By: Matthew, Ryan & Justin vinyl cutter By: Matthew, Ryan & Justin

What is a vinyl cutter? A vinyl cutter is a type of computer-controlled machine. Small vinyl cutters look like computer printers. The computer controls the movement of a sharp blade. This blade is used to cut out shapes and letters from sheets of thin self-adhesive plastic, known as vinyl

Here’s the steps in order to use a Vinyl Cutter

Step one Create or Save the artwork you would like cut into the vinyl. This will be the artwork that is you eventual final product

Step two Bring your artwork into a vinyl cutter cutting program. Such programs would include; 1) Adobe Illustrator 2) CoerIDraw x8 3) Sure Cuts a Lot 4) VinylMaster Cut 5) Inkscape And many others!

Step three Connect up your vinyl cutter. This is usually done through a USB port

Step four Load your material. This determines the colour of your prints. If you plan to do multi colour projects you will need to make multiple prints, One new print for each different colour

Step five Select and set up setup your blade. This set ensures the cuts are deep enough into the plastic that the design comes off cleanly

Step six Create a small line of text that you can send to the cutter. This is how you test if the blade is cutting deep enough into the vinyl before you fully start your cut.

Step seven Cut your artwork. This is where the magic happens and your designs are cut out from the vinyl sheets.

Step eight Remove your cut vinyl. This is where you peel the unused vinyl away from your artwork to reveal it.

Step nine Apply transfer tape. This is how you remove your artwork cleanly from the board and are able to move it to where you wanted it to go

Step ten Apply your graphics to where you wanted it to go. And now you can admire your newly applied artwork