Inkscape and Signcut HELP

[reens80]

Hi all

I am new to this and using Vinyl heatpress to personalise bags.

I have a pixmax plotter cutter which I have been told is ONLY compatible with either Signcut Pro or Flexistarter.

I am trying out Signcut pro but I am annoyed that I have to create the text vector graphic file in another programme and then import to Signcut Pro

So I have a few basic questions and one a little more complicated, Please would be great if you can answer what you can

1) Signcut or Flexistarter? Can you design and cut in Flexistarter?
2) I am using Inkscape for now, but is Illustrator easier/better?
3) To create my vector file for Sign cut I take the following steps

a) Type name to be cut in Vinyl in Inkscape
b) Path > Object to Path
c) Save
d) Open file in Signcut
e) Cut

The problem I have is that the font I am using is a joined up writing font, when this is cut out in the plotter cutter when one letter is joined to another it creates weeding lines around each individual letter, however, where it is joined up I want that to remain a fluid continuous flow.

As I am doing lots of different names, does anyone know how I can change this? Is it in Inkscape or Sign cut?

Thanks,
Reena

[webtrekker]

Unfortunately, it does look like you're stuck with having to use those softwares for cutting.

As for joining your letters together, try selecting the whole text, convert to Path, then select the 'Union' boolean command from the Path menu.

I rarely use Inkscape. SCAL5 works great with my particular cutter and has design features built in, as well as all the cutting features.

[Benjamin]

Signcut has an illustrator plugin so you can do your designs in illustrator and then click on “send to signcut” and it automatically opens signcut with your design already open. All you have to do then is to double check your settings and click on cut out to start the job.

[reens80]

Ok, I have now moved from Inkscape to Illustrator, anyone know how I can overcome the problem I had before ("The problem I have is that the font I am using is a joined up writing font, when this is cut out in the plotter cutter when one letter is joined to another it creates weeding lines around each individual letter, however, where it is joined up I want that to remain a fluid continuous flow."). How do I ensure continuous flow in Illustrator?

Thanks

[StellaD]

Select the text, go to "Window - Pathfinder" and choose "Unite".
This welds the text into a cuttable shape with no overlaps although it's good practice to keep a copy unwelded so that you have something to edit in future should you need to change the wording.

[reens80]

[MENTION=7972]StellaD[/MENTION] please accept my apologies, I so forgot to reply to say Thank you! This worked!!

Select the text, go to "Window - Pathfinder" and choose "Unite".
This welds the text into a cuttable shape with no overlaps although it's good practice to keep a copy unwelded so that you have something to edit in future should you need to change the wording.