This article explains how to automatically associate printer media, materials, cut contours, and cutting methods in Cutter Tools Configuration. The Editor tab lets you create and manage materials and methods directly in CalderaRIP, without manually editing an XML file.
Info
Use this method when your cutter driver includes the Editor tab. If the tab is not available, refer to the manual method documentation.
Warning
Incorrect material or method settings may damage the cutter tool or cutting table. These settings should be configured by experienced operators. If you are unsure about a setting, consult your cutter manufacturer or contact Caldera Support.
How the associations work
A cutting workflow requires the following associations:
- A printer media is associated with a material.
- A material can have one or more cutting methods.
- A cut contour is associated with a cutting method.
Before you begin
- Make sure that your flatbed cutter is supported and has been added to CalderaRIP.
- Enable cutting contours and verify that the required tabs are available:
- Open the Print module.
- Go to Page Setup > Cutting, then enable Cutting contour if necessary.
- In the Cutting tab, click Tools to open Cutter Tools Configuration.
- Confirm that your cutter driver includes the Editor, Materials, and Methods tabs:
Step 1: Create materials and methods in the Editor tab
Open the Editor tab:
By default, CalderaRIP includes a template containing one material named DEFAULT and several associated methods. You can edit or delete the methods, but you cannot delete the DEFAULT material.
Info
Keep at least one method associated with the DEFAULT material. This material is used as a fallback for contours that are not associated with another method or material.
Material settings
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| GUID | A unique identifier for the material. It can be a name or a 128-bit value. |
| Name / Type / Description | Information used to identify the material in your workflow, such as Vinyl, Banner, Dibond, or Foamboard. Multiple materials can have the same name, but each material must have a unique GUID. |
| Thickness | The material thickness in millimetres. Enter one thickness value, or a minimum and maximum range. |
Method settings
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | A descriptive name, such as Kiss-Cut, Thru-Cut, or V-Cut. |
| ID | A unique identifier for the method. If the cutter does not require an ID, enter 0. |
| R / G / B | Decimal colour values from 0 to 255. Some cutter drivers use these values in the preview or to distinguish registration-mark methods from vector methods. |
| Extra | Optional driver-specific parameters. For example, some router drivers use this field for settings such as speed and hover position. |
Info
The GUID and ID fields both provide unique identifiers. The GUID identifies a material, while the ID identifies a method.
Step 2: Associate printer media with materials
Open the Materials tab:
Associate each media name from the printer with a material created in the Editor tab.
- The Media names column lists the media available through the Print module and EasyMedia.
- The Associations column lists the materials created in the Editor tab.
Each printer media can be associated with one material.
Step 3: Associate cut contours with methods
Open the Methods tab:
For each material, associate cut contour names with the appropriate method, such as Register, Draw, or Thru-Cut.
CalderaRIP processes the methods from top to bottom and applies the first compatible method.
A contour is compatible with a method when:
- Its name matches the configured filter.
- The method is available for the media selected in the print job.
Use contour-name filters
Use wildcards to associate multiple contour names with the same method:
| Filter | Matches |
|---|---|
| * | Any contour name |
| *Word | Contour names ending with Word |
| Word* | Contour names beginning with Word |
| *Word* | Contour names containing Word |
Recommendation
Place specific methods above general methods. For example, a method for CutContourCircle must appear above a method for CutContour*.
Do not enter * directly in the Contour name field. Use the Filter field instead.
Save, load, import, or export associations
The information configured in the Editor tab is linked to the Materials and Methods tabs.
- Click Save to apply your changes.
- Click Load to restore the last saved configuration and discard unsaved changes.
- After saving, close and reopen Cutter Tools Configuration to refresh the Materials and Methods tabs.
- Use Import and Export to transfer associations between workstations. The configuration is imported and exported as an XML file.
Example: Create specific and general contour associations
Create the specific method before the general method.
- Create a method for the specific contour CutContourCircle.
- Click New, configure the method, and click OK:
- Create a general method for CutContour*:
- Click OK.
- The specific method must remain above the general method because CalderaRIP applies the first compatible method in the list: