Pressure Process Lettering Machines, Continued
Automatic
machines -
cutout image
Tapes - carbon
Tapes - cutout
Automatic machines for cutout letters/symbols are exactly like their manual
counterpart except for the cutter at the back of the machine. On a manual
machine, the tape is tom by hand across a serrated edge. On an automatic
machine, the tape is cut by pushing a button that activates a guillotine-type
cutter near the tape holder. Directions for use of an automatic machine are
identical to those for a manual machine.
Carbon image tapes are available in combinations of paper or vinyl, opaque
or transparent, adhesive or nonadhesive backed, white background, colored
background, white letters, and colored letters. Carbon image tape has a soft
surface that scratches easily. The surface of some carbon image tapes has a
low tack surface that requires sealing with a fixative. When you use a carbon
image, adhesive-backed tape in artwork that requires exposure to a heat-
producing process, check the tape periodically during that process for
adhesive seeping. Seepage gums up a diazo drum or copyboard and ruins the
artwork. If a tape has lost adhesiveness, it will jar out of position on the
artwork and misalign.
Paper and vinyl tape, used in pressure cutout systems, are available in eight
colors and are adhesive-backed. Several layers make up the tape, and these
layers facilitate an easy application of the cutout letter to the artwork. Peel a
comer of the carrier acetate away from the color tape. Turn the tape,
adhesive side up, and place it on a work surface. At a low angle to the tape,
peel the backing wax paper and the excess color tape away from the carrier
tape carefully. Watch the cutout letters/symbols to make sure they remain on
the carrier acetate. Throw away the wax paper and excess tape. Place the
carrier tape, which now supports only the desired tape letters, over the
artwork and press gently over the letters/symbols. Peel away the carrier tape
slowly and at a low angle. The letters/symbols will remain. Throw away the
carrier acetate.
Continued on next page
4-25
