Hinge method for lining up printouts

[firstcut]

Here are a few pictures that show how I do my hinge method for lining up printouts. With Austin's tip about the resizing Inkscape does when tracing and Heather pointing me to another tip about how to fix my Mac issue I am finally able to get great results.
This would be after step 13 in Austin's "coolest thing ever" post (http://forums.surecutsalot.com/viewtopi ... 2&start=10)

After the calibration cut

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Here I can rotate the piece and line up the printout without worrying about it moving out of place.

lining up the printout in the opening

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Once I get the printout in place, I just rotate the hinged piece back to the mat and press down the printout to the mat, then rotate the test piece back out of the way. I can cut with the flap there and reuse it on successive placements.

Ready to cut again

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[firstcut]

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Here is the result. I put an outset on this one because the water color edge did not lend itself to a close cut. However, I have cut all kinds of things today and am getting very exact results.
Thanks to Bob, Craig, Austin, PennsylvaniaKate, Heather and everyone else who has contributed to this effort over the months (years?) Looks like the puzzle pieces have finally come together.
-Kay

[lkc]

That turned out great...thanks for sharing all the pics! Great hinge technique!
Laura

[Craigg64]

Hi Kay

I like the idea of the hinge. This would make aligning the cut image so much easier.

[Maggie]

Great to be able to move the cutout out of the way and still check it with confidence, and the blue painters tape won't leave a residue on the mate. Great work! Thanks for sharing. I'm excited about this technique. (We could also make a cutout for the bottom like some stickers have to make a 3-D sticker effect, or two that were printed, eh?)

[firstcut]

Posted a video using this technique with a standalone Cricut machine. Same idea just not as powerful without the SCAL shapes, of course. The video is still helpful for visualizing how this works.
http://cleversomeday.wordpress.com/2009 ... printouts/

[AustinGM]

That is really a great idea to be able to place the graphic right on, I will be using that tip for sure!!! I wanted to watch your video but it won't come up. I just see a box and a blank page.

[sunnyNP]

Wow....can't wait to try this

[lkc]

Well I finally tried it tonight...I brought a silhouette in to scal but measured my image by hand and put dimensions in and set for shadow to have extra white border around the edges...thanks for the great idea and to all who contributed to the process!

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I taped for extra security on both (with the infamous duct tape!) and this cut through laminated material nicely.

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[firstcut]

Nice work! I snagged that digi, too. Don't you just love her? Is good to know you can get those results with hand measuring, TFS.
Want to let everyone know that I have consolidated all the steps in one place on my blog, now.
http://cleversomeday.wordpress.com/print-and-cut/