How to cut stickers with in printed margins

[flrhcarr]

Hi everyone,

Newbie here. Kind of frustrated. I've tried searching the forums here to find out how to cut stickers from what I've printed. I can nearly get them cut right if I black out the images in (Photoshop Elements) PSE 2 & 8, but I can't replicate the cut for the sticker sheet. They aren't complicated shapes, just simple ones & I can't seem to get it to come out correctly. I've played around with the SCAL2 settings many times but can't get it to work. I'm sure this has been done before, but I can't seem to get it to work for me. I'm using an updated Cricut Expressions with SCAL 2043 if that helps.
Help

[AnointedHands]

What problem are you having?

[firstcut]

We'll need some more details or photos to help you, but the first thing I would ask if if you are using the calibration feature. It's new but helps with this type of thing a lot.

[flrhcarr]

The problem is this. Alignment. Even printing from PSE directly, than taking that file (as it sits on the screen unchanged), making shapes out of those images, doesn't do it.
We'll say a colored oblong with words on it. Now, that become black oblong shapes. In reasoning, (+/- for printer skew) that shape should be cut. Whether or not I re-size (which usually I don't) the file w/SCAL doesn't help, nor does alignment, because the next sheet is off. I do line up the paper pretty well each time, it's not perfect, if I could do that I'd not need a cutter ;}). Before sending this I scrapped everything & started over with cut alignment.

The attached are of the SCAL file from the PNG
The pdf file sizing in PSE 8
The "blanked" shapes in original png file

[firstcut]

Still not really following you, but suspect you are running up against the inaccuracies of the Cricut and Cricut "creep" which make multiples on a page like this the most difficult kind of print and cut.
Easiest thing to do is set up a cut file in SCAL, then adjust your print in PSE to match. That way you can shift individual shapes as necessary. But do try the new calibration feature and also try and see if you can get a half dozen or so shapes on the page to match and just do it in more passes. Sorry but this is not the straightforward task you would assume it would be.

[flrhcarr]

"Sorry but this is not the straightforward task you would assume it would be." Drats.

Sorry about not being clear. I want to cut 15 sticker shapes from what I've produced from my printer. That is I'll print the graphic image, take it to the Cricut & (via SCAL2) cut that sheet into 15 pieces to stick on.

I can't seem to get the cuts to line up on the sheet, in order to make the adjustments. I believe I could make each print/cut on the fly. That is, print two, cut-adjust, cut for real. If only because I don't know that the moves adjustments in PSE are the same as in SCAL. One tap could equal two in SCAL. I go back to drats, I hope this wasn't a foolish purchase.

What new alignment feature is there, I guess I'm missing it? I use nudge, & have the X Y cut alignment where is the other one? Am I missing the manual on this thing?

Thank you for your help. I'll check back to see if there are any updates to this thread.

[gj1]

http://forums.surecutsalot.com/viewtopi ... 18&t=18946

I bumped this thread for you, hope it helps get you lined up better perhaps.

[pennsylvaniakate]

The best luck I had with cutting multiples was printing from SCAL using the Place Image feature. Then I could have everything lined up in one program.

[firstcut]

Look under cutter>calibrate Cricut and run that. You have to enter the numbers every time you start SCAL up, unfortunately, so write them down and keep them safe.
Kate is right, you should have better luck with place image than with printing in one program and cutting in another. (I didn't realize that is not what you were doing until I reread everything) Don't give up hope. These 2 things (which are both relatively new) might be all you need.

[flrhcarr]

Thanks everyone for the help. I sure didn't know that I had to enter the alignment each time I turn it on, WOW what a pain!

Okay, so what's the "place image feature" ? "Kate is right, you should have better luck with place image than with printing in one program and cutting in another."
You mean just on the SCAL (screen) pad? As a sticker, I am looking to have something written, so need to print it first, than cut it out.
I can over stretch the background artwork/color & let it cut (I do that when making tuck boxes), but lining up the "image" or words is what I'm after.
Sorry about the delay, I went looking in help for place image, then I got busy.