When you import a file, PrimeCenter automatically detects cut contours based on their names. Only contours whose names are listed in PrimeCenter are detected as cut contours.
Depending on your software version, the way this list of cut contours is managed may differ.
Cut contours are managed through two types of list named "dictionaries":
- Global dictionary: Contains cut contour names available across all recipes.
- Recipe dictionary: Contains cut contour names specific to individual recipes.
Only one list named Dictionary is available to manage cut contour names. It allows you to define cut contours that can be used across all recipes.
A Cut contours list is available to manage cut contour names. This list defines which cut contours can be detected across all recipes.
A default list of contour names is provided, which you can customize to match your workflow. Each cut contour is defined by a name and a color.
Good to know
The Cut contours list is available from Settings in the navigation bar. You can also access it quickly from your recipe in Layout Creator: in the File manager, select a file to view its detected cut contours, then use the shortcut to open the Cut contours list directly.
⚠️ Important rules for detecting cut contours
To ensure cut contours are detected by PrimeCenter, follow these guidelines:
- Contours must be closed.
- They must be created as strokes, not fills.
- Use a spot color with a defined preview color value.
- Ensure the line width is at least 0.1 point, without special effects. The middle of the line defines the cut line.
- Artwork layers should not overlap layers with contours.
Adding cut contours
Add a cut contour to the global dictionary
When you add a cut contour to the global dictionary, it will appear in all future recipes but must be manually added to existing ones. Refer to the section Synchronize a cut contour from the global dictionary.
- Go to Settings > Dictionary.
- Click to create a new cut contour.
- Enter the name of the cut contour and click Create.
The new cut contour name will now be listed in the global dictionary and automatically available in future recipes.
Add a cut contour to a recipe dictionary
- In the main interface, select the recipe for which you want to create a cut contour.
- Go to the Dictionary module.
- Click on the field Create or choose existing global contour.
- Enter the name of the new cut contour and click Add.
The new cut contour name will be added to the recipe’s dictionary. You can differentiate recipe-specific contours from global ones by the icon next to the contour name.
Managing cut contours across dictionaries
Save a recipe-specific contour globally
To make a recipe-specific contour available in all future recipes:
- Select the cut contour in the recipe dictionary.
- Click Save globally .
Synchronize a cut contour from the global dictionary
To use a cut contour created in the global dictionary within an existing recipe:
- Open the recipe dictionary and click on the field Create or choose existing global contour.
- Select one or more contours from the dropdown list and click Add.
The selected contour names will appear in the recipe’s dictionary.
- Go to Settings > Dictionary.
- Click to create a new cut contour.
- Enter the name of the cut contour and click Create.
All recipes automatically use the contours defined in the global dictionary.
- Go to Settings > Cut contours.
- Click Add to create a new cut contour.
- Enter a name for the cut contour. A display color is automatically proposed:
- If the name matches a default contour name, the default color is used.
- Otherwise, a color not yet used in the list is proposed.
- The color is used to display and differentiate cut contours in the file preview in the Studio. You can edit the color if needed. If you select a color that is already used, PrimeCenter informs you which contour names already use this color.
- Click Save to add the cut contour to the list.
Good to know
- The new cut contour is applied only to files imported after it is created. It is not applied to files that were already imported.
- For automatic recipes, stop and run the recipe again to take the new cut contour into account.
Deleting cut contours
Info
- Deleting a contour from a recipe’s dictionary does not remove it from the global dictionary.
- Deleting a contour from the global dictionary does not impact contours already included in existing recipes.
Delete a single cut contour
From the global dictionary or a recipe dictionary:
- Locate the cut contour name you want to delete.
- Click Delete and confirm.
Delete multiple cut contours
From either the global dictionary or a recipe dictionary:
- Select multiple contours by checking the corresponding boxes.
- Click Delete on top of the list and confirm.
- Go to Settings > Cut Contours (formerly Dictionary).
- Select one or several contours, click Delete and confirm.
Editing cut contours
Available from PrimeCenter V4.5 with color configuration.
- Go to Settings > Cut contours.
- In the Cut contours list, select the contour you want to edit. Its settings will open.
- Modify the name and/or the color as needed.
- Click Save to apply your changes.