Starting from PrimeCenter V3.0, the cutting parameters vary by driver and are displayed in the Cutter options module according to the selected cutter.

This article covers all parameters, regardless of the selected cutter. To check if a parameter is supported by a driver, refer to its dedicated article in this section.

PrimeCenter allows you to add cut marks to your files. You can choose between external cut marks and internal cut marks or even combine both. You can also place a tracking code in your files for easier job identification.

To be able to set up cut marks and generate cut files, first you need to add and configure a cutter. For further information about this step, please refer to the following article:

• How to add a cutter?

Access to the Cutter options module

Cutter options

From V3.3 to V4.2 Starting from V4.2

PrimeCenter V4.1

 

Cutter

Use the field to choose a cutter from the list, which consists of cutters configured in the general settings. When you select a cutter, the Cutter options module will automatically display parameters tailored to the driver associated with your chosen cutter.

Reset

Reverts settings back to their default values.

 

  Good to know

Default values and ranges of the various parameters displayed in the Cutter options module vary by driver and are therefore tailored to the selected cutter.

 

Adjust cut marks

To layout	To media

 

By default, cut marks are aligned to the layout. For improved automatic mark detection by your cutter, you can align cut marks to the media.

Choosing to adapt cut marks to the media means that:

• On a sheet, the marks are adjusted to both the height and width of the media, regardless of the layout size.
• On a roll, the marks are adjusted to the width of the media, while the height remains dependent on the layout's height.

PrimeCenter V4.2

 

Cutter

Use the field to choose a cutter from the list, which consists of cutters configured in the general settings. When you select a cutter, the Cutter options module will automatically display parameters tailored to the driver associated with your chosen cutter.

	Opens the Cutters list if no cutter is selected or the configuration of the selected cutter.
Reset	Reverts settings back to their default values.

 

  Good to know

Default values and ranges of the various parameters displayed in the Cutter options module vary by driver and are therefore tailored to the selected cutter.

 

Adjust cut marks

To layout	To media

 

By default, cut marks are aligned to the layout. For improved automatic mark detection by your cutter, you can align cut marks to the media.

Choosing to adapt cut marks to the media means that:

• On a sheet, the marks are adjusted to both the height and width of the media, regardless of the layout size.
• On a roll, the marks are adjusted to the width of the media, while the height remains dependent on the layout's height.

 

Cut mark shape and size

Before V3.0 Since V3.0

You can customize the types of cut marks. 

Cross mark shape	Circle mark shape	Square mark shape
Allows you to customize the thickness and the size (width) of the cut mark	Allows you to customize the size (width and height) of the cut mark	Allows you to customize the size (width) of the cut mark

 

Based on the selected cutter, access compatible mark shapes and customize their size to suit your requirements.

Cross	Circle	Rectangle

Edge cut marks

Starting from PrimeCenter V3.0, the cutting parameters vary by driver and are displayed according to the selected cutter.

Enable Add edge cut marks to be able to set up them:

PrimeCenter V4.2

Origin extra mark

This setting allows you to add a visual indicator on the printing, marking the origin point. It helps you visualize the placement of your printing on the cutting machine.

The options for this settings vary depending on the cut driver you are using.

Multiple-edge marks placement

You can define the placement of edge cut marks independently, by selecting the sides and corners where you want to print them.

Changes in placement behavior starting with PrimeCenter V3.3

Starting from PrimeCenter V3.3, the placement behavior of cut marks and optical codes has been adjusted to better meet the requirements of different cutters. The behavior varies depending on the cut driver, and there are 2 possible approaches:

Priority to cut mark placement	Priority to optical code placement

• Priority to cut mark placement: This ensures equal spacing between cut marks for better recognition by the cutter. However, this may result in insufficient space for the optical codes, preventing them from being placed.
• Priority to optical code placement: This ensures the optical codes are always placed, but the distance between cut marks may vary.

Refer to the specific cut driver you are using to know its behavior.

Margins from media borders

You can define the margins between marks and the borders of your media:

Top: 30 mm Left: 30 mm

Bottom: 30 mm  Right: 30 mm

Margins from image trimbox

You can define margins between marks and the image trimbox:

Top: 20 mm Left: 20 mm

Bottom: 20 mm Right: 20 mm

Difference in calculating margins starting with V3.0

Starting from PrimeCenter V3.0, the calculation of Margins from image trimbox has been modified to offer greater flexibility in placement options. 

The calculation changes for negative values. Otherwise, there is no change if the margin has a positive value.

 

2 new placement options

Center the mark on the image trimbox	Align the mark inside the image trimbox
Margin = - (mark size) / 2	Margin = - (mark size)

 

Link between the old and new calculation

If you want to return to the same position you had in versions prior to 3.0, follow this rule:

If (old margin) > 0	If (old margin) < 0
(new margin) = (old margin)	(new margin) = (old margin) - (mark size)

Valid for top, bottom, left and right Margins from image trimbox.

Spacing between edge marks

You can define the edge marks spacing:

H: 400 mm

V: 400 mm

Internal cut marks

Enable Add internal cut marks to be able to set them up.

PrimeCenter V4.2

You can use Internal Cut Marks and Edge Cut Marks together or independently.

Internal cut marks + Edge cut marks	Internal cut marks only
(Useful for increasing precision)	(Useful for saving media)

Spacing between internal cut marks

With this setting, you can define the space between internal cut marks.

Optical code

Starting from PrimeCenter V3.0:

• The optical code parameters vary by driver and are displayed according to the selected cutter.
• You can print optical codes only, without cut marks.

PrimeCenter V4.2

Choose between bar code and QR code and define the size that suits your requirements.

Add orientation information

Introduced in PrimeCenter V2.6.

Depending on your cutter controller, you may need to include the orientation information in the code or have the filename and code exactly match. This option lets you choose whether or not to add a letter at the end of the code to identify the orientation of the layout:

Invert top and bottom side

Introduced in PrimeCenter V2.2.

Since PrimeCenter V3.0, this option is native to the Kongsberg driver and no longer visible.

As the name implies, this function inverts the position of the tracking code in one direction, which can be useful for certain cutting systems. The top of the layout becomes the bottom.

Example: 36B7BD57B becomes 36B7BD57T and vice versa

Print code as text

Named Show text before PrimeCenter 3.0.

Position

You can define the position of your tracking codes by selecting the areas of your document where you want to print them.

Rotate QRcodes towards center

Introduced in PrimeCenter V2.2. Previously named Rotate QRcodes by 180 degrees.

Since PrimeCenter V3.0, this option is native to the Kongsberg driver and no longer visible.

Function only available when selecting a QR code. This option rotates the tracking code by 180 degrees, which can be useful for certain cutting systems.

Option disabled	Option enabled

Anchor offset

You can define the shift between the tracking code and the image trimbox.

Top: 50 mm Left: -- mm

Bottom: 50 mm Right: -- mm

Margins from image trimbox

Named Image border margin before PrimeCenter 3.0.

You can define the margin between the image trimbox and the tracking code.

Top: 30 mm Left: -- mm

Bottom: 30 mm Right: -- mm

Application example for optical code

In this example we have the following parameters: