Visit upload.stahlsid.com to upload artwork and receive a quote from Stahls' ID for a fulfillment service. You can export your designs from CadworxLive in the PLT format and upload them to receive a quote.
Coming soon to CadworxLive.com there will be a Send to Stahls' option. You will be able to send your CadworxLive designs directly to Stahls' ID Customer Service to create CAD-PRINTZ™ Digital Transfers.
Q.
How to do Printing with CadworxLive?
A.
There are several different export options available in the CadworxLive designing software which can be used for printing, and the CAD-PRINT® Designer in particular offers a wide range of features for creating full color designs.
CAD-PRINT® Designer: select 'File -> Export' then choose any one of the File Types for your export preference.
CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0: select 'File -> Export' then choose any one of the File Types for your export preference.
CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0: select 'File -> Export PLT (HGPL)' or 'File -> Export Image' and choose any one of the File Types for your export preference.
CAD-CUT® Easy Teams: select 'Export To Plot File (.plt)' under the 'Output' tab.
From there, your design will be saved to your computer and available to use with any of your regular printing methods, including digital printing, inkjet printing, and screen printing.
NOTE: The EPS file export option may exhibit compatibility issues, as the CAD-PRINT Designer and CAD-CUT Designer 2.0 remain in Beta testing. The PLT file export option can be used as an alternative.
Q.
How to do Roland GX-24 cutting with CadworxLive?
A.
With CadworxLive and the Roland GX-24 you have the option of using either Vector Cut -- the free cut drive software provided through CadworxLive -- or your regular cut drive software, such as Roland Cut Studio, to use your standard cutting procedures with the cutter.
If this is your first time cutting with your Roland GX-24 and you do not already have the cutter drivers installed onto your computer, you can download the driver installation file from the Roland Support page to install the drivers for your Roland GX-24. Before you can use your cutter to cut from any program you will need to install the drivers.
Cutting with Vector Cut:
1. Follow the installation instructions to begin using Vector Cut. View the Downloads page (accessed along the left navigation panel in CadworxLive) and download the installation file for Vector Cut. With the installation file downloaded you will need to double-click on it to complete the installation setup before you can begin using the program.
2. After you create a design inside the CAD-PRINT® Designer, CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0, or CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0 select 'Send To Vector Cut' along the left panel of quick links, or for CAD-CUT® Easy Teams, choose 'Export to VectorCut (.pltx)' underneath the 'Output' tab.
3. Then, click 'Open' or 'Open With' once prompted to open the design file by default inside Vector Cut. NOTE: Select 'Save' or 'Save As' to save the PLTX file of your design to your computer to manually load into Vector Cut at a later time.
4. Select 'Roland GX-24' from the 'Cutter' drop down list in the upper right-hand corner of Vector Cut.
5. Click on the 'Properties' button to make a port selection for your cutter, and select the middle 'Port' tab and determine which port you use to connect the cutter to your computer.
If you are using a USB connection with the GX-24, select the 'Printer Port' and choose 'Roland GX-24' from the adjoining 'Name' drop down list. Select 'Ok' to save the settings.
6. Select the green 'Send to Cutter' button to cut from your GX-24.
Cutting with your regular cut drive software:
Your design can be exported as an EPS or PLT file following the steps below:
CAD-PRINT® Designer: select 'File -> Export' then choose EPS or PLT as the File Type.
CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0: select 'File -> Export' then choose EPS or PLT as the File Type.
CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0: select 'File -> Export PLT (HGPL)' to export as a PLT File Type.
CAD-CUT® Easy Teams: select 'Export To Plot File (.plt)' under the 'Output' tab to export as a PLT File Type.
With the EPS or PLT file saved to your computer you could attempt to import the file into your regular cut drive software you use with your cutter.
NOTE: The EPS file export option may exhibit compatibility issues, as the CAD-PRINT Designer and CAD-CUT Designer 2.0 remain in Beta testing. The PLT file export option can be used as an alternative.
Q.
How to do Ioline 300 cutting with CadworxLive?
A.
With CadworxLive and the Ioline 300 you have the option of using either Vector Cut -- the free cut drive software provided through CadworxLive -- or your regular cut drive software, such as Ioline 301, to use your standard cutting procedures with the cutter.
If this is your first time cutting with your Ioline 300 and you do not already have the cutter drivers installed onto your computer, you can download the driver installation file from the Ioline Support page to install the drivers for your Ioline 300. Before you can use your cutter to cut from any program you will need to install the drivers.
Cutting with Vector Cut:
1. Follow the installation instructions to begin using Vector Cut. View the Downloads page (accessed along the left navigation panel in CadworxLive) and download the installation file for Vector Cut. With the installation file downloaded you will need to double-click on it to complete the installation setup before you can begin using the program.
2. After you create a design inside the CAD-PRINT® Designer, CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0, or CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0 select 'Send To Vector Cut' along the left panel of quick links, or for CAD-CUT® Easy Teams, choose 'Export to VectorCut (.pltx)' underneath the 'Output' tab.
3. Then, click 'Open' or 'Open With' once prompted to open the design file by default inside Vector Cut. NOTE: Select 'Save' or 'Save As' to save the PLTX file of your design to your computer to manually load into Vector Cut at a later time.
4. Select 'Ioline 100' (it also drives the Ioline 300) from the 'Cutter' drop down list in the upper right-hand corner of Vector Cut.
5. Click on the 'Properties' button to make a port selection for your cutter, and select the middle 'Port' tab and determine which port you use to connect the cutter to your computer.
For a USB connection make sure you set the port setting to the highest COM Port available, because when the USB driver is installed for your Ioline 300, it will create a virtual COM Port on the Serial Port, and it usually assigns the COM Port to the next available port. If the highest COM Port doesn't work, set it to the next available COM Port setting and so on till you find the correct COM Port.
For other connection types choose 'Printer Port' or 'Parallel Port' according to which port connection you are using between your computer and cutter.
Select 'Ok' to save the Port settings.
6. Select the green 'Send to Cutter' button to cut from your Ioline 300.
Cutting with your regular cut drive software:
Your design can be exported as an EPS or PLT file following the steps below:
CAD-PRINT® Designer: select 'File -> Export' then choose EPS or PLT as the File Type.
CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0: select 'File -> Export' then choose EPS or PLT as the File Type.
CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0: select 'File -> Export PLT (HGPL)' to export as a PLT File Type.
CAD-CUT® Easy Teams: select 'Export To Plot File (.plt)' under the 'Output' tab to export as a PLT File Type.
NOTE: Use the 'Shaping -> Break Apart By Colors' feature inside the CAD-PRINT® Designer or CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0 (use 'Shaping -> Break Apart Regions' in CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0) to separate the color layers in your design for use with the Ioline 301 cut drive software.
With the EPS or PLT file saved to your computer you could attempt to import the file into your regular cut drive software you use with your cutter.
NOTE: The EPS file export option may exhibit compatibility issues, as the CAD-PRINT Designer and CAD-CUT Designer 2.0 remain in Beta testing. The PLT file export option can be used as an alternative.
Q.
How to do Ioline 100 cutting with CadworxLive?
A.
With CadworxLive and the Ioline 100 you have the option of using either Vector Cut -- the free cut drive software provided through CadworxLive -- or your regular cut drive software, such as Ioline 101, to use your standard cutting procedures with the cutter.
If this is your first time cutting with your Ioline 100 and you do not already have the cutter drivers installed onto your computer, you can download the driver installation file from the Ioline Support page to install the drivers for your Ioline 100. Before you can use your cutter to cut from any program you will need to install the drivers.
Cutting with Vector Cut:
1. Follow the installation instructions to begin using Vector Cut. View the Downloads page (accessed along the left navigation panel in CadworxLive) and download the installation file for Vector Cut. With the installation file downloaded you will need to double-click on it to complete the installation setup before you can begin using the program.
2. After you create a design inside the CAD-PRINT® Designer, CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0, or CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0 select 'Send To Vector Cut' along the left panel of quick links, or for CAD-CUT® Easy Teams, choose 'Export to VectorCut (.pltx)' underneath the 'Output' tab.
3. Then, click 'Open' or 'Open With' once prompted to open the design file by default inside Vector Cut. NOTE: Select 'Save' or 'Save As' to save the PLTX file of your design to your computer to manually load into Vector Cut at a later time.
4. Select 'Ioline 100' from the 'Cutter' drop down list in the upper right-hand corner of Vector Cut.
5. Click on the 'Properties' button to make a port selection for your cutter, and select the middle 'Port' tab and determine which port you use to connect the cutter to your computer.
For a USB connection make sure you set the port setting to the highest COM Port available, because when the USB driver is installed for your Ioline 300, it will create a virtual COM Port on the Serial Port, and it usually assigns the COM Port to the next available port. If the highest COM Port doesn't work, set it to the next available COM Port setting and so on till you find the correct COM Port.
For other connection types choose 'Printer Port' or 'Parallel Port' according to which port connection you are using between your computer and cutter.
Select 'Ok' to save the Port settings.
6. Select the green 'Send to Cutter' button to cut from your Ioline 100.
Cutting with your regular cut drive software:
Your design can be exported as an EPS or PLT file following the steps below:
CAD-PRINT® Designer: select 'File -> Export' then choose EPS or PLT as the File Type.
CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0: select 'File -> Export' then choose EPS or PLT as the File Type.
CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0: select 'File -> Export PLT (HGPL)' to export as a PLT File Type.
CAD-CUT® Easy Teams: select 'Export To Plot File (.plt)' under the 'Output' tab to export as a PLT File Type.
With the EPS or PLT file saved to your computer you could attempt to import the file into your regular cut drive software you use with your cutter.
NOTE: The EPS file export option may exhibit compatibility issues, as the CAD-PRINT Designer and CAD-CUT Designer 2.0 remain in Beta testing. The PLT file export option can be used as an alternative.
Q.
How to do Mimaki CG-60 cutting with CadworxLive?
A.
With CadworxLive and the Mimaki CG-60 you have the option of using either Vector Cut -- the free cut drive software provided through CadworxLive -- or your regular cut drive software to use your standard cutting procedures with the cutter.
Cutting with Vector Cut:
1. Follow the installation instructions to begin using Vector Cut. View the Downloads page (accessed along the left navigation panel in CadworxLive) and download the installation file for Vector Cut. With the installation file downloaded you will need to double-click on it to complete the installation setup before you can begin using the program.
2. After you create a design inside the CAD-PRINT® Designer, CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0, or CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0 select 'Send To Vector Cut' along the left panel of quick links, or for CAD-CUT® Easy Teams, choose 'Export to VectorCut (.pltx)' underneath the 'Output' tab.
3. Then, click 'Open' or 'Open With' once prompted to open the design file by default inside Vector Cut. NOTE: Select 'Save' or 'Save As' to save the PLTX file of your design to your computer to manually load into Vector Cut at a later time.
4. Select 'Mimaki GC-60' from the 'Cutter' drop down list in the upper right-hand corner of Vector Cut. NOTE: Mimaki GC-60 is a typo and should read Mimaki CG-60 in the list.
5. Click on the 'Properties' button to make a port selection for your cutter, and select the middle 'Port' tab and determine which port you use to connect the cutter to your computer.
For a Parallel port connection with the CG-60 select the 'Parallel Port' option.
For a Serial port connection with the CG-60 select the 'Serial Port' option and choose the highest available COM port from the drop-down list. If the highest COM Port doesn't work, set it to the next available COM Port setting and so on till you find the correct COM Port.
Select 'Ok' to save the Port settings.
6. Select the green 'Send to Cutter' button to cut from your Mimaki CG-60.
Cutting with your regular cut drive software:
Your design can be exported as an EPS or PLT file following the steps below:
CAD-PRINT® Designer: select 'File -> Export' then choose EPS or PLT as the File Type.
CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0: select 'File -> Export' then choose EPS or PLT as the File Type.
CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0: select 'File -> Export PLT (HGPL)' to export as a PLT File Type.
CAD-CUT® Easy Teams: select 'Export To Plot File (.plt)' under the 'Output' tab to export as a PLT File Type.
With the EPS or PLT file saved to your computer you could attempt to import the file into your regular cut drive software you use with your cutter.
NOTE: The EPS file export option may exhibit compatibility issues, as the CAD-PRINT Designer and CAD-CUT Designer 2.0 remain in Beta testing. The PLT file export option can be used as an alternative.
Q.
How to do Silver Lion SAH-600 cutting with CadworxLive?
A.
With CadworxLive and the Silver Lion SAH-600 you have the option of using either Vector Cut -- the free cut drive software provided through CadworxLive -- or your regular cut drive software to use your standard cutting procedures with the cutter.
Cutting with Vector Cut:
1. Follow the installation instructions to begin using Vector Cut. View the Downloads page (accessed along the left navigation panel in CadworxLive) and download the installation file for Vector Cut. With the installation file downloaded you will need to double-click on it to complete the installation setup before you can begin using the program.
2. After you create a design inside the CAD-PRINT® Designer, CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0, or CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0 select 'Send To Vector Cut' along the left panel of quick links, or for CAD-CUT® Easy Teams, choose 'Export to VectorCut (.pltx)' underneath the 'Output' tab.
3. Then, click 'Open' or 'Open With' once prompted to open the design file by default inside Vector Cut. NOTE: Select 'Save' or 'Save As' to save the PLTX file of your design to your computer to manually load into Vector Cut at a later time.
4. Select 'SAH-600' from the 'Cutter' drop down list in the upper right-hand corner of Vector Cut.
5. Click on the 'Properties' button to make a port selection for your cutter, and select the middle 'Port' tab and determine which port you use to connect the cutter to your computer.
For a Parallel port connection with the SAH-600 select the 'Parallel Port' option.
For a Serial port connection with the SAH-600 select the 'Serial Port' option and choose the highest available COM port from the drop-down list. If the highest COM Port doesn't work, set it to the next available COM Port setting and so on till you find the correct COM Port.
Select 'Ok' to save the Port settings.
6. Select the green 'Send to Cutter' button to cut from your Silver Lion SAH-600.
Cutting with your regular cut drive software:
Your design can be exported as an EPS or PLT file following the steps below:
CAD-PRINT® Designer: select 'File -> Export' then choose EPS or PLT as the File Type.
CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0: select 'File -> Export' then choose EPS or PLT as the File Type.
CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0: select 'File -> Export PLT (HGPL)' to export as a PLT File Type.
CAD-CUT® Easy Teams: select 'Export To Plot File (.plt)' under the 'Output' tab to export as a PLT File Type.
With the EPS or PLT file saved to your computer you could attempt to import the file into your regular cut drive software you use with your cutter.
NOTE: The EPS file export option may exhibit compatibility issues, as the CAD-PRINT Designer and CAD-CUT Designer 2.0 remain in Beta testing. The PLT file export option can be used as an alternative.
Q.
How to do Other Cutter Model cutting with CadworxLive?
A.
There are currently two options for cutting vector artwork from CadworxLive. One is to use the Vector Cut cut drive software, which supports Roland GX-24, Ioline 300, Ioline 100, Mimaki CG-60, and Silver Lion SAH-600. However, there is a Generic HPGL driver option inside Vector Cut which has proven to successfuly work with some alternative model cutters. The second option would be to export your designs from the CadworxLive designing software to use your standard cutting procedures with your regular cut drive software.
Cutting with Vector Cut:
1. Follow the installation instructions to begin using Vector Cut. View the Downloads page (accessed along the left navigation panel in CadworxLive) and download the installation file for Vector Cut. With the installation file downloaded you will need to double-click on it to complete the installation setup before you can begin using the program.
2. After you create a design inside the CAD-PRINT® Designer, CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0, or CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0 select 'Send To Vector Cut' along the left panel of quick links, or for CAD-CUT® Easy Teams, choose 'Export to VectorCut (.pltx)' underneath the 'Output' tab.
3. Then, click 'Open' or 'Open With' once prompted to open the design file by default inside Vector Cut. NOTE: Select 'Save' or 'Save As' to save the PLTX file of your design to your computer to manually load into Vector Cut at a later time.
4. Select 'Generic HPGL' from the 'Cutter' drop down list in the upper right-hand corner of Vector Cut.
5. Click on the 'Properties' button to make a port selection for your cutter, and select the middle 'Port' tab and determine which port you use to connect the cutter to your computer.
For a Parallel port connection with the cutter select the 'Parallel Port' option.
For a Serial port connection with the cutter select the 'Serial Port' option and choose the highest available COM port from the drop-down list. If the highest COM Port doesn't work, set it to the next available COM Port setting and so on till you find the correct COM Port.
NOTE: You may also need to adjust some of the settings in the Port or Language tab. Your cutter manual or user guide may list the correct settings for your cutter, which you could reference to assist you in the process.
Select 'Ok' to save the Port settings.
6. Select the green 'Send to Cutter' button to cut from your cutter.
Cutting with your regular cut drive software:
Your design can be exported as an EPS or PLT file following the steps below:
CAD-PRINT® Designer: select 'File -> Export' then choose EPS or PLT as the File Type.
CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0: select 'File -> Export' then choose EPS or PLT as the File Type.
CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0: select 'File -> Export PLT (HGPL)' to export as a PLT File Type.
CAD-CUT® Easy Teams: select 'Export To Plot File (.plt)' under the 'Output' tab to export as a PLT File Type.
With the EPS or PLT file saved to your computer you could attempt to import the file into your regular cut drive software you use with your cutter.
NOTE: The EPS file export option may exhibit compatibility issues, as the CAD-PRINT Designer and CAD-CUT Designer 2.0 remain in Beta testing. The PLT file export option can be used as an alternative.
Learn More About CadworxLive
Q.
What is CadworxLive?
A.
CadworxLive is a website that offers access to all the tools your business needs to be successful in the garment deocration industry. The software tools consist of the CAD-PRINT® Designer, CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0, CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0, CAD-CUT® Easy Teams, and Vector Cut. All of the designing software is available exlusively online through CadworxLive.com. However, Vector Cut is a desktop application and requires you to download the installation file from CadworxLive.com to install onto your computer. CadworxLive also consists of a variety of support and help documents to assist you, as well as a variety of free clip art and templates to create your designs.
Q.
What is the CadworxLive membership policy?
A.
CadworxLive.com is currently a FREE service to ALL members with a FREE 6 Month Trial Membership or Premium Membership. Before the 6 Month Trial Period expires you will need to upgrade your membership for FREE to Premium.
Anyone who is a customer of a GroupeSTAHL Sales Alliance Affiliate company, including Stahls ID, Transfer Express, Imprintables Warehouse, Hotronix, Stahls International, or Target Transfers, can become a Premium Member at CadworxLive. Once you log into CadworxLive.com you can verify your CadworxLive membership from the homepage with a valid Customer ID from any one of these companies.
You can join one of the GroupeSTAHL Sales Alliance Affiliate companies today by registering at their website or contacting a company representative.
What are the installation requirements for CadworxLive?
A.
NO INSTALLATION is required to use any of the CadworxLive designing software. However, in order to use Vector Cut as your cut drive software you will need to install the program onto your computer by following the Vector Cut installation instructions.
Q.
How to start designing in CadworxLive?
A.
After you log into CadworxLive.com and reach the member's homepage there are several options to begin designing using the software:
3. You can also use any of the options underneath the TEMPLATES or CLIP ART top menus inside CadworxLive to start a design.
Q.
How to use CadworxLive without a cutter?
A.
Coming soon to CadworxLive.com there will be a Send to Stahls' option. You will be able to send your CadworxLive designs directly to Stahls' ID Customer Service to create CAD-PRINTZ™ Digital Transfers.
In the interim, visit upload.stahlsid.com to upload artwork and receive a quote from Stahls' ID for a fulfillment service. You can export your designs from CadworxLive in the PLT format and upload them to receive a quote.
Q.
Does CadworxLive work on a Mac or Linux?
A.
The CadworxLive designing software, including CAD-PRINT® Designer, CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0, CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0, and CAD-CUT® Easy Teams, is platform independent and compatible with any operating system which supports modern Internet browsers. However, Vector Cut -- the free cut drive software provided through CadworxLive -- requires the Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 or higher in order to run, so at this time it is not compatible on a Mac or Linux.
Live Chat can be initiated Monday - Friday (excluding holidays) from 10:30PM-6:30PM EDT for live support. In other hours, use the Contact Technical Support option in your Inbox, and a CadworxLive representative will respond to your message as soon as possible.
Q.
What to do if the CadworxLive designing software will not load properly?
A.
1. First Option - Try restarting your computer and logging back into CadworxLive to see if it refreshes your Internet connection.
2. Second Option - Shut down your computer, then reset your cable modem. You can reset your cable modem by pulling out the power cord and after 60 seconds plugging the power cord back into the modem. Wait about 60 seconds for the modem to start back up and turn on your computer. From there, try accessing CadworxLive again.
3. Third Option - Try clearing out your Internet history and logging back into CadworxLive again. You could also adjust your security settings for your browser and add http://www.cadworxlive.com as a trusted site as well.
4. Fourth Option - If you are using Internet Explorer, try downloading Mozilla Firefox to use as your Internet browser with CadworxLive. If you are using Mozilla Firefox, try downloading Google Chrome as your Internet browser with CadworxLive.
5. Fifth Option - If you have tried all four options above without success, we suggest testing your Internet firewall to see if it is preventing access from the CadworxLive designing software loading properly. You could first disable your firewall and test CadworxLive. If that works, you could adjust your Firewall settings from there to enable the firewall while allowing access to CadworxLive. If it does not work, contact Technical Support at CadworxLive.
Q.
How to create a catalog of templates or clip art for customers to view?
A.
There is a feature to create a catalog for both templates and clip art, which allows you to print off any template or clip art file in order to prepare it as a catalog. The steps for how to create the catalog are outlined below for templates (the same basic intrusctions apply to clip art as well):
Step 1. Once you are viewing a list of templates (i.e. 'My Templates' underneath the 'Templates' top menu in CadworxLive) you would like to print as a catalog, select 'Printable Catalog' to proceed (select 'Catalog Creator' for clip art).
Step 2. Define the 'Width' and 'Number Across' fields according to your print preferences and click 'Submit'. 'Width' determines the size of the catalog images, and 'Number Across' defines the number of catalog images displayed in a single row when printed. Click on the 'Printable Version' link to continue.
Step 3. A new browser window will pop open displaying the catalog for print. Use the 'File -> Print' option from your browser to print, and beforehand you may want to check 'File -> Print Preview' to ensure the catalog prints as you anticipate it to.
CAD-PRINT® Designer
Q.
How to export designs from the CAD-PRINT® Designer?
A.
1. 'File -> Send To Vector Cut' - Sends your designs directly to Vector Cut for cutting by selecting 'File -> Send To Vector Cut'.
2. 'File -> Export' - Save your designs directly to your computer by selecting 'File -> Export' and choosing the File Type of your choice. Includes the following File Types:
Raster
BMP ( Windows Bitmap File )
GIF ( Graphics Interchange Format )
JPEG ( Joint Photographic Experts Group )
PNG ( Portable Networks Graphics )
TIFF ( Tagged Image File Format )
Vector
PS ( Postscript )
EPS ( Encapsulated Postscript )
EMF ( Enhance Metafile )
PLT ( Hewlet Packard Graphics Language )
PLTX ( CadWorX Plot )
CadWorx
CDL ( CadWorX Document Language )
CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0
Q.
How to export designs from the CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0?
A.
1. 'File -> Send To Vector Cut' - Sends your designs directly to Vector Cut for cutting by selecting 'File -> Send To Vector Cut'.
2. 'File -> Export' - Save your designs directly to your computer by selecting 'File -> Export' and choosing the File Type of your choice. Includes the following File Types:
Raster
BMP ( Windows Bitmap File )
GIF ( Graphics Interchange Format )
JPEG ( Joint Photographic Experts Group )
PNG ( Portable Networks Graphics )
TIFF ( Tagged Image File Format )
Vector
PS ( Postscript )
EPS ( Encapsulated Postscript )
EMF ( Enhance Metafile )
PLT ( Hewlet Packard Graphics Language )
PLTX ( CadWorX Plot )
CadWorx
CDL ( CadWorX Document Language )
CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0
Q.
How to export design files from the CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0?
A.
There are four options in the CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0 for exporting your designs, and they are outlined below:
1. Send To VectorCut. You can send your design files to Vector Cut for cutting by selecting 'Send To VectorCut' from the left panel underneath 'Output' or choosing 'File -> To Vector Cut'.
2. Export PLT (HPGL). You can export a copy of your design to save locally to your computer as a .plt file by selecting 'File -> Export PLT (HPGL)'. This would allow you to import into some cut drive software and advanced graphics programs, such as Corel Draw.
3. Export Image. You can export a copy of your design files locally to your computer as an image file by selecting 'File -> Export Image'. This would allow you to create an image copy (i.e. jpeg) of your designs and have saved on your computer.
4. Save Local. You can save a copy of your design files locally to your computer as a .cdl file by selecting 'File -> Save Local'. This would allow you to keep a local copy of all your design files to import back into CadworxLive through selecting 'File -> Open Local'.
Q.
How to save a copy of a design to show customers?
A.
After you have created and saved your design in the CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0 you can export a copy of your design to save locally to your computer by selecting 'File -> Export Image' within the Designer. There is an option to select an image file type (tiff, bmp, gif, jpeg, png), a dpi resolution (96, 150, 300, 600), and an option to add a watermark to the image to help protect your work.
Q.
How to import a raster image (i.e. JPEG) into a design?
A.
The 'Vectorize' tool inside the CAD-CUT® Designer can convert JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG, and TIFF images into a vector art image to add to your design. Here are the steps to follow for the 'Vectorize' tool:
Step 1. Click 'Vectorize' from the left panel of the Designer underneath 'Add Objects'.
Step 2. Click 'Browse' to find an image to convert and click 'Next' once you have selected the image.
Step 3. If necessary or desired, click on a background color to exclude from the conversion.
Step 4. Select the foreground colors you would like to include for the conversion. The more colors you select the more color layers you will need to cut as a part of your design.
Step 5. Adjust the 'Region Resolution' and 'Fit To Curve' settings to create the best possible image appearance, and click 'Finish' once you are done.
Q.
How to import a SVG (vector) image file?
A.
We recommend you use Corel Draw to create a SVG file; the file format for SVG files inside Adobe Illustrator may not be compatible with the Import SVG feature inside the CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0. Also, before you import the SVG file into the CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0 there are a few important steps to follow. The file must be 'Exported', not 'Saved', from Corel, and in the settings options you will need to select 'Presentation Attributes' and 'As Curves' if these options are available to adjust (please note different versions of Corel may use unique terms to describe these settings). From there, you will need to select 'File -> Import SVG' inside the CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0 to import your SVG file.
Q.
How to fix an upload error when using the 'Vectorize', 'Import SVG', or 'Open Local' features?
A.
If you are encountering an error with uploading files, it may be related to the browser you are using. Due to recent updates of the browsers Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, and the Safari browser you may receive an upload error using one of the above tools in the Designer. While we work to correct this issue with the browsers, we suggest you revert back to using Firefox version 2, which may require you to uninstall Firefox version 3 from your computer.
For non-English (US) versions of Firefox v2 or for the Mac OS X or Linux operating system you can refer to the following link for downloads - Download Firefox 2.
Q.
How to create vertical text?
A.
You can create vertical text by setting a 270 degree angle for the 'Text Direction' of your object. In the CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0 you can double-click on an object in the design area to adjust this attribute.
Note: In Easy Teams you can adjust the 'Text Direction' by selecting 'Edit Name/Number Style' under the 'Style' tab.
Q.
How to create a script tail?
A.
Step 1. Inside the CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0 add a text object to your design by clicking 'Add Text' from the left panel underneath 'Add Objects'. Click 'Ok' to finish adding the text object after you have made any stylistic changes you desire, such as adjust the font type to a script (for example, the 'vx_Athletic1' font).
Step 2. Select 'Add Clipart' from the left panel to add a tail object to your design. Enter a search in the upper right-hand corner of the Clipart box for 'tail'. There will be 17 pages of results that will show up; click the 'Next Page' button to the 4th page and beyond to begin to view the tails to add. Find a tail which will match up with the last letter on your script; select it and click 'Open' to add the tail object to your design.
Step 3. Select and drag the tail object to line it up with the end point on the script object so they appear to connect. However, when doing this you may notice the tail overlap the script, and you will need to readjust the size of the tail (or script) to correct this. You can readjust the size of an object by selecting it and using the 'Width' and 'Height' fields in the upper right-hand corner of the Designer (note: 'Aspect' may be checked by default which will restrain the width to height to the same ratio, when you may only want to increase the height of the tail object without altering the width). After you have the tail and script properly lined up together and connected you can continue to the next step.
Step 4. Select both the script and tail object holding down the 'Ctrl' key on your keyboard to select multiple objects at once. Then, select 'Weld' from the 'Shaping' menu at the top. This will weld/ connect the script and tail together to create a script tail. Note: after you have welded two objects together they will be combined as a shape object, and you will no longer be able to edit the script object by itself.
Note: You can view two video tutorials on how to create a script tail from the Video Tutorials page.
Q.
How to change the design area from white to a different color?
A.
If you are looking to change the background color of the design area from white to something else, then you can add a clip art object in the shape of a box to create a background work area. Inside the CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0, click 'Add Clipart' from the left panel and do a search for "box". Select the first result and add it to your design. You will notice it is a 14x14 inch, black, rounded-corner box; you can double-click on the box to change its color. You can also change the size of the background box to create a larger or smaller work area by selecting the object and using the Width and Height fields in the upper right-hand corner.
Q.
How to change the size of an object? What are the size limitations?
A.
You can change the size of an object by selecting it in the design area. Once you have the object selected use the 'W' and 'H' (Width and Height) fields in the upper right-hand corner of the Designer. Increment the arrows up or down to adjust the size or enter a number into one of the fields. By default the 'Aspect' option will be checked, which will maintain a locked ratio between width and height for the object. For instance, changing the height of a 2x1 (Width x Height) object to 2 will transform the image into 4x2. in order to maintain the same width to height ratio. The locked ratio can be turned off to freely adjust the width or height by deselecting the checkbox next to 'Aspect'.
The maximum size for an object is 60x17, and the minimum size needs to be larger than 0.01.
Q.
How to change black and white clipart to color?
A.
After you add a clip art object, double-click on it to change the 'Color', which will adjust the clip art color outline. Then click 'Add Effect' to add a 'Contour' effect. Once you have the 'Contour' effect added you will want to use the following attribute settings:
Offset: 0.01
Steps: 1
Color: the color of your choice
Only keep the 'Outside' attribute box checked, and this will fill the inside of the clip art object with the color choice.
Q.
How to delete only a portion of an object?
A.
Below is an example to demonstrate how you can delete a portion of an object. The same general rules outlined in the example should apply in most situations.
Step 1. Open the CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0 to start a design from scratch.
Step 2. Click 'Add Auto Shape' from the left panel and open the 'Auto Shapes' folder. Then open the 'Circle' folder and load the circle shape at the very bottom right-hand corner of the window (it should be an elliptical shaped rectangle).
Step 3. Click 'Add Text' from the left panel and change the color to something other than black (i.e. yellow); then click 'Ok' to add the text object. After this you should have the black circular shape and inside the middle of the circle a text object which reads 'Sample' for your design.
Step 4. Select the text object and press 'Ctrl+D' on your keyboard to create a duplicate copy of the text object (or select 'Edit -> Duplicate Object'). Now move the duplicate text object to the side away from the shape and original text object.
Step 5. Next, select the original text object and hold down 'Ctrl' on your keyboard to select the shape object as well. The original text object and shape object should both be selected. Select 'Front Minus Back' from the 'Shaping' menu. You will notice the original text object was deleted, and the outline of the text object also deleted the underlying portion of the shape object.
Step 6. You can move the duplicate text object back into the empty spot left by the original text object. This will leave you with two stacked objects, and the underlying, covered portion of the bottom object will be deleted.
CAD-CUT® Easy Teams™
Q.
How to cut a list of names or numbers all at once?
A.
With the Easy Teams Designer in CadworxLive you can cut a list of names and numbers all at once. To begin using Easy Teams, you will want to reference the Easy Teams Quick Start page to learn the basics of this easy-to-use program.
Q.
How to export my design files from CAD-CUT® Easy Teams?
A.
1. Export To VectorCut (.pltx). Underneath the 'Output' tab select 'Export To VectorCut (.pltx)' to export your team roster as a .pltx file (Cadworx proprietary file) to the Vector Cut cut drive software for cutting. Only the checked rows under the 'Start' tab for the player names and numbers will be included in the export, so you have the option to break the team roster into multiple export files.
2. Export To Plot File (.plt). Underneath the 'Output' tab select 'Export To Plot File (.plt)' to export/save the team rosters as a plot file (.plt) to open in some cut drive software, like Roland Cut Studio, or advanced graphics program, such as Corel Draw. Only the checked rows under the 'Start' tab for the player names and numbers will be included in the export, so you have the option to break the team roster into multiple export files.
3. Download Current Preview. Underneath the 'Output' tab select 'Download Current Preview' to export a preview image of your team roster (only the player name and number being displayed in the design area will be exported as a part of the image file).
Q.
When a single name is added using Create Player Names why won't it display?
A.
Using Create Player Names to add a single player name at once may generate a display issue. Add a single player name manually or add multiple player names at once using the Create Player Names feature to circumvent the bug. See Adding or Editing Player Names & Numbers inside the Easy Teams Quick Start page.
Cutting in Vector Cut™
Q.
What cutters does Vector Cut support?
A.
Vector Cut supports the following GroupeSTAHL Sales Alliance cutters:
Roland GX-24
Ioline 100
Ioline 300
Mimaki CG-60
SAH-600.
There is also a Generic HPGL driver for other model cutters not supported.
Q.
How to install Vector Cut?
A.
1. Vector Cut requires the Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 or higher to be installed onto your computer. Most computers using Microsoft XP/Vista/2007 should be up-to-date, but if you are not sure which version your computer has installed, reference the FAQ's question How to check your Microsoft .NET Framework Version?
2. View the Downloads page (accessed along the left navigation panel in CadworxLive) and download the installation file for Vector Cut or click here to download the installation file.
3. With the installation file downloaded to your computer, you will need to double-click on the file to start the installation setup. You will need to complete the full installation setup process before you can begin using the Vector Cut program.
Q.
How to check your Microsoft .NET Framework Version?
A.
Inside the Internet Explorer browser (Internet Explorer only) visit http://www4.ncsu.edu/~awwatkin/SHTML/dump.shtml. The link will indicate what version of the .NET Framework you are currently using. The 8th line down, including the top header line, will read off the version information. Your current version will be the number listed furthest to the right of the line. For instance, it may read '.NET CLR 3.5.21022)', and this demonstrates your version of the .NET Framework is up to date, but if the number reads less than 2.0, such as '.NET CLR 1.1.4322', you will need to download an up to date version of the Microsoft .NET Framework.
The Microsoft .NET Framework is only required to use Vector Cut but is not needed in order to use any of the CadworxLive designing software. If needed, download the Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 installation file from the Microsoft Download Center.
Q.
What to do if there is a Beta Code Error when loading Vector Cut?
A.
The most probable solution will require you to completely reinstall the Vector Cut software; however, there are a couple important steps you must follow.
1. You will need to uninstall the VectorCut program from the 'Windows Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs'.
2. After you have completely uninstalled the program, you will need to delete the Vector Cut directory folder, if it was not automatically deleted from the intial uninstall (in some instances the folder may already be deleted and you can skip this step). The Vector Cut directory folder by default is contained within the folder labeled 'VectorX Software' inside 'Program Files' on your hard drive. You can locate the folder through opening 'My Computer' from your desktop -> opening your hard drive (i.e. 'Local Disk C') -> opening the 'Program Files' folder and deleting the 'VectorX Software' folder inside. This will totally erase any prior installation of Vector Cut from your computer.
3. You will want to follow the installation instructions to reinstall Vector Cut. However, during the installation change the default folder location from 'VectorX Software/VectorCut/' to 'VectorX Software2/VectorCut2/' to create a new file directory. Once you have done this you should be able to successfully open Vector Cut.
Q.
How to open the CDL file saved after exiting Vector Cut?
A.
The CDL file you are prompted to save when closing Vector Cut can only be reopened inside the CAD-PRINT® Designer, CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0, or CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0. However, there is first a small edit to the file which needs to be completed before you can reopen the CDL file.
1. Right-click on the CDL file, then select Open With and choose Wordpad as the program to open the file in.
2. Once you have the file open in Wordpad, delete the first line that reads < ?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"? > AND the first line of extra space as well. This will place < Cdl > as the first line of text in the file.
3. Then choose 'File -> Save' to save the file.
From there, you can open choose 'File -> Import' inside the CAD-PRINT® Designer or CAD-CUT® Designer 2.0 to reopen the CDL file, or you can choose 'File -> Open Local' from within the CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0 to load the CDL file.
Q.
How to move and rotate objects inside Vector Cut?
A.
In Vector Cut you can move objects in a restricted line movement along the horizontal/vertical axis to keep your objects properly aligned, you can move them in a free-direction, and you can rotate them 360°.
Restriced Line Movement: Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, next select an object inside VectorCut, and then hold down your mouse to drag the object in a perfect line along the horizontal or vertical axis.
Free-Direction Movement: Select an object inside Vector Cut, and then hold down your mouse to drag the object in any direction.
Rotation: Select an object inside Vector Cut, and next hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard while simultaneously holding down your mouse on one of the corners; then rotate/drag.
NOTE: Hold down the Shift key to select mutliple objects at once.
General Assistance
Q.
How to choose the right material for EVERY job?
A.
With so many types of fabrics and garments available, we want to ensure you select the right Stahls’ material or media for every job. This reference chart will help guide you through the selection process by cross referencing some of the most frequently used fabrics with our products. Keep it handy, we think this will become a great resource and a valuable checklist for you. Click here to view the Product Selection PDF file.
Q.
Where to find help using CAD-CUT® and CAD-PRINT® material?
A.
In the Support Documents page (accessed along the left navigation panel inside CadworxLive) you can find reference guides for your CAD-CUT® materials, Transfer Papers, and more.
Q.
How to apply a split front design onto a garment using CAD-CUT®?
A.
The application process for a split front design on a garment using CAD-CUT® is slightly more complicated than a typical design but the same basic rules still apply.
1. If, for example, you are using a two-color, split front design, you will need to cut each color layer individually. Cut the first color layer, and then swap out the material to cut the second color layer.
2. After you have both color layers cut out, weed out the excess material on each layer.
3. If you are using a shirt with buttons as the garment, cut the material layers in half down the split of the design.
4. Apply the base background color (the contour color) layer first; then apply the base text color layer over the background color layer to complete the split front design to garment.
Q.
How to create kiss-cut, multi-color twill applique names to cut on a Ioline 300?
A.
1. Create a multi-color design; apply a Contour style effect for two-color text.
2. Select the objects in your design and choose 'Shaping -> Break Aparty By Colors' (use 'Shaping -> Break Apart Regions' for the CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0) to separate all the color layers.
3. Export your design to save to your computer as a PLT File Type through 'File -> Export' (use 'File -> Export PLT (HGPL)' for the CAD-CUT® Designer 1.0).
4. Open Ioline 301, then select the PLT file to import and follow your regular cutting procedures. In Ioline 301 you can click on 'Design Setup' and check which layers you would like to have displayed for cutting under 'Color Setup'.
5. Apply the stitch patterns in the 301 software to complete the kiss-cut, multi-color twill applique.
Q.
How to prevent the material from spooling upwards and going off track on multiple cut jobs with a Roland GX-24?
A.
For the Roland GX-24 'Select Sheet' setting use the 'Edge' option for cutting multiple jobs. After each cut job you will need to reset the origin by holding down the 'Origin' button till the origin is set for the cutting point.
Q.
When to change the cutting strip on your cutter?
A.
The cutting strip on your cutter should be inspected on a regular basis to ensure it is in good condition. The cutting strip runs the width of the cutter and supports the material from underneath. When it becomes worn, cut, or cupped it will no longer support the material properly. This will be more problematic on thinner materials, like sign material and Stahls' Gorilla Grip II. It is recommended to replace the cutting strip every nine to twelve months depending on usage.
Q.
What is the difference between the 45 degree, 60 degree, flock, and twill blade for the Roland GX-24 cutter?
A.
The degrees of the blade describes its angle.
The 45 degree blade is typically used for general purpose cutting.
A 60 degree blade is for cutting intricate detail in a design, because it cuts deeper into the material using less pressure.
The flock blade is for cutting Stahls' Thermo-FLOCK material. It is a 45 degree blade but different than the 45 degree blade, because it is very thin and you only need a very small amount of blade exposed when cutting flock. The flock fibers stand straight up on the carrier and have a thin layer of adhesive coating the other ends of the fibers. Only the thin layer of adhesive needs to be cut, and too much blade and the material will pull and not cut properly.
The Twill blade is a 60 degree blade; however, it differs from the regular 60 degree blade in the fact that it has a slight curve to the blade, which helps in cutting the fibers in the Twill material.
Q.
How to prevent the "tics" where two cuts meet and pull up the material?
A.
There could be a couple of different causes for the problem.
2. Check the offset on the blade. Thirty is a normal setting for the 37-degree blade. However if you are getting little flags at the corners I would suggest lowering the offset. If you start getting rounded corners you will need to increase the offset.
