Cutter Plotter (“Vinyl Cutter”)

The Makery has two cutter/plotters:

• Cricut Maker
• Graphtec Cutter/Plotter

The Cricut is perfect for smaller projects. It can draw on and cut through a variety of materials including paper, fabric, thin leather, even thin balsa wood. We have a variety of blade types for the machine, as well as ink pens of many colors, including fabric pens.

The Graphtec is set up to cut adhesive-backed and heat-transfer (“iron-on”) vinyl, but can also be used to plot large diagrams (like blueprints.) The Graphtec cutter/plotter is up to seven times faster than the Cricut, and is also more precise and capable of much larger projects.

Both machines can be used to create:

• adhesive-backed vinyl signs and stickers
• painting stencils
• iron-on t-shirt vinyl

To get started, read or review the information below, then walk in during our open hours in Rose Library or make an appointment (select “vinyl cutting”). If you haven’t used Adobe Illustrator before, expect to spend at least an hour learning how to complete some basic tasks with it before working with the cutter/plotter. As always, assistance and materials are provided by Makery staff. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What do I need to do to use the cutter/plotter?

Expect to spend at least an hour learning how to complete some basic tasks with Adobe Illustrator. The cutter/plotter is available for use just by walking in during our operating hours.

What is Adobe Illustrator? 

Adobe Illustrator is a vector drawing software that is primarily used for graphics. 

What is a vector image? 

While the most common image format, a “bitmap” or “raster” image is a grid of pixels, a vector image is a collection of instructions: “draw a line 10 units long, then turn 90 degrees, then draw another line…” 

Because a vector describes a series of actions, rather than just a collection of dots, it can be scaled to infinity (and beyond!) without losing quality. 

What software is used to get images prepared for the vinyl cutter? 

Adobe Illustrator, along with a plug-in for Illustrator called “Cutting Master”.

Do I have to purchase Adobe Illustrator? 

No! We provide use of the Adobe products on the computers in our space. You do need to set up an account with Adobe. 

How do I sign back out of Illustrator? 

In the top taskbar, click on the option “Help.” This will open a dropdown menu. At the bottom, hit “Sign Out… (name@dukes.jmu.edu)” and then hit “Sign Out” on the pop-up window. 

How to Use the Cutter/Plotter

• Cutter/Plotter Anatomy
• Safety Considerations
• Vector vs Bitmap
• Introduction to Adobe Illustrator
• Designing/Modifying Images for a Cutter 
• Loading Media into the Cutter/Plotter 
• Sending an image from Illustrator to the Cutter/Plotter
• Weeding and Applying Vinyl
• Applying Heat-Transfer Vinyl
• Troubleshooting & Common Issues
• Review

Cutter/Plotter Anatomy 

Power Switch

Make sure it is on. 

Control Panel

Select option 1 when a “roll” of media is loaded. 

Overall Schematic

Note the tool carriage, push rollers, grit roller, and stock rollers 

Safety Considerations

Safety is the number priority while operating and maintaining the cutter/plotter machines. 

Caution is advised both during setup and while the machine is in operation. Be sure to keep all clothing and body parts away from the machine while it is in operation.  

The tool carriage quickly moves horizontally, sometimes unexpectedly. There is a blade housed within the tool carriage and cuts are possible. The “push roller” wheels rotate. Ensure that all dangling items and limbs, especially hair and fingers, are kept far away from these components. 

Similarly, many of the tools used to process or weed the cut designs (such as dental picks, tweezers, and scissors) can be dangerous if used improperly. Always use care when handling and keep any sharp edges pointed away from your body. 

Vector vs Bitmap

The cutter/plotter is driven by vector images, not bitmap images.  If you have a design that’s in a bitmap image, it will need to be ‘traced’ and converted to vector. 

Vector graphics are a form of computer graphics that are made of simple shapes, polygons, curves, and mathematical relationships instead of individual pixels. They are used in graphic design, animation, and architectural planning (among others) as visual elements, but can also be used as the basis for controlling the movement of various CNC (computer numerically controlled) machines like laser cutters or plotters.

Raster/Bitmap Graphics

• Raster graphics are a collection of dots, or a map of bits: rows and columns of pixels, each one holding some color information. 
• Most images viewed on a modern screen are raster—photographs, screenshots, etc. 
• Great for reproducing color information, but are rendered for a specific size 
• When enlarged or when zoomed in, individual pixels are visible 
• Different applications require different DPI (dots per inch), which is pre-defined in the file 
• Raster editing programs like Photoshop make adjustments to the actual pixels 

Vector Graphics 

• Vector graphics are a collection of instructions: draw a line this long, turn 90 degrees, draw another line that long… 
• Lines and curves are continuous and not stepped, though they may appear so on a standard monitor 
• Because the relationships are constant, vectors are infinitely scalable – they’re not pixelated as you zoom in / scale up, because they aren’t a collection of pixels. 
• File sizes are smaller because the amount of data needed is less 
• Vector graphics work best for simple, bold shapes and gradients; they are not able to easily reproduce photorealistic looks without dozens or hundreds of shapes, and basically reproducing a raster 
• The basic filetype is SVG, but there are others for other use cases: AI, DWG, etc. 
• EPS and PDF are capable of handling raster and vector graphics 
• Vector paths are the basis for controlling many machines, including our cutter/plotters and the laser cutter. 
• Tool heads or other parts travel along a vector path to cut, plot, or engrave 

Introduction to Adobe Illustrator 

Getting Started  

Create an account or login using a Google account. 

If you already have a file ready, you can download it onto The Makery computer by emailing it to yourself or using a thumb drive. If the file is saved to the Adobe cloud, you can open it from there. 

When you first open Illustrator, you will be greeted with the home screen. There are a few presets to choose from, a list of recently opened files, an open button, and a new file button. Click on the “Open” button in the top left and either search the computer or cloud files to find your design. 

If you do not already have a file, searching for an image is an option. You will start by creating a black document to work from. Click on the “New File” button and choose “Letter.”  

Tracing an Image 

Images that are complex and have multiple colors are harder to get a clean image out of. Images that are not too complex, have clean lines, do not overlap with each other, and have one color are easier to manipulate.  

If you’ve created an image on paper, use our flatbed scanner to digitize it, then open the file in Illustrator.

If you want to search for an image online, some helpful search terms are “clipart” and “silhouette” to get nice simple art styles that are easy for the computer to trace. Once you have found an image you like, you can right click and copy the image, then go back to Illustrator.

Open the image file, or paste the image into the workspace by right-clicking and hitting “paste” or by using the shortcut “Command+V.” If the image is giant after pasting it, do not worry! Just resize it using the following steps: 

• Hold down the space bar to reveal a dragging tool that allows you to pan around the workspace without moving the image. Alternatively, use the sliders along the edges of the workspace. Pan to find the corner of the image. 
• Be sure to be in the main Selection tool. Hover over the corner until the mouse becomes a diagonal bar. This means that it is ready to resize. Always be sure to hold down shift when resizing to make sure the image does not warp.  
• If the image does warp, do not worry! Anything can be undone by either hitting “Command+Z” or going into the top bar and selecting “Edit,” and then “Undo.” 

Once the image is back to a manageable size, if you would like to further crop some of the extra things in the picture out, you can use the following steps: 

Select the “object” option and then “crop image.” Drag in the sides to isolate the image as much as possible. Hit the ‘return” button on MacOS or “enter” on Windows/PC to finalize. 

Click on the image to select it. You will know when your image is selected when there is a blue edge on the border of the image. Look to the right-hand task bar under the “Properties” tab to find “Image Trace.” There are a couple of different options that may work depending on the image, but “black and white” or “silhouette” are the ones that usually works best.  

If the image trace does not successfully trace around everything properly, there are ways to adjust it. This can often happen when the original image has a textured background rather than a blank one. 

When cleaning up the image trace, we want to adjust the threshold. Adjusting the threshold changes how dark a color needs to be before it gets included in the silhouette. You can adjust by using the slider or typing a number into the box to the right of the slider. Once the image is clean, finalize it by hitting “Expand.” The image is ready to use once you see blue lines trace along the outline of every shape in the image. These are better known as “paths.” Paths are what the machine later reads and cuts out. If there are any extra piece’s leftover that could not be cropped out, here is how to get rid of them: 

• Go to the Direct Selection tool, which can be found underneath the main selection tool. This allows you to select smaller selections of an image, rather than the whole.  
• Click on any of the leftover pieces and hit “Delete” until it is gone. 
• To double check that only the paths are left, you can hit “Command+Y.” This will hide everything except the paths and show if there are any extras that you cannot see. To get back out of this view, hit “Command+Y” again. 

Tracing Text 

Start by selecting the Text tool. 

While in this tool, every time you click on the page it will create a new text box. If you make too many, hit “Command+Z” to get rid of them.  

To type, double click inside the textbox or highlight the stock text and start typing. 

To change the font, highlight the text and go over to the “Character” section under the “Properties” tab in the righthand task bar. 

TIP: Specifically, when using heat transfer vinyl, which is the kind that is used to make iron-on patterns for shirts and other fabric projects, the thicker the lines of the image or text, the better it sticks to the fabric.  

To resize or move the text, go back to the main selection. This will create a box around the text that allows you to resize and move it just like any other image. 

Text in Illustrator is already image traced. Therefore, you will only need to finalize the paths by clicking on “Object,” then “Expand” in the top taskbar. 

Additional Information on Common Tools in Illustrator 

Selection Tool 

Select an object using the Selection tool 

The Selection tool lets you select, move, and resize an object or a group of objects. 

Use the Selection tool to drag and move an object 

1. Click the Selection tool or press V. 
2. Click an object to select it. 
3. Drag to the move selected objects to a preferred location. 
4. To change the size of the object, drag the edges of its bounding box. 
5. To select multiple objects, Shift + Click objects one at a time or drag a marquee around multiple objects. 

Direct Selection Tool 

Reshape a path using the Direct Selection tool 

The Direct Selection tool lets you select, move, or modify specific points or path segments in a path or a shape. 

Use the Direct Selection tool to select anchor points and change the shape of an object 

1. Click the Direct Selection tool or press A. 
2. Select the object to view its anchor points and path segments. 
3. Click an anchor point to select it, or Shift + Click to select multiple anchor points, path segments, or both. 
4. Drag the anchor point, handle, or path segment to change the shape of your object.  

Pen Tool 

The Pen tool lets you manually draw freehand lines, shapes, and straight or curved edges. You can modify these paths and shapes with anchor points and handles. 

1. Click the Pen tool or press P. 
2. Click anywhere on the artboard to set the anchor point. Move the pointer and click again to draw a line or Shift – Click to constrain the angle of the segment to a multiple of 45°. 
3. Draw a curve: 
   • Drag the Pen tool on the artboard and release it to create direction handles of the anchor point. 
   • Drag again to set the slope of the curve segment and then release. 
4. Complete the path by closing the path or leaving it open: 
   • Close the path: Position the tool over the first (hollow) anchor point and click. 
   • Leave the path open: Position the tool away from the object and press Command + Click (macOS) or Ctrl + Click (Windows). 

Curvature Tool  

Draw intuitive paths and shapes using the Curvature tool 

The Curvature tool lets you draw and edit paths and shapes using smooth and anchor points. 

1. Click the Curvature tool or press Shift + ~. 
2. Click anywhere on the artboard to set the first point. Click again to create a second point. A line segment is created. Now, move the pointer to preview the resulting path. 
3. Click further to add points and create a shape. Close the path to complete the shape. 
4. To draw straight lines by adding corner points, press and hold Option (macOS) or Alt (Windows) and click. 
5. Edit smooth and corner points: 
   • Click anywhere on the path to continue adding points to the existing path, or click the point and press Delete to remove it. 
   • Drag the point to move it. 
   • Double-click any point to toggle between a corner point and a smooth point. 
   • Press Esc to stop drawing. 

Rectangle Tool 

Create squares and rectangles using the Rectangle tool 

The Rectangle tool lets you create rectangular and square shapes in your artwork. 

1. Click the Rectangle tool or press M to select it. 
2. Drag on the artboard to draw a rectangle. Press and hold Shift while you drag to draw a square. 
3. Press and hold Alt while you drag to draw a rectangle from the center.  
4. Press and hold Shift + Alt (Windows), Shift + Opt (macOS) to draw a square from the center. 
5. To specify dimensions in points, select a rectangle and enter height and width values in the Rectangle section of the properties panel. 

Type Tool 

Add text with the Type tool.  

The Type tool lets you add text to your designs. 

1. Click the Type tool or press T. 
2. Point type: To add text at a point, click where you want the line to begin and start typing. 
3. Paragraph type: To create a rectangular container for longer text like paragraphs, drag to make a bounding box. 
4. Area type: To use a closed object’s shape as a type area, click its path with the Type tool selected. 
5. To add a line break, press Return (macOS) or Enter (Windows). 

Shape Builder Tool 

Create complex shapes using the Shape Builder tool.  

The Shape Builder tool lets you create complex objects by merging and erasing simpler objects. 

1. Click the Shape Builder tool or press Shift+M to select it.  
2. Click the selected region to extract the parts of the shapes you need to merge. More anchor points are introduced where the shapes break up. 
3. To merge paths and create a shape, drag along the region with the additional anchor points and release the mouse.  

Zoom Tool  

You can Zoom in and out on the canvas using the Zoom tool.  

Magnify and reduce your view of artboards and the canvas with the Zoom tool. 

1. Click the Zoom tool or press Z to select it. 
2. Click the area you want to zoom in to one or more times or drag to select an area.  
3. To zoom out, hold Alt and click the area or press Ctrl + 0 (Windows), hold Opt and click the area or press Command + 0 (macOS). 

TIP: If you are using macOS, you can select either “Command +” or “Command –” to Zoom in or out.  

• (+) means Zoom In 
• (–) means Zoom Out 

Image Trace 

Converts image into a simplified version (tracing objects) that may be expanded into paths.

Expand 

Coverts the tracing object into paths so that the vector transformation is complete.

Designing/Modifying Images for a Cutter 

Every line that shows up in Cutting Master will be a cut.  

If there are more lines than expected, go back into Ai and revisit the design. If you hover over a shape with the mouse and it reveals a line that you didn’t realize was there, that means the shapes are not grouped together so Cutting Master still sees them as separate shapes… Go to Window > Pathfinder. The Pathfinder tool has a lot of different options for grouping items together. Select the appropriate objects and try out the different options. Depending on how you want it to look, you may use “Trim” “Merge” or any of the other options in the Pathfinder box. If it doesn’t do what you wanted just hit Edit > Undo, and try again! The best way to learn is to try it! 

Cutting Master will cut everywhere there is a stroke (what lines are called in Ai) BUT the thickness of a stroke will not affect how Cutting Master views it. If you want it to cut on either side of a line, make sure there is a stroke on either side of the line, don’t just make the stroke thicker. 

Loading Media into the Cutter/Plotter 

1. Begin by placing the roll atop the 2 “stock rollers” (long silver poles) in the back. The side to be cut should be face up because the blade descends from above. For sticker paper, this is the colorful side. For HT vinyl, this is the matte side. 
2. Pull the “media set lever” down to raise the “push roller” wheels and slide the media underneath them. Make sure the media is aligned perfectly by following the white notches on the back. Try to center it between the 2 wheels as well. One aligned, push the set lever back up to lower the wheels and secure the vinyl. 
3. Walk around to the front and ensure alignment. Adjust as needed. Select option 1 to tell the machine that a roll, rather than a sheet, is loaded. 
4. The tool carriage will move horizontally to measure the material’s width, and the wheels will adjust the starting length. Ensure that all dangling items and limbs are kept far away. It will not wait for you. 

Sending an image from Illustrator to the Cutter/Plotter 

Once the image has been traced and expanded to have paths, the image is ready to cut. To cut the image, you will use the Cutting Master plugin. 

Make sure you are in the main selection tool. Select everything that you want to cut. 

TIP: If you have multiple images traced in the workspace, highlight only what you would like to cut out first. You will have to be in the “direct selection” tool to select smaller portions of the image. Selecting each piece will allow you to adjust each one individually within Cutting Master. 

Once you have your image selected, go to file > cutting master 5 > send to cutting master 5 

A new window will pop up. This is cutting master 5. It is the plug-in between illustrator and the cutter/plotter. Your design should appear in the new window! Double check it is loaded into the software correctly and looks like how you want it to turn out. Under the first tab you will find options to resize, rotate, and mirror. 

Tip: to keep the ratio of your design consistent when re-sizing, ensure the “proportional” box is checked 

You can also choose how many copies by going to the 5^th tab. 

If you are using heat transfer vinyl for ironing onto fabric, the most important thing to remember is to flip the image, so that it is mirrored backwards. This will ensure that the image is facing the right way when you iron it on. You can do this by clicking the dropdown box next to “mirror” and selecting the mirror plane you prefer. 

When you are ready and the machine is loaded, hit “output” and the machine will begin cutting. Be sure to monitor the cutting process to ensure your design is being executed correctly. 

Here are a few descriptions of what each configuration means if you are interested: 

• Media Size: The maximum cutting length of a vinyl cutter determines how long of a piece of the media the cutter can move.  
• Job Size: The size of the design itself. 
• Fit to Media: This button you will use to ensure that the design fits to the media size before starting the cut. 
• Proportional: This tool will lock the sizing of the design. Therefore, if you change one length, it will automatically change the other length.  
• Centering: The centering tool aligns your design in the middle of the media. 
• Rotation: Allows you to turn your design on the media. 
• Mirror: This button is used to invert the design. You will use this button when working with heat transfer vinyl.  
• Copies: The number of times you want your design to cut. 

Weeding and Applying Vinyl 

Weeding vinyl is the process of manually removing excess vinyl from around your design, leaving only the parts that you want to transfer onto your final surface.  

You will need: 

• Weeding Tool 
  • A pick tool 
  • Tweezers  

• Transfer Tape (if working with adhesive vinyl, this is used to transfer the design to the desired surface.)

Steps: 

1. Prepare Your Workspace: Make sure you have a clean, well-lit area to work in.  
   • TIP: Good lighting helps you see the details better. 
2. Examine the Design: Look at your vinyl cutout and identify the parts that need to be weeded out. It helps to have the original version of your design nearby for reference. 
3. Start Weeding: 
   • Begin at a corner of your vinyl cutout. 
   • Use the weeding tool to lift the edge of the excess vinyl.
   • Gently pull away the excess vinyl from your design. Be careful around intricate details.
   • Use the tool to help remove small pieces and details, ensuring you leave the design intact. 
4. Remove Small Details: 
   • For small areas or complex details, use the tip of the weeding tool or tweezers to carefully lift and remove these pieces. 
   • Work slowly to avoid tearing or peeling up the vinyl you want to keep. 
5. Check Your Work: Once the excess vinyl is removed, inspect your design to ensure all unwanted pieces are weeded out. Correct any missed areas. 
6. Apply Transfer Tape (Optional): 
   • If you need to transfer your design to another surface, cut a piece of transfer tape slightly larger than your design. 
   • Separate the clear adhesive from the paper backing. 
   • Place the transfer tape over your weeded design and smooth it down with a scraper or credit card to ensure it adheres well. 
   • Peel the backing paper away, leaving your design on the transfer tape. 
7. Transfer the Design (Optional): 
   • Position the transfer tape with your design onto your desired surface. 
   • Smooth it down firmly to ensure the vinyl adheres to the surface. 
   • Carefully peel away the transfer tape, leaving the vinyl design on the surface. 

Applying Heat Transfer Vinyl 

As mentioned before, heat transfer vinyl is vinyl that may be ironed onto fabric. The higher the natural fiber content, the better the design adheres. Here are the steps: 

1. Make sure that the design is mirrored in Cutting Master before you cut. This ensures that the design will face the right way. 
2. Weed out any vinyl that you do not want to be part of the final design. This process is the same for both adhesive and heat transfer vinyl. 
3. Set the iron to high/natural fibers. However, use caution when dealing with synthetic fabrics. It is unlikely, but it is possible to melt synthetic fibers with an iron. 
4. Iron the surface of the fabric where you want the design to go. Leaving wrinkles may distort the design later. 
5. Center the design on the fabric. Make sure the colorful material is in direct contact with the fabric, and the clear coat is above to create a protective barrier between the vinyl and the iron. The clear coat will be sticky and so stick in place on the fabric. 
6. Begin drawing the iron across the design. Here are some tips: 
   • Avoid making large sweeping motions while applying pressure, and this can cause the design to smear. Small circles or tight zig zags tend to work better.
   • Evenly heat the design, taking care not to stay in one place for too long or to ignore other areas.
   • Pressure does help to press the vinyl into the fibers. Just take care to follow the above guidelines while applying pressure 
7. How do I know when it has been ironed enough? The true test, of course, is attempting to remove the protective film as outlines in step 8. However, here are some clues before attempting the final test: 
   • Often, tiny bubbles will form between the vinyl and protective layer. You may have to lean your head to the side to see the light reflecting off these.
   • For thicker designs you may begin to see the weave of the fabric imprinted in the vinyl. However, this may not appear until step 9. 
   • Some people prefer to use time guidelines. This varies by the size of the design, but in general it should only take about 3 minutes or direct heat 
8. Wait until the design is cool to the touch, then attempt to remove the protective film. 
   • Slowly peel one corner or edge and watch to see whether the design has adhered to the fabric. Peel the clear layer away horizontally rather than vertically to reduce the chance of damage. 
   • If the design sticks to the fabric, great! If not, return to step 6 and repeat. 
   • Optional: Flip the design over or inside out and iron the design from the other side of the fabric. This gives it just that little bit of extra adhesion. 

Tips, tricks, and extra info 

• DO NOT iron over vinyl without a protective barrier. This is a common mistake when applying multiple designs or layers. Previously laid designs WILL be ruined if accidentally swept by the iron while applying other areas. This will also damage the iron. Cover previous designs with discarded protective films or tracing paper. 
• Make sure there are no stickers (i.e., manufacturer’s sizing stickers, retail stickers, etc.) on the fabric before ironing – otherwise, the adhesive from the sticker will melt into the shirt. 
• When washing a shirt with iron-on designs, turn the shirt inside-out first (this will increase the number of washes that the design will survive.) 
• Line dry only (a clothes dryer will damage the design).

Troubleshooting & Common Issues

Some of the most common problems that arise with projects are listed below, along with basic steps to take in order to diagnose and potentially fix the issue: 

“The machine cut lines that aren’t in my original image!” 

Cutter/plotter machines do not “see” images the same way we do—both the Cricut and the Graphtec are designed to follow the vector paths provided in the file and largely ignore things like fill color and stroke width. In general, overlapping shapes are the cause of any discrepancy between how the image appears on a screen and how it is interpreted by the cutter/plotter. If you would like to see a preview of how the software will interpret a given design, you can do so by entering Outline View in Adobe Illustrator with the keyboard shortcut “Command + Y”.  Each line visible in this mode will be cut or drawn when the design is sent to be processed. To return to the standard view, use the same keyboard shortcut. 

In general, the fastest way to convert a layered image to a cut-ready format is to select all of the artwork and use the “Object > Expand…” option from the top menu bar to update all underlying vector paths to match what is visible, and then use the “Merge” setting in the Pathfinder Panel (“Window > Pathfinder” in the top menu bar) to flatten the image. This is a destructive edit which CANNOT be undone if saved. Be sure to make a copy of this edit as a new file so you do not overwrite the original design. 

“I pressed send, but the Graphtec didn’t start cutting my design!” 

Any time the material is changed on the Graphtec cutter/plotter, the machine must be updated with the type of material loaded (i.e. a roll or a sheet). If the Graphtec is turned on and is connected to the computer but still will not cut, check the LCD screen to make sure that it is not waiting for user input. If it is, choose the appropriate option (roll or sheet). The Graphtec stores all pending jobs in its memory and will begin cutting the sent design as soon as it is done measuring the loaded material. If the design was sent multiple times, it will now cut multiple times. 

If this does not fix the issue, turn off the machine and restart the process. 

“The machine cut through the backing layers of the vinyl!” 

If the Cricut is cutting through the backing layer of a two-layer material, it has likely been set up with the wrong material settings. Double check that the material selected in the Design Space software matches the material being used. If this does not solve the issue, change the pressure setting from “Default” to “Less.” 

The Graphtec machine is manually calibrated to cut through only one layer of the Oracal 651 vinyl. If you encounter issues with this machine, please consult with a manager. 

Review

The Graphtec cutting plotter is directly connected to one of the workstation computers in the Rose Library makerspace. There is a dedicated plugin within Adobe Illustrator used to send designs to the machine. You have your choice of any of the colors or varieties of adhesive vinyl or HTV we have available.

To cut a design onto one of these materials, follow the steps below: 

1. Make sure the Graphtec machine is on. Install the selected vinyl and press the corresponding button for the type of sheet/roll you installed from the panel on the front. 
2. Open Adobe Illustrator and sign in with a free personal account if necessary. 
3. Adjust the vector design in Adobe Illustrator as necessary using the provided tools. 
4. Use the top menu bar to navigate to “File > Cutting Master 5 > Cut/Plot” and open the Cutting Master plugin. 
5. In the Cutting Master Plugin, click the “Poll Size” button to update the preview with the correct size of the vinyl as measured by the machine. 
6. Use the Cutting Master plugin to adjust size, positioning, number of copies, etc. 
7. When the design is ready, press the “Send” button or hit the “Return” key to initialize the cut. 
8. When the machine has finished plotting the design, cut straight across the vinyl roll using scissors or the “Cross Cut” function on the machine. 
9. Weed the vinyl with the appropriate tools (e.g., dental picks, tweezers, etc.) to remove everything that will not be part of the final design (i.e. the negative space). 
10. For sticker or decal projects using adhesive vinyl, overlay a suitable piece of transfer tape and trim around the design to finish the project.