Section 3 - Contour Cutting; Contour Cutting (Print & Cut) With Registration Marks - USCutter MH200 User Manual

SECTION 3 - Contour Cutting

3.1 - CONTOUR CUTTING - Print & Cut With Registration Marks
Contour Cutting involves printing a design that has special L-shaped registration marks in the outside
corners. You may see the term ARMS (Automatic Registration Mark Sensor) being used to refer to Contour
Cutting. This is just a more technical term for achieving the same type of results as Contour Cutting, also
known as Print & Cut.
In order for the software to be able to find the outside edges of your artwork and draw a contour, you
want to use vectorized files with no background such as SVG/AI/EPS vector files when possible. If working
with pixel based images such as photos, JPEG files with a background or images with a solid white
background, you should remove the background and save as a PNG. In general, images with a complex
background are likely to need modification to remove the background prior to proper vectorization and
contour cut use.
PDF files can contain both vector and raster images, but usually these are on separate pages within a
PDF document. Zoom in on the image to see if it starts to pixelate when magnified (raster) or keeps lines
smooth (vector).Refer to section 1.5 on page 7 of this manual to learn more about the differences when
comparing pixel based and vector based images.
VinylMaster software will allow you to create a printable PDF file, as well as an associated PLT file that can
copied to a thumbdrive which can connect to the U-disk port on the side of the cutter.
Note: The MH200 is a cutter and does not print. For printing you will need a printer.
The L-shaped registration marks are read by the cutter to allow precise cutting around the outside
contours of the design. Common uses for contour cutting are to create peelable stickers or cutting out
printed designs from printable heat transfer vinyl.
Example Of L Shape Registration Marks With Chevron & Job Number
BLADE PLACEMENT:
After printing on a separate printer, place the
printed vinyl in the cutter, with the blade just
slightly inside the first L-shaped registration mark.
(See red dot)
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