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DTF print & cut

Contour cutting is decided in the same place the print is prepared, so the cut line and the printed sheet come from one layout and line up.

Bleed and cut line

Bleed is generated from the real silhouette of the artwork, in the colour and the millimetres you choose, and the cut line is drawn at the distance you set from the original edge.

That detail matters more than it sounds: if the contour is computed on the already-bled image, the line ends up outside the bleed and the piece comes out with a white lip.

Sapiens CoreFlow RIP bleed and cut dialog with the contour preview
Bleed and cut — contour preview over the artwork
Sapiens CoreFlow RIP Cutting Manager listing the generated cut files
Cutting Manager — generated cuts, by working mode

Cutting Manager

Every sheet produces its cut file, and the manager lists them by mode with a preview. From there you open the viewer, send it to the cutter or save a copy.

The file carries the registration marks and the orientation arrow in exactly the position they were printed, because both come from the same layout.

Output for the cutter

Cuts are saved as SVG, which any design program opens, and as PLT to send straight to the cutter. Registration marks sit on their own layer, apart from the contour, so they are never cut by mistake.

  • SVG — contour and marks, with physical dimensions in millimetres.
  • PLT — the file your cutter understands, with mark-based registration.
  • Registration marks — at the corners and at the midpoints of the long sides, with an orientation arrow.

Frequently asked questions

Which cutters does it work with?

Output is PLT with mark-based registration, the standard for contour cutters. It is integrated and tested with the Teneth workflow; for other models, validate mark alignment on a test before going into production.

Can I cut without printing?

Yes. The cut file is generated whether or not you send the job to print.

Do I have to trace the contour myself?

No. It comes from the transparency of the file: the silhouette is detected and the contour traced at the distance you set.

One preparation for printing and cutting

If you prepare cuts in a separate program today, that is where most of the time and material goes. Get in touch and we will show you the whole flow.