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Everything you need to know about using CutContour.

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What Is a CutContour Spot Color and Why Does Your Roland Need It?

CutContour is a special spot color name that Roland VersaWorks software recognizes as a cutting instruction. Your PDF contains two layers of information: the artwork that gets printed, and a vector path defined in a spot color called “CutContour” that tells the cutter where to cut. VersaWorks reads both, prints the artwork first, then moves the cutting head along the CutContour path.

Creating a proper CutContour path traditionally requires vector editing software like Adobe Illustrator or SAI Flexi. You need to create an offset path around your artwork, assign it to a spot color channel named exactly “CutContour” (case sensitive), and export the PDF with the separation preserved. One wrong step and VersaWorks will not recognize the cut line. CutContour automates this entire process.

How to Make Kiss Cut Stickers with a Roland Printer Cutter

Kiss cut stickers are the ones that peel off a backing sheet, just like the stickers you buy from professional shops. You need a Roland print-and-cut device (BN-20, BN-20A, BN-20D, VS-300i, or similar), sticker vinyl media, VersaWorks RIP software, and a PNG of your sticker design with a transparent background.

Your design needs to be placed in a PDF with two things: the printed artwork and a CutContour vector path that tells the cutter where to cut. The cut line should be offset slightly from the artwork edge, typically 0.06 to 0.15 inches, creating a small white border around the sticker. Once your PDF has the CutContour spot color, import it into VersaWorks. Set your cut settings to kiss cut (not through cut) so the blade only cuts through the vinyl, not the backing paper.

Always do a test cut with your specific media before running a full batch. Different vinyl brands require different blade depth and pressure settings. Let your prints dry completely before cutting for the cleanest results.

How to Convert a Transparent PNG to a CutContour PDF

The traditional way involves opening Illustrator, placing your PNG, tracing or drawing a path around it, offsetting the path, creating a spot color swatch named exactly “CutContour,” and saving as PDF with spot colors preserved. This takes 10 to 30 minutes per design and requires expensive software.

With CutContour, upload your PNG, adjust the offset and size, and click generate. CutContour analyzes the alpha channel of your PNG to find the artwork edges, expands outward by your chosen offset distance, then traces the expanded shape into mathematically precise bezier curves. The output PDF embeds your original image at full quality along with a proper /Separation/CutContour color space that VersaWorks recognizes.