How to set up methods and materials?

Once your GrandCut driver has the methods and materials you retrieved manually, it is time to set them up. Continue reading this guide to guide you through the process.

Prerequisites

• Verify that you have the correct license to use your GrandCut driver.
• Install the GrandCut driver that works for your cutter controller. Learn more.

Cutter Tools Configuration

1. Open CalderaRIP.
   
   
2. Open the Print Module of any of your printers. Add the image to print/cut.
   

     Info

   The configuration must be made for each printer to be used in your print-to-cut workflow.

3. Then, go to Page Setup > Cutting tab.
   
   
4. If you haven't already, click on Enable Cutting Contour. Select your GrandCut cutter and click on Tools:
   
   
   
5. A pop-up will open with the Cutter tools configuration.

Materials tab

1. Go to the Materials Tab.
   • If you have retrieved materials manually, some should appear in the list.
   • In this example, we used a ZCC driver, which follows a slightly different process: the list will be empty the first time you access this tab.
     
2. (Optional) If the list is empty, and your drivers allow it, click on the Get from media button, which will create materials with your printer’s media names:
   
   
   
3. You can change the name with the Edit button, add another one yourself with New..., or Delete one. However, we don’t recommend any modifications unless you expressly need them.

Methods tab

After retrieving materials, you need to create methods, as these are not printer or media-related.

1. Go to the Methods tab:
   
   
   

   A method is defined by a Contour Name and a cutting method (like Register, Draw, Thru-cut, etc.). A contour is compatible with a method if:

   • Its name suits the pattern:
   • “*” means that it can be anything
   • “*Word” means your contour’s name has to end with “Word”
   • “Word*“ means your contour’s name has to begin with “Word”
   • *Word* means your contour’s name has to contain “Word”
   • Available with this media is Yes. "This media" refers to the current media chosen for the print. Some cutting methods are not compatible with every substrate because of the cutter tool used for it.

   We are now going to create a new method for our generic CutContour and another one, more specific.

     Warning

   Every new method is placed under the previous one, and right before “*Register*” and “*”. So, make sure you create the specific methods before creating the general ones.

2. Click on New... to open the creation pop-up and fill it as displayed. As said in the warning, we have to create the specific one first:
   
   

     Warning

   Do not put “*” yourself into the Contour name. Use the Filter instead.

3. Click on OK. The new method has been added to the top of the list. In this example, this method only works with contours that have CutContourCircle by name:
   
   
   
4. Now, let’s add the general one: click on New… then fill in the pop-up as displayed:
   
   
   
5. Click on OK. The new method has been added just on top of *Register*:
   
   

     Info

   It is possible to add, delete, or edit as many methods as you wish.