Changes

==== Operation ====

==== Operation ====

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, and lets them be uploaded directly to Roland Cut Studio. Other formats need to be converted to vector form in Adobe illustrator 2017. 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.  

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.  

==== Demonstration ====

==== Demonstration ====

The student will choose a 2 in. x 2 in. graphic and upload into Ai. They will then need to properly format it and send it to RCS. 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 choose 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.  

==== General Procedure ====

==== General Procedure ====

# Use Adobe illustrator '''2024''' (Ai).

# Use Adobe illustrator '''2024''' (Ai).

# 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.

## Open the Roland Cut Studio extension: Window > Extensions > Roland CutStudio

## Open Roland Cut Studio separately, then save your file and restart Ai (this only needs to be done if it is your first time using the vinyl cutter).

## If it’s not already there, drag the Roland Cut Studio tab over to the toolbars on the right side of the screen from [Window] > [Extensions] > [Roland Cut Studio].

## Click the Roland Cut Studio tab on the menu on the right of the screen.

## For cut setup, select the GR-640.

## For cut setup, select the GR-640.

# Setting up the graphic in Ai:

# Setting up the graphic in Ai:

## File is .pdf (the ideal format):

## File is .pdf (the ideal format):

# 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.

# Send your graphic to Roland Cut Studio by going to [Extensions] > [Roland Cut Studio].

# Save your file as an .svg and open it in Ai to use the Roland CutStudio extension.  

Cutting the graphic:

Cutting the graphic:

# Under the Roland Cut Studio tab, hit the [Output to Cut Studio] button, this should load the graphic in Roland Cut Studio.

# Under the Roland Cut Studio extension, view your file in the preview window.

# Click [File] > [Cut Setting] > [Change] > [Get From Machine] to size the workspace properly.

# After the file looks like intended, click on the  

# Click [Object] > [Group] > [Group] to merge the cut lines into one group.

# Click [Object] > [Weeding] > [Add Border], then add a .25 in. border (this value can be changed if needed), this is done to add a tighter outer boundary to the shape than was maybe in place earlier, and to save material.

# Use the Size and Shape window on the right of the screen to rotate or rescale the graphic as needed.

Unloading Material:

Unloading Material:

# Use the directional keys to unspool a small amount of excess material.

# Use the directional keys to unspool a small amount of excess material.