Here are two examples of Print & Cut stickers that we did for packaging for one client of ours:
And an Inkjet Transfer (JPSS):
The stickers were cut on a Roland GX-24, .As you can see, you can cut all types of items with a plotter that has an optical eye that will read registration marks.
Caution: Not all plotters with "Optical Eyes" will read registration marks.
Many of the less expesive models state that they have optical eyes, but they are solely for the purpose of reading the size of your media, and unless they specifically say that they will read "Registration Marks", they will NOT contour cut.
Example: I'm supposed to be comparing the US Cutter Copam 2500 with the Roland GX-24. While the Copam has an optical eye, it is for reading the size of your media ONLY, and is not capable of contour cutting, which is why it is not being included in this comparison.Setting Up Your Contour CutsRoland GX-24Setting up your contour Cuts for cutting is on a Roland GX-24 is done either in CutStudio, Illustrator, or CorelDRAW, but ultimately ends up in CutStudio.Illustrator or CorelDRAWWhen setting up your graphic in Illustrator or CorelDRAW, create your graphic, and then either a)user a part of your graphic as your cutting path, or b) create a new cutting path around (or even within) your graphic.Save your graphic (without your cutting path) as a JPG or BMP, then rasterize it (SAVE A BACKUP FIRST!!!).Then, using the export filter (sorry, I'm not sure how to access it in Illustrator. Maybe Josh or someone that uses Illustrator with their GX-24 can elaborate)(In CorelDRAW, you would run the CutStudio export macro.), export your graphic to CutStudio. If done properly, you will see your cutting path and a rectangle.
The rectangle is the container where your rasterized graphic was in relation to your cutting path. (Unfortunately, and I've talked to Dana from Roland about this, the export filter does NOT include any raster information when you go to CutStudio.)Now import your graphic (as a JPG or BMP that you saved earlier) into CutStudio. You will most likely need to resize it as it imports at a very low dpi and will look HUGE compared to your cutting path and page. Get the dimensions of your graphic from Illustrator or CorelDRAW.Then align your bitmap with the container rectangle that was imported from Illy or Corel. Select the container rectangle and delete it. Your cutting paths should now be lined up with your graphic where you want to cut.
Now go to File -> Print & CutSet up your printer for the size of your paper, then click the button that says "Fit into shared area for cutting and printing", which will move your registration marks to their outermost bounds. Hit OK.Select both your graphic and your cutting paths and move them so that they are completely within your registration marks.You're now ready to print and cut.
CutStudio
If you don't have Illustrator or CorelDRAW, you can import a JPG or BMP into CutStudio to contour cut it. Size it as necessary.If you want to cut along the borders of your graphic (like the outline of a person), right-click on your graphic and choose "Image Outline". Adjust your settings as necessary, and hit "OK.If you don't want any of the cutting paths that were created, select your cutting paths and go to Objet -> Brek Polyline. Select any paths that you don't want (be sure not so accidentally select any that you DO want), and delete them. This is especially important if you have white in your design as it will create a path around those areas of your graphic.If you want to create arbitrary cutting paths, use the design tools available to make whatever cutting paths you'd like.File -> Cut & Print, and follow the directions listed above to set up your page size and registration marks and move your graphic and cutting paths.
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