A printed image or an original hand-drawn illustration can be scanned and its outline can be cut out or drawn.
This is useful for scanning images for paper crafts, then cutting them out.

In this tutorial, we will scan an illustration drawn on paper, then cut around it.

----- Preparation -----

1. Prepare the original.
   

   When using the “Direct Cut” mode, use originals like those described below.
    

   • Patterns that are clearly drawn, with no gradation, fading or blurriness
   • Not using an extremely intricate design

   

2. Press  to turn on the machine.
    

3. Install the cutting blade holder into the carriage of the machine.
    

   Make sure that the machine is turned on before installing the cutting blade holder into the cartridge. Otherwise, the blade may be damaged.

----- Scanning -----
 

Depending on the color of the illustration, it can be scanned in grayscale or color recognition mode.

1. Touch the “Scan” key in the home screen to select the scanning mode.
   
   

    

2. Select “Direct Cut” in the scanning mode selection screen.

    

   
   
   >> A message appears.

    

3. Select the scanning mode according to the material to be scanned.
   First, test with grayscale recognition mode. If the desired cutting data is not created, test with color recognition mode.

    

   

   (1) Grayscale recognition mode (2) Color recognition mode

    

   Grayscale recognition mode

   The cutting data is created after the illustration is converted to grayscale.
   Scanning in grayscale recognition mode is most appropriate for illustrations with clear outlines or distinct brightness differences. Processing is faster with this mode compared with the color recognition mode.

   If there are adjacent objects of the same color after an illustration has been converted to grayscale, select the color recognition mode.

    

   Examples of illustrations appropriate for grayscale recognition mode:

   Example		Result
   Outlines that are clear
   Distinct difference in brightness between background and illustration

    

   The edges of illustrations in a color of the same brightness as their background, as shown below, cannot be detected. In this case, use the color recognition mode.

   (1) Background and illustration in colors with the same brightness.

   
   
   Color recognition mode

   The cutting data is created without converting the illustration to grayscale. Creating data in this mode may take longer, depending on the pattern.

   * The default scanning recognition setting is the grayscale recognition mode.

    

   Examples of illustrations appropriate for color recognition mode:

   Example		Result
   Illustrations that are the same light color as the background
   Illustrations that are the same dark color as the background

   
    

4. Attach the original that will be scanned to the mat.
   
   
   • In “Direct Cut” mode, the scanning mat cannot be used.
   • Depending on the machine model, the sizes of mats that can be used will differ. Check the “Maximum Scanning Area” under “Machine Information” in the settings screen.
   • Before attaching the material to the mat, use a corner of the adhesive side of the mat to test attaching it.
    
5. While holding the mat level and lightly inserting it under the feed rollers on the left and right sides of the feed slot, press  in the operation panel.

   Lightly insert the mat so that it aligns with the guides on the left and right sides of the feed slot and is tucked under the feed rollers.

   	(1) Guides (2) Feed rollers
   >> The “Start/Stop” button in the operation panel lights up.

    

6. Press the “Start/Stop” button to start scanning.
    

----- Creating Cutting Data -----
 

The procedure for creating cutting data differs depending on the mode.


Grayscale recognition mode
 

1. Check the scanned image, and then touch the “OK” key.
   
   
2. In the image trim screen, use the touch pen to drag  to trim the image to the size to be imported.
   If cutting lines are created, the outline of the scanned illustration will be black.
   
   
   
   Touch  to change the minimum object size that will be detected and the conversion threshold.
    

   For details, see Adjusting Image Detection Levels.
   
   Touch  or   to edit the imported cutting data.

    

    

3. Touch the “OK” key to confirm the trimmed area.

    

   

    

   Only the cutting lines appear.

    

   

    

4. Press the “Start/Stop” button to start cutting.
   For details on unloading the mat after cutting, refer to “Unloading the Mat”.
   
   
    

Color recognition mode

1. In the image trim screen, use the touch pen to drag  to trim the image to the size to be imported.
   

   Trimming the image to the desired size can reduce the amount of time required to convert it to cutting data.

    

2. Touch the “OK” key to confirm the trimmed area.

    

   

    

   The image is converted to cutting data.

    

3. Check the imported image in the image editing screen.
   The created cutting data appears as black lines.
   
   
    

    

   (1) If the cutting lines were not correctly detected, change the number of colors to be detected. If a color that appears as a single color is detected as separate colors, reduce the number of colors. If adjacent colors with a similar brightness are detected as a single color, increase the number of colors.
    

   original

   
   

    

   (2) Small unnecessary patterns (dotted lines, etc.) can be excluded from cutting data.
   For details, see Adjusting Image Detection Levels.
   
   (3) Touch the “OK” key to apply the settings. When the number of colors is changed, the “OK” key changes to the “Preview” key.
   After changing the number of colors, touch the “Preview” key to check the results.
    

   When making a stamp, for example, the image may not be converted to cutting data if it contains a gradation or areas that are only partially filled with a color.

    

4. Touch the “OK” key.
   

    

   Touch  or   to edit the imported cutting data. 
   
   Only the cutting lines appear.
   
    

5. Touch the “Cut” key.
   
   
   
   The “Cut” key is highlighted, and the “Start/Stop” button in the operation panel lights up.
   
    

6. Press the “Start/Stop” button to start cutting.