What do you do with a cut file?

Hi everyone,

a question for anyone who has a plotter... what exactly do you do with a cut file? As far as I understand, a cut file contains, for example, text or an image. You feed it into a device (the plotter)—and then what? What does the plotter do with the image—print it, cut it out?

I came across this topic and realized I’m missing some knowledge because I’m currently trying to make a greeting card for my grandson’s first day of school. There are some beautifully designed lettering templates on Etsy available as cut files in SVG and PNG formats. The SVG format seems to be the one for the plotter. But what form does the output take? Paper, vinyl, print template, ink?

I could work with the PNG file format in image editing software. But how do I get the image (SVG or PNG), for example, onto a T-shirt? Or are these all different things I’m mixing up in my head? You get so many ideas and first have to figure out what you can actually do with the resources you have. I don’t own a plotter, just an inkjet printer.

Maybe someone would like to share some insights on plotting and help me—or us—understand it better. Thank you very much.

Best regards, Ina

Now I see the selected plotter graphic on a mug, too. How did it get there? 

 

If I’m not mistaken, a plotter can print and cut—and it can do so on various surfaces. Depending on the application, you can then iron the printed design onto fabric, print it onto mugs, or use it for paper crafts.

I don’t have any personal experience with this, though—the plotters I worked with professionally as a technical draftsman were purely continuous-feed printers with an A0 width.

I did toy with the idea of getting a hobby plotter like that and looked into it, but I decided against it. I simply don’t have the space for it.
 

A plotter can primarily cut, and with the right tools, it can also engrave, paint/draw, or pierce holes.
There are various types of vinyl available for plotters, e.g. heat-transfer vinyl in solid colors and patterns, flock vinyl, or vinyl with special effects (e.g. reflective, extra thick, color-changing). Heat-transfer vinyl consists of a vinyl layer and a heat-reactive adhesive backing. It is applied by ironing or with a heat press.
Then there is adhesive vinyl, which is like the old DC-Fix, for paper, notebooks, signs, etc.
You can also use the plotter to cut paper and cardstock.

I went to Kreativa Stuttgart and wanted to take a close look at everything at a booth with a plotter.

To iron images onto T-shirts, you need a special attachment.

For mugs, you need yet another extra accessory.

And buying a plotter is something to think through carefully, since it takes up space and costs money.

The only thing—the vinyl sheets—I was surprised by how inexpensive they were.

In the end, I went home with some brochures but never actually bought anything. I’m so full of ideas and already involved in various crafts that I don’t have enough time for a plotter, and I don’t want to learn how to use one. For me, the cost and effort were too high for the results.

I’m sure there are craft fairs in your area, too. Maybe you’ll find the information you need there. Or ask around among your friends to see if anyone has one. 

Thank you so much for your comments.

Yeah, it’s pretty much the same for me as it is for Petra. A thousand ideas in my head. There wouldn’t be room for anything new. Which doesn’t mean you can’t find it exciting and at least explore it a bit in theory. Well, all that equipment would be too expensive for me, too. But there seem to be plenty of people who do it. In any case, the selection of these cut files is huge.

Best wishes and have a wonderful Sunday—Ina

 

There are also transfer sheets you can print on with a regular inkjet printer—always in mirror image. Then you iron the cut-out design onto a T-shirt. It’s really easy and lasts as long as you wash the shirt gently. I used to do this often for my daughter back when there weren’t as many fan shirts around.
You can also take a file to a print shop or send it to them—they print on lots of things, and the results are even more professional. I’ve only tried it locally, but the price isn’t right if you already have the design. 

... The price is still okay... I mean. My phone sometimes makes crazy corrections. 

 

Thanks, max-mutzke, for the suggestion about the printable film. I actually still have some here. I’d traded for it on a hunch in my swap group—figured I might as well give it a try. And then I completely forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me. I’ll give it a try and report back here in the forum.

Best regards, Ina

Hey there!

So… I have a plotter. I’ve had it for about 4 years. And I love this thing 😊
Space-wise, it takes up about as much room as a laminator.
You can buy a heat press, but you don’t necessarily have to. A regular iron works just as well.
I have a Brother plotter and can create files for it without buying any extra accessories. There’s also an adapter for pens (for drawing, painting, and embossing).
If the adhesive mats stop sticking, you can make do with either spray adhesive or tape. I’ve been doing that for three years now.
The only part I’ve ever had to buy new was a blade. And that was my own fault, because I cut a lot of felt.
And of course, you have to buy vinyl sheets every now and then.
By the way, I also have a heat press because I’ve made a lot of T-shirts. Mine also comes with a mug attachment and a hat attachment. But I haven’t used either of them yet (and I don’t even know exactly where they are right now 🧐).

All in all, I use my plotter regularly and enjoy using it.

Hi there,

I’ve had my hobby plotter (Silhouette) for over 10 years and use it mainly for making cards. A friend of mine uses her plotter (Cricut) primarily to cut iron-on transfers to design T-shirts for her kids. The applications are very diverse.

These hobby plotters aren’t really suitable for printing in the traditional sense. However, as explained above, you can create drawings using adapters for pens, embossing tools, hot foiling, and various other accessories. There’s also a handy feature where you print an image or design on a regular printer and then have the plotter cut out the edges as desired. This eliminates the need for manual cutting—especially for complex outer contours. It’s ideal for creating your own stickers, for example. Using the included software, you can also easily create your own shapes and lettering.

The standard size of the backing sheet for my plotter is 30x30 cm, and there’s an additional backing sheet available in the size 30x60. This allows you to cut out even fairly large designs.

There are now even laser plotters available for hobbyists, though they require significantly more space than cutting plotters: mine measures about 50 x 20 cm and weighs just under 5 kg, while the smaller laser plotters measure 75 x 60 cm and weigh around 20 kg. And, of course, laser plotters are also significantly more expensive. If I’m not mistaken, some plotters offer an ink module as an optional accessory, which allows you to print on paper, cardboard, wood, clay, coated stone, and fabric.

Overall, I’m very satisfied with my plotter; I enjoy using it regularly and wouldn’t want to be without it. Due to lack of space and the price, I’ve put off purchasing a laser plotter for the time being.