How to print and cut with a flatbed cutter in CalderaRIP

This article explains how to load a file with cut contours, configure the print-and-cut settings, and generate a cutting file for a flatbed cutter.

Before you begin

• Make sure that your flatbed cutter is supported and has been added to CalderaRIP .
• Make sure that the file contains the cut contours required for the job. For instructions on creating cut contours, see:
  • How to create a Cut Contour in Adobe Illustrator 
  • How to create a spot color or a cut contour in CorelDRAW 

Load a file with cut contours

1. Open CalderaRIP.
2. Open FileMan, then browse to the folder containing your file.
   

3. Check that the cut contour names in the file are recognised:

   • Click Setup… > RIP Parameters tab > Edit Cut Contour list.
   • Verify that the required contour name appears in the list.
   • If necessary, add the contour name.

     Good to know

   A contour name followed by an asterisk, such as NAME*, recognises all cut contour names beginning with NAME.

   

4. Click Open. The file is loaded into the ImageBar.
   

     Good to know

   When CalderaRIP recognizes the cut contours in the file, an icon shaped like a cutting blade appears in the corner of the file's thumbnail in the ImageBar.

Configure the print-and-cut job

1. Double-click the printer to open the Print module.
2. Select the required print settings, such as resolution, loading method, media, mode, and quality.
3. Drag the file from the ImageBar to the printer configuration window.
4. Open Page Setup.
   
5. Select the Cutting tab. Enable Cutting contour, then select your flatbed cutter.
   
6. Configure the cutting settings required for the job:
   • Tools: Configure cutter-specific settings, if required. For more information, see Cutter Tools Configuration Overview .
   • Print options: Configure instant cutting, registration marks, automatic registration marks, barcodes, print identification numbers, or QR codes containing cutting information.

   • Contours: Add a contour around the document or each image. You can edit existing contours and specify whether they are printed, cut, or both.

       Info

     If a feature is enabled but appears greyed out, it is not active because it conflicts with another enabled feature. For example, if you enable Edges registration marks and then select Instant cut just after print, the Edges registration marks option becomes greyed out. In this case, Instant cut just after print is applied to the job.

7. Click Print to start the print job. Alternatively, close the window to adjust other print settings before starting the job.

Check the job in the Spooler

After you start the job, use the Spooler to monitor its progress.

1. Select the print job in the Spooler.
2. Open the Cutting tab to review the cutting information, including whether cutting is enabled, the selected cutter, and the location of the generated cutting file.

Retrieve the cutting file

Once processing is complete, CalderaRIP saves the cutting file in the output folder configured for the cutter.

If this folder is not shared with the cutter controller, copy the cutting file to the controller workstation. Then follow the cutter manufacturer's instructions to complete the cutting operation.