djeeke 6 Posted July 1, 2012 Hi ! Sometimes I need to be able to contour cut some signs I print... My prints are done after RIP with Maintop on another machine and unfortunately I can not use Signblazer to print... I can print registration marks anywhere, that is no big deal... I read and followed the steps describing how to print and cut using signblazer here : http://support.uscut...with-signblazer I can align the registration marks in 'print / registration' so I could make SignBlazer aware of their position (first image, aligned 5cm out of a square) But the registration marks appear at a different location in 'cut a print' ... (second image-square size and position unchanged but registration marks have moved) This is so frustrating ! Registration marks in print and cut should be in the same place right ? Does anybody have any idea why this is happening ? Is there a setting I am missing ? Is anyone contour cutting images printed with other software? Anyone have an idea where the registration marks are placed by default ? (If there is such thing as a default... I could work out where to print them...) Any hint/idea/trick will be appreciated ! If I get this working I would be happy to write-up and share my own how-to... Thanks !!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coaster36 327 Posted July 1, 2012 Tagging along. I'd like to know too. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
top53 53 Posted July 1, 2012 Make sure your printer page is the same size as your cutter work space. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
djeeke 6 Posted July 1, 2012 Thanks top53... My large format printer is on another pc (even different room) I have an A4 printer configured so did a quick test with something that fits... Checked printer setup for A4 - OK Adjusted the design work space and cutter size to 294x210mm But I keep having the same issue.. - see images 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
top53 53 Posted July 2, 2012 I have noticed in print you have it set to center, not sure on your cut screen you may have it set to fit to origin this could make a difference. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
djeeke 6 Posted July 2, 2012 Thanks top63 ! It had nothing to do with the origin and/or centering ... Your first comment was right ! Although the page was set for A4 the actual page in the print view was smaller... I guess I initially resized to have my registration marks closer to the printed surface... So it seems registration marks drawn in the print screen are drawn from 'workspaze size' and resizing here is not communicated to the cutting part of Signblazer... But it is easy to set width and height for the cutter work space... So just measure the size of your page in the print view and correct cutter work space size accordingly... This needs to be done for each print/cut job I guess... For me I think I can work out where to print my registration marks !!! (with a bit of trial and error) Great ! I seems to be getting close BUT after aligning my 2 registration marks when I want to send the cut job SignBlazer crashes on me I can cut OK, it just crashes when trying cut-around print so it does not seem to be related to my cutter... I'm almost there and now this ? Bad Signbazer version ? I am using 6.0.21 Does someone have a version of Signblazer with working cut around print ? Or any hints on what else I could try ? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomasB 23 Posted July 2, 2012 Some might not like what I have to say but...... SignCut it has a free trial before you buy, not really expensive either. Signblazer gave a ton of problems from the get go , especially contour cutting. Others have had a good go with it but not ME! Goodluck 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MZ SKEETER 4,709 Posted July 2, 2012 You don't state how you are connected to your cutter, but if you are on USB connection, put it on serial or a keyspan adapter. Worth a try. Always better on serial or keyspan adapter. It might help avoid your crashes, when sending to cutter. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coaster36 327 Posted July 2, 2012 What cutter are you using? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MZ SKEETER 4,709 Posted July 2, 2012 What cutter are you using? His Cutter setup in Signblazer says Refine MH1351. So,, I would guess that is what his cutter is.. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coaster36 327 Posted July 2, 2012 Lol, didnt even think of looking at that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
djeeke 6 Posted July 2, 2012 TomasB, Been there... Tested Signcut Pro even before trying Signblazer... For me contour cut does not work correctly, I do align to both marks and the contour cut gets compressed so it cuts fine close to the zero marker and inside my print on the other side... I did all calibrations etc... I could not get it to work correctly But all this is off topic as we are talking about SignBlazer here ... Hi Skeeter, Yes I am on USB... I have no serial ports on this pc... I can send the cut perfectly without using the cut around print option... Meaning the poor man's contour cut does work... So I'm not sure it's the communication between PC and cutter but it does not hurt to try... This means I need to get a hold of a Keyspan adapter... (Or find some time and revive my old pc, it has a serial port available... This way I can test) And you are close as far as identifying the cutter, it's a Redsail Thanks and crossing my fingers a serial connection to the cutter will fix this... I'll keep you updated ! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
djeeke 6 Posted July 3, 2012 Revived my old pc which has two serial ports and tested with both COM1 and COM2 as well as USB. Cutting the design without 'cut around print' works... But the issue remains when trying to Cut around a print... After aligning both registration marks, hitting 'cut' causes Signblazer to crash... So maybe I'm facing a bug in this specific SignBlazer version ? For those who use Signblazer to contour cut, what version of Signblazer are you using ? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
djeeke 6 Posted July 5, 2012 Did some more testing on yet another computer but unfortunately still no positive result... Every time I get stuck at the same point... Whether I am on USB or serial... no difference Recap : I would like to be able to contour cut without manually aligning my vinyl... (after all my cutter supports this...) I am using Signblazer 6.0.21... I am able to do a normal cut... If I manually align my vinyl and set my origin point correctly, I can perform a 'poor man's contour cut' ! this works fine... But when trying the Cut around Print (with correct print/cut workspace settings) - I align both registration marks, works fine... - As soon as I hit "Cut the Print" Signblazer crashes... So to me it looks like my Signblazer version might have an issue with the scaling/rotating calculations and crashes... Is there anybody that is able to perform cut around print with success ? If so, can you please tell me what version of signblazer you are using ? Much appreciated ! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coaster36 327 Posted July 5, 2012 I'll give it a try when I get home tonight. Do you have a link to the "poor man's contour cut" or can you tell me what you mean by that? Did you try reinstalling sign blazer? Also there is a UK version on the us cutter Site you can try. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
djeeke 6 Posted July 5, 2012 That would be nice Coaster, thanks !!! If I remember right after installing the UK version "cut around print' was greyed out... I'll have to doublecheck on that though... (won't be able to do that before Saturday though) As for "The poor man's contour cut"... I have been doing it like this for a while and recently even found an online article describing the technique so I 'borrowed' the descriptive name "Poor Man's Contour cut" from there... Anything here's how I would describe this : - I print my design with a wireframe square around it - I load my printed (and eventually laminated) vinyl in the cutter - Then using a pen instead of a blade in the cutter (easier to align as it is way easier to see the ballpoint than the knifeblade) - I first set the pen above the bottom right corner (facing the cutter) of the printed wireframe square - I then move the pen to the left until I'm close to the left corner and adjust the vinyl height so that the pen sits on top of the bottom frame line (while trying not to move the vinyl on the right side) This does not have to be exact on top of the corner, it's to make sure the vinyl sits straight in the X-direction. - I move the pen back to the right corner and double-check height but mostly I'm OK... - With the pen right on the bottom right corner I set the cutter origin (0,0) - Then I load my blade and start a normal cut (panel size being equal to the printed wireframe square) Done ... The article I found describing this can be found here : http://www.wraptips....r-vinyl-decals/ It works this way but since I have cutter with Laser pointer being able to use a software like SignBlazer to perform a contour cut would be nice... This would mean I would use Signblazer for all my cutting work, all my designs are done in InkScape (I'm a Linux addict)... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coaster36 327 Posted July 5, 2012 OK first off Ill add this disclaimer! I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IM DOING Heres what I got. - I just imported a simple picture I got off the net. - I followed the help file to add a cut mask. - Then I went to print then just hit finish, didnt print anything. - Then I went to cut a print, I was up to the job cutter page, I tried jogging the cutter with the arrows but it wouldnt move the head. - I hit next, tried to jog again, nothing. - I then hit cut and the head went down and tried cuting, but it seemed to cut what ever pattern I used to jog the head. - Then came up the last picture you got, the red eye offset, I tried hitting cut again. And I got the CRASH. Im using the same version as you are. You should try calling uscutter tomorrow. Id do it, but I wouldnt understand what they are telling me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
djeeke 6 Posted July 6, 2012 Thank you very much for trying coaster, seems like you have the same issue as I have.... First I am not printing from Signblazer so I haven't even tried to print... I have been trying soooo many times I could have told you that jogging the head using the arrow does NOT work (sometimes it does but mostly it does not)... I jogged the head by entering the coordinates, this works fine on my SignBlazer version... I got so used to it while testing I even forgot the arrows are there... But you have the same crash I do... So it's not my computer/system/cutter/cables etc... It definitely is a SignBlazer issue... I might try to contact uscutter (did not get my cutter from though) and see what they have to tell me... Really nobody else on this SignBlazer forum successfully performing cut around prints ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coaster36 327 Posted July 6, 2012 I didnt buy my cutter with them and they have gave me support. I dont know if they can give support about signblazer but its worth a shot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
djeeke 6 Posted July 9, 2012 No luck till now... So it looks like Cut around Print with SignBlazer is not working properly as it just crashes... Nobody here seems to using SignBlazer for contour cutting so I have no idea which SignBlazer version is capable of doing this... End Of Story I guess ... Thanks for looking... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rodger 527 Posted July 9, 2012 There is no contour cutting in SignBlazer Elements that I know of . there are ways to do work arounds etc .There may be countour cutting in Pro or Hot Shot version of SB , but few have those versions . The newest version of Flexi starter can contour cut on any cutter from what I have read here , so the $100 it costs may be worth buying it . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
djeeke 6 Posted July 9, 2012 Thanks Rodger ! This confirms our findings, Signblazer elements does have the possibility but it just crashes when you try to perform the cut... (at least on 3 computers here and confirmed by Coaster...) Thanks for your feedback !!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rodger 527 Posted July 9, 2012 YW , What is the contour cutting tool called in SB elements ? Jay is VERY knowledgable about SB & has the Pro or Hot Shot version . He would know ! I would make an outline to use even if just to manually cut the primted decal . I have a Copam & have never set the start point ( not sure that can be done with a Copam ?? ) . edit: i went back & read the link at the beginning of the thread . There is a newer version of SBE ( 6.021 ? ) & member Mobby ( who was involved in the original development of SB ) says is more stable & eliminates some problems that ( from memory ) is related to your problem . The crack to eliminate the nags screen does not work with the newer release , but clicking thru the nag screens is not much problem IMO . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
djeeke 6 Posted July 11, 2012 Thanks Rodger, I'll give it another look next weekend, no time to fiddle about right now... I'll try to locate the correct newer version... I have tried a more recent version at some point but that one had the 'cut around print' greyed out... Will keep you posted... I don't care about the nag screens... I already have to boot in windows to use Signblazer, that few clicks take up less time ;-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
