This is really aimed at anyone who purchased the K-sun 270. Is there anything about this labeling set up that makes you wish you had purchased the K-sun 360? I'm trying to convince myself that I really don't need the higher resolution. Is there something else larger size label, selection of label etc that makes you wish you had spent the extra $$ ??

Not sure you'd need it, but the additional resolution is generally beyond what the human eye can reveal in decals of this size. The 360 does offer the ability to print a much wider decal, although the 270 will go up to 1 inch wide. How much more do you need?

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I have played with mine some and I do not see any need for the higher resolution. The 270 prints very clear and crisp. The only advantage to the 360 that I see would be the ability to cut round edges on the decals but this is not something that I see necesary if using the clear tape.

Does the software that comes with these printers allow for any customization of the labels or are you confined to a few select fonts in either plain or italic text? Are label edges very visible? Wish I could have attended the a Expo to see an example of the label!

You can use any of well over 100 supplied fonts, or import your own graphic which may include any font or illustration of your own design. In that respect, the "font" selection is infinite.

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Software allows you to select any font in your computer. You can find thousands of free font on the web. You can also import logos or graphics. The tape is thinner by 1/2 from Brother P-Touch. If you want, I will send you samples to try.

I bought the 360 thinking that if I bought the 270 that at some point I may want to upgrade to the 360 so I upgraded in the beginning. I like the idea of being able to go up to 1 1/2" tape because of the many offshore and stand up rods that I build. I'm just now starting to use it and made several name decals and the resolution is crisp and clear. I also noticed that the half inch tape is on the small side for trying to print more than two lines on the decal. I'll be ordering some 3/4" and 1" tape in the next day or so. All in all I'm real happy that I bought the 360 over the 270. Now I don't have to second guess myself.

Lance

Lance --- Yeah, that's the point I'm at. Why not spend the $$ upfront and not wonder later.

Lance --- Yeah, that's the point I'm at. Why not spend the $$ upfront and not wonder later.

Exactly

Lance

I wasn't at the show in NC but would love to see some pictures of finished examples posted on the PHOTOS site.

Thanks,
Chad Huderle

Huderle Custom Rods
Prior Lake, MN

I like the idea of silver or gold on clear tape and the ability to import graphics. I've been using black inkjet over an underwrap of silver or gold -- they look ok but the gold or silver directly on the blank would,, I think, be much "classier"

I would still like to see what this machine can do as to graphites Fones etc.

If any one that has this can you post as to what you have made I want to see how far this can take a Decal

Thanks

Bill - willierods.com

Here's a link to the photo of a name decal I made with the silver on clear 1/2 decal tape.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Lance

Thanks Lance

But for the cost I want more I can have Decal connection make that

Bill - willierods.com

Bill, this machine can do a whole lot more. All I made was a simple name decal because my customer wanted him name on his rod. Now I don't have to wait days to get a name decal in the mail if a customer wants it on his rod. I still use Decal Connection for my more intricate or special decals that I may need.

Lance

Lance, That decal looks great. Looks no different then the ones from my ALPS. The only problem is, it won't do multi-colored labels.
But still, supplies for the ALPS are hard to come by these days. I think I have to make a decision before March 31st.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/2014 02:07AM by Dennis Danku.

Here's an anecdotal story of my first experience with the model 360:

I was just finishing up a rod rebuild on a Shakespeare 9' 10wt fly rod built as a downrigger trolling rod for a very image conscious customer who runs a local charter service. I built the rod over 20 years ago and after years of use it certainly needed a face lift and some new grips and guides. I decided it would be a great opportunity to try out the model 360 printer I bought at the ICRBE.

I've never been able to talk this captain into any kind of decorations on the rods I made for him in the past. He has a definite preference for black on black and a simple low contrast trim band. I also know he's very proud of his boat, it's certainly a premier boat among the local fleet. I recall a few years back he traded a charter to a pro photographer for a photo shoot of his boat all rigged out on the water with him standing in the back holding up a large freshly caught salmon. The name of his charter service is clearly seen in the photo painted on the side of his boat.

So I go to his charter service website, copy and save the photo. I load the photo into photo editing software I got with my camera, and I apply a software image editing tool that simplifies and changes the photo to an artist line drawing. I fool with the settings a bit to get a good balance of fill and contrast and save the image under a new name. I do a Google search for fonts and after a few minutes I find a match for the font he uses on his website heading. Then I imported the simplified line drawing image into the printer software and used his font to add the words "Custom made for (and his business name) next to the image, and print out the label.

From start to finish, including the time to modify his photo, find a match for his font, and bring the two together on the label, I had less than 15 minutes of time invested.

So I arrange to meet him at a local fishing club meeting, where he's been invited to speak on spring fishing techniques. The meeting location is half way between us and I usually go to the meetings for networking and social reasons anyway. During the intermission of his presentation, I give him his rebuilt rod, and he's floored by the image of his boat (with the name of his charter service on it). He starts showing it to everyone that came up with questions for him during the break. Then after the break he takes a break from his power point and starts telling everyone about how to judge a great fishing rod for our fishery and how I build them and before i know it the president of the club asks if I can spend a few minutes after the captains presentation to talk about custom rods and rod repairs and before the night is over I have deposits on orders for six rods and seventeen labels to be added to the other rods I made for him in the past.

The first label out of the machine (with a fortunate turn of events) paid for the printer 3x over and then some.

So what is the price on these models? there is zero info on the web page as to cost and tapes.

Rolly Beenen
Rovic Custom Rods

Hi John, Thanks for sharing that story. Glade to hear your enjoying the printer.