Understanding the Skycut C24's Working Area
The Skycut C24 has a cutting width of 24 inches. However, the machine's optical eye (the CCD camera for reading registration marks) has its own limitations. The camera needs a certain amount of space to move and read the marks accurately.
The key limitation is that the optical eye cannot read marks all the way to the very edges of the loaded media or the full cutting width.
Recommended Margin Allowances
To ensure a successful read of the registration marks, you need to leave a specific margin around your printed design. This margin should be on all four sides of the print.
- Side Margins (left and right): Leave at least 20mm (0.787 inches) of blank space on both the left and right sides of your design. The optical eye and the pinch rollers need this space.
- Top and Bottom Margins: The top margin is especially important. Leave at least 20mm (0.787 inches) of blank space at the top and bottom of your design. The optical eye needs to travel to these points, and the pinch rollers hold the media.
Calculating Your Printable Area
Let's apply these allowances to your specific media size: 24 inches x 30 inches.
1. Maximum Printable Width (Horizontal)
- Nominal Media Width: 24 inches
- Total Margin Allowance: 20mm (left) + 20mm (right) = 40mm (1.574 inches)
- Maximum Printable Width: 24 inches - 1.574 inches = 22.426 inches
Therefore, your total artwork and registration marks combined cannot exceed 22.426 inches in width.
2. Maximum Printable Length (Vertical)
- Nominal Media Length: 30 inches
- Total Margin Allowance: 20mm (top) + 20mm (bottom) = 40mm (1.574 inches)
- Maximum Printable Length: 30 inches - 1.574 inches = 28.426 inches
Therefore, your total artwork and registration marks combined cannot exceed 28.426 inches in length.
Summary: Your Printable Area
For your 24" x 30" media, the maximum printable area for a successful print-and-cut job on the Skycut C24 is approximately:
22.4 inches (width) x 28.4 inches (length)
Actionable Advice for Your Workflow
- Design First: In your design software, set up your document to a size of 22.4" x 28.4".
- Place Your Artwork: Lay out your cosmetics box designs within this smaller canvas.
- Add Registration Marks: Place your registration marks inside this 22.4" x 28.4" working area, near the four corners of your artwork.
- Print Layout: In your RIP software, place this entire design (artwork + marks) centered on your 24" x 30" media layout. This will automatically give you the necessary blank margins.
- Test: If you have a scrap piece of your cardboard, always perform a small test print with the registration marks and a simple cut to ensure the machine reads the marks correctly before you commit to the full print job.