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Author Topic: Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals  (Read 3825 times)

dgberg

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Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals
« on: October 01, 2011, 08:11:53 pm »

Have started printing 36" and 42" wide wall murals on Photo-Tex on my 9900.
I have a 36" Rotatrim which does not help me much with the sizes I will be working on.
Most of the prints will be 3 tiles with lengths being 8 foot plus.
The top and bottom do not need trimmed.
The long runs,both sides need the 1/2" of white cut off perfectly square. (Not really a scissors job.)
Certainly could lay it on my 10 foot cutting mat and cut it with a razor but would prefer something a little better then that.
I've seen the 6 foot Rotatrims and I am pretty sure they have a longer 8' model.  8 foot would be the minimum length cutter.
Rotatrim has a 99" Powertech model and has a price to go with it too.
This has to make a perfectly straight sharp cut as to not damage the edge of the printed surface.


« Last Edit: October 01, 2011, 09:48:25 pm by Dan Berg »
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a.lorge

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Re: Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2011, 10:34:10 pm »

Roland makes a manual trimmer:  http://www.rolanddga.com/products/trimmers/versacut/features.asp

A contour cutter might be an interesting solution if you wanted to go the expensive/automatic route.  Assuming it cuts photo-tex (which I'm not so sure about) you could also cut shapes other than squares.  For example, remember these Ben Roethlisberger Fathead commercials?  Good times.  :)
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dgberg

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Re: Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2011, 04:59:04 am »

Thank you for the cutter link.
Thats in the right price range but not sure how I would like changing and adjusting those blades all the time.
Rotatrim has the 99" model in the Digitech line at $1799. Not sure that expense is warranted at this early stage.
Would love a Roland xc-540 which could also do the contour kiss cutting for us but at 30K is out of the question.
A printer cutter also takes the business in a whole new direction which I am not sure I want to do.
Anyone using a cutter we have not discussed so far?
Looks like the 96" purple ruler and razor to start. (96" model $145.35 at Jack Ripper Assoc. in Michigan))
« Last Edit: October 02, 2011, 05:37:03 am by Dan Berg »
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Ernst Dinkla

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Re: Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals
« Reply #3 on: October 02, 2011, 06:01:53 am »

For a similar job I used a Bosch rotary knife fixed (slightly recessed) on a smooth board and a parallel guidance at the side. After some trials it worked quite well. The board has to be slippery (silicon wax on the phenol of concrete mold plywood) so not much force is needed to align and pull the mural media through.


met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst

Dinkla Gallery Canvas Wrap Actions for Photoshop

http://www.pigment-print.com/dinklacanvaswraps/index.html
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Jgburton1

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Re: Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals
« Reply #4 on: October 02, 2011, 08:57:22 am »

I am going to try the Keencut evolution 2. It appears to be good for cutting everything from gatorboard to fabric. I am going for the 84" but they have longer cutters as well.
Jim Burton
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dgberg

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Re: Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals
« Reply #5 on: October 02, 2011, 09:46:09 am »

Thanks Jim
The evolution 2 120" is $1795 the same price as the Rotatrim 99" Digitech.
Just love the design of the Rotatrim cutting head. (No constant blade replacing.)
Will have to ask the salesman if the Evolution 2 will cut gatorboard and Dibond?
I think Keencut has a wall mounted larger model that would cut those materials.
Right now I am mostly concerned with trimming long canvas pano prints and the Phototex murals.
The dealer is less then an hour from my shop. Will give them a call Monday.

na goodman

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Re: Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals
« Reply #6 on: October 02, 2011, 10:30:44 am »

I saw this one at a client's. It was really nice and cut through a lot of different materials. It comes in a number of different widths. You can probably do a search and come up with even a better price.
http://www.papercutterstore.com/large_format_cutter_60183_1379_15445.html
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Luca Ragogna

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Re: Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals
« Reply #7 on: October 02, 2011, 12:26:05 pm »

Unless you're doing a ton of these I think you're best to go with a 100" safety ruler - http://www.speedpress.com/products/2/133 and an Olfa knife. Add a large cutting mat - http://www.speedpress.com/products/2/1 and you're golden. The rulers are heavy with a grippy rubber bottom so you can cut, reposition and keep cutting without the ruler moving. It's a fraction of the cost of one of those giant cutters too. Honestly, I can't imagine that's it's easy to get an 8 foot print lined up straight in a cutter and keep it from twisting during the cut.
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dgberg

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Re: Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals
« Reply #8 on: October 02, 2011, 12:35:46 pm »

Good points.
I have the knives and a 10' mat all I need is the 10' ruler like mentioned above.

Craig Murphy

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Re: Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals
« Reply #9 on: October 02, 2011, 02:11:00 pm »

Curious to know how the Photo-Tex is working.  I have some but print with PK inks.  Suppose MK is best for it.  Not a very 'snappy' look with Photo-Tex as its really a cloth.  Lots of ink spread.  I also have suspicions that it works best with a RIP.  My prints are a far cry from the prints they send as samples.  Neat stuff though.
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LenR

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Re: Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals
« Reply #10 on: October 02, 2011, 02:14:06 pm »

Hi Dan,
I have a 104" Javelin on a Big Bench that I am very happy with.  
Don't get a long rotary, it's a "One Trick Pony" in that all it can cut is paper and film.
I started with a 120" Safety ruler that while not nearly as precise as the Javelin, might work in a pinch for not too much $.
Len

PS: The above opinion and 25 cents will get you a 25 cent Coke:)
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dgberg

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Re: Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals
« Reply #11 on: October 02, 2011, 02:52:58 pm »

Craig,
Am in the very early stages of the mural business.
Presently using the phototex profile with mk ink.
Did a large print with alot of black and it was a throw away.
Phototex folks suggest changing brightness,saturation and I believe one more setting.
I tried those settings and get better results with no changes.
My last couple of prints have been quite good.
I am doing my best to not get a rip,will see how it goes.

Len,
Not sure which way I am going to go at this point.
Your right $1700 is alot for a tool that only cuts media.

Jgburton1

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Re: Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals
« Reply #12 on: October 02, 2011, 04:36:17 pm »

Dan

I called Keencut and the salesman said the evolution would cut 1/2 " gatorboard, sintra, and other such materials. I hope he is right.

Jim Burton
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dgberg

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Re: Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals
« Reply #13 on: October 02, 2011, 05:36:50 pm »

Thanks Jim
Will call my guy tomorrow with lots of questions.

jasdown

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Re: Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals
« Reply #14 on: October 03, 2011, 03:35:06 pm »

Here's a link to a mural-sized Photo-Tex installation on Youtube. I think that trimming in place with your choice of straight edge and knife is definitely the way to go (like when hanging wallpaper and matching a pattern at seams).
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dgberg

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Re: Trimming 8 foot Photo-Tex wall murals
« Reply #15 on: October 03, 2011, 04:13:47 pm »

They have either been pre-trimmed on both sides. (You do not see any white unprinted borders)
or they have been printed borderless. (Which is not that easy.)
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