SCAL Bridge Pro : How to cut from illustrator

chiefgeek
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2021 2:40 pm

SCAL Bridge Pro : How to cut from illustrator

Post by chiefgeek »

I have tried using support with no response.

I have been unable to find any documentation on how to name/prepare layers for print-n-cut with Sure Cuts A Lot Bridge Pro.

I also don't know how much of functionality is the same as Sure Cuts A Lot Pro.

FWIW: The bridge launches a screen that looks like this when you press Cut
SCAL-Bridge-Cut-Settings.png
SCAL-Bridge-Cut-Settings.png (512 KiB) Viewed 2384 times
When I click Print+Cut I see the following screen with no content to print
SCAL-Bridge-PrintAndCut.png
SCAL-Bridge-PrintAndCut.png (181.32 KiB) Viewed 2384 times
SandyMcC
Posts: 1114
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 7:01 am

Re: SCAL Bridge Pro : How to cut from illustrator

Post by SandyMcC »

I don't know a lot about it, but here's the support page with more links:

http://craftedge.com/tutorials/tutorials_scalbridge.php
Sandy McCauley
Owner of http://www.iloveknk.com/
chiefgeek
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2021 2:40 pm

Re: SCAL Bridge Pro : How to cut from illustrator

Post by chiefgeek »

Thanks for the link, that is about as useful as a fork with no prongs, LOL.

I hope everyone who reads this thread is aware that the product does not work and there is no support for it. I regret buying the bridge espically given it cost as much as the standalone program.
SandyMcC
Posts: 1114
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 7:01 am

Re: SCAL Bridge Pro : How to cut from illustrator

Post by SandyMcC »

I recall from a long time ago, that there was a naming convention for reg marks that users could manual import. I think it was a matter of naming layers with something like .regmark or .reg_marks... something like that. Let me contact my colleague in Australia who has a better memory than I do and I'll post back. That will at least give you something to test.
Sandy McCauley
Owner of http://www.iloveknk.com/
SandyMcC
Posts: 1114
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 7:01 am

Re: SCAL Bridge Pro : How to cut from illustrator

Post by SandyMcC »

Okay... see if this works. In AI, rename the layer name so that it ends in .REGMARKS
Sandy McCauley
Owner of http://www.iloveknk.com/
chiefgeek
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2021 2:40 pm

Re: SCAL Bridge Pro : How to cut from illustrator

Post by chiefgeek »

The plugin for AI, uses SCAL.REGMARKS for the layer name when you click add registration marks, although they don't transfer to the cut settings dialog that opens up (shown in my original post). ROFL

I renamed that layer to a.REGMARKS and the registration marks come across, partially.
Illustrator:
Ai-regmarks.png
Ai-regmarks.png (326.25 KiB) Viewed 2363 times
Sure Cuts A Lot Bridge Pro
bridge-regmarks.png
bridge-regmarks.png (471.72 KiB) Viewed 2363 times
Attachments
Ai-regmarks.png
Ai-regmarks.png (326.25 KiB) Viewed 2363 times
Last edited by chiefgeek on Tue Nov 09, 2021 6:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
SandyMcC
Posts: 1114
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 7:01 am

Re: SCAL Bridge Pro : How to cut from illustrator

Post by SandyMcC »

I'll run a test from Corel Draw today using the bridge program and see if I can get it to work. I'll report back anything that might help with Illustrator.
Sandy McCauley
Owner of http://www.iloveknk.com/
SandyMcC
Posts: 1114
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 7:01 am

Re: SCAL Bridge Pro : How to cut from illustrator

Post by SandyMcC »

I still don't have the Bridge working from Corel Draw, but I did find some additional naming formats for you:

SCAL.DRAW – This layer will be set to draw with a pen instead of cut with a blade
SCAL.CUTONLY- For Print+Cut purposes, this layer will be set to cut only and not be sent to a printer
SCAL.PRINTONLY – For Print+Cut purposes, this layer will be set to print only and will not be sent to the cutter
SCAL.COLORLAYERKEY – When using Cut by Color, the layer will be cut with all of the other colors cut (PRO version only)

It still doesn't make sense why your project is appearing in the SCAL window with the reg marks "off the page." If you create something much smaller, does it do the same thing? Paul, my friend in Australia, is working on getting the bridge to work from AI and will let me know what he finds. Unfortunately, neither of us own a Titan but hopefully, if we can get it working with our Skycuts, the same discoveries will work for you.
Sandy McCauley
Owner of http://www.iloveknk.com/
SandyMcC
Posts: 1114
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 7:01 am

Re: SCAL Bridge Pro : How to cut from illustrator

Post by SandyMcC »

Paul and I have spent the past few days working through the Bridge and figuring some things out. If you still want help, post back and I'll type out the additional info we have now that makes it work with the cutters we use.
Sandy McCauley
Owner of http://www.iloveknk.com/
chiefgeek
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2021 2:40 pm

Re: SCAL Bridge Pro : How to cut from illustrator

Post by chiefgeek »

I tried a smaller image and the registration marks come across correctly, if I name my layer .REGMARKS (SCAL.REGMARKS does not work)

I still can't get the print-n-cut print layer to populate in SCAL Bridge.
Attachments
smaller-cut-settings.png
smaller-cut-settings.png (453.62 KiB) Viewed 2319 times
smaller-bridge.png
smaller-bridge.png (108.62 KiB) Viewed 2319 times
smaller-illustrator.png
smaller-illustrator.png (223.26 KiB) Viewed 2319 times
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