Using Print2Cut to cut stamped or pre-printed images

Have you ever wanted to cut out an image that is either already printed or stamped?  What about cutting photos?  Here is how you can do that with eCAL or SCAL3.  This would probably work with any program that has the print and cut ability.  I used a transparency, but you could use vellum or even office paper and a light box (or window).

1. Open your file in eCAL/SCAL and size to the size that you want to cut.  I also change my cut shape to no fill and add a stroke.  Print with registration marks.  If I’m printing the same cut file in different sizes, I put each size on a new page and label the pages with the dimensions.
   
2. I have been printing one shape, and then turning the transparency around to print another shape on the other end.  I also write the file name and the shape size next to each shape.
   
   
3. Place the printout over a piercing mat (or a mouse pad) and poke all three of the dots in the center of the registration marks.
   
   
4. Place your template over the  image you want to cut.  The transparency make it very easy to position (and also to avoid the stray marker near the edge of the image  ).
   
5. Use a pen or a marker and place a dot in each of the three registration marks.  I like to number them, but that really isn’t necessary.
   
6. Position the print on the mat.  Placement doesn’t need to be exact.  Just make sure that it isn’t turned sideways.  Click on the Print2Cut button and go through the Print2Cut steps like normal.
   
7. The results:  One previously printed image that has been cut out exactly like I wanted.  

How to make your cutting mats “like new”

Did you know that you can apply new adhesive to your cutter mats?  I’ve been doing this for years and it works great.  There are several different adhesives that you can use.  Here is a list of some of them:

• Repositional spray adhesive (Krylon makes one, not sure what other brands are available)
• Basting spray (It’s in the fabric section)
• Xyron re-positional adhesive for the sticker makers, or re-positionable glue runners
• Zig 2 Way glue (I’ve been told they have a wide marker, I tried the chisel tip on a smaller area)
• Aleene’s Tack-It Over and Over diluted with equal parts water (I use a foam brush to paint it on)

Here are the basic steps for any of the adhesives:

1. Clean your mat.  You can use baby wipes or wash the mat with soap and water.  Let the mat dry.  This works great in between applications too since it removes all of the extra paper bits and lint sticking to the adhesive.
2. If you are using a spray, mask off the edges of your mats.
3. Apply your choice of adhesive, then let dry if needed.
4. Most of these adhesives will leave your mat overly sticky, so pat the mat all over with your hands to reduce the stickiness.

I have tried several of these, but my favorite is Aleene’s Tack-It Over and Over.  It does have a longer dry time, but you don’t need to mask your edges (just be careful with your foam brush) and it doesn’t have fumes like the sprays.  I’m all for the quick and easy!  I have a container that I use to store the diluted Aleene’s and the foam brush I use to apply it.  When I need to re-apply adhesive I just get out my container and I’m ready to go with no prep time.  :)

Path simplify and opening more than one SCUT2 file at a time

I found three more new features in SCAL 2.021.

One is the ability to open more than one SCUT2 file at a time.    If you click on the Import svg button or use Import from the file menu you can open multiple SCUT2 files.  Each one will open in a new page, but if you want them on the same page you can copy and paste them where you want them.

The font list is now alphabetical, no more lower case font names at the bottom of the list.

The other new feature is the ability to simplify your cutting files.  Here is how you use it.

1. Select the Path that you want to simplify and from the menu use Path/Simplify.
   
2. A dialog will appear.  You can change how severe the simplification by increasing or decreasing the threshold.  Click on Preview to see the change.  The number of nodes is shown above both the before and after images.  A higher threshold will result in more nodes being removed, but can cause distortion of the shapes.  Click OK when you like the results.
   
3. This is what my simplified text looks like using the default of 50.  It originally had 623 nodes and the simplified letters had 194 nodes and will cut faster than the original.
   

I have updated my original post on the SCAL  2.021 update to include all of the features that I found after I wrote that post.

SCAL 2.021 Object Merge

I found another new addition to SCAL 2.021 today.  For those of you familiar with Inkscape, this would be the same as Path/Combine.  It doesn’t change the cutting lines, just the fill settings.  This is really useful when working with paper piecing files to combine pieces together into one layer.

Here is an example of how it works.

Shapes before using Object Merge

Shapes after using Object Merge