Supplementary English-Only Training Materials
Note: These materials are offered only in English as supplementary examples for a deeper dive into Fiery LLC products.

Contour Cut and Half Cut Workflow

Contour cuts are useful for stickers, labels, wall art, signs, logos, etc. SignLab has two methods for creating a contour cut around images and objects.

Contour cuts create a cut path around image frames or around and on the inside contours of objects. They can also be merged to create a single cut path around multiple objects.

Half cuts create a contour cut around images or objects with optional peel tabs.

In SignLab:

Contour Cut

  1. Select an image or object.
  2. Go to Cut > Contour Cut.
    A contour of the object is automatically applied.
  3. If it's an object, and you also want the inside contoured, select Inside/Outside.
  4. If it's an image, and you want only the frame contoured, select Bitmap Frame.
  5. Choose cut offset and color.
  6. [Optional] Select corner style, set bleed, group objects, or invert bitmaps.
  7. [Optional] With more than one object, to create a single contour, select Merge.
    To control the contour tightness, use the slider.
  8. To close the SmartBar, double-click anywhere on the workspace.
  9. Select all and go to File > Print and Cut.

Half Cut

  1. Select an image or object.
  2. Go to Cut > Half Cut.
  3. Select a corner style and cut offset and color.
  4. [Optional] Select group objects.
  5. [Optional] Select peel tab and choose a position for the tab to be added.
  6. To close the SmartBar, double-click anywhere on the workspace.
  7. Select all,
  8. Go to File > Print and Cut.

In VPM:

From SignLab

  1. Select the queue set up to receive the contour cut job.
  2. Click the Cut Stroke Setup icon next to the job name.
  3. Ensure the cut stroke color matches and the cut process is enabled.
  4. Select a cut process. For more options, click the ellipsis.
  5. To change the cut line, apply a cut line transformation.
  6. Click Print and Cut Job or Cut Job in the toolbar.

Applying a Contour Cut in VPM

  1. Select the job.
  2. Click Contour Cut.
  3. Select options in the dialog with help from the information below.

Contour Cut dialog

  • Inside/outside: Used for contouring the inside of objects (such as the letter "O")
  • Bitmap frame: When selected, only the rectangular bitmap frame is contoured.
  • Corner style: Point, round, or miter. If round is chosen, inside corners can also be rounded.
  • Merge: With multiple objects, merge all contours into a single contour. Control the contour tightness with the slider. Corners are rounded.

contour-cut

Contour Cut

Contour Cut in Queue Properties
Apply to all incoming jobs Select to enable tab selections to apply to all incoming jobs.
Drop-down

Select a cut path and color from the drop-down list (a named color to be used as a cut path). These labels come from the device driver and can be edited on the Color Actions tab in the Cut Stroke Setup section (see above).
Also cut inner corners
Offset amount
Corner style
Soft edge contour cut Use the arrows or slider to reduce or increase offset of soft edge contour cut.
Contour accuracy Use the drop-down to select smooth detail or fine detail.