the "jagged edges" that you're describing. Prior to outputting your job to the Edge, did you somehow convert it to a bitmap image? If so, that really wasn't necessary, since the Edge will work far better with Vector type files. These are files that are native to the Gerber software and have a .plt extension.
Try printing the same file but use only the .plt file to assign your fills & cuts. I'm sure that may cure your "jaggies". Hope this helps you out.
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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This problem has been happening since we got our Edge. We've noticed jagged edges along curves/angles since we started printing with it. We have taken some steps to prevent this (such as detail editing the shapes and removing unnecessary nodes), but so far we have been unable to eliminate it. Also, we are using genuine Gerber fonts; not TrueType (or TT Converted) fonts.
To answer your questions: 1) We are printing on 3M Premium 220 vinyl. 2) We are using GerberColor GCS series foils for our spots, and GerberColor SuperCMYK foils for our process printing, 3) We are using Gerber OMEGA Composer 2.0. (From the About menu: OMEGA version 2.00.0.18, Composer version 2.0.0.303)
Ken,
quote: Hi Laurie. From your description, it sounds like you are attempting to print a pixilated image...a bitmap file or a .tiff file.
Actually, we're outputting straight from Composer to GSPPlot. These are vector shapes we are working with; not raster images. The jaggedness that we are seeing is occuring on a line between two points (suggesting that this is not a case of too many nodes.)
Thanks for the suggestions!
Note: Someone suggested that we try using different temperatures for printing (ie: selecting Lighter or Darker in GSPPlot settings.) This has improved the print quality a little bit (most noticably, it removed the specks that we thought were from a dirty/dusty Edge.) But still, the jaggedness that I refer to still appears.
Also, I will scan the jagged output and post it here when I have some more time.
Dylan Cooke Computer Systems Administrator
-------------------- Imagine That Laurie Walling 734 1st Ave N. Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7K1Y1 Posts: 16 | From: Saskatoon, SK, Canada | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
The only other thing I can think of that might cause the result you're seeing is that somehow your LPI (lines per inch) settings are defaulted to a very low setting. When assigning your fills, check out the halftone resolution setting. Click onto the halftone box, and from the drop-down menu, select the Classical Dot setting, or the Gerber Tone Fine setting. In the Classical Dot setting, try assigning a 72 lpi before sending your job to the Edge for output. That may result in a much sharper image and eliminate those jagged edges. If that doesn't cure the problem, then I don't know what to suggest...other than contacting Tech Support at ND Graphics.
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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We already fiddled with the halftone and LPI settings a little bit. We found that on this job, they didn't change much in terms of the jagged edges we're seeing. In the past, we've found that halftone changes typically only affect tints and process colours; thus in our case they didn't solve the jagged edge problem.
Thanks for the suggestion, though!
We have tried some other things, such as axis swapping in GSPPlot. This marginally improved the print quality, as the curves/angles are printed on a different axis.
However, the most improvement we've had so far is changing the print darkness/temperature in GSPPlot (Under Print Options, Settings button) from Normal to Light.. this removed a lot of the specks we were seeing in the output (but did nothing to cure our jagged ailments.)
Again, thanks for all your suggestions everyone! We'll get this figured out... eventually...
Dylan Cooke
Edit: We've had an offer for help from a local signmaker who runs an EDGE. Hopefully he'll be able to help us with a lot of our questions. He saw our posts on this message board... thank god for Letterheads bullboard!
Without seeing a pic of the problem, its a bit difficult to determine what might be the cause.
The reason why I say this is that everyone has their own idea should be expect. That's been my experience anyways.
I have owned both an Edge-1 and an Edge-2. Of the two, the Edge-2 does do a better job of handling smaller text by utilizing the 600x300 print feature.
I've tried printing text as small as 6 points with an Edge-1. The quality isn't any better than if I had screen printed the text using 305 mesh.
If I can find the time tomorrow, I'll run a sample print and post the results here. You may find it useful to have something to compare.
We just came across this problem today we have an Edge II. Our file is a vector also with very few nodes, this file was an ai file sent by the customer if I can figure out the problem with this file it may help you out.
-------------------- Dennis Raap Raap Signs Posts: 839 | From: Coopersville, MI | Registered: Feb 2003
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Is it safe to assume that you haven't spoken with ND TECH Support? Please give them a call. From the sounds of it, it might be a good idea for you to send a printed sample (or two) for us to have a look at, as well.
-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
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