lettering on matboard

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dtwalls

Grumbler in Training
Joined
Apr 19, 2002
Posts
6
Loc
Cumming,GA
Hi everybody! I am new to the grumble and have a customer who wants to use "lettraset" on their matboard. I am told that it is a type of rub on lettering process. I haven't been able to find it through any of the distributors or the local art stores. If anybody has any ideas please let me know!
 
I used to hand rub letters onto mat board all the time. It was very labour intensive, but the results were always great. The "lettraset" was a product by "GeoCities" (I think). It came in various sizes and font styles. I used to get it from Business Depot (Staples) here in Canada, but it hasn't been available for many years.

If anyone knows anything about this product or similar and if it's still available, let us know.

Thanks.

Ted
 
Sorry, DT,

WELCOME TO THE GRUMBLE...You'll love it here!

P.S. This product only worked on smooth surfaced mats.

Ted ;)
 
Most pressure sensitive graphics (generic term for the type of product Letraset is/was) are difficult to find because the need for them has been replaced by computer graphics.

I used to use them but I found that they were intended for short duration use in production on reprographics and do not have long term stability. I recently pulled out some "camera ready art" that we produced with pressure sensative graphics and the letters were all cracking (about 20 years old and never exposed to light.)

Here is the website for Letraset USA

General catalog:
http://www.letrasetus.com/start.htm

Link to the dry transfer page:
http://www.letrasetus.com/LetrasetUS/Templates/Letraset/mainscreen.asp

There are films available that can run through a laser printer and then can be rubbed down on a smooth surface.

There are films available that can be put over laser printing and rubbed with a warm iron to make them have a "foil" appearance such as gold, silver, or other metallic colors.

We prefer to use silkscreening to print on mats. We use "sized" mats that are appropriate for french matting (usually indicated with a "V" on one brand, or in the description from another. The sizing is important so the ink doesn't "crawl".

There is a set up cost to make the screen(s) depending on color, etc. so if you are only doing one mat, it can be expensive. But, for awards and multiple mats, it is the way to go.

Also, Wizard has their Da Vinci machine that prints directly on mats. They may be able to do a short run for you.
 
I believe that Ellen at Howard's has what you are looking for or you could try a local drafting supply store.
 
Okay, here is an idea. You layout what you want to say on a computer. In a graphics program, flip it so that is reads backwards. In your laser printer, place the waxy backsheet from a page of mailing labels (remove all labels and surround) making sure that the slick surfaced front gets the printing. Print.

You now have an iron on transfer that can be put on the mat! Is that great of what? I had forgotten about this and I'm glad you asked this question.

More info - "The Underground Guide to Laser Printers" Peachpit Press 800 283 9444 ISBN 1-55609-045-8

Have fun!
 
Mel,
Depending on the printer you're using, this is often an option under the printing setup menu. On the HP I'm using right now, 'mirror image' is an option under 'orientation.' But mine is an inkjet printer, so I won't be trying Eric's tip at this time.
 
Hey Ron - A friend of mine at a package design firm just told me that he bought from Walmart a iron-on material for inkjet printers. He's transferring photo-real images onto illustration board. There's a learning curve to get it to not crack. I close in an hour and will try something with my 'ol laser printer in plain B+W.


and yes, some print drivers can allow you to make your image backwards. You can also try using a photo or desktop publishing program instead of the word processing program.
 
I've used inkjet T-shirt transfer sheets several times to make T-shirts (of all things) but it never occured to me to try transfering an image to matboard. I may just try that. At least it would never have to go through the washing machine.

By the way, I don't use an iron to make the t-shirts. I crank my vacuseal press up to ridiculous temperatures and use that. You have to remember not to try the shirt on when it first comes out of the press. It is very, very hot!
 
Ron,

WordPerfect 9 takes "mirror image" literally. I can flip an image, but can't seem to find a way to flip text. Can't find anything that helps with the printer I have in my shop--a Lexmark Z53 inkjet.

still looking......
 
You can order die-cut vinyl letters & graphics from a quick-sign maker. Most of their signs are made with die-cut, pressure-sensitive, thin guage vinyl sheeting, which is very similar to the old Lettraset products. Sign makers often stick the letters/graphics to a piece of Coroplast, and they surely would burnish nicely to a textured matboard.

Make up the design in your computer and give it to your local sign maker. He might want to change the font for convenience, but he probably can scan and duplicate your design in any size.

Another option is to locate a local calligrapher, who would hand-letter the inscription on the mat. That's what got me into framing in the first place.

One of these days our CMC's will do small-dimension lettering on mats...but not yet.
 
Oh, yesss. we have the last great collection of Chartpak lettering. I can make you a great deal on all 8 feet of it, or I can sell it one sheet at a time. When we bought the store, we thought that we would just have to burn it all, but by goum, we sell two or three sheets a week. Not everyone uses computer typesetting... but I WILL try the iron-on thing as an experiment... hmmmmm
 
We do the annual class photos layout for a local high school. I used to put the names on with Letraset. For years now, I've been creating the text in word processing, then sending a file to a service bureau, where they turn it into a Matricolor or Identicolor transfer. This rubs on just like Letraset (no ironing required), but a whole name at a time. Also, you can do logos or any other graphics as well, and these can be made in any pantone color or black.

That label-backing trick sounds pretty slick, though. Have to try that.

:cool: Rick
 
Wow, this label-backing thing is not quite going to do the trick.
shrug.gif
The results were too inconsistant.
cry.gif
I don't think even Chris Paschke cound get the temp/time/pressure combo right! I found out that there is a special toner for doing this. Info and purchase at http://www.flashweb.com/Catalog.html who are the editors of that book I mentioned. This could still prove to be a great technique for the right job. I may jump in and learn.

Rick - you said a service bureau did this process, can most any SB do the same thing, just ask for it by those names you used? What was the approx cost? (give the size and quantity)

Hey dtwalls - have we lost you yet?
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HI Eric- Haven't lost me. A lot of information, and a lot of Great ideas! I'm going to try out a few of them. I was wondering if anybody knows if the CPF test is offered online yet. The last I heard was that it might be up and running after January. If anybody knows- do tell!
 
Jim,

I have not seen die cut lettering in quite awhile.
The sign shops these days use a vinyl cutter similar in appearance to a printer. The newest generation combines an inkjet printer and cutter in one machine. Roland
 
This would be for multiple pieces but could work for a single as well (it would just be a price thing)....Print Gocco, it is a silk screen press that will burn a plate of any image that has been photo-copied. The toner from the photo copier burns the image into the "plate" with flash bulbs. The plate has a cover sheet of mylar so that you can fill it with whatever color of ink (gocco ink) and then it is just a matter of pressing it onto what you want.

I originally bought it to reproduce special event invitations and programs and have found it a :cool: "cool tool" to do 4 color printing in a very unconventional way for the shop. Ellen may even carry this, I bought mine about 12 years ago and it was under $100 then.....
Ruth
 
We use a local calligrapher to add text to mats. Vellum surface works best, but he has worked on textured surfaces as well.
Another alternative is to cut a small second opening in the mat - title block - and use Inkjet Transparency Film, from Staples. The text can be typed into the computer in any font and color and then printed onto this transparency. Tape it to the title block opening and back with the same color as the top, or bottom mat. Really clean, finished look. Best of all, it is simple and very inexpensive to do.
 
Robert great idea but your everyday common inkjet printers do not have a lightfast pigmented ink in it. However, if you were to do this always use the uv glass and also take a krylon or mcdonadlds spray that has a uv inhibitor in it and spray them.
Jim
OHio
 
If the dimensions of the mat are 12"x24" or less, I have been using my cricut with the pen setting. I use my wizard to cut everything out and then use the same dimensions in cricut design space to figure out the placement of text. One note is that it has to be 4-ply. The thicker mats start to have wheel tracks from being fed into the machine.
 
Hi Summer, that is an interesting idea.
I would point out that the thread was started, and last updated in May of 2002, so many of those involved may no longer be around.
 
dtwalls said:
Hi everybody! I am new to the grumble and have a customer who wants to use "lettraset" on their matboard. I am told that it is a type of rub on lettering process. I haven't been able to find it through any of the distributors or the local art stores. If anybody has any ideas please let me know!
Click to expand...
www.ebay.com

DECAdry New Old Stock Dry Transfer black rub-on LETTERS (w/numbers) FREE SHIP US | eBay

DECAdry Dry Transfer rub-on craft/design Black Letters/numbers. These are all New Old Stock - Unused complete full sheets. Built-in discount if you get multiples. Most of these also include a set or two of numbers in the same size/font at the bottom of the sheet (see photos) - (see our other...
www.ebay.com
 
I ran across this years ago.

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Campbell Hughes said:
www.ebay.com

DECAdry New Old Stock Dry Transfer black rub-on LETTERS (w/numbers) FREE SHIP US | eBay

DECAdry Dry Transfer rub-on craft/design Black Letters/numbers. These are all New Old Stock - Unused complete full sheets. Built-in discount if you get multiples. Most of these also include a set or two of numbers in the same size/font at the bottom of the sheet (see photos) - (see our other...
www.ebay.com
Click to expand...
A couple of comments:
• If you use that on a mat, provide space between the mat and glass, as it can stick to the glass.
• "New old stock" This stuff has a shelf life, so old stock may not adhere as well as it should.
:coffeedrinker2: Rick

BTW, you can have any kind of text etc. that you set up on your computer and save as a PDF converted to a rubdown transfer. I do this for putting names and titles on class photo layouts. https://colortransfers.com
 
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