Epic Google

Epic Google
Thursday, I was lured in the impulse buy 20% in the lights off sale. I stumbled on the letters L, designed for use with six epic die cutting tool from QuicKutz. I've always loved the look of characters and the idea of a consumer class sent me over the moon. Because it was only one sale, I bought a $ 160AUD to boost investment in tools, as well as another 120 dollars or so in ink and paper, and clean-up projects and additional printing plates. Buy a big boost for me, but I was sure it was the final step in the project I'm working on for some time ...

Then I got home. Then I tried it. Then I cried. After a brief moment of euphoria and initial success. I realized things had gone awry.

Letters because the system L is relatively new in Australia, may be useful to clarify how it works. It is quite similar to a press release like diecut CuttleBug or Cricut. In fact, it uses the tool epic six diecut as it is the base. Instead of using the cutting or engraving rules, a special rule is used in combination with the printing plates for deboss and ink on paper print creating an image print crisp ... Theory. This process is actually quite easy as shown on their website.

But the problem is the quality of their products manufacturer. With only three editions, he began templates included crack and flatten to make it unfit for use. I had bought a printing plate additional group, which was also the same problem. I turned immediately to the images and found out that I was not alone. Plates appeared cracked a problem for many people to make the system useless letters L effectively with the tools to the default.

40AUD amount in each of the two complementary printing plate, which expects to get more than three editions of the print out of them and crack. Maybe 300? There is no evidence that all the amount of 40 dollars you buy a product available. Printing Plates cracked two of my own to use it first.

Unfortunately, I was sitting at home with the printing plates cracked, and the varying print quality and the behavior of very angry. From outside the penalty area, and the letters L proved a failure for me. Worse than that, but it was late Thursday night, Good Friday the next day, and closed the stores for returns.

I emailed immediately QuicKutz, based in the United States. Without any questions, they offered to replace the damaged boards for free. This return policy on the internet leads me to believe this is quite a common problem for them. Our customer service is one component of compensation in this story. Of course, getting on the boards of new means waiting for days or weeks to get the new templates to find in Australia. Given that four of the six templates used had been broken, first, and expressed concern that I just have the same problem with the replacement boards.

What have you learned from this experience is that the letters L Tool is a tool which causes the consumer grade more like a game of cheap Holiday date. Box comes with the bells and whistles and a lot of buzz, but once it's opened and used is very disheartening. I did further research and lessons there are things you can do to improve the results but involve new investment and new tools to ignore the foundation provided technical Boxcar Press, a company capitalized professional, and has provided advice and tips to improve your results with L letters.

Boxcar Press also sells paintings custom characters, which is what does not seem likely to break as they are with manfactured Photopolymer instead of plastic. L letters, too, view the Custom Palettes photopolymore In a forum on this subject, but I admit all of the paintings of the standard plastic is prone to break:

"The printing plates of the Ad Hoc will be available through our website will be Photopolymer, just like the truck, so no worries of cracking will not unfounded."


(See the second post-Tony 12/5/2009 1:47:42)

Ultimately, the new boards to fix the problem and get out of the problem I was a policeman outside the box. Although I want to eventually print the custom, and I want to know that the system I have is a durable and reliable. I found my system letters L was wrong and chose to return, an epic six, and supplies to open my lights where you receive a $ 220AUD afternoon. I did not take my products which was opened to me 3 tubes of paint, paper, cloth and some cleaning. So all together, and I'm almost out of pocket dollars 60AUD.

Kudos to the staff of the spotlight for being so generous and indisputable to be back in the wrong product. Another customer service component of compensation for this story. Since the elements of the new lights were also very interested in the publications brought a variety of blogs and Flickr to highlight a recurring problem.

The following are some experiences that prints done with the system with mixed results. I was just a paper print brand until I realized and tools well and truly broken. Then I chose to do a few final message is printed on the paper to see how it works print a stamp and then return. Images look much better on a blog done in person. (Note: The examples that appear on the paper print is not even after already ruled plates. Followed the directions completely and use only paper letters L and products so broken already)


Repeated letters and paper tests the initial cracks and gaps where the problems of the tool. If you look at them with the passage of time, you will notice also the depth of debossing become more superficial and shallow plates to print on the ground over time. I admit I am new characters, so it is expected that some problems would improve with the passage of time and improve my style, but instead, the results showed clear deficiencies with the system.

It was a learning experience. Impulse buy. The one I suggest that you do not make it.
Badskirt Tip: L print system - do not buy.

Do you have experience with any tools in letters? Maybe you have a greater success with the letters L, which have you done? Maybe there is something else on the market or a reputable shop in Sydney that you work with? I like to find another alternative.