2x3 inch template
The 2x3 inch button machine is great for making high end, high resale value refrigerator magnets, but if you're cutting graphics with a graphic punch, you'll have "open corners." You can acheive a "closed corner" finish by cutting your graphics with a Volume Cutter Press & Die or a plotter like the Cameo Silhouette. In this post I'll show you how to use the Cameo Print Cut feature with a free downloadable template.
This picture shows the two corner finishes produced by the Model m2030. The top button shows the closed corner finish. The bottom button shows the open corner finish.
The open corner finish is what you get when you use the c2030 ProMaker Punch. The closed corner finish is what you get when you use the Volume Cutter Press and 2x3 inch die.
The only real difference is the shape that these two machines cut. The die is capable of making little notches in the corners. And this, my friends, is the secret to making a closed corner finished magnet or button in the 2x3 inch machine without using an expensive press and die.
If you already have a Silhouette Cameo, Cricut, or other plotter, you have the ability to make a closed corner finish. I've provided the download for the Silhouette Cameo below. We'll use the print / cut feature of Silhouette Cameo in this tutorial.
Click the link above to download the template files, and unzip.
Open Silhouette Studio and then the Page Setup dialog box on the right side of the screen. Set your page size to 8.5x11 and turn on registration marks. Make sure your printer is also set to portrait orientation and 8.5x11 in your printer preferences.
Next open the 2030-closed-corner.studio3 template file as well as the 2030-with-notches face-line.png file. The Studio3 file already contains the cut paths for notched 2x3 cutting. Drag in the PNG face line file and center it over the cut path file. Next you will layout your graphics. Use the Face Line file as a visual guide only. Remember to delete it before printing!
Next open the 2030-closed-corner.studio3 template file as well as the 2030-with-notches face-line.png file. The Studio3 file already contains the cut paths for notched 2x3 cutting. Drag in the PNG face line file and center it over the cut path file. Next you will layout your graphics. Use the Face Line file as a visual guide to make sure your graphics won't get cut off when pressing your magnets. Everything outside the face line will wrap around to the back of the magnet or get cut off completely.
Once you have your graphics laid out and centered, and you have deleted the face line guidelines, double check to make sure the registration lines are visible, and you are ready to print! Click the printer icon in the top left of Silhouette Studio. Make sure it is set to 8.5x11 and has all the appropriate setting correct for your preferences.
Once your page of graphics has printed, carefully apply the paper to the cutting matt. Load the matt into the plotter and click Send.
The Cameo will find the registration marks first, and then cut our your graphics for you with that perfect closed corner notch!
When it's done, weed the excess paper and get to pressing those beautifully finished buttons or magnets!
