Vinyl Cutting Goes Hybrid Part 2: Printing and Cutting Elements!

One of the most exciting uses for my Silhouette SD cutter is printing and cutting out elements from my digital scrapbook kits. I’ve cut flowers, ornaments, word art, buntings…you name it, I’ve probably used my cutter to cut it. It’s a wonderful tool for cutting many items at once and is a lot less wearing on the hand that usually holds the scissors.

Last month I showed you how to cut vinyl and apply your cut design to an object. I used Photoshop, Robo Master, and the Silhouette Studio software programs. I am happy to report that I have discovered an easier way using just Photoshop and Silhouette Studio and have eliminated that pesky white line I was getting on my designs by using Robo Master.

Supplies

• Elements from digital scrapbook kits – I used a pumpkin from Paper Garden Projects’ Owl Fall For You Images kit.
• Printable inkjet vinyl – purchased from Planet Label
• Silhouette SD cutting machine
• Silhouette Studio software
• Photoshop CS5
• color printer
• Transfer tape
• popsicle stick
• straight pin
• scissors
• items to embellish, I used a glass jar I picked up from Dollar Tree

I opened my element up in Photoshop and created a new layer. I filled the new layer in black with the paint bucket tool. Then I used the element as a clipping mask (Layer > Create Clipping Mask). I saved the black outline as a png file.

After I opened up my Silhouette Studio software, I dragged the file I created into the program. Then I went to Object > Trace to open the trace tool palette on the far right side of the screen.

I clicked on the Select Trace Area option and drew a blue box around my object. This action tells the program what object I want to trace. The program automatically outlines the image in yellow, shown below.

Next, I selected Trace Outer Edge. This action does exactly what it sounds like, it traces the outer edge of the image. It places a thin red line to indicate the cut line around the object. I moved the black pumpkin outline to the side so you can better see the red line. Since I no longer needed the black pumpkin, I deleted it by clicking on it and pressing the delete key.

After tracing and obtaining my cut line, I dragged the original element file into the software. For some reason, clicking File > Open causes the image to open in its own window and will not allow me to place it into the working document. Dragging and dropping is the only way I have found to get my files into one document.

My pumpkin was on top of my cut line, so I went to Object > Arrange and selected Send Backward. This action placed the cut line in front of the pumpkin which made it easier to line up. I zoomed in quite a bit, clicked on the pumpkin, and then used the arrows to nudge it into perfect alignment with the red cut line.

Isn’t that beautiful? That’s all there is to obtaining a perfect cutting line around any digital element!

Of course, I wasn’t just satisfied with the pumpkin so I decided to cut some words to go over it. I selected the text tool (the A with the cursor after it on the left-hand side of the screen) and typed “Give thanks” using the Amelie font. I then dragged a brown paper from the Owl Fall for You paper kit onto the canvas and erased all but a small rectangle just bigger than the “Give thanks” sentiment.

To print and cut, I inserted my printable vinyl into my printer, making sure I had the correct side down (let me just say it is a very confusing process when you print on the wrong side of your vinyl!). I then opened the Silhouette Cut Settings by clicking on the blade icon in the top right corner of the program. I pressed the “Send to Silhouettte” button at the bottom of the screen, and then printed the document.

I placed the vinyl onto my cutting mat, and fed it into the machine. I selected the option to detect registration marks automatically and then selected the option to cut the page.

Once my page was cut, I carefully removed the pumpkin from the vinyl sheet and placed it onto my glass jar. I prepared my sentiment in the same manner as before by removing the excess vinyl and using a straight pin to remove those little negative areas of some of the letters.

Next, I used the transfer tape (and discovered that I shouldn’t have burnished it quite so vigorously as a little bit of the print color stuck to the tape) to lift the words off the vinyl backing. I then placed the transfer tape and the words onto the pumpkin, burnished gently and ever so carefully removed the transfer tape.

I just love how it looks! This process is so much fun – I have so many ideas for items I can embellish with my digital scrapbook elements.

If you make something by following this tutorial, be sure to leave your gallery link in the comments so I can check it out!

Other Articles by joana1n:

• Make Your Own Paper Tape! - March 25th, 2013
• Thanks a Latte Single-Serve Coffee Gift Box - February 18th, 2013
• Tootsie Box and a 3-D Santa Sticker - December 5th, 2012
• An Unlikely Advent Calendar - November 28th, 2012
• Gift Card Holder! - October 30th, 2012