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Pazzles Mini Creative Cutter User Manual

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  • Page 1 Pazzles Creative Cutter Mini User Guide www.pazzles.com...
  • Page 2 © 2003, 2004, 2005 Pazzles. All rights reserved. Mini Edition 2, January 2007 Trademark Acknowledgements Adobe® Illustrator and Adobe® Photoshop Elements are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or in other countries. AOL® software is a registered trademark of America Online.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    1 Introduction Welcome to Pazzles Mini Creative Cutter! ......1 Viewing the Creative Cutter Basics Video ......1 Using This Book .
  • Page 4 Step 1: Insert an Images CD ......31 Step 2: Open the Pazzles Creative Cutter Program ... . . 32...
  • Page 5 Prepare the Line Graphic ........58 Scan the Drawing into Pazzles Creative Cutter ....59 Convert the Scan Into Cutting Format: Vectorization .
  • Page 6 C o n t e n t s Multiply the Image, Fill the Page, and Cut the project ....68 Tutorial #4: Hand Vectorizing a Graphic or Photo ..... 69 Import an Image Saved on Your Computer .
  • Page 7 Manipulating, Scanning, and Importing Graphics ..... 106 Scanning a Picture or Drawing into Pazzles Creative Cutter ..106 Importing an Image or Word Created in CorelDraw or Adobe Illustrator .
  • Page 8 C o n t e n t s Converting an Image to Black and White Before Saving as a Bitmap . . 110 Practice Project: Converting and Vectorizing a Bitmap File ..110 Hand-Vectorizing An Image .

  • Page 9: Introduction

    I n t r o d u c t i o n Welcome to Pazzles Mini Creative Cutter! Congratulations on your purchase of the Pazzles Mini Creative Cutter and on your move to a more powerful and creative level of scrapbooking! With the Pazzles Mini Creative Cutter and software, all scrapbookers can make cuts and use techniques that once were available only from professional diecutters.

  • Page 10: Recommended Reading Sequence

    If you’re very comfortable with Windows software applications and basic printer operation, use Chapter 2 to properly install and set up the Pazzles Mini Creative Cutter. Skim through Chapter 3 and 6. To get the most from the cutter, work through the projects in Chapter 4.
  • Page 11 Chapter 1 Introduction • If the problem is with cutting, check the blade and the mat. Creative Cutter MINI...
  • Page 12 Chapter 1 Introduction • If the problem remains after completing these steps, contact Pazzles at www.pazzles.com. Include the following information in your e-mail: • Your name and (if applicable) your company name • Your TSID number • A complete description of the problem and if appropriate, the problem file as an attachment.

  • Page 13: Installation And Setup

    I n s t a l l a t i o n a n d S e t u p Contents of the Creative Cutter Package Before you begin to install and set up the Mini Creative Cutter, unpack the shipping package and verify you have all parts and pieces.

  • Page 14: Installing The Software

    Verify the cutter is placed on a sturdy, flat surface that can withstand the weight of the cutter. Place the cutter in the mini platform if it was included in the Mini Creative Cutter® package the you purchased, please read the instructions on the platform prior to installing.

  • Page 15: Install The Usb Driver

    Chapter 2 Installation and Setup Install the USB Driver If a USB/Serial device has been installed on your machine before and the drivers that are about to be installed are different from those installed already, the original drivers need to be uninstalled.
  • Page 16 Chapter 2 Installation and Setup Figure 5 The progress of the installation is displayed on your screen. When the installation is complete, click Finish. IMPORTANT: You must repeat this process one more time!!! The Windows Found New Hardware wizard will appear again. Follow figure 4 on page 7and figure 5 on page 8 to complete the process for the second set of drivers.

  • Page 17: Determine The Port The Usb To Serial Was Assigned To

    Chapter 2 Installation and Setup Determine the Port the USB to Serial Was Assigned To Complete these steps after installing the USB to Serial Converter (See INSTALL THE USB DRIVER) section if you have not already done so. Go to Start at the bottom-left corner or your screen and click on it. Find My Computer and RIGHT-click on it.

  • Page 18: Install The Usb Security Key (Hardlock)

    Insert the USB Key (the black key with a green light on one end that says ROCKEY2 in white lettering). See Figure 6. NOTE: The key can be found in your Cutting And Design software case with the Pazzles Creative Cutter software CD. Figure 7 This key will install automatically.

  • Page 19: Configuring Toolbars And Software Settings

    Chapter 2 Installation and Setup Figure 9 Click on the image in the left part of the welcome window that appears in Pazzles Creative Cutter. See figure 10. Figure 10 In the Page box, type the dimensions of the size of paper you plan to cut. For now, type in the Length and 8 in the Height box.
  • Page 20 Chapter 2 Installation and Setup Click each of the following options to select them: Standard bar, Tools bar, Selection bar, Manipulation bar, Zoom bar. The toolbars you select are marked with a checkmark. Figure 11 From the View menu, click Grid to select it. Turning on Grid is helpful in placing images by displaying small dots at 1-inch intervals on the Page screen.

  • Page 21: Select The Plotter

    In the Port box, click COM port and then select the one assigned (see “Determine the Port the USB to Serial Was Assigned To” on page 9). Try a test cut. (See “Basic Procedures for Using the Mini Creative Cutter” on page 21.) IMPORTANT:...

  • Page 22: Replacing The Blade

    Chapter 2 Installation and Setup Replacing the Blade Blades should be replaced when any of the following conditions occur: • Cut quality suddenly gets worse. • You must continue to increase pressure to get clean cuts. • The corners and tight turns do not cut cleanly or are pushed in. NOTE: This condition can also be caused by using too much pressure.
  • Page 23 Chapter 2 Installation and Setup Loosen the white thumbscrew on the cutting carriage (figure 14 ). Insert the blade unit into the opening of the cutting carriage. Loosen to remove blade holder. Figure 14 While supporting the carriage with a finger, push in the bladeholder. When the blade-holder unit is inserted as far as it will go, tighten the screw Remember to tighten the white thumbscrew after you put the IMPORTANT:...

  • Page 24: Blade Positioning Guide

    Chapter 2 Installation and Setup Blade Positioning Guide Figure 15 Creative Cutter MINI...

  • Page 25: Working With The Cutting Mat

    Chapter 2 Installation and Setup Working With the Cutting Mat IMPORTANT: Using a cutting mat beyond its useful life will result in poor-quality cuts. Please take off the clear cover that came on your mat before putting the paper on the mat. See figure 16 Figure 16 Place your paper on the mat inside the blue border, on the sticky part of the mat.

  • Page 26: Insert The Mat Into The Cutter

    Chapter 2 Installation and Setup Figure 18 Put mat into cutter when you are ready to cut. Insert the Mat Into the Cutter Insert the mat from the back of the cutter. Turn the paper feed knob located on the left side of the cutter foward to move the mat under the pinch rod.

  • Page 27: How To Tell When You Need A New Mat

    Chapter 2 Installation and Setup Figure 21 WARNING! The tip of your blade holder needs to be in the corner of the paper to make the cut match the design on your screen. IMPORTANT: Using a cutting mat beyond its useful life will result in poor-quality cuts. How To Tell When You Need a New Mat •...
  • Page 28 Chapter 2 Installation and Setup • If oil from your hands gets on the mat, try to remove it with a lint roller or masking tape. How- ever, if your mat is too tacky, this can help alleviate some of the stickyness. •...

  • Page 29: Basic Procedures For Using The Mini Creative Cutter

    B a s i c P r o c e d u r e s f o r U s i n g t h e M i n i C r e a t i v e C u t t e r Introducing the Cutting Control Panel The Cutting Control Panel plays an important role in the success of your cutting projects.

  • Page 30: Settings For The Cutting Control Panel

    Chapter 3 Basic Procedures for Using the Mini Creative Cutter Settings for the Cutting Control Panel Material Set Material to 12.00. Advance Leave clear (not checked). Vinyl Size Shows the position of the object on the page. Zoom Tools Enables zooming in and out while within the cutting mode.

  • Page 31: Step 1: Start The Cutter

    Chapter 3 Basic Procedures for Using the Mini Creative Cutter IMPORTANT: Before you begin, verify all software and hardware is installed and configured correctly. See chapter 2 and the previous section for details. Step 1: Start the Cutter Turn on cutter by pressing the switch on the right side of the machine. The green light on top of the machine on the right end-cap will turn from red then green when it is ready to cut.

  • Page 32: Step 3: Make The Cut

    Chapter 3 Basic Procedures for Using the Mini Creative Cutter IMPORTANT: TO CUT AN 8 1/2” X 11” PAPER, ENTER 11” FOR LENGTH AND 8” FOR THE HEIGHT. IT SHOULD APPEAR IN LANDSCAPE ORIENTATION ON YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN. See figure 23 .
  • Page 33 Chapter 3 Basic Procedures for Using the Mini Creative Cutter On the Cutting Control Panel window, clear the Advance box if it is checked. See figure 27 . Figure 27 On the Cutting Control Panel window, click the Options button to open the Cutting Options window.

  • Page 34: Change The Page Size

    Chapter 3 Basic Procedures for Using the Mini Creative Cutter Change the Page Size Click Setting from the menu bar at the top of the screen. From the Setting menu, click Page. See figure 29. Figure 29 Change the page size to 11x8. See figure 30.

  • Page 35: Tips For Determining Proper Pressure To Assure Clean Cuts

    Chapter 3 Basic Procedures for Using the Mini Creative Cutter Tips for Determining Proper Pressure to Assure Clean Cuts The way the blade is inserted in the blade holder, various types of papers, and differences in humidity and blade length can all affect the pressure required for a good cut. Although the pressure setting is usually between 80 and 165, it can go as high as 245.

  • Page 36: Fixing Problems That Occur During Cutting

    Chapter 3 Basic Procedures for Using the Mini Creative Cutter Press the up and down arrows to move the blade left or right. Fixing Problems that Occur During Cutting WARNING! If you experience a problem, do not yank the paper out and do not force the carriage to move.
  • Page 37 Chapter 3 Basic Procedures for Using the Mini Creative Cutter • Replace the blade. It might be worn from use, it might be damaged from a paper jam or from cutting heavy or unusual material, or it might be defective.
  • Page 38 Chapter 3 Basic Procedures for Using the Mini Creative Cutter Creative Cutter MINI...

  • Page 39: Creative Cutter Tutorials

    C r e a t i v e C u t t e r T u t o r i a l s The four projects in this chapter provide you an opportunity to learn all the Creative Cutter techniques you’ll use the most—and each project takes less than an hour to complete! All projects assume you have already installed and set up the cutter and the cutter software.

  • Page 40: Step 2: Open The Pazzles Creative Cutter Program

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials If the window shown in figure 33 opens, click the red X button to close it. Figure 33 Step 2: Open the Pazzles Creative Cutter Program Double-click the icon your desktop screen. See figure 34. Figure 34 Press the key on your computer keyboard when you see the Welcome screen.

  • Page 41: Find And Import An Image

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials IMPORTANT: For your page size on the mini, put in 11” for the width amd 8” height. See figure 36. Figure 36 Find and Import an Image Go to FILE, then IMPORT, then select IMAGE on the menu that pops out to the right. Locate your CD drive under My Computer.

  • Page 42: Step 2: Create A Shadow Mat For The Image

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Double-click on the sampleprojects05 folder. See figure 38. Figure 38 Select any file by clicking on it. For this project, we are using a file called Butterfly05. Figure 39 Click Open. The image you selected will appear on your 11x8 page. Step 2: Create a Shadow Mat for the Image To apply changes to an image, you first must select the image.
  • Page 43 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Small boxes surround the image to show it has been selected. Click Tools again and then click Outline to open the Transformation box. See figure 41. Figure 41 Make the following selections in the Transformation box: Enter this For this setting Notes...

  • Page 44: Multiply The Image And Fill The Page

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials When you are finished making selections, click the yellow check mark at the lower-right of the Transformation box. As shown in figure 42, the color of the image’s outline changes to the color you selected. Figure 42 Multiply the Image and Fill the Page Step 1: Select and Position the Image...

  • Page 45: Step 2: Multiply The Image And Fill The Page Across

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Release the mouse button. When you do, little boxes appear around the image to show it has been selected, as shown in figure 44. Figure 44 To move the image, move the mouse over it until the cursor changes to the Move icon, which looks like two crossed arrows.
  • Page 46 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Right-click on the screen. On the menu that opens, click Multiply. Figure 47 In the Number box on the Multiply selected elements window, type the number of copies needed to fill the page across (side-to-side). Figure 48 Set spacing values or leave the settings as-is.

  • Page 47: Step 3: Multiply The Image And Fill The Page Down

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials TIP: If you make a mistake or must change the number of copies, click the Undo button Figure 49 Step 3: Multiply the Image and Fill the Page Down Go to the Tools menu and click Select All. Small boxes surround the images on the page, showing that all of them are selected.

  • Page 48: Make The Cut

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Click OK to fill the page with the image, as shown in figure 51. Figure 51 TIP: If you have too many or not enough images, click Undo and start over. Make the Cut Open the Cutting Control Panel (figure 26 on page 24) by clicking the Cutting Control Panel icon.

  • Page 49: Pressure Adjustments

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Pressure Adjustments • If the blade cuts all the way through but the stop and start points do not meet OR the paper is bunched up in the corners, the pressure is too high. Decrease it. •...

  • Page 50: Tutorial 2: Create A Title With Connected Letters, Add A Graphic, And Create A

    Graphic, and Create a Shadow Create your title Step 1: Prepare the software Open Pazzles Creative Cutter. See “Step 2: Open the Pazzles Creative Cutter Program” on page 32. Click the Create New Document image. See figure 52. Figure 52 Set up to cut on a 11”...

  • Page 51: Step 2: Type The Title

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Your workspace should look like this: Figure 54 Verify you have the most-used toolbars selected. To check, click the View menu, and then click Toolbars. Select Standard, Tools, Manipulation, Selection and Zoom. Step 2: Type the Title To type a word, first click on the Text tool The rectangle on the workspace represents the paper.
  • Page 52 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Type the word Summer Figure 56 Click the Select Elements tool. It appears as a black arrow on the screen. TIP: You will use the Select Elements tool often to select objects and to move them. Click the word with the Select Elements tool.

  • Page 53: Step 3: Connect The Letters

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Step 3: Connect the Letters To make it easier to see your work, zoom in on the word. To do that, find the Zoom toolbar and click the Zoom Selected icon. See figure 59. Figure 59 TIP: Make sure your word is still selected.
  • Page 54 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Click the arrow pointing to the right. Then, hold down the mouse button and drag the arrow to the left. Watch how the little boxes move as you drag the arrow. Figure 63 Release the mouse button and watch as the letters move to the location represented by the little...
  • Page 55 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Click on Tools and select Welding. The overlapping letters weld together. Figure 66 Figure 67 Congratulations! You just made your first title! Creative Cutter MINI...

  • Page 56: Cut Your Title

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Cut your Title Step 1: Select the Inside and Outside Part of the Word TIP: Before typed text is welded, you can select it by clicking anywhere on the word. All parts inside and out will be grouped together with one click. After you weld the word, the inside and outside parts are separate and you must select both the inside and outside parts.
  • Page 57 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Place a 8.5x11 paper on the cutting mat. For this setting Enter this value Notes Speed Slowest Start with the slowest when first learning. Most projects will be done on slow or medium. Panels Leave blank If you see 101, 201, your project is larger than 11x8.

  • Page 58: Add A Graphic To The Title

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Press Start to begin cutting. • If the cut is good—Hooray! • If you are unhappy with the cut, close the Cutting Control Panel window and go back to Step 3. Move the title to another spot on the page. TIP: If the blade cuts all the way through but the stop and start points don’t meet OR the paper is bunched up in the corners, the pressure is too high.

  • Page 59: Step 2: Import A Graphic

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials If the window shown in figure 71 opens, click Cancel to close it. Figure 71 Step 2: Import a Graphic Click File at the upper-left corner of the menu bar at the top of the Win PCSIGN screen. Figure 72 Click Import.

  • Page 60: Move And Edit The Graphic Image

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Find your CD drive under MY COMPUTER. Figure 74 TIP: Click on the arrow button by the window to see more locations on your computer. Figure 75 Double-click on the CD drive. Double-click the SampleProjects05 folder. Figure 76 Double-click the Summer Sun05 file.

  • Page 61: Weld The Title And The Image

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials The Summer Sun image should appear in the work space As shown in figure 78.. Figure 78 TIP: Be sure to drag a box around the entire sun to catch the inside parts and the outside parts. Resize the sun if needed by clicking on a corner box.

  • Page 62: Create A Shadow Mat For The Title (Optional)

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Figure 80 Click Tools and then click Welding to weld the title Summer and the sun together, as shown in figure 81. Figure 81 Congratulations! You have just created a title with an image attached! Create a Shadow Mat for the Title (Optional) Step 1: Create the shadow Select the entire title by dragging a...
  • Page 63 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Go to the Tools menu at the top at the screen and then click Outline. Figure 83 Make the following selections in the Transformation box (see figure 84). For this setting Enter this value Notes Thickness 0.08 In most cases, widths are...

  • Page 64: Step 2: Separate And Position The Shadow

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials TIP: If you need to undo something click the Undo tool at the top of screen. The Outline now appears in a different color around the title. Figure 85 Step 2: Separate and Position the Shadow Zoom the project in to make it easier to see by clicking on the Zoom Selected tool.
  • Page 65 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Position the shadow below the title. Cut your project. For instructions, see “Make the Cut” on page 40. TIP: Cut the title and shadow twice using two different colors of paper. Then you will have two titles with mats.

  • Page 66: Tutorial 3: Prepare, Scan, And Convert A Basic Line Graph To Cutting Format

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Tutorial 3: Prepare, Scan, and Convert a Basic Line Graph to Cutting Format In this tutorial, you will learn how to convert a basic line drawing into cutting format to create a cutting image. The line drawing can be your own creation or one found in a coloring book, workbook, or other resource.

  • Page 67: Scan The Drawing Into Pazzles Creative Cutter

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Scan the Drawing into Pazzles Creative Cutter Open the Pazzles Creative Cutter program. Double-click the icon your desktop screen. See figure 90. Figure 90 Press the key on your computer keyboard when you see the Welcome screen.
  • Page 68 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Select Source. You might need to power on the scanner and then close and then re-open your computer. Be sure to turn the scanner on before turning on the computer. Figure 92 In the Select Source box, highlight your scanner and click Select. If you have more than one scanner, be sure to select the correct one! See figure 92.
  • Page 69 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Scan the drawing as black and white bitmap. See figure 94. TIP: Your scanner software might look different from the pictures. Figure 94 Set the resolution (DPI) to at least 250. Scan the image. Creative Cutter MINI...

  • Page 70: Convert The Scan Into Cutting Format: Vectorization

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Convert the Scan Into Cutting Format: Vectorization Your scanned image should be visible on the Pazzles Creative Cutter workspace, as shown in figure 95. Figure 95 Verify that the image is selected. If it is, it will be surrounded by small boxes. If it is not selected, click the Select Elements tool and select it.
  • Page 71 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials On the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Bitmap. Figure 97 On the menu that opens, click Vectorization, and then click Automatic Vectorization. See figure 97. The Vectorizing tool, which looks like a magic wand, becomes available. Using the Vectorizing wand, click on the image.

  • Page 72: Changing The Resolution: What To Do If You Get A Messageabout Converting The Image To Black And White

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Changing the Resolution: What to Do If You Get a MessageAbout Converting the Image to Black and White If you get a message stating that you must convert the image to black and white, it means that you did not scan in black and white bitmap.

  • Page 73: Edit The Image

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Edit the Image Delete the original bitmap. To do so, click the Select Elements tool, click on the original drawing, and then press the key on your keyboard. The scanned image remains on your DELETE screen.
  • Page 74 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Figure 103 With the image selected, move the mouse over the image until the arrow turns into a cross symbol (the Move symbol). Click and hold down the mouse button as you drag the image into place on the page.
  • Page 75 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials • Select the tool and click on the bump to grab the line. • Hold the mouse button down and push in or pull out to fix the flaw, as shown in figure 106. Pull out Push in Figure 106 TIP:...

  • Page 76: Multiply The Image, Fill The Page, And Cut The Project

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Multiply the Image, Fill the Page, and Cut the project Use the procedure “Multiply the Image and Fill the Page” on page 36 to create multiple copies of the image and fill the page. Place a 8.5x12 paper on the cutting mat. Insert mat into the Creative Cutter.

  • Page 77: Tutorial #4: Hand Vectorizing A Graphic Or Photo

    Tutorial 1 and Tutorial 2 before attempting the advanced tutorials. You can complete advanced tutorials in any order. Open Pazzles Creative Cutter and create a blank 11x8 page. IMPORTANT: Be sure your page appears in landscaped orientation see “Starting and Using the Cutter”...
  • Page 78 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Scan the drawing as a Color Picture or Photo, at a resolution of at least 250. When you do, the image appears on the Pazzles Creative Cutter workspace, as shown in figure 111. Figure 111 Resize the image to fill the screen.

  • Page 79: Trace The Graphic (Hand Vectorize)

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Trace the Graphic (Hand Vectorize) Step 1: Review the Location and Uses of Tools The tools described in the following table are those that are most-often used during hand vectorizing. Tool Toolbar icon Notes Segment from Path As you draw a segment with this tool, it will automatically join the segment previously created.
  • Page 80 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Figure 113 Click the Color Palette tool to open the Color window. See figure 114. Right-click your mouse button on a color for the tracing line. Choose a color that will stand out from the picture, such as red or bright pink. Figure 114 Creative Cutter MINI...

  • Page 81: Step 3: Begin Tracing The Picture

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Step 3: Begin Tracing the Picture Click the Magnify tool and use it to enlarge a section of the picture. Click the Segment from Path tool. Click on a starting point and hold the mouse button down as you drag the starting line. See figure 115.

  • Page 82: Step 4: Continue Tracing And Refine

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Step 4: Continue Tracing and Refine Create smaller segments around tight areas, as shown in figure 117. Click the Redraw tool to turn the line color to red (or whatever color you have chosen). Figure 117 Continue tracing around the picture until you reach the starting point.
  • Page 83 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Click the Magnify tool to enlarge a section of the picture if necessary. Click the Move Point tool. You will use it to shape the lines to fit the picture See figure 119. Figure 119 Click on a segment that must be rounded and hold down the mouse button as you move the line in or out.

  • Page 84: Step 5: Outline Other Features

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Step 5: Outline Other Features Continue to use the Segment from Path tool to outline other features. Keep in mind that when using the Segment from Path tool, the end of the line must connect with the beginning point.
  • Page 85 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Use the Move Point tool to shape the accent lines. • To round the segment, click the middle of the segment. • To resize the segment or create a point, click an end point of the segment. Use the Join Two Points tool to connect the ends of lines.

  • Page 86: Step 6: Check Your Work

    Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Step 6: Check your Work Using the Select Elements tool, click on the image and hold down the mouse button as you drag a box around the new outline. When you release the mouse button, all lines within the box are selected.
  • Page 87 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Click the Show Open Paths tool to find any end points that need to be connected. The program zooms in on all loose ends. • Ignore the open ends you wish to leave open. • Fix the ends you wish to close.
  • Page 88 Chapter 4 Creative Cutter Tutorials Creative Cutter MINI...

  • Page 89: Manipulating Letters And Shapes

    Font tool Select a font and font size to apply to text. Pazzles Creative Cutter comes with cutting fonts, which are optimized for use with the Creative Cutter. You can also use TrueType fonts that are stored in your computer’s Windows Fonts folder.
  • Page 90 Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Tool Toolbar icon Use to... Undo Reverse the last action completed. Redo Reverse an undo. Zoom Enlarge parts of the page so you can see them better. Click and drag around the image while holding down the mouse button.

  • Page 91: Changing The Look Of Images And Text

    Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Tool Toolbar icon Use to... Measure Tools menu Measure the size of the project. From the Tools menu, click Measure. Then, click the project start point, hold down the mouse button, and drag the measuring line to the end point.

  • Page 92: Moving And Resizing Images

    Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Moving and Resizing Images Use the Select Elements tool to manipulate a single element or multiple elements. Selecting an Object With the Select Elements tool selected, click the item(s) you want to resize, move. or change. See figure 125.

  • Page 93: Resizing An Object

    Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Resizing an Object Select the image with the Select Elements tool. When you do, small black boxes appear around the image. See figure 126. Figure 126 Click one of the small black boxes to resize the image. While holding down the mouse button, click one of the black boxes and push it in or out.
  • Page 94 Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes In the Copy direction box, click the arrow for the direction you want to place the objects. Figure 127 Click OK. The page fills with the image, as shown in figure 128. Figure 128 TIP: If you have too many or not enough images, click the Undo tool and start over.

  • Page 95: Measuring The Size Of A Project

    Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Measuring the Size of a Project From the Tools menu, click Measure. See figure 129. Click the project’s starting point While holding down the mouse button, drag the measuring line to the end point. The distance is displayed at the bottom of the screen.

  • Page 96: Outlining Problems And Solutions

    Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes From the Tools menu, click Outline. When you do, the Transformation box opens. In the Thickness box, type a thickness (between ) for the outline. 0.02 0.15 In the Number box, type the number of outlines you wish to apply. Do not exceed three outlines.

  • Page 97: Distorting Words Into Different Shapes

    Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Distorting Words Into Different Shapes The Distortion tool lets you change text or objects into crazy shapes! Figure 131 Write a word or open an image, and then use the Select Elements tool to select it. On the Tools menu, click Distortion.

  • Page 98: Creating Curved Titles And Words

    Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Creating Curved Titles and Words Use the Fit Text to Path option on the Text menu to create text that curves under or over an arc. Figure 132 Write a word. From the Draw menu, click Arc, Oval, or Circle. Draw the shape you want.
  • Page 99 Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Figure 134 Example of text curved to right Click Apply to save your selections. TIP: To separate the line from the word, click Break text on the Write Text on... box. This allows you to delete the line so the word stands alone. Creative Cutter MINI...

  • Page 100: Spelling Words Vertically

    Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Spelling Words Vertically This section provides two techniques for writing a word with its letters stacked vertically above the each other. Using the Center Technique to Spell Words Vertically Figure 135 Type the word letter-by-letter in the font you prefer. Press the key after typing each ENTER letter to move the cursor down to the next line.

  • Page 101: Using The Break Text Technique To Spell Words Vertically

    Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Using the Break Text Technique to Spell Words Vertically This technique is preferable when you have mixed upper- and lower-case letters. These letters often are not spaced evenly when typed vertically. Figure 136 Type the word letter-by-letter in the font you prefer. Press the key after typing each ENTER letter to move the cursor down to the next line.
  • Page 102 Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Move letters to overlap, using the arrow tool or the little boxes. TIP: If you must lengthen parts of the letters to get the proper spacing, see “How to Lengthen Letters” on page 95. Figure 137 Use the Select Elements tool to select the word.

  • Page 103: How To Lengthen Letters

    Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes TIP: You can fix distortions after welding by using the Move Point tool. See “Tips for Fixing Welding Problems” on page 97. Figure 138 How to Lengthen Letters • If you need to lengthen letters to obtain proper overlap, use the Move Point tool to lengthen them. For best results, weld first and then lengthen the letters.

  • Page 104: Using The Welding Tool To Join Letters With A Bar

    Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Using the Welding Tool to Join Letters With a Bar Figure 139 Type a word in the font of your choice. From the Draw menu, click Rectangle to draw a rectangle bar. Use the Select Elements tool to move the bar so that it overlaps word. Use the Select Elements tool to select the bar and letters together.

  • Page 105: Welding Images And Words Together

    If objects do not weld, make sure the objects are overlapping and check for open paths. Using Drawing Tools to Change Letters and Images You can modify the appearance of letters and images by using Pazzles Creative Cutter drawing tools. Use the tips that follow.

  • Page 106: Move Point Tool

    Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Move Point Tool The Move Point tool allows you to select a construction point on an element and then to move it in, out, up, or down. This is very helpful when smoothing out any imperfections in your drawing.

  • Page 107: Break And Move Tool

    Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Break and Move Tool Use the Break and Move tool to place a break in the image line and then bend or manipulate the line. To use it, place a point at a new location and then move the point to create a new look. See figure 143.

  • Page 108: Join Two Points Tool

    Changing the fill color in an image helps you to visualize how the image will look when cut, and it facilitates printing the image on your color printer directly from Pazzles Creative Cutter. (Changing the fill color does not affect the way an image cuts.) Use the following procedure to change colors in an image or letter: Select the image with the Select Elements tool.

  • Page 109: Creating Words Inside A Rectangle

    Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Click the mouse on a color square. • To change the line color, click the right button on your mouse. • To change the fill color, click the left button on your mouse. • To lighten or darken a color, move the color bars up and down.

  • Page 110: Creating A Word With Attached Letters

    Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Figure 148 Creating a Word With Attached Letters Type a word. From the Draw menu, click Rectangle. Draw a rectangle under the word. Duplicate the rectangle (use ) and use the arrow key to move the new rectangle straight above the word.
  • Page 111 Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Figure 149 Creative Cutter MINI...
  • Page 112 Chapter 5 Manipulating Letters and Shapes Creative Cutter MINI...

  • Page 113: Working With Graphics

    Therefore, you must convert the image from pixels to vectors, which are lines and curves. This process can be done with the Pazzles Creative Cutter software, which essentially connects the dots for you. The closer the dots are to each other (and therefore, the higher the resolution), the smoother the cutting lines and curves.

  • Page 114: Manipulating, Scanning, And Importing Graphics

    If you have created the design in Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw, save it as an Adobe Illustrator 6.0 (AI) file and import into the cutting program. Be sure to convert text to lines, using vector as the conversion mode. You will not need to vectorize the image in Pazzles Creative Cutter. NOTE: This type of file sometimes results in doubled-up or duplicate lines.

  • Page 115: Tools And Tips For Cleaning Up Vectorized Images

    Chapter 6 Working With Graphics On the Bitmap menu, click Vectorization and Automatic Vectorization. See figure 151. Figure 151 TIP: For detailed information on vectorizing, see “Tutorial 3: Prepare, Scan, and Convert a Basic Line Graph to Cutting Format” on page 58. Click the image to start converting it to a vector image.

  • Page 116: Cut Away Points Or Bad Areas

    Chapter 6 Working With Graphics Cut Away Points or Bad Areas Use the Cut Straight Line tool to cut away points or bad areas. Drag the tool the separate the unwanted area. See figure 153. Figure 152 Figure 153 Smooth a Selected Area Use the Simply Path option from the Shape menu to smooth a selected area.

  • Page 117: Remove Extra Lines

    Chapter 6 Working With Graphics the scanner. The program is trying to “connect the dots” for you. Use the Move Point tool to drag the end of the line outside of the image and then click the Erase tool to remove them. Remove Extra Lines To remove the extra lines, select the lines and press the key on your keyboard.

  • Page 118: Converting An Image To Black And White Before Saving As A Bitmap

    From the File menu, click Import and then click Image. Locate and open Sample Bitmap 2 on the Creative Cutter CD. On the Pazzles Creative Cutter Bitmap menu, click Vectorization and Automatic Vectorization. Click on your scanned image. When you do, the program begins to convert it to a vector image.

  • Page 119: Step 1: Prepare The Image And The Tools

    Chapter 6 Working With Graphics Step 1: Prepare the Image and the Tools Scan a photo or graphic into Pazzles Creative Cutter or open a graphic that is already saved on your computer. See figure 154. Figure 154 Resize the graphic to fill the screen. Using the Select Elements tool, click one of the image’s corner handles.
  • Page 120 Chapter 6 Working With Graphics Click on a starting point and then hold the mouse button down as you drag the starting line. See figure 156. Figure 156 Continue tracing the image by clicking on a spot some distance away from your first line. As you click along the outline of the image, a line will fill in between the point.

  • Page 121: Step 3: Shape The Lines To Fit The Image

    Chapter 6 Working With Graphics Step 3: Shape the Lines to Fit the Image Click the Move Point tool and begin to shape the lines to fit the image. See figure 157. Figure 157 • To round a line, click the middle of a segment. •...
  • Page 122 Chapter 6 Working With Graphics Use the Draw Segment tool to add individual accent lines. Accent lines do not connect the the line made previously. See figure 158. Figure 158 Use the Move Point tool to shape the accent lines. Use the Join Two Points tool to connect the ends of lines.

  • Page 123: Tracking Customer Data

    Chapter 6 Working With Graphics Tracking Customer Data Use the Customer option on the Edit menu to keep records of your customers’names, prices charged, and fonts and images. Figure 160 Creative Cutter MINI...
  • Page 124 Chapter 6 Working With Graphics Creative Cutter MINI...

  • Page 125: Specialized Cutting And Finishing Techniques

    For tips on cutting a wide variety of materials, please refer to the cutting pressure guide that was included with the sample paper pack. Please contact Pazzles if you need a cutting pressure guide.

  • Page 126: Special Techniques For Cutting

    Chapter 7 Specialized Cutting and Finishing Techniques Special Techniques for Cutting Moving Objects From the Front or Back When Working With Lines Objects are placed on the page in layers that can be rearranged for easier manipulation. Use the Move to Back/Move to Front tool to manipulate the image on your screen. See figure 161. Figure 161 Sorting the Inline Path Before Cutting Use this procedure to prevent a letter or object from popping out of the paper during cutting.

  • Page 127: Troubleshooting Problems With Inline Cutting

    Chapter 7 Specialized Cutting and Finishing Techniques Troubleshooting Problems With Inline Cutting If a program error appears and the program shuts down while completing this procedure: • You might have circles and ovals in the project. Create extra points with the Break and Move tool.

  • Page 128: Scoring Paper

    Chapter 7 Specialized Cutting and Finishing Techniques Figure 163 Scoring Paper If you want to score part of the project and cut another, as you would for an envelope, use the following guidelines: • Complete the process in two separate steps. •...

  • Page 129: Cutting Round Corners

    Chapter 7 Specialized Cutting and Finishing Techniques Cutting Round Corners Draw a rectangle on the page. Click the Round Corner tool. In the Radius box, assign a value to apply to the corner and then click OK. To change this value later, double-click on the computer screen.

  • Page 130: Cutting Around Tight Corners

    Chapter 7 Specialized Cutting and Finishing Techniques Cutting Around Tight Corners To get clean cuts with fonts that have tight corners and angles, use the tips that follow. • Use the Break and Move tool create a new break in the line. •...

  • Page 131: Cutting With The Creative Cutter Pen Tool

    These same steps can be used with the marker tool as well. Step 2: Using the Pen Open any of the Creative Cutter images or create your design in Pazzles Creative Cutter. Because you are not cutting paper, you can choose images that have intersecting lines.

  • Page 132: Creating A Drawing With Multiple Colors

    Click Start to begin drawing. If the pen drags lines, try decreasing the pressure. Creating a Drawing With Multiple Colors Create the design in Pazzles Creative Cutter or use one of the Creative Cutter images. Add an outline. Be sure to assign a different color to the outline that you will use for cutting.
  • Page 133 Chapter 7 Specialized Cutting and Finishing Techniques Creative Cutter MINI...
  • Page 134 Chapter 7 Specialized Cutting and Finishing Techniques Creative Cutter MINI...

  • Page 135: Troubleshooting Guide

    Troubleshooting Tips Issue Possible Causes and Remedies You want to work in Pazzles Open another Pazzles Creative Cutter. You can cut and paste between Creative Cutter while cutting the two. You want to stop cutting If you close the Cutting Control Panel, you may stop the cutting process.
  • Page 136 Step 5: Search and delete other files 1. Close all windows until you return to your Desktop screen. Then, point to Start and click Search. 2. Select to search all files, type Pazzles Creative Cutter in the box, and click Search. 3. Delete any files found.
  • Page 137 Chapter 8 Troubleshooting Guide Issue Possible Causes and Remedies The program aborts or generates a Generally there are a few very common reasons for a runtime error. All run-time error of these are easily avoidable once you know what they are. Issue: You are using software version Letter 14.0 and are trying to open files for version 2005.
  • Page 138 Chapter 8 Troubleshooting Guide Issue Possible Causes and Remedies The program aborts or generates a Issue: You are using the Sort Inline before Outline function. run-time error Solution: Check to see if you have circles or ovals made with the Draw tool.
  • Page 139 You’ve lost changes to a project Save, save, save! Saving a project in Pazzles Creative Cutter is as simple as saving in any other Windows-based program. Select Save or Save As under the File menu (or press CTRL+S). Create an appropriate folder for your projects (usually in My Documents), give your project a name, and click Save.
  • Page 140 Chapter 8 Troubleshooting Guide Creative Cutter MINI...

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