Using markers with the Zing

I'm getting ready to make a bunch of Valentines Day cards. 
Questions - what type of marker can I put in the Zing (do I need a special holder)
What type of font works best with the marker?

nelda

You do not need a special holder. If the zing can grip it, you can use it. You cannot use Copics though (the end tapers for too long).

pal635

Thanks

SkatKatz

Also set your offset to 0

happy marking
Fred
www.skatkatz.com.au

pal635

Thanks! Do you know the best fonts to use?

cleversomeday

I have some posts on fonts to use with markers and pens
http://cleversomeday.wordpress.com/ttfs-for-diecutting#penfonts
And don't forget font thinning in MTC which makes many fonts pen friendly. Fonts with constant stroke widths work best for that.

SBryanW

Also, with the latest version there are at least 5 open path fonts (new feature) that are truly single, open paths.

amysangels2

"Also, with the latest version there are at least 5 open path fonts (new feature) that are truly single, open paths."

How do we access these?

Gabe

@amysangels2,

Andy gave the link in the message thread about the MTC 4.1.0, here:
http://forum.make-the-cut.com/discussion/21137/holy-moly-make-the-cut-4-1-0-zing-plug-in-1-1-0-silhouette-plug-in-2-0-1-mac-version/p1

In the first message of that thread he says you can download 5 open path type fonts from this link: http://makethecut.s3.amazonaws.com/OpenPathFontType.zip

Cheers,

Gabe

FranGran

I did some testing with the markers I have on hand and Prang Washable Bold Art Markers #81200, set of 8 from Ollies, worked great, they fits the machine and line up almost prefect.
I also have some Crayola's that were about the same size as the holder also, they came from Wal-mart. One set has white pens with caps and writing the same as the ink and the other set is black pens with caps the color of ink.
Measure the size of the blade holder and then cut a circle that size. Carry it with you and compare that to the size of the pens.
All pens will work but if they are not close to the size of the holder, there will be a off set.
Fran in VA

nelda

FranGran said:

Measure the size of the blade holder and then cut a circle that size. Carry it with you and compare that to the size of the pens.

The test cut will also cut a ring like this, no measuring needed.

Gabe

FranGran said:

All pens will work but if they are not close to the size of the holder, there will be a off set.

The MTC manual says on page 20 that the blade offset "... is the horizontal distance from the center of the blade shaft to the tip of the blade. A pen or engraving tool has an offset of 0 because the tip is centered with the center of the pen/engraving tool shaft." So whether your pen is smaller, larger, or the same as the Zing blade holder, it will still have an offset of zero.

Cheers,

Gabe

Gardendog

I have just used my Zing and very old Zig markers. I used the thicker side and the greeting in the card came out beautifully. I used the Machine tool handscript font. I tweaked some letters a bit to get the additional Swedish characters. It looks so nice inside the card. I am thrilled!

Paperthreads

@gabe,

Frangran it's referring to a different kind of offset. If the size of the pen shaft is smaller or larger then the size of the blade holder, and you are doing both a pen drawing and a cut on the same piece, then the pen markings and blade cuts won't match up, they will be "offset"by the difference in the diameter between the two.

So when doing pen and cut in same piece, it's easiest to use a pen that fits in the pen tool, as that would set the pen and blade in the same position for both passes of the project (as I show with the glue pen and blade in my glitter video)

Gabe

@Paperthreads,

Thanks for the information. However, there was no mention of doing a "Pen and Cut" in this thread, so how was I to know that's what she was referring to? :)

Gabe