Applying "shaddow effect" with vinyl.

[Plums]

I am new to the forum and also new to vinyl cutters, (or any form of graphic design for that matter). I only picked up the Cutter/plotter yesterday, (just a cheap Ebay item)...

I'd like to mention that I did not buy the Cutter for any commercial reasons, I just want to "sign write" my race cars.

I have been doing lots of playing, just words and some flames. I am really impressed with how they turn out, it is much better than I had imagined.

What I am trying to work out now, is how to get the shaddow effect on letters. I will be using two different vinyl colours to achieve this. I can't work out how to get the shaddows using the software, let alone how to seperate the main graphic from the shaddow graphic for printing the two different colours.

The software I'm using is Artcut, which came with the machine.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[evilkorn]

Do you have a sample picture of what you want to achieve? Do you mean a different color stroke not shadow? What files can you import into artcut? For example, could you import an illy ai file or eps for cutting - in turn that effect could be achieved in a different program then imported into the cutting software.

[PrintDriver]

Are you printing?
Or are you cutting two different color vinyls?
You may need to pick up a manual on Artcut. Never heard of it but what you want to do is separate the drop shadows from the letters by knocking out the letters from the shadow OR welding a copy of the letters to the shadow, apply the shadow first then put the letters on top of it. Applying drop shadows with no gaps or the letters on top of welded shadows requires some special transfer adhesives, or you trap it and accept the overlap.

Go to any of the sign forums, wade through the ads and try to find some How-tos for beginners. Even if this is a hobby for you, as a sign guy, I don't have the patience for people who go out and buy these machines and expect to be told how to use them without some investment in their own time first. The manuals will go far to get you what you need to know.;)

[Plums]

I will be using two different vinyl colours.
I have been playing with the font size and column separation to try to achieve this. I have sort of got it working. Basically, I just make the same words in a slightly smaller font and slightly more column spacing to keep the overall word length exactly the same...

[PrintDriver]

Do you know how to use Illustrator at all?
Who actually writes the software? All I can find are torrents and warez download links.