Set up the Cricut "Print and Cut" for building front signs. Up to now I always used rectilinear designs because cutting out curves was pretty difficult for me for the thick backer board.
I set up a single image in LibreOffice presentation (can also use draw) and sized it to the dimensions I needed. This is a good idea to do if you want to print on regular bond paper to see how the size fits your structure. I then selected and exported the image as a ".png". Once in Cricut Design Space I uploaded the image, resized it to the size I had in draw then duplicated and re-positioned the images. These images must fit inside a rectangle that is 6.25 max by 9.75 max. Once done you click on print. Note - I used Card Stock paper - 80 or 100 pound - not sure. Cricut automatically adds a border around the images to act as registration for the cutter. There is a way to utilize a whole sheet using Inkspace to set it up but I am not comfortable with that yet. Once printed Design space prompts you to place the card stock on the sticky mat and load into the machine. Press 'go' and sit back.
It came out pretty good
The card stock is obviously too thin to stand on its own as a sign so I usually use conservation board (type of cardboard) as a backer board. This board is thick but the Cricut will cut it. Back in LibreOffice Presentation I copied the image onto a new sheet and blacked it out. I then exported this as a .png. I uploaded this image into design space as a new project but made sure it cut only not print and cut. I placed the board onto the strong mat but forgot to tape the perimeter. I used the 'heavy matte board" material setting which meant 24 cuts so a pretty long cutting (38 minutes). I loaded the cutting mat into the machine and sat back. At cut 10 because I did not tape the board to the mat the knife blade was deep enough to push the board out of position so I had to stop the cut and finish up with a razor blade. That's why you see the ragged edges. However the process does work. I can start adding a lot more curves to signs from now on.
Tomorrow I will be cutting out 80 mil styrene for the walls on the main building for a grain elevator I am building. My plan is to cut the styrene walls to size then use C ricut Design Space to place rectangles for window openings. This will be simple black rectangles placed at specific locations on the design space but I will need to pay attention to the x-y location of the building wall so that I place the styrene on the cutting mat in the precise location.
