right, i require a variable length subnet within the 192.168.10.0/24 range
so i split my network into 4 with a subnet mask of /26:

192.168.10.0 - 192.168.10.62 > switch 1 > port 1 router
192.168.10.65 - 192.168.10.126 > switch 2 > port 2 router
192.168.10.129 -192.168.10.190 > switch 3 > port 3 router
192.168.10.193 - 192.168.10.254 > switch 4 > port 4 router

now i know that there should be a router on each subnet and the router has to be within that subnets range with a subnet mask of /26

here's the strange bit......
if i place the whole network into 192.168.10.0/24 (default setup) with default gateway as 192.168.10.1/24

192.168.10.0 - 192.168.10.62 > switch 1 > port 1 router
192.168.10.65 - 192.168.10.126 > switch 2 > port 2 router
192.168.10.129 -192.168.10.190 > switch 3 > port 3 router
192.168.10.193 - 192.168.10.254 > switch 4 > port 4 router

everything above can see each other as expected because they are all on a /24. if i apply the port based vlan on each port at the router, everything is segregated as expected. if i ping a printer or pc on a different vlan, i cannot access it as expected.

now if i split the networks into 4 ie /26's but leave the router as is 192.168.10.1/24

192.168.10.0 - 192.168.10.62 > switch 1 > port 1 router
192.168.10.65 - 192.168.10.126 > switch 2 > port 2 router
192.168.10.129 -192.168.10.190 > switch 3 > port 3 router
192.168.10.193 - 192.168.10.254 > switch 4 > port 4 router

with vlan applied as above, each subnet cannot see each other as expected. however, if i alter a printer/pc subnet netmask on any subnet to /24 instead of /26, pc's on the other subnet (even though it is vlan'd), we can see it!!

there is obviously something going on at the router that i'm unsure about. problem is.... it works. i can even share printers between vlans!
anybody have any ideas as to why?