2,541
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 36:
Line 36: − + Line 50:
Line 50: − + − + Line 58:
Line 58: − Sticker making is the most frequent use of the vinyl cutter but it can be used for other applications as well depending on the type of material being cut. For cutting materials, vinyl rolls can be be found in the cabinet below the computer and loaded onto the material rack at the back of the machine. However, for most projects a small piece will be sufficient and it is recommended that you use the scrap pieces in the bin to the right of the computer as a result. As for other materials, heat transfer vinyl can be used (found in the cabinet to the right of the vinyl printer); further it is possible to cut other vinyl based materials if you find they are compatible with the machine and have them cleared by Justin. Uploaded graphics can be in any format, but .pdf is preferred. This is due to the vector format of .pdf files, other formats need to be converted to vector form in Adobe illustrator 2024. The vinyl cutter needs to be loaded and setup before a graphic can be sent to it and cut out. Once cutting has been completed, it also needs to be reset and turned off. + + + + + + + − + Line 79:
Line 85: − + Line 85:
Line 91: − + Line 109:
Line 115: − + − # Under the Roland Cut Studio extension, view your file in the preview window.+ − # After the file looks like intended, click on the "Output to Paths" button in the top right of the extension.+ − # This will bring up a window in which you select "Cut" when you are ready to cut.+ − # After the cut is finished, the window will reflect this status. + Line 142:
Line 148: − +
→Operation
== Description ==
== Description ==
Vinyl cutting is the process of cutting graphics out of vinyl to make adhesive vinyl applications. The maker hub has a Roland GR-640 cutter. It cuts larger format vinyl than the BN-20 [[Vinyl Printer]], but does not have printing capability. It is used to make stickers/cutouts for applications such as signage, vehicle graphics, apparel, etc. The vinyl cutter is used primarily for cutting vinyl sheeting, but can cut other materials if needed for a specific project, see [https://www.rolanddga.com/products/vinyl-cutters/camm-1-gr-large-format-cutters/applications this application page]
Vinyl cutting is the process of cutting graphics out of vinyl to make adhesive vinyl applications. The maker hub has a Roland GR-640 cutter. It cuts larger format vinyl than the BN-20 [[Vinyl Printer]], but does not have printing capability. It is used to make vinyl cutouts for applications such as signage, vehicle graphics, apparel, etc. The vinyl cutter is used primarily for cutting vinyl sheeting, but can cut other materials if needed for a specific project, see [https://www.rolanddga.com/products/vinyl-cutters/camm-1-gr-large-format-cutters/applications this application page]
Example process video:
Example process video:
* Weeding: the process of removing unwanted material after the vinyl has been cut
* Weeding: the process of removing unwanted material after the vinyl has been cut
* Graphic: the chosen image/picture to be formatted and cut
* Graphic: the chosen image/picture to be formatted and cut
* Adobe Illustrator 2024 (Ai): used to prep the graphic for cutting
* Adobe Illustrator: vector graphics software that can be used to make graphics and prep them for cutting
* Roland Cut Studio (RCS): an Ai extension used to finalize the format of the graphic and send it to the vinyl cutter for cutting
<!--* Roland Cut Studio (RCS): an Ai extension used to finalize the format of the graphic and send it to the vinyl cutter for cutting-->
* Vector images: an image constructed with mathematical formulas which makes it easy to resize and perform other edits
* Vector images: an image constructed with mathematical formulas which makes it easy to resize and perform other edits
* Raster images: an image constructed with pixels which means they cannot be resized without a change in resolution
* Raster images: an image constructed with pixels which means they cannot be resized without a change in resolution
==== Operation ====
==== Operation ====
For cutting materials, calendar vinyl rolls can be be found in the cabinet below the computers; heat transfer vinyl rolls can be found in the cabinet to the right of the vinyl printer; vinyl scraps including calendar vinyl, heat transfer vinyl, and digital print media vinyl pieces can be found in the vinyl scrap bin. Please do not use the digital print media vinyl rolls on the standard vinyl cutter (scrap pieces of digital print media vinyl are OK to use on the standard vinyl cutter). The digital print media vinyl rolls are only for printing stickers on the vinyl printer.
For the vinyl cutter, vinyl rolls are loaded onto the two metal rollers with the vinyl fed in from the back of the machine. Vinyl pieces can be fed in from the front of the machine. For most projects, a small piece will be sufficient, so please use pieces from the scrap bin if possible. Further, it is possible to cut other vinyl based materials if you find they are compatible with the machine and have them cleared by Justin.
Graphics or text can be made in Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, or your favorite vector graphics software. Ultimately, your file will need to be uploaded into Illustrator as the final step because the Roland CutStudio extension--which talks to the vinyl cutter and sends over the cut information--lives inside of Adobe Illustrator. Illustrator can accept .ai files, .svg files, .pdf files, .dxf files, .eps files, and many more.
80 gf is the recommended cut force for calendar vinyl.
==== Demonstration ====
==== Demonstration ====
The student will draw a 2 in. x 2 in. graphic and upload into Ai. They will then need to properly format it and use the RCS extension in Ai. Using RCS, they will finalize and cut the graphic. To finish they will weed the sticker and apply it to transfer paper. They can then choose to save the sticker for later or immediately apply it to a medium of their choice. The student is also responsible for setting up the vinyl cutter before it is used and resetting it after they are done.
The student will draw a 1.5 in. x 1.5 in. graphic in Illustrator. Using the Roland CutStudio Extension, they will finalize and cut the graphic. To finish, they will weed the vinyl cutout. Learning the transfer paper process is optional but very useful for applying vinyl letters/words. The student is also responsible for setting up the vinyl cutter before it is used and resetting it after they are done.
==== General Procedure ====
==== General Procedure ====
In Adobe Illustrator:
In Adobe Illustrator:
[[File:Ai 2024.jpg|1200px|none|Ai 2024 Home Page]]
[[File:Ai 2024.jpg|1200px|none|Ai 2024 Home Page]]
*Use Adobe illustrator '''2024''' (Ai).
*Use Adobe illustrator.
*Best practice is to start with a new work-space, then size the dimensions to the piece of material you are using.
*Best practice is to start with a new work-space, then size the dimensions to the piece of material you are using.
[[File:Blank doc.jpg|1200px|none]]
[[File:Blank doc.jpg|1200px|none]]
[[File:Windows-Extensions-Roland CutStudios.jpg|1200px|none]]
[[File:Windows-Extensions-Roland CutStudios.jpg|1200px|none]]
*For model setup, select the GR-640.
*For model setup, select the GR-640.
Setting up the graphic in Ai:
Setting up the graphic in Illustrator:
# File is .pdf (the ideal format):
# File is .pdf (the ideal format):
## Use [File] > [Open].
## Use [File] > [Open].
# Convert your graphic to a vector if needed. Do this by clicking [Path] > [Trace Bitmap] and then pressing [Okay]. There are several different options in the bitmap menu that you can experiment with to find the best results. Generally, the color option works the best. Finish the process by right clicking and selecting the [ungroup] option so that each piece of the graphic can be edited.
# Convert your graphic to a vector if needed. Do this by clicking [Path] > [Trace Bitmap] and then pressing [Okay]. There are several different options in the bitmap menu that you can experiment with to find the best results. Generally, the color option works the best. Finish the process by right clicking and selecting the [ungroup] option so that each piece of the graphic can be edited.
# Perform any desired edits on your graphic. If there is something you don't know how to do use google; Inkscape is a popular software and there are a lot of internet resources. When the file is exported to Cut studio a cut line will automatically be added around the edge of each object similar adding a stroke around each individual object. This can be an issue if you have several adjacent shapes creating a graphic but you only want to cut around the outside of the objects. To prevent this, select the group of objects you want to cut around and then got to [Path] > [Union]. This will combine the group of objects into one shape with a continuous outline that will be cut out, but the downside is that the new singular object will be one color so if the objects were originally different colors they will be lost. However this does not matter for the Vinyl Cutter because it can only cut one color of vinyl anyway.
# Perform any desired edits on your graphic. If there is something you don't know how to do use google; Inkscape is a popular software and there are a lot of internet resources. When the file is exported to Cut studio a cut line will automatically be added around the edge of each object similar adding a stroke around each individual object. This can be an issue if you have several adjacent shapes creating a graphic but you only want to cut around the outside of the objects. To prevent this, select the group of objects you want to cut around and then got to [Path] > [Union]. This will combine the group of objects into one shape with a continuous outline that will be cut out, but the downside is that the new singular object will be one color so if the objects were originally different colors they will be lost. However this does not matter for the Vinyl Cutter because it can only cut one color of vinyl anyway.
# Save your file as an .svg and open it in Ai to use the Roland CutStudio extension.
# Save your file as an .svg and open it in Illustrator to use the Roland CutStudio extension.
Cutting the graphic:
Cutting the graphic:
* Under the Roland Cut Studio extension, select your graphic to view it in the preview window.
[[File:Basketball preview.png|1200px|none]]
[[File:Basketball preview.png|1200px|none]]
* After the file looks like intended, click on the "Output to Paths" button in the top right of the extension.
* This will bring up a window in which you select "Cut" when you are ready to cut.
[[File:Output to Paths Start Cut.png|1200px|none]]
[[File:Output to Paths Start Cut.png|1200px|none]]
* After the cut is finished, the window will reflect this status.
[[File:Output to Paths Finish Cut.png|1200px|none]]
[[File:Output to Paths Finish Cut.png|1200px|none]]
Unloading Material:
Unloading Material:
## Continue this process until the graphic is completely applied and all air bubbles are removed.
## Continue this process until the graphic is completely applied and all air bubbles are removed.
# Peel the transfer paper from the material, in the same manner as the backing of the vinyl was peeled off.
# Peel the transfer paper from the material, in the same manner as the backing of the vinyl was peeled off.
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Stickers do not have to be immediately applied to a surface. The process can be stopped at step 4.1 of Transferring the Graphic, and applied later in a similar manner. Using the squeegee to apply is also optional but may result in a less polished final product.
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Vinyl does not have to be immediately applied to a surface. The process can be stopped at step 4.1 of Transferring the Graphic, and applied later in a similar manner. Using the squeegee to apply is also optional but may result in a less polished final product.
== Certification ==
== Certification ==