Cutting without the mat successfully on your Silhouette depends on things you do before the cut even starts. Today’s tip is another important step in the loading process. If you’ve ever messed this one up, you’ll know how frustrating it can be. You need to choose the right option on your loading method in order for the cut to begin in the correct spot. (To start with tip #1 in this series, go here.)
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N/A for Cameo 3 and 4 or Portrait 2 and 3
As long as you’ve set up your file correctly in your software (read tips 1-8 to understand this), you don’t need to worry about the loading method on Cameo 3 and 4 or Portrait 2 and 3. Those machines just have Load and Unload buttons. The software sends information to the machine about the page setup and the machines adjust how far the mat or material is loaded automatically. So, feel free to skip to the next tip if you have that model. All others – keep reading.
Tip #9: Use the correct loading method
There are 2 distinct loading methods: Load Mat and Load Media. The way you choose Load Mat or Load Media is different on different models, so I’m going to cover each one separately. Just read whichever section corresponds to the machine you have.
Cameo 1
Cameo 1 machines have a small screen and buttons on the machine. It’s users of these machines who most often use the wrong loading method, because it’s really easy to do it accidentally. And if you aren’t aware of the difference in loading methods, you may struggle to figure out what in the world is going on.
If you look at the screen on a Cameo 1, you’ll see 3 options: Load Cutting Mat, Load Media and Unload. There will be a black dot next to one of those. Whichever one it’s beside tells you what’s going to happen when you hit the Enter key. You move through the options by using the arrow keys above and below the Enter key.
Load Mat
This is the one to use when you are using any type of mat. In order to account for the margin at the top of the mat, the roller bar does more rotations to pull the mat in. That positions the upper left corner of the sticky area, and therefore your material, under the blade. It may not start cutting in that corner, but that’s the spot called the origin point – home base.
Load Media
Use this one when you are cutting without the mat. As we’ve already discussed in our previous tips, your page is different when you bypass the mat. Your vinyl or HTV or whatever doesn’t have a non-sticky margin at the top like the mat. That means the machine doesn’t need to pull it in as far. It only needs to move it into the machine a little to get the upper left corner of your material under the blade at the origin point.
Why it makes a difference
Here’s how the mistake happens. Let’s say your dot is next to Load Mat and you are cutting on the mat. Instead of hitting Enter, you accidentally hit the down arrow key. It’s something folks do all the time. You tap that down arrow button and nothing happens, so you think the machine didn’t catch your movement. You look at the buttons and try again, being sure to hit Enter this time.
But here’s the problem. When you hit that down arrow button, the dot moved from Load Mat to Load Media. It’s likely you didn’t notice it did that. But now when you hit Enter, your mat gets pulled in but not far enough. So when the machine starts cutting, it doesn’t account for margin at the top. The result is that it cuts into the top margin of the mat instead of the material.
The selection will stay on that Load Media option until you–
- use those arrow keys to get it back to Load Mat
OR
- turn the machine off AND unplug the power cord from the machine
The opposite can also happen. If you have it on Load Mat when you are actually wanting Load Media, the machine will pull the material in too far. The top of the cut will be fine – just down from the top a bit. But if the length of your piece of material is just long enough for your cut and your extra bottom margin, by the time you get to the bottom your material will be past the rollers. We’ve already learned that that spells disaster.
Bottom line: if you have a Cameo 1, make sure you always check for that dot before you load. I’ll give you another hint to help check in our next tip.
Cameo 2
You guys have it a little easier that Cameo 1 users. You see the 3 options of Load Cut Mat, Load Media and Unload more clearly on your touch screen. But you still have to choose the correct one.
Load Mat
This is the one to use when you are using any type of mat. In order to account for the margin at the top of the mat, the roller bar does more rotations to pull the mat in. That positions the upper left corner of the sticky area, and therefore your material, under the blade. It may not start cutting in that corner, but that’s the spot called the origin point – home base.
Load Media
Use this when you are cutting without the mat. As we’ve already discussed in our previous tips, your page is different when you bypass the mat. Your vinyl or HTV or whatever doesn’t have a non-sticky margin at the top like the mat. That means the machine doesn’t need to pull it in as far. It only needs to move it into the machine a little to get the upper left corner of your material under the blade at the origin point.
Why it makes a difference
If you choose the wrong one, the mat or material is not loaded the correct amount.
When loading the mat, if you accidentally choose Load Media, the mat isn’t pulled in far enough. So when the machine starts cutting, it doesn’t account for margin at the top. The result is that it cuts into the top margin of the mat instead of the material.
The opposite can also happen. If you have it on Load Mat when you are actually wanting Load Media, the machine will pull the material in too far. The top of the cut will be fine – just down from the top a bit. But if the length of your piece of material is just long enough for your cut and your extra bottom margin, by the time you get to the bottom your material will be past the rollers. We’ve already learned that that spells disaster.
Bottom line: if you have a Cameo 2, make sure you always press the correct option on the screen. I’ll give you another hint to help check in our next tip.
Portrait 1
This one can be a bit tricky if you don’t know what the buttons on your machine mean. But just take a moment to look at the little pictures on them and it will make complete sense.
Load Mat
See how the top button looks like a waffle with crisscrossing lines? That’s a picture of the mat, so this button is for Load Mat. This is the one to use when you are using any type of mat. In order to account for the margin at the top of the mat, the roller bar does more rotations to pull the mat in. That positions the upper left corner of the sticky area, and therefore your material, under the blade. It may not start cutting in that corner, but that’s the spot called the origin point – home base.
Load Media
The second button is similar to the first, but it doesn’t have all the crisscrossing lines. That’s Load Media. Load Media is what you use when you are cutting without the mat. As we’ve already discussed in our previous tips, your page is different when you bypass the mat. Your vinyl or HTV or whatever doesn’t have a non-sticky margin at the top like the mat. That means the machine doesn’t need to pull it in as far. It only needs to move it into the machine a little to get the upper left corner of your material under the blade at the origin point.
Why it makes a difference
If you choose the wrong one, the mat or material is not loaded the correct amount.
When loading the mat, if you accidentally choose Load Media, the mat isn’t pulled in far enough. So when the machine starts cutting, it doesn’t account for margin at the top. The result is that it cuts into the top margin of the mat instead of the material.
The opposite can also happen. If you have it on Load Mat when you are actually wanting Load Media, the machine will pull the material in too far. The top of the cut will be fine – just down from the top a bit. But if the length of your piece of material is just long enough for your cut and your extra bottom margin, by the time you get to the bottom your material will be past the rollers. We’ve already learned that that spells disaster.
Bottom line: if you have a Portrait 1, make sure you always press the correct button on your machine when loading. I’ll give you another hint to help check in our next tip.
Up Next
I hope this has solved a big mystery for some of you. It can be quite a baffling puzzle to solve if you use the wrong loading method.
Our next tip is a one everyone needs to know. It’s another tip about loading. Plus I’ll show you a video that will blow your mind and make loading material without the mat WAY easier. I bet you can’t wait!
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