Recommended Roland BN2 Workflow for Mac Users

If you’re using a Mac to run your Roland BN2 there’s a new (yes already) recommended workflow for creating cut lines.

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The issue is that license version of Flexi Designer that comes free with the BN2 series does not work on MACs. In addition the one built-in cut line tool Roland Mac users did have in DG Connect’s Designer has frustratingly been removed.

I won’t even get into here why both of these facts are so frustrating and feel like two steps forward and one back…

But I will share my recommended Roland BN2 workflow for Mac users.

My recommendation is to use a combination of Silhouette Studio Business Edition and Affinity Designer. The reason is both are very easy to use and neither is a subscription service. You can get the set of both of them for about $100. Neither requires a network connection.

You need both because while Silhouette Studio vectorizes PNG and JPG files with ease to create cut lines, that software does not allow you to name the stroke color - an essential step. Affinity Designer doesn’t vectorize nearly as easily but it does allow you to add the correctly-named Roland contour cut lines by naming the stroke colors accurately.

So here’s my workflow:

Upload a PNG or JPG to Silhouette Studio Business Edition.

Use the trace tool to trace it to create cut lines (many more in depth tutorials here if you need a refresher) if it doesn't auto trace. My image auto traced so I literally did not need to do anything except re-save as an SVG to get the layers.

Export the file from Silhouette Studio as an SVG (File > Save As > Save to Hard Drive > SVG)

Open that file in Affinity Designer by launching Affinity and going to File > Open

Assuming you already have the Roland Versaworks Cut Contour Color Profiles in Affinity Designer select the individual layers you want to turn the cut lines on.

Select the Swatches Tab

Select the Open Circle

Select the Color Profile that includes the Roland Cut Contour pink swatch.

Go To File > Export > PDF > Selection Area

Now you can import this PDF into Roland Versaworks by clicking the + on a queue to open a new job.

It will open with cut lines - which you can confirm by the presence of the little A.

Now you're ready to send the job to print and cut

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links, I receive a small commission. That's what helps fund Silhouette School so I can keep buying new Silhouette-related products to show you how to get the most out of your machine!

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