How To Setup Summa Cutter On Corel Draw

While we strongly advise that Summa cutters be driven with sign making programs, such as the CoCut plug-in for CorelDRAW, many customers accept asked us if special software is required to cut to their Summa from Corel. The brusque answer is "Nope, no special software is needed, provided you lot merely desire to do basic vinyl cutting."

Note from the Tipster: Get CoCut; yous'll be glad you did. 'Practice I demand sign software to run my sign making equipment?' is on a par with 'Do I need a Sign Maker to make my sign.' You lot go what you pay for gang!!!

That said, the process is piece of cake ...

First, install Summa Cutter Command (if y'all haven't already). In Cutter Control you can create a Hot Folder, in which whatsoever cuttable file that's placed in the folder is automatically sent to the cutter (very absurd; and way better than a Windows Printer driver).See How
Then, simply consign your Corel designs to the Hot Binder in HPGL (*.plt file).See How

Setting Up a Hot Folder

Start Summa Cutter Control (Start » Programs » Summa » Summa Cutter Control)
Go to your Summa Cutter Command options ( Configuration » Options, or press Alt-C-O)
Click on the Queue tab

In your Queue Options:

Due eastnable queue must be checked
Delete processed files from queue is optional, depending on whether you want to save files for replotting, or merely cut the file and discard it.
Cull the Location of your Hot Folder; either by selecting an existing folder using the browse button (); or create a new folder by typing in the folder name and path

OK; your Hot Binder is all setup. And you'll never have to do this again, unless yous desire to specify a different Hot Folder in the time to come. Merely, the folder volition only be "Hot" when Summa Cutter Command is running. So earlier sending files to the binder, be sure to beginning up Summa Cutter Control and let information technology run (minimized if y'all wish) in the background.

Exporting Cuttable Files from CorelDRAW

Export the object, or objects, you wish to cut ( File » Eastwardxport or press Ctrl-E), and and then ...

In the Export window, select the folder that you lot've designated as "Hot" in Summa Cutter Command
Choose PLT - HPGL Plotter File from the Files of type pull-downwardly
If you only wish to cut items that are currently selected in your CorelDRAW blueprint window, check the Selected only option

In HPGL Export / Pen tab ...

Click the Pen Unused button
Then go the the Page tab

In HPGL Export / Folio tab ...

Click the Bottom left pick under Page Orientation
Note : if your folio size as been properly setup in CorelDRAW, and then the setting volition automatically shown upwards here. If not, it's probably easiest to go back into CorelDRAW and setup your page.
And then go the the Avant-garde tab

In HPGL Export / Avant-garde tab, you have three options y'all may wish to take advantage of ...

Remove hidden lines - eliminates cut lines that are backside a filled object (intersecting lines)
Automatic weld - combines overlapping objects that are of the same color
No width or velocity command - removes speed and page size information from the plot file (will use you cutter's current settings)

That's it; hit OK and your file will be saved to the Hot Folder and immediately sent to the cutter. Practise this a couple times, and you'll have it downwardly pat. It'due south fast, easy and fashion better than a Windows Printer driver!

But, there are some disadvantages compared to cut programs. The master one to go along in listen is that it won't set a new point of origin. Y'all'll need to advance the cutter before sending another file ... if yous accept multiple cuts, using the same color, nosotros advise that you tile them up in CorelDRAW, then transport out a single plot file. And don't worry; it'south OK to send really long plots to a Summa cutter. Cut away!

Also, information technology's not a good idea to share the Hot Folder over a network when sending raw HPGL plot information ... again because no new betoken of origin is ready (there's a skillful chance that someone might send a file that cuts over the top of someone else's file). If, however, you're using CoCut or some other program with avant-garde cut features, sharing a Hot Folder over a network is a actually GREAT Thought and can make any Summa cutter networkable with a variety of different sign making programs.