|
Post by dcbradshaw on Aug 26, 2012 11:22:13 GMT -9
I have a Silhouette SD, running Studio version 2.5.8.
It has stopped recognizing registration marks in some situations:
If I do a print and cut from Studio (like an imported image that Studio lays in the registration marks for), it will detect just fine, but if I print from an older PDF file and then try to cut with a GSD loaded into Studio, it won't detect, even with the manual placement.
For example, I've got Mel's Small Folding Unit Structure--there's a hand-cut version with no registration marks, and a robo-version with marks included. I printed the set with the marks already included, and when the GSDs are loaded into Studio, they won't detect.
I know I could import the image without the included reg marks, and align the cuts and print directly from Studio (creating a .studio file for the page), but that's a lot of hoops to jump through to do what seems like should be a simple detect and cut.
Is there a registration mark setting or something in an recent update that I've missed?
|
|
|
Post by Christopher Roe on Aug 26, 2012 13:06:11 GMT -9
I have a Silhouette SD, running Studio version 2.5.8. It has stopped recognizing registration marks in some situations: If I do a print and cut from Studio (like an imported image that Studio lays in the registration marks for), it will detect just fine, but if I print from an older PDF file and then try to cut with a GSD loaded into Studio, it won't detect, even with the manual placement. For example, I've got Mel's Small Folding Unit Structure--there's a hand-cut version with no registration marks, and a robo-version with marks included. I printed the set with the marks already included, and when the GSDs are loaded into Studio, they won't detect. I know I could import the image without the included reg marks, and align the cuts and print directly from Studio (creating a .studio file for the page), but that's a lot of hoops to jump through to do what seems like should be a simple detect and cut. Is there a registration mark setting or something in an recent update that I've missed? Silhouette Studio, ever since it came out, has been responsible for a significant portion of my $200 a day Maalox habit. Try cutting it in ROBO Master, if you have it installed. If it successfully performs the regmark scan, then I think I know what's causing the problem, and it's a Silhouette Studio issue. As an aside, both the hand cut and Craft ROBO versions of the 2010 models have registration marks and are machine cuttable. The Craft ROBO versions of those models simply have no fold lines and have a little 1-2mm texture "bleed" around the cut perimeter that prevents white slivering on misaligned cuts.
|
|
|
Post by oldschooldm on Aug 26, 2012 18:30:14 GMT -9
I've found that some PDFs don't actually have the regmarks in the standard locations. I just save the PDF to an importable format, then load it in Studio and manually look at the marks in the bitmap and compare them with the (GSD) cutfile. Whenever I've had a problem, these did NOT match.
So, I move the registration marks to whatever they were in the PDF and everything turns out fine.
Some earlier GSD files, when imported to Studio don't deal with reg marks properly. :-(
Hope that helps.
|
|
|
Post by Christopher Roe on Aug 26, 2012 20:15:41 GMT -9
It's not the PDFs, it's Silhouette Studio. It forces the top margin to a minimum of 1.025 inches, and it actually overrides the 0.99 inch top margin on imported GSDs instead of respecting it. That means the regmarks on imported GSDs will be something like 0.035" off from where they're supposed to be.
(The 0.99 inch top margin didn't come out of a hat, it's what ROBO Master automatically calculated after setting the 0.5" bottom margin.)
A lot of the issues with Silhouette Studio not playing nice with our GSDs cropped up because paper modelers are way outside of their scrapbooking target market, so they never really considered the effects that some of their software changes would have on us. They've made some strides in the right direction, but there are still a few problems, and this is one of them. My recommendation has always been to cut GSDs in ROBO Master precisely because Silhouette Studio still hasn't gotten GSD import 100% right.
|
|
|
Post by Christopher Roe on Aug 26, 2012 20:41:04 GMT -9
Fished up the files referred to in the first post, exported the print data from PDF and loaded up the GSDs in both Silhouette Studio and ROBO Master. I took screen captures to illustrate the issue I described. I'm leaving them as links rather than embedding them because my display is 1366x768 and I don't want to break the forum layout. First, print data imported into the matching GSD in ROBO Master: dl.dropbox.com/u/27017525/random/regmark_offset2.pngNext, imported into the matching GSD in Silhouette Studio: dl.dropbox.com/u/27017525/random/regmark_offset.pngScreencaps of the regmark settings follow. You can see how ROBO Master has the settings specified with a 0.5" bottom margin plus 9.51" of distance between the bottom regmark and the top regmark. That leaves 0.99" for margin. dl.dropbox.com/u/27017525/random/settings_robomaster.pngNext, look on the right side of Silhouette Studio. You can see that it's overridden that 0.99" top margin for a 1.025" top margin. dl.dropbox.com/u/27017525/random/settings_studio.pngAs you can see, Studio isn't respecting the parameters in the GSD.
|
|
|
Post by oldschooldm on Aug 26, 2012 23:06:17 GMT -9
I had a call with tech service after the latest release and reported a bug that the new version was moving registration marks (on previously saved files!)
It turns out that somehow the "use carrier sheet" option is getting "unchecked" through a new bug and this moves one margin to 1" or so.
They seemed to think it was my fault, but this is more evidence that they just have a bug. The work around is to change the settings (which I can only get to from the cutting screen...)
|
|
|
Post by dcbradshaw on Aug 27, 2012 7:05:18 GMT -9
As you can see, Studio isn't respecting the parameters in the GSD. I think I see what you're saying--do you think then it's just a matter of it "missing" the marks? Is it actually taking a measurement from the paper edge then? Would there be a way to "spoof" the paper edge maybe, so that it scans the correct area for the marks? Or am I thinking the wrong direction here? I didn't have ROBO Master loaded, but installed 2.4 and 4.4, and actually can't even get any GSDs to open in it. Both throw errors. Any tips?
|
|
|
Post by oldschooldm on Aug 27, 2012 7:44:44 GMT -9
As you can see, Studio isn't respecting the parameters in the GSD. I think I see what you're saying--do you think then it's just a matter of it "missing" the marks? See my last post. Look at the cut settings, you'll probably see "Use Cutting Mat" unchecked when it should be checked. It's a stupid, stupid, stupid bug. Everyone should submit it at the site so it gets fixed.
|
|
|
Post by dcbradshaw on Aug 27, 2012 7:49:19 GMT -9
I'm pretty sure I tried that, but I'll check again tonight.
I did notice that when you check the "Use Cutting Mat" button, the GUI puts in a cutting mat under the file in the workspace... I hadn't ever noticed that before (though it's possible I wasn't paying attention) and I couldn't tell if it actually made any difference in the cut settings, or if it was just a cosmetic thing.
|
|
|
Post by pblade on Aug 27, 2012 8:28:41 GMT -9
I've seen this issue before, when creating new cut files. I didn't know it was a bug that was unchecking the carrier sheet selection, but it is the simplest fix.
You don't need to be in the cutting dialogues, either. If you look in the Page Setup menu you'll see the carrier sheet selection options. Once a carrier sheet is checked you shouldn't have any problems.
- Pb
|
|
|
Post by oldschooldm on Aug 27, 2012 9:14:25 GMT -9
You don't need to be in the cutting dialogues, either. If you look in the Page Setup menu you'll see the carrier sheet selection options. Once a carrier sheet is checked you shouldn't have any problems. - Pb Nice! That's probably where they introduced the bug in this version.
|
|
|
Post by Christopher Roe on Aug 27, 2012 9:35:42 GMT -9
I didn't have ROBO Master loaded, but installed 2.4 and 4.4, and actually can't even get any GSDs to open in it. Both throw errors. Any tips? ROBO Master cannot open GSDs that were created in a newer version, so you need Version 5.30. I've uploaded the installer to my server here: Robo Master 5.30As for what oldschooldm said about the carrier sheet setting--enabling it magically allows you to set the top margin lower than 1.025 inches, which also resets the margin back to the 0.99" that the original GSDs specified. However, because I don't have a Silhouette SD or a Cameo, I don't actually know from firsthand experience how the machine adjusts for the presence of a carrier sheet. I know that for the model I have (a Graphtec Craft ROBO CC200), it doesn't really care and you have to manually turn the blade housing 90 degrees to raise it a bit. The SD and Cameo don't have the same kind of blade mount, so I assume it does its carrier sheet compensation in the software or firmware, if it does any at all. It might be worth trying again with the carrier sheet enabled, just to see if that's what's throwing off the regmark scan.
|
|
|
Post by dcbradshaw on Aug 27, 2012 9:52:16 GMT -9
I started to install 5.1, but came across the installation dialog referenced in this thread at WWG: www.worldworksgames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7806I wasn't sure what to tell it for the Silhouette SD, and didn't want to hose the install, so I canceled out and just tried the earlier versions.
|
|
|
Post by Christopher Roe on Aug 27, 2012 13:03:34 GMT -9
The SD is a rebranded Graphtec CC330/CC330L cutting plotter. So, if you're outside of North America, pick "CC330" in that dialog. If you're in North America or anywhere that uses US Letter paper, pick "CC330L" instead.
|
|
|
Post by dcbradshaw on Aug 27, 2012 13:10:14 GMT -9
Nice, thanks, I wouldn't even have known where to look for that. I'll get it installed tonight.
|
|
|
Post by pblade on Aug 27, 2012 13:31:13 GMT -9
Generally speaking, the SD (and I'm assuming the Cameo as well) don't do a lot differently if you aren't using a carrier sheet. The only difference I can see with my SD is that it loads the stock more with a sheet than without. There isn't any depth change that I've ever noticed, and I'm not sure how you'd make any on the SD.
- Pb
|
|
|
Post by dcbradshaw on Aug 27, 2012 15:06:01 GMT -9
Turning on Cutting Mat didn't work, the machine does the same scan sequence as with it off, and still doesn't detect the marks.
I tried laying in the PDF, to check alignment, and with Cutting Mat checked, you CAN set the margins so they match the marks, but even with it set like that, the marks won't detect.
Also, I installed ROBO Master 5.3, but it wouldn't give me the option to cut--I found a driver and installed it, and it looks like it will cut, but when I click to send, an error pops up that reads, "Craft ROBO Controller startup failure."
|
|
|
Post by Christopher Roe on Aug 27, 2012 15:31:34 GMT -9
That sounds like you don't have the Craft ROBO Controller installed, which ROBO Master needs to interface with the machine. Grab it here: Craft ROBO Controller 5.01Go to the Disk1 folder and click on setup.exe, and it'll install from there.
|
|
|
Post by Christopher Roe on Aug 27, 2012 15:36:58 GMT -9
Generally speaking, the SD (and I'm assuming the Cameo as well) don't do a lot differently if you aren't using a carrier sheet. The only difference I can see with my SD is that it loads the stock more with a sheet than without. There isn't any depth change that I've ever noticed, and I'm not sure how you'd make any on the SD. - Pb Oh, good to know. Thanks!
|
|
|
Post by dcbradshaw on Aug 28, 2012 5:51:23 GMT -9
Mel, you were right, I needed the Controller, and that got rid of the error in ROBO Master 5.3, however...
It still won't recognize the regmarks. I only had the chance to try it on page 1 of the Small FUS, so it is possible that maybe that page is compromised or something, but it actually did the same scan pattern as it was doing with Studio, and manual placing of the scan doesn't help either.
Haven't tried any other files, I'll mess around with it tonight.
|
|
|
Post by oldschooldm on Aug 28, 2012 7:41:46 GMT -9
As for the latest SD/Cameo software - I've adapted to this "Cuttting Mat" bug, but for those who it is driving crazy, customer support supplied me with the means to retrograde to an earlier version: Should you wish to downgrade to the previous version, you may uninstall the current version and then obtain the previous V2.5.0 from the following link: www.silhouetteamerica.com/support/programs/old/silhouette_studio_V2.5.0.exe
|
|
|
Post by dcbradshaw on Aug 28, 2012 7:44:45 GMT -9
ROCK. I'll try that too! How much did you have to bug them before they finally relented and gave you that?
|
|
|
Post by Christopher Roe on Aug 28, 2012 10:03:33 GMT -9
Mel, you were right, I needed the Controller, and that got rid of the error in ROBO Master 5.3, however... It still won't recognize the regmarks. I only had the chance to try it on page 1 of the Small FUS, so it is possible that maybe that page is compromised or something, but it actually did the same scan pattern as it was doing with Studio, and manual placing of the scan doesn't help either. Haven't tried any other files, I'll mess around with it tonight. It's unlikely that there's anything wrong with the file itself, as it's been tested by multiple people and this is the first problem anyone has mentioned since it came out in 2010. Can you do me a quick favor and measure the distance between the regmarks on your printout? These are the dimensions you should see: Left to right: 7.25" Top to bottom: A hair above 9.5" (Measure them like they're the corners of a rectangle.) If the dimensions aren't off, then can you take one of the self-made Studio files that your machine successfully scans, and tell me how they differ from the original GSDs in regmark size and spacing? If the dimensions are off, check and make sure Acrobat Reader isn't set to scale your output. I got caught out by the upgrade to Acrobat Reader X when it reset the scaling to fit to the page instead of leaving it alone. Measuring the regmark distances as described above will tell you whether the print was rescaled or not. In addition to that, some printers have a tendency to vertically compress the output by as much as 1/16". I don't think this is the case because you said you've done successful print-and-cuts in the past, but it's one of the items on my troubleshooting checklist.
|
|
|
Post by dcbradshaw on Aug 28, 2012 12:36:35 GMT -9
*epic facepalm*
That's why it cut OK on the file that I printed directly from Studio, and why it looked like the marks were lining up when I imported the image.
Boy, well, I feel like a total idiot. =D Good thing I didn't print off a TON of stuff...
Just reprinted the FUS, and it's cutting it just fine.
Thanks guys, we can file this one under ID10T: User Error
|
|
|
Post by pblade on Aug 28, 2012 16:17:27 GMT -9
No worries, happens to all of us. Glad you found it before printing off tons of copies! - Pb
|
|
|
Post by Christopher Roe on Aug 28, 2012 17:43:32 GMT -9
Yep, happens to all of us at some point. I'm relieved that you were able to get it all sorted out.
|
|