Fussy Cutting Stamped Images -- Update

I may use a border once in awhile, but generally I prefer no border.

Sometimes the machine does fine with no border. I honestly can't figure out why it can see a stamped image outline just fine if I choose the setting with a slight border, but then if I try to change it to no border, it's like it can't seem to see the image lines. I may just not be as good at adjusting the contrast settings yet.

I have tried using a pencil to darken or make border lines if needed. It works, but then I have to erase the pencil. I need to buy a new artist or drafting eraser.

There are two other ways. One I have tried, but it was off slightly, and it was a little more involved. It's the "inside and out" cutting technique. Julie Fei Fan Balzer has a video on it. I need more practice doing it.

The other method I have not yet tried but think is going to work the best for me. That involves putting a piece of acetate over the stamped image with washi, using an ultra fine sharpie on the acetate to draw a border for the scan so the machine sees clear lines, then removing the acetate before actually cutting. I used to have a bunch of transparencies, but I could not find them. I did find a box of super cheap laminating pouches that I got ages ago and never used. I think I will cut them apart and use squares of that as my acetate. I may even be able to keep the trace for the next time I use that stamp. If so, I could just tape the trace over again the next time, scan, remove, cut. It should work in theory, anyway. I needed to buy some ultra fine sharpies. I finally picked up a pair, so that is my next experiment.

amayalylac, I think there is also more you can do if you connect the machine to your computer and use their canvas software. I just haven't wanted to take the time to play with that option yet. What I have been doing is using it as a stand alone machine without computer software, which is what a lot of stampers are going to do.

Well, I tried the acetate and sharpie method. The cut line is the outer edge of the sharpie, so you need to get in very tight if you want it on the line. Even the ultra fine sharpie is sometimes too thick. However, my cut seemed slightly off even so, just as it had when I did the inside & outside method. It's possible that my mat shifted slightly.

As long as it has a good outside edge, it does pretty well. Some of my stamps are too detailed, too many gaps (or something) for it to work if I want it to cut right on the line. The acetate method did fairly well, until the washi tape came off inside my machine. Big panic time! It took me half an hour to get it out. I was afraid I had ruined my machine. And the gal on the video had warned viewers about using washi. I had not stuck it down firmly enough or something, but I will never use washi for that again. If you try the acetate, I recommend using a BIG piece, with a much smaller stamped square or rectangle underneath, so the edges of the acetate can hang way over and stick to the mat. No need for washi or any other tape. You can clean the sharpie off your acetate with nail polish remover, so you can use it over and over. That's a tip you won't see in the video.

I have come to the conclusion that sometimes a good #2 pencil lead and a good eraser are the best bet if you want to just scan and cut without using any software.

amayalylac and any others reading this thread, for what it's worth, many of my stamps do cut well and directly on the line. I actually searched for problem stamps in order to figure out how to deal with those. I am learning to recognize which ones are likely to have trouble: thin, sketch lines, or those that have outside lines with gaps. I can use the pencil and eraser for the gaps or to create a recognizable outline. It's not that bad. The acetate method did work, but the pencil is easier and faster, and it has no risk of washi or any other tape getting stuck in my machine. The pencil lead is also thinner than the ultra fine sharpie, so you are less likely to accidentally get a slight white border you don't want.

I can see that there will still probably be times when I either want to use a matching die, or my Silhouette and PixScan mat. However, I am still very much a novice at using the machine. I am stubborn and determined. I will keep at it and learn to get better results.  I still like the machine. There are still a lot of my stamps it will cut directly on the line.

amayalylac, I think you can stop worrying about the machine.

I was totally missing the obvious. It cuts the fully colored images well with no border, and no need for tracing. My problem stamps were no longer a problem.

There is a way to do it without having to be connected to the computer. There is a tutorial video by Julie Fei Fan Balzer on YouTube. It's called Cutting Inside and Out, or something like that.