Registration Systems

[Shanarchy]

I created +  top and bottom center marks that are nearly identical to the ones on the ROQ PRU. The PRU has green laser + and are locked in so they don't move. Much more accurate that lining up films to each other.

What are the specs of the reg marks you made? Or does the FPU come with those specs? Mine is en route to me.

[alan802]

In regards to the number and type of regi marks we used a center top and bottom for many years, of different types like a traditional crosshair and circle, to just the + with differing widths.  And we've also tried many different quantities of marks and found a noticeable improvement going from 2 to 3 (center top and bottom with one offset at the top) but no noticeable improvements from 3 to 4 or higher.  It might sound ridiculous and I didn't really buy into it at first but 3 marks really did give us more accurately registered prints.  There were examples where our 2 marks would be dead nuts on but we'd have to make slight adjustments but at no time and thousands of jobs have we had 3 marks dead nuts on and had to make any micro adjustments.  Take it for what it's worth, and that was nothing but your time to read my post.  But I think anyone currently using 2 reg marks should try 3 for a few weeks and see what you think. 

Our reg marks look like a larger version of this:

        +      +


        +

The offset mark is 4" to the right of the top center mark but it really doesn't matter so much if you put them top or bottom but the further out you put them the more accurate your images will line up with one another.  Smaller left chest logos we'll only use 2 marks.  Also, our marks aren't solid lines, they are broken up like a series of dashes like this --- and that helped us line up the film to the alignment film on the FPU since you can see the FPU solid lines through the film of the job you're setting up.  Hope that makes sense.

[Shanarchy]

I also do three. The other part to that is it makes it very difficult to put your film on the screen backwards.

[mimosatexas]

interesting points.  I have been meaning to remake my fpu to allow for larger film sizes once I get my 4800 up and running, and I may try out 3 on the new master sheet.  Can't really see the harm...  I like the dashed line idea as well Alan.

[alan802]

interesting points.  I have been meaning to remake my fpu to allow for larger film sizes once I get my 4800 up and running, and I may try out 3 on the new master sheet.  Can't really see the harm...  I like the dashed line idea as well Alan.

I stumbled on the dashed line because of the poor results from the LED.  I wanted to make our regi marks thinner than the lines on our FPU so we could more precisely line up our film but we couldn't develop those thinner lines with the Vastex LED so we tried the dashed line and it worked perfectly and probably better than my initial idea.

[1964GN]

I created +  top and bottom center marks that are nearly identical to the ones on the ROQ PRU. The PRU has green laser + and are locked in so they don't move. Much more accurate that lining up films to each other.

What are the specs of the reg marks you made? Or does the FPU come with those specs? Mine is en route to me.

I'll get this for you this afternoon.

[1964GN]

In regards to the number and type of regi marks we used a center top and bottom for many years, of different types like a traditional crosshair and circle, to just the + with differing widths.  And we've also tried many different quantities of marks and found a noticeable improvement going from 2 to 3 (center top and bottom with one offset at the top) but no noticeable improvements from 3 to 4 or higher.  It might sound ridiculous and I didn't really buy into it at first but 3 marks really did give us more accurately registered prints.  There were examples where our 2 marks would be dead nuts on but we'd have to make slight adjustments but at no time and thousands of jobs have we had 3 marks dead nuts on and had to make any micro adjustments.  Take it for what it's worth, and that was nothing but your time to read my post.  But I think anyone currently using 2 reg marks should try 3 for a few weeks and see what you think. 

Our reg marks look like a larger version of this:

        +      +


        +

The offset mark is 4" to the right of the top center mark but it really doesn't matter so much if you put them top or bottom but the further out you put them the more accurate your images will line up with one another.  Smaller left chest logos we'll only use 2 marks.  Also, our marks aren't solid lines, they are broken up like a series of dashes like this --- and that helped us line up the film to the alignment film on the FPU since you can see the FPU solid lines through the film of the job you're setting up.  Hope that makes sense.

A couple of nice nuggets there. Thank you!

[1964GN]

I think it was 1.20 pts but I may have made it a bit smaller. This does seem to fit best what ever it is. I export to a PSD at 300 dpi as well.

The 2 that are stacked are the minimum distance for a left chest (with a tad extra in length)

[Inkworks]

I'll toss in a link to my build of a FPU and matching on-press jig:

http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php/topic,12251.0.html

Absolutely one of the best things I've added to the shop for ROI. it saves us money every day and has since I took 1 day to build it with about $100 worth of parts and materials.

And credit to those whom credit is due here at TSB for the design ideas that I obviously took inspiration from!

[alan802]

I'll toss in a link to my build of a FPU and matching on-press jig:

http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php/topic,12251.0.html

Absolutely one of the best things I've added to the shop for ROI. it saves us money every day and has since I took 1 day to build it with about $100 worth of parts and materials.

And credit to those whom credit is due here at TSB for the design ideas that I obviously took inspiration from!

That is so well done, a beautiful piece if you don't mind me saying.

[Shanarchy]

I think it was 1.20 pts but I may have made it a bit smaller. This does seem to fit best what ever it is. I export to a PSD at 300 dpi as well.

The 2 that are stacked are the minimum distance for a left chest (with a tad extra in length)

Thanks!