If you're struggling with Roland perf cut stickers having jagged edges and tears - this ONE change can make a huge difference!
The problem isn't necessarily your VersaWorks settings. It starts earlier in the workflow - in how you create your offset for the perf cut line. Read on for exactly how to fix it.
A perf cut line is typically created by an offset based off the original edge of the sticker. When you create an offset this way, it follows every contour of your design - including all those sharp corners and tight angles. Look at this .25" offset line (in dark red).
At those corners the blade has to stop, pick up, and rotate before cutting again. That can create spots where the material is not cut. When you try to remove the sticker from the material move the perf cut sticker it can then rip or have a jagged edge.
And it's not just isolated to one design or sticker shape. This can be a consistent problem. This is 4ml Roland matte vinyl.
When I realized what was going on, I completely changed the way I was making offsets for my perf cut stickers to avoid the sharp edges. My new method involves creating two offsets - an external offset and then an internal offset.
Creating Better Perf Cut Contour Lines for Roland
I do all of my Roland design set up, including cut line creation in Silhouette Studio Business Edition. In Studio select the sticker image and then open the Offset panel.
Click "Offset" but instead of creating the regular offset distance you want, create an exaggerated offset - somewhere around 0.5 inches. You can just double your offset distance for easy reference.
So here I created a half inch offset. (I increased the line weight to make it easier for you to see)
Keep the offset line selected and now click "Internal Offset" from the offset panel.
This time, change the offset distance to half of the original offset distance. So if you used 0.5" originally, now use 0.25".
Now you'll have the sticker and two offsets. The internal offset line (blue in this example) is much more "rounded". While it contours around design, the sharp turns are removed and replaced with rounded edges that the blade can smoothly cut in one continuous slice instead of picking up at each and every corner.
Remove the original, larger offset and delete it - you don't need that any longer.
Look at the difference side by side in Silhouette Studio. Both of these are the .25" offset. The one on the left is the original .25 offset and the one on the right was generated using the double offset method.
Roland Perf Cut Settings Changes
The other change I made to my perf cut sticker was a total game changer for the quality of my perf cut stickers. This is the same 4ml Roland vinyl.
I went so far off the default perf cut settings in Versaworks that I questioned myself. But the results spoke for themselves. My vinyl stickers now pop out of my vinyl super easily and have clean, smooth edges!
I'm sharing the exact Versaworks perf cut setting changes I made that finally perfected my perf cuts in an exclusive video on Silhouette U! Head over now to preview it before you join and join to get full access to this video, hundreds of others and 1:1 same day, personalized help with your Roland and Versaworks!
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