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Post by lvmenes on Jan 26, 2015 5:16:50 GMT -9
Hi,
I have read the threads aboout cutter files, but I would like to ask some things to clarify my understanding. If anyone could help me, I would be thankful. (I am not an english native speaker, so excuse me of strange phrasal constructions):
1 - If after I have done a miniature page at Corel or Illustrator, I remove all the text, transform the miniatures in total black silhouettes and save the file as .SVG or .DXF, Would it work on cutter machines?
2 - Is the cutter file just made of the silhouettes while the art remains in the pdf file? Or the cutter file need to have all the art (color, details, etc)?
3 - Years ago, I read the threads about cutter files and there was a lot of disappointament with the machine's perfomance. Nowadays, Are these technologies satisfatory? Are the machine owners satisfied? Do you, machine owner, use these machines to cut your miniatures?
4 - What is the best for cutter machine performance: round borders (circle, oval) or pointy borders (triangle, square, octagon)?
5 - Can the machine cut holes? (Ex: Hands in the belt line, between legs, chakran weapon)
Thank you all VERY MUCH!
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Post by flockofthese on Jan 26, 2015 6:31:38 GMT -9
I won't be able to answer all your questions, but I can hit some.
1. The basic version of the software for my cutter cant handle those files, and I'm not going to buy the better version that can, so I don't know how it handles them. You can easily make cut files from the black silhouettes with the trace function if you import them as PNG or BMP.
2. That's totally up to you. People typically distribute the cut files with everything removed except the cut lines. I assume this is primarily to make the files smaller in size. You can release it with the image if you want though.
3. I'm satisfied, and I use it to cut my miniatures. There was some trial and error at first, but once I got used to how it all worked I was fine.
4. It cuts them all equally well for me. I suppose it's possible one method could dull the blade faster or something, but I don't know.
5. Yes it will cut holes.
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Post by oldschooldm on Jan 26, 2015 8:07:31 GMT -9
I often import outlines from illustrator to the basic software. It supports DXF.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using proboards
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Post by oldschooldm on Jan 26, 2015 8:08:39 GMT -9
I often import outlines from illustrator to the basic software. It supports DXF.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using proboards
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Post by lvmenes on Jan 26, 2015 14:07:47 GMT -9
flockofthese , oldschooldm , Thank you very much! I have created a miniature page (pdf) to illustrate the question and some other files. I don't ask anyone to actually print the minis (except if someone like them). But I think these illustrate my efforts in this question. A - Would some of these files probably work in the function of printing the pdf in the cutter machine? B - I have did it right? What of them would be a better option? C - Could I include these type of files with the pdf in a possible future product? (I saw a discussion about that in other thread, it seems that the studio file is kind of problematic). Thank you again! 1. The basic version of the software for my cutter cant handle those files, and I'm not going to buy the better version that can, so I don't know how it handles them. You can easily make cut files from the black silhouettes with the trace function if you import them as PNG or BMP. So, The all black PNG that I attached would be useful in your case? Some of the other attachments would be a better option? I often import outlines from illustrator to the basic software. It supports DXF. Do you think the dxf I have created would work on the machine? test-mini.pdf (691.72 KB) Test-Silhouette-PMS.dxf (687.94 KB) Test-Silhouette-PMS.studio3 (224.51 KB) Test-Silhouette-PMS.svg (37.03 KB) Thank you all for the help!
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Post by mproteau (Paper Realms) on Jan 26, 2015 16:17:59 GMT -9
I think the dxf file is a great start, if that's easy for you to create. But, you want to have registration marks in the PDF you create. Here's a link to some sample PNG files you can use as layers if you want, along with a sample studio file that makes use of those registration marks (it may save you some time): www.dropbox.com/s/mtb34fo6tt2qcf2/reg_mark_layers.zip?dl=0If you don't include registration marks inside the PDF, people will have to export the images from the PDF and merge it with the cutfiles, which is a waste of energy if it can be avoided. If you use layers, you can include both the older SD reg marks and the newer Cameo reg marks. I don't think you'd ever want to provide people with anything other than a studio file, but creating one from the dxf file seems reasonable. A couple things about the cutfile that you get from your dxf file (in addition to it not having registration marks): 1) It doesn't have a perforation line down the middle of the minis. 2) Watch out for really really tiny negative space. The small gaps at the top of the first couple minis there are probably just fine, but if you end up with any stray cutlines for really really small areas, it is a waste of time and cutting blade. I applaud anyone taking the time to figure out the cutfile thing. I won't make minis without them!
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Post by flockofthese on Jan 26, 2015 16:39:09 GMT -9
Your PDF is missing the regestration marks. Without those the user is forced to convert the pdf into an image file, then use the software to merge it with your cut files, then print it in the software with the registration marks. Then they can cut it. That whole process is my new normal thanks to a tip from oldschooldm in another thread (it fixes a problem I was having and I don't really understand why), but the standard is for the reg marks to be right on the PDF so people can just print it out without having to figure out all the other stuff on their own.
I looked at the DXF file and the Studio file. They both show up with what looks like proper cut lines. I didn't merge with the original image to see for sure, but I imagine you did it right. In Studio you can also do score lines that make it easy to fold your minis over. You would basically just draw a line over top the fold, then select that line, then go to your cut settings and select perforate. I know nothing about DXF files, so I don't know if you can do it with them. The studio file is the format that people usually distribute though. That or the older GSD files, but I haven't seen anyone complain when the cut files are for Studio.
If you add in the registration marks to your PDF, I'll do the full test and run them through my cutter.
EDIT: Darn. I would say Ninja'd, but... Wow! Did it really take me 21 minutes to write all that. I mean, I was doing some quick fact checking on the side, but still... 21 minutes?
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Post by lvmenes on Jan 27, 2015 6:11:36 GMT -9
Hi! Thank you mproteau (Paper Realms) , flockofthese and oldschooldm! I have read all you have written. I have read some old threads and tutorials and I think I have achieved more things: - I have created a new pdf: with layers and with the registration marks (I also created an extra contour layer for bleeding). To create the registration marks, I made them alone in the Silhouette Studio, printed them in a PDF printer (transforms in pdf instead of actually print the page). Then, I open the pdf with just marks in the vector editor and copied it to the miniatures file as base layer. There are two kinds of marks in the new file and they are hidden in separated layers as well as the extra contour layer (for bleeding). - I have created new cutter files, including the middle line. I tried to configurate the middle line for perfuration and I think I did it right. - I also created a new .dxf file, with outlines and middle line. But it is raw, without configuration at Silhouette Studio. Here are the files: layered-marked-minis-02.pdf (1.07 MB) Test-Silhouette-PMS-midline.studio3 (230.89 KB) Test-Silhouette-PMS-midline-SD.studio3 (230.89 KB) Test-Silhouette-midline-PMS.dxf (693.88 KB) Thank you very much! EDIT: All the files were worked in A4: 210 mm x 297 mm EDIT: Fixed some things in the pdf and added a new layer
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Post by mproteau (Paper Realms) on Jan 27, 2015 6:51:29 GMT -9
The layering of the PDF is great.
My only complaint about your layout is that it is A4, and there's a fair chance that what you've designed won't print well for Letter sized pages. Or, it looks like it will *print*, but I'm nervous about the registration marks being that close to the bottom margin of the page. If you're going through all this trouble, you might as well be friendly to both formats. I apologize but my home office is in shambles at the moment. I've been avoiding using my cutter until I can clean up some and get to it. :-P If it weren't the case, I'd just do a test print and see how it cuts for me.
In my opinion, you don't need two separate studio files for SD and Cameo marks. Anyone with a cutter is going to have to know how to flip that setting anyway.
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Post by lvmenes on Jan 27, 2015 10:35:49 GMT -9
Thank you again! I have made a pdf in letter size and a cutter file in letter size. Here they are: PMS-layer-letter-mark.pdf (1.06 MB) pms-cutfile-letter.studio3 (237.34 KB) Both pdfs (The A4 in my previous post and this one) have two layers of miniatures (they are all the same, just with differente collors). Here I will summarize all I have learned in the thread. Maybe it can help others. Remember that I am not a native speaker so many phrases will sound stranger or will be grammatically wrong: Things to keep in mind before start: - Use the same paper size in the vector editor, in the Silhouette Studio and in the PDF printer that you will use in this walkthrough. - The pdf printer usually uses the paper configuration of your main printer, so change to the desired size until the work is done. Now the process: - Create the miniatures in the vector editor (Corel, Illustrator or other one). It will be better if organize things in order to work with layers. - Keep in mind to have your minis centered in a way that they can inside a A4 size or in a Letter size (Not just inside the paper but inside the cutter zone of Silhouette Studio). It will help to create an other version if you later decided for it. - Create a layer with a little of extra contour for bleeding - Create two layers that will be filled with registration marks in the future. Keep them in the back of your work. - Save your work. - Create an all black version of the miniatures and export them in png or other file that Silhouette Studio can read. Besides the black shape let only the line in the middle of each miniature. The line in the middle of the shapes should be in other color than black or red. Exclude all text or extra info and let just the black shapes and the middle line. The extra contour for bleeding should NOT be included in the black shape of this file. The outer border should the basic contour. - Open the PNG in the Silhouette Studio. Use the trace function. Tune the filter if its is not tracing right at first. - Now, in the Silhouette Studio, draw a line in the middle of the minis, above the line that you let over the all black shapes. Hold shift to keep your lines straight. - Select only the lines in the middle and, in cutting configuuration, select perforate. - Delete the PNG and let only the traced contour for cutting and the lines your have drawn for perforation. Save the file. You have already your cutting file. - Now, lets finish your main miniatures file. Open a new file in the Silhouette Studio, in the same paper size that you are working and create one kind of registration mark. Now "print" the marks in a pdf file (Use a pdf printer that converts your printer job in a pdf file. Ex: Bullzip PDF Printer). - Open the pdf with the marks in the vector editor. Copy the pdf and paste in your main file in the layer that you have reserved for it. - Repeat the process with the other type of registration mark (Create the mark in silhouette, print the pdf with just the marks, open in vector editor, copy it and paste in the layer). - Export the pdf. Remember the final user about turn on the registration layer that he or she will need to cut the files. He or she will need the pdf with registration marks and the cutter file. - It is interesting to print the paper with the extra contour. It will be cutted off by the cutter machine, but it will avoid small white areas caused by minor differences bettwen your art contour and the tracing of Silhouette Studio.
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Post by flockofthese on Jan 27, 2015 19:39:57 GMT -9
The cuts were perfect lvmenes. You did it. There were no problems with the holes or anything, so there is no need for the filled in style of the second row. I used the cameo style reg marks, or the ones with the black square. My cutter (Silhouette Portrait) is supposed to support the other style of reg marks too, but It never cuts right with them, so I didn't bother testing that one.
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Post by lvmenes on Jan 28, 2015 7:06:50 GMT -9
Nice to know that it worked right. Thank you and everyone that help me in this post.
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