Printing and Output Services: Vinyl Cutting
Advanced Output Center
Sullivan Center
36 S. Wabash Ave., suite 1232A
Phone: 312.629.6688
advancedoutput@saic.edu
Location: Service Bureau, 37 S. Wabash Ave. Room 1111
The Service Bureau uses a Graphtec FC8000-100 vinyl cutter for professional-quality vinyl cutting.
Expected time: 48 hours
Your job will be supplied to you cut only, with all the vinyl still intact, unless otherwise specified. See Additional Vinyl Services (below) for more info on Weeding and Application Tape.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Vinyl Type | Avery 900 Ultimate Cast |
| Vinyl Colors | Matte Black, Glossy Black, Matte White, Glossy White, & Dark Grey* |
| Size | Minimum 1 sq ft for in stock media Minimum 2 sq ft for special orders |
| Vinyl Rating | 4-7 years, depending on type |
| File Type | Illustrator files only |
| File Preparation | All designs must be closed vector paths with no overlapping paths. Strokes and text must be converted to outlines. It helps to open the file in Illustrator and go to View > Outline. The cutter will cut all the lines you see. Any black space will not be cut. See Tips for Common Mistakes (below) for more info. |
* In addition to our regular stock, we have a limited selection of assorted vinyl colors available. You can also special order any of the Avery 900 Ultimate Cast colors, adding at least 4 days to your turnaround time. Come see us at the Service Bureau for more details.
| Roll width | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal Vinyl (A4/A9 colors) | up to 30" | $4.00/sq ft |
| Specialty Vinyl (Metallic, Fluorescent, etc.) | up to 30" | $5.00/sq ft |
| Supply your own media | up to 42" | $3.00/sq ft |
Tips for Common File Mistakes
| Strokes | |
|---|---|
What you see (10pt stroke) |
What the cutter sees |
What the cutter sees with strokes outlined |
Best Scenario- shape created without strokes |
| Clipping Masks | ||
|---|---|---|
What you see |
What the cutter sees |
Best Scenario- shape created without a Clipping Mask |
Additional Vinyl Services
Your job will be supplied to you cut, with all the vinyl still intact. Your vinyl still needs to be weeded and tape must be applied before it is ready to be put on the wall. Here is some more information on weeding, taping, and installing vinyl.
Weeding
To "weed" a vinyl job means to remove the excess vinyl from the liner, leaving only your words and designs.
Weeding Your Vinyl Yourself
Its easy and saves you time and money! Some advice when weeding your file:
- Go slowly. Work in small sections and peel the material off a little at a time.
- Use a clean, sharp knife. A dull knife will result in accidental cuts or rough edges.
- The smaller the type or more detailed the pattern, the more difficult it will be. If you're new to weeding, you may want to practice with simpler designs first.
- We're here to help. Don't hesitate to ask for advice from one of our experienced employees.
Weeding by the Bureau
The Service Bureau will weed cut vinyl consisting of text up to 30" x 48", with a font point size of 24 and higher for san serif type or 36 and higher for serif type. The Service Bureau does not weed designs or graphics. Depending on your text size/design, we reserve the right to refuse this service due to space and staffing limitations.
| Cost | |
|---|---|
|
Weeding by the Staff |
$3.00/sq ft |
Expected time: 24 hours
Application Tape
Tape must be applied over the vinyl to hold the pieces in place and transfer them from the liner on to the wall. Taping is even easier than weeding. We will provide you with tape, squeegees for pressing the tape to the vinyl and removing bubbles, and lots of tips and tricks. Or we can do it for you, after weeding, at no cost (because it's that easy).
Expected time: 24 hours
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| Applying application tape to stick your graphic to the wall | FREE |
Installation
We won't install the vinyl for you, but here's some good advice on how to make it go smoothly:
- Clean the wall. Vinyl doesn't stick well to grime. Recommended: isopropyl alcohol and paper towels.
- Remove the lining slowly so as not to accidently peel the vinyl off the application tape.
- Use a credit card or squeegee to make sure the vinyl is stuck to the wall before removing the application tape. Start at one side and work your way across.
