Hey guys! Getting ready to pull the trigger on ordering a Cameo Silhouette 4, what should I be ordering for supplies? Looking to do some playfield insert work and cabinet stencils.
Gary
(Topic ID: 105393)
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Quoted from dr_nybble:Paint mask and clear transfer tape. I use an xacto knife to weed.
GerberMask ultra is popular but expensive. OraMask 813 is easily acquired.
You’ll need an HP4670 scanner and airbrush if you don’t already.
Already have the scanner!
Quoted from BorgDog:Since I knew I was going to do cabinet stencils I went with a uscutter sc2 28" wide so I can do the sides in one piece. Have also done detailed work with it just fine, including a Stern electronics apron stencil. Another option although it does take up considerably more room.
I like that, tempting.
I guess it would depend on what work I'd be doing most, playfield or cabinet.
1 week later
I'm on the fence here in regards to the Cameo 4. I think the bulk of my work is going to be making smaller pieces for playfield repair, would I not be better off with a smaller cutting unit?
1 month later
Quoted from rushfan:I did a complete KISS head and body with a 12" Cameo. Some parts were done by hand but the cameo did all the heavy lifting.
Thanks to your excellent video... my Silhouette 4 Pro is on order finally.
3 weeks later
So adventures in vinyl cutting.. impressions of the Cameo 4 after a few jobs. Did a Bally apron to look like a Stern unit and made graphics for the side of my universal Bally-Stern pinball platform. Still have to do the lower cab this week.
The included software is terrible. Is there other software that works with the cutter?
No support for vector graphics files out of the box? You have to pay extra? No ruler on the damn workspace grid? The trace function works like a drunk? WTH.
3d0b9a5216ee008fc694e0335238f6055435553d (resized).jpg8da29864ef14fd2ac6a20c9ad6d4321906e44948 (resized).jpgQuoted from dr_nybble:After that the images are brought into Inkscape. The "Trace bitmap..." option is used to convert the scan to a vectorized image. Straight lines are redrawn and the paths are separated into two layers coloured for convenience.
Old post I know but doing research; what settings did you use in Inkscape?
I used it for the first time this morning, took a jpg image and traced it as grayscale, 12 scans. Its better but not as sharp as i'd like.
Original, 12 scans, 20 scans shown. I'm still tinkering with settings..
pshop_compare (resized).jpgQuoted from dr_nybble:I usually just use the default settings in Inkscape. I mostly auto-trace fonts where the bitmap is much larger than the final font so it seems to work well.
You can try to simplify the path in Inkscape (somewhere there is a "Simplify Path" setting) as it will probably too faithfully trace every little nuance of the original graphic.
Not looking to do fonts but artwork, I'll check for the simplify path when I get home.
Did do some digging around and according to one source on the internet Inkscape can directly save SVG files as ROBO-Master type of spline output and Studio regular version will use it without a problem.
If so, a good work around the bundled version not supporting SVG out of the box.
Quoted from dudah:I export DXF from Illustrator and import into Silhouette.
What version of Studio are you using? The bundled version is deliberately hobbled.
Quoted from dudah:I export DXF from Illustrator and import into Silhouette.
Interesting enough, I tried exporting a SVG into DXF format from Inkscape and it did not work out. Something I did I'm sure and I'll have to keep poking at it.
Speaking of poking at things; I deliberately worked with Studio last night trying various settings and when tracing, the threshold setting seems to be most important when tracing pictures. Using a piece of art I worked with prior, about 80% setting looked real good. I think when I was working before, it was around 45%
High pass off and despeckle fairly low if not on zero.
I did notice that going much over 80% on threshold caused the image border to grow in dimension altering the work subtly, so duly noted.
1 week later
Just wanted to update: Doing better with the Studio software, finally figured out when you do a trace you can into point functions and smoothing which is pretty much converting your imported raster image into a Vector graphics file.
1 year later
Quoted from sethbenjamin:^this was gonna be my input as well. Make sure the bar that holds down the paper for the rear cutter (for slicing the finished work off form the rest of the roll) is fully up and locked, if it’s in the way that could give yoh trouble.
I also like to make sure I have a smooth piece of plastic behind the machine so the vinyl can glide back and forth.
2 months later
Quoted from BMGfan:I sanded at 600g before getting the clear done, was that too high a grit? Should I have gone toothier?
600 should be fine, maybe some contaminates on the playfield before it was sprayed is my guess.
1 month later
Some kind soul have a generic insert jpg or Cameo file before I start playing about with photoshop? I'm finally getting off my butt to finish Flash Gordon so I can start clearing out the backlog in my workshop. Going to learn how to cut and use frisket along with airbrush at the same time.
Pinside_forum_7883524_0 (resized).jpgQuoted from BMGfan:Try the VPforums. It's a resource for folks that make virtual pins, there's a sub forum there for play field scans. They're not perfect, but an excellent start
I'm just talking about keylines around inserts. I'll just hit photoshop and size to insert.
Quoted from sethbenjamin:For circles, just use the circle tool in the Silhouette software. You can enter the exact value for inside and outside diameter, then center them on each other. Reproduce as many as you need.
Mostly worried about circles, once computer backup is done I'll check that out. Converting computer over to SSD, what a PITA that has been.
3 weeks later
Not a bad days work considering I have never held an airbrush before.
cottonm4 inquired about painting inserts at one time, this is how it's done.
This was just a cheap G233 Pro airbrush off Amazon with Golden High Flow acrylic paint. I made stencils in Photoshop as tiffs and imported them into the Silhouette software, ran the point editor over them to clean them up and instead of Frisket used some red "removable Cricket vinyl" that I purchased by accident. A good test to see if my clearcoat had properly adhered to the playfield.
Spoiler, it did. There was no clearcoat lifting what so ever nor paint bleed through.
Air pressure was set around 20 psi and about 5 light passes were made over the inserts. Why 5? Because at that point I could not see the light shining through the insert from my phone's flashlight function directly under the playfield. I'd take the heat gun and wave it over the painted areas till the paint was dry to the touch on the masking tape and hit it again.
Inset 4x and 5x had adhesion issues for some reason. the 4x can be touched up but the 5x I scraped off and will redo. I think I did not give it enough dry time before pulling the tape and stencil.
The bonus numbers will be a little time consuming as will the "15 seconds" inserts. The former may need 2 or 3 passes since the white will have to be laid down first followed by the black "15" outline and then the keyline around the insert. Nice to finally get moving on this so I can wrap up this particular project, clear out a bunch of boxes of parts and sell the restored one I have been keeping around for reference since I have to make a harness from scratch. This playfield is going to end up in my "Seawitch from Scratch" universal Bally/Stern cabinet.
Pinside_forum_7927930_0 (resized).jpgPinside_forum_7927930_2 (resized).jpgPinside_forum_7928185_0 (resized).jpgPinside_forum_7928185_1 (resized).jpg
Quoted from sethbenjamin:Nice!! Yes, stencils and airbrush for insert lettering is *the* way to go! No more waterslides!
2 days ago after clearing, block sanded it last night for final clearing session.
20231225_164155 (resized).jpgQuoted from mrm_4:Good lord that looks nice. I need one of these to help with my rollergames resto.
The 15 seconds insert was most difficult, had to be done in 2 stages. Laid down the white first followed the black outline and insert keyline.
20231222_175840 (resized).jpg 2 weeks later
Quoted from Atari_Daze:I use two decals for each.[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
Any chance of getting a scan of that center section? I want to airbrush mine back into place.
Quoted from Atari_Daze:Which game?
PM me your email address.
Silverball, I have one in the queue to fix for "Seawitch from Scratch" cab.
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