How to layer vinyl using registration marks

How to layer vinyl using registration marks, and how to set up layouts with those registration marks!

It can be quite intimidating to line up multiple layers of vinyl but with this technique, it will be pretty easy! It is possible to use any design software of choice because it is the same concept.

Set up the design with the registration marks

First export the SVG; and size it, the size it needs to be.

We need to add the registration boxes before doing anything else; feel free to add these boxes pretty much anywhere. But as a recommendation put them a little bit above the design because it makes it easier to align them. Put the two boxes at the same level; then group those boxes to the design.  

Second, create a duplicate of this exact file for each vinyl color that you are going to use. The reason for making these duplicates is that we need an exact copy of the registration boxes; in the exact place for each color because we are going to cut them individually.

After that ungroup the whole design until you can edit the layers of the design. Then go through and delete in each duplicate design, the colors of the layers; leaving in each group those that are going to be cut in the same color of vinyl.

Select the boxes and color layers, and group them individually; in other words, for each color layer there should be a group with the layers and registration boxes.

To delete several pieces at once select by pressing the shift key on the keyboard.

How to layer the vinyl with the registration marks

When it comes to cutting the different pieces a good tip worth following to speed up the process, is to lay multiples of the colored vinyl pieces on the mat, making sure they are large enough according to the design. You can use a Cricut machine or any other cutting machine!

Keep in mind that the registration boxes also need to be cut, so choose between putting a sheet of vinyl the size of the entire design piece or putting other small pieces on the mat where the boxes are going to be cut, so as not to waste a whole sheet of vinyl. This way has a disadvantage, which is that if you misalign it, you will have to cut again.

Using the mat guide as a reference it is easy to put the vinyl pieces in the right place on the mat so that the designs will fit well on them.

Now it’s time to assemble the design layers. To lay the vinyl with the registration marks, grab the top layers, and put some transfer tape on the first color layer, leaving some extra tape on the top so as to stick it on the table and making sure it doesn’t move when linign up the boxes.

Cover the whole design with the back of the transfer tape, except the boxes, and then line up the boxes on that layer with the boxes on the other color layer.

As long as the boxes are aligned, the design will also be.

Make sure all the pieces come off, especially the boxes. And repeat the process to stick and align all the layers! After that, you can cut the transfer tape part that has all those little boxes and use the decal!