Help Layering vinyl.

[LynnB]

I'm attaching two rather lousy pictures of my second vinyl project. So far I have done just single colors. If I had wanted to put a black shadow layer behind the red name, what is the best way to do this. Put the black layer on the cup. Then the red? Or put the red layer on the black vinyl while it is still on the backing? Any help or suggestions would be helpful

Thanks,

Lynn

girls weekend cup portrait.jpg

[Angel135612]

It is much easier to layer your vinyl if you work on a flat surface. (at least I think it is). I think if you put your top layer on your transfer tape, then lay that on your bottom layer, so you can get them lined up, then you can put both layers on the tumbler at the same time.

Also, if you use registration marks when cutting, it makes it easier to line up both layers when putting one on top of the other. You can keep your design covered with the backing, and just line up the registration marks, until they are right,then remove the backing and the design should fall right on top of the other.

[Thyme]

I agree about putting the two final layers together before putting on the tumbler

[Tyler]

I use registration marks on my vinyl - very simple to do! I agree with Diane and Dawn about assembling your vinyl project on a flat surface first!

If it is needed, we can show how to do layered vinyl in a webinar using registration marks.

[pigtailpat]

The process Angel describes is the way Rach taught me on my big project last year. I call it building the image in reverse into the transfer tape. You mirror the image first and cut it reversed, so when you are building it into the transfer tape, it is actually placed mirror down - so that from the other side of the tape - it will be in the right order (lordy I am not explaining this well I know..sorry). So as Angel said you start with the top layer - think of a person's face with eyes, nose and mouth and then - well the head. The eyes will be the "top" layer and the first item to be placed into the transfer tape. The next would be the nose, place that in it's proper place after the eyes. Then the mouth, place that into the transfer tape. Finally, you place the head into the transfer tape. Then once you have "built" your entire image into the tape, you are ready to take this tape with the built image and apply it to your final surface. That is the method that rach taught me. I hope this helps. I don't know about the rest of it with registration marks etc. I have not tackled calibration yet, and plan to do so soon.

Pat

[Angel135612]

Here is a You Tube video on how to layer vinyl using registration marks.. Casey was/is on the MTC forum, and this is one of his videos. He is known as the Vinyl Guy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxtL7x5pO2A

[YorkieMom]

Thanks for the link Diane. That's a great video. Gonna have to try this!
Susan

[JeannetteC]

I also found that if I use my mat to keep the bottom layer in place it helps, especially with small cuts like for the tumblers. When I was trying to do this with the bottom layer just loose on the table, the static would sometimes cause it to jump and adher to the top before I was ready for it. Not fun, let me tell ya when that happens!

[LisaH]

Jeannette...been there done that!!

I also will take each layer and tape them down (with their backing) to my table in order, then I don't have the static jump around Jeannette was talking about, and it makes sure you get them in the right order (side by side) if there are more than 1 or 2 layers. It also helps to have the registration marks as well!!

[LynnB]

Great suggestions everyone. Thank you. I will check out Casey's video, but I wouldn't mind seeing it done in a webinar also. Sometimes I have to see things done a couple of different ways or by different people before it registers in the brain. I'm not really understanding how I can line up registration marks but still keep the backing on. I think I am a very visual learner.

Thanks again

Lynn