What is a cut line (CutContour)?

A vector line in a dedicated spot colour that the cutting plotter follows instead of printing it. Print-and-cut systems from Roland, Summa, Mimaki and Graphtec look for the spot colour name CutContour or a similar name.

How is the line calculated?

All letters and shapes are merged into one form, which is offset outwards by the distance you choose. Letters closer to each other than twice the distance merge into one contour, so a word is cut as a single sticker.

My text is not converted to curves — does it still work?

Yes. Live text is converted to curves first, so the cut line follows the exact letterforms. Text that only exists as an image cannot be used.

What does holes in letters mean?

Letters like O, A and B have holes. Outer contour only gives one solid shape without holes, which is the easiest to weed. Keep holes also cuts the holes out.

Can I choose another spot colour name?

Yes. Pick Thru-cut, Kiss-cut or type your own. The colour is written as a real Separation spot colour with magenta as its screen colour.

What happens to my file?

It is processed on servers in the Nordics and deleted automatically shortly after. You can download a deletion certificate as documentation.

Add a cut contour to your PDF

Generate a CutContour, kiss cut or through cut line around vector text and logos in a PDF, at the distance you choose, as a spot colour on its own layer. Ready for Zünd, Roland and Summa. Free, hosted in the Nordics.

Need a word or a logo cut out as a sticker or vinyl? PDF.dk merges all letters and shapes into one form, draws a cut line at the distance you choose around it and writes the line as the spot colour CutContour on its own layer. Live text is converted to curves first with our own outline engine, so the line follows the real letterforms. Files are processed in the Nordics and deleted automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cut line (CutContour)?: A vector line in a dedicated spot colour that the cutting plotter follows instead of printing it. Print-and-cut systems from Roland, Summa, Mimaki and Graphtec look for the spot colour name CutContour or a similar name.
How is the line calculated?: All letters and shapes are merged into one form, which is offset outwards by the distance you choose. Letters closer to each other than twice the distance merge into one contour, so a word is cut as a single sticker.
My text is not converted to curves — does it still work?: Yes. Live text is converted to curves first, so the cut line follows the exact letterforms. Text that only exists as an image cannot be used.
What does holes in letters mean?: Letters like O, A and B have holes. Outer contour only gives one solid shape without holes, which is the easiest to weed. Keep holes also cuts the holes out.
Can I choose another spot colour name?: Yes. Pick Thru-cut, Kiss-cut or type your own. The colour is written as a real Separation spot colour with magenta as its screen colour.
What happens to my file?: It is processed on servers in the Nordics and deleted automatically shortly after. You can download a deletion certificate as documentation.

How to

Upload your PDF
Choose the distance in mm, whether holes in letters are kept, and the spot colour name
Click "Create cut line" and download the file with the CutContour layer