Roland BN2-20A White Ink: Why You Probably Don't Need It (Video)

The Roland BN2-20A is a CMYK-only printer with no white ink cartridge, but you can still get the look of white in your prints. 

Here's the simple trick that made every "white" element in a full set of graduation banners possible - no special settings required.

Roland Finally Released Its Own Free Cut Line Software (And It Actually Works)

For as long as most of us have owned a Roland print and cut machine, adding contour cut lines has meant paying for extra, third party software just to get a line that VersaWorks could actually read.  

There are nearly half a dozen different cut line workflow options and I've covered most of them including Affinity, Silhouette Studio, CorelDraw, Flexi and Illustrator. All of them get the job done, but they all add either cost or added steps or both. 

Finally....Roland has quietly released its own cut line tool called Designer, and it is free, browser-based, and built right into Roland DG Connect.  And we all said...AMEN!!!

Why the Roland BN2 Low Ink Warning Doesn't Mean Stop Printing (Video)

Your Roland BN2 just flashed a low ink warning — but that doesn't mean it's time to swap cartridges.

Here's the proof: I kept printing banner after banner with the warning on the entire time, and the color never dropped in quality.

Roland Not Printing Red? How to Color Correct Orangey-Red for Roland BN2 and BN-20A

If you're struggling to get your Roland BN2-20A or other Roland CYMK printer to print red you're not alone. 

Printing red ink on Roland BN or BN2 often comes with an orange tone.  This is not an issue with the ink. While it's incredibly frustrating if you're trying to print and match brand or team colors, with a few settings adjustments you can get true red. 

Read on to learn how I finally got my reds to print true red rather than reddish-orange with Versaworks 7 and my Roland BN2-20A. 

Sticker Printer Comparison: Roland BN2-20A vs iColor 250

If you're considering getting a sticker printer you maybe deciding between two of my favorite printers: the iColor 250 and the Roland BN2-20A. 

I have a lot of printers...but I can honestly say these are both incredible print and cut machines and it's a tough choice.  While there is some overlap there are different some differences as well. One thing that is the same about each of these is I love them both equally - so this is going to come down to YOUR needs and budget!

How Much Does Roland BN2 Ink Actually Cost Per Sticker? (Plus: Why your low ink warning is lying to you)

If you're running a sticker business on your Roland BN2 and you have NO idea how much your ink is actually costing you per sticker - keep reading. The math might shock you, and if you're pricing your stickers based on guesses, you're almost certainly losing money.

But here's the twist - before we get to the sticker pricing help - I recently made a discovery that has been saving me a ridiculous amount of Roland ink. It's why I'm now telling all of you to: start ignoring the low ink warning completely so you're not wasting money and ink!! 

Why Canva Designs Print Wrong Colors on Roland (and the one fix)

If you design in Canva and print on a Roland BN2, you may have experienced frustration when you pull your file into VersaWorks and the colors look nothing like what you designed.

Your design is beautiful in Canva. Then VersaWorks shows the PDF preview and you're wondering if your file is corrupted or if the colors did not export correctly. 

The good news is there's one setting that fixes this instantly. Read on for the 10 second fix! 

Is Silhouette Studio Business Edition Worth it Without a Silhouette Machine?

If you own a Roland, an xTool laser, DTF or UV DTF printer, a sublimation printer or any machine that isn't a Silhouette cutter, you may not have given Silhouette Studio a second thought. 

As someone who has used a lot of different printing, design and rip software for a lot of years - I can tell you with certainty - even the free version of Silhouette Studio is actually one of the most underrated design tools for non-Silhouette machine owners.

If you don't have a Silhouette machine - that makes Silhouette Studio Business Edition even more worth it for you specifically for the file formats it can export.

What To Do When Roland Utility Won't Open (And You Want to Pull Your Hair Out)

If launching the Roland software suite has become a source of frustration between DG Connect, DG Connect Hub, the print utility and Versaworks - you are not alone. 

Half the time some of them are grayed out, the other half of the time the status probably says "Setup Incomplete" and you're likely left spending a lot of time asking WHY!?! 

Part of the issue is if the applications aren't opened and launched in a specific order there are errors and miscommunications between them. Read on for how to avoid the errors and for the best Roland startup workflow.

How to Fix Roland Versaworks "Incomplete Setup" Error

You've got your Roland printer plugged in, powered on, and connected — and VersaWorks is still showing "Setup Incomplete." It sounds like something is broken. It's not. 

"Setup Incomplete" doesn't mean there's a problem with your machine or that the machine itself is not set up fully.  The oddly-worded error actually means you haven't set up the material you want to use for - this session. 

Free Roland Cut Line Creator in New Versaworks 7!

Roland Versaworks 7 is here and it includes a hidden gem that you'll easily miss if you don't know where to look!  

Buried deep within Roland DG Connect there's a new Roland cut line creator that's totally free for Roland users to use to create cut lines and perf cut lines. Read on for how to find and use the browser-based tool. 

How to Make Heat Transfers for T Shirts at Home

There's a time and place for cutting and layering heat transfer vinyl, but when the number of layers become too many or when working with a full color images (with shading and faded edges) is required -  printing and cutting heat transfers at home for t shirts will take your small business to the next level. 

You'll save time, increase production, and increase the offerings in your shop by printing heat transfers on an eco solvent print and cut machine like the Roland BN-20A. Read on for how to make full color t shirt transfers at home with printable heat transfer vinyl. 

DIY Vinyl Glass Can Wraps (Without Layering Vinyl): Step by Step Tutorial

Vinyl wraps have become a popular way to decorate libbey glass can tumblers. 

Using printable vinyl is a great alternative to sublimation and UV DTF wraps - both of which have certain limitations.  In this tutorial we'll walk through the steps to learn how to make DIY vinyl glass can wraps without layering. 

Best Roland Perf Cut Stickers Fix: It's All About the Offset

If you're struggling with Roland perf cut stickers having jagged edges and tears - this ONE change can make a huge difference! 

The problem isn't necessarily your VersaWorks settings. It starts earlier in the workflow - in how you create your offset for the perf cut line.  Read on for exactly how to fix it.

The Roland BN2 White Ink Secret: How I Save Money and Ink Video Tutorial

One of the biggest questions I get when people are choosing a Roland BN2 model is whether they really need white ink. 

It’s a huge investment, and honestly, the maintenance and cost can really add up if you aren't using it constantly. 

The Perfect Stand for Roland BN2 or BN2-30 (Affordable & Sturdy!)

I struggled for a long time trying to find the perfect stand for my Roland BN2 printer/cutter.

Since the newer models don't come with an official Roland stand, I needed an affordable solution that was also rock-solid.

How To Reverse Weed Roland Transfers To Stop Small Pieces from Lifting - Video Tutorial

If you're like me, dealing with printed heat transfer vinyl and those static Roland liners is incredibly frustrating. 

Trying to weed a detailed design only to have the small pieces lift off the liner is enough to make me pull my hair out! But don't worry, I've found a simple solution to this common headache.

The Secret Tool Every Roland Owner Needs to Know - Video Tutorial

If you're new to the Roland BN2 or BN-20A, there's one small window that is more important than almost anything else: the Roland Utility! 

This little panel is literally the control center for your entire printer.

Recommended Roland BN2 Workflow for Mac Users

If you’re using a Mac to run your Roland BN2 there’s a new (yes already) recommended workflow for creating cut lines.

The issue is that license version of Flexi Designer that comes free with the BN2 series does not work on MACs. In addition the one built-in cut line tool Roland Mac users did have in DG Connect’s Designer has frustratingly been removed.

I won’t even get into here why both of these facts are so frustrating and feel like two steps forward and one back…

But I will share my recommended Roland BN2 workflow for Mac users. 

Roland Discontinuing Lowest Priced Entry Level Printer and Cutter | Stock Limited!

If you're looking to jump from a desktop cutter like a Silhouette, Cricut, or Siser to a wider format printer and cutter in one - listen up! 

Roland is discontinuing what is currently the lowest priced 20" printer and cutter on the market and it will soon be a lot more expensive for those at the entry level looking to jump start a business.