Starcraft SOLO User manual

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StarCraft SOLO with CREATE 1.008
January 18, 2022 Version
Please use the following steps as a guide to set up and begin successfully using your new SOLO:
Step 1: Unpack your SOLO and verify nothing is missing (Sections 1.01 and 1.04).
Step 2: Note the names of various parts of your SOLO for future reference (Section 1.05).
Step 3: Install the CREATE software and register it (Section 1.06).
Step 4: Power on the SOLO and note the basic settings on the control panel (Section 1.07).
Step 5: Connect the SOLO to your computer after reviewing the connection options (Section 1.08).
Step 6: Check out the other accessories which came with your SOLO (Section 1.09).
Step 7: Adjust the pinch rollers to their proper positions (Section 1.10).
Step 8: Practice drawing a shape using the test pen (Section 1.11).
Step 9: Understand some important factors and settings before cutting with the blade holder (Sections
2.01 –2.04).
Step 10: If you plan to perform Print+Cut applications (aka contour cuts), calibrate the camera and
set up your first project (Sections 3.02 and 3.03).
Step 11: Some of the more commonly used CREATE functions are presented in Chapter 4. A
complete StarCraft CREATE User Manual can be found at the link below. Note that references in blue
here in this manual pertain to the CREATE manual.
Step 12: Appendix A is a troubleshooting section for issues involving communication, operating,
cutting, and the CREATE software. Appendices B –E contain advanced topics that you may or may
not ever need.
Latest Update to StarCraft SOLO Manual: https://tinyurl.com/pbmam6eu
Latest Update to StarCraft CREATE User Manual: https://tinyurl.com/46wnn3ck
_____________________________________________________________
© 2021, 2022 starcraftvinyl.com All Rights Reserved

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Table of Contents
STARCRAFT SOLO WITH CREATE 1.008...........................................................................................................1
1. INTRODUCTION AND SETTING UP.............................................................................................................. 5
1.01 UNPACKING AND SUPPORT ..............................................................................................5
1.02 SAFETY AND WARNINGS.................................................................................................................................5
1.03 WARRANTY....................................................................................................................................................6
1.04 SOLO PACKAGE CONTENTS ....................................................................................................6
1.05 PARTS OF THE SOLO CUTTER ..........................................................................................................7
1.06 INSTALLING STARCRAFT CREATE .................................................................................................................8
1.06.1 Downloading and Registering CREATE ................................................................................8
1.06.2 Installing the SOLO in CREATE ...........................................................................................................9
1.07 CONTROL PANEL ............................................................................................................................10
1.07.1 Set Screen ..........................................................................................................................................10
1.07.2 General Settings .................................................................................................................................11
1.08 CONNECTING THE SOLO TO YOUR COMPUTER .............................................................................................12
1.08.1 USB Connection..................................................................................................................................13
1.08.2 Wi-Fi Connection.................................................................................................................................13
1.09 ACCESSORIES..............................................................................................................................................16
1.09.1 Test Pen..............................................................................................................................................16
1.09.2 SOLO Bladeholder and Blades...........................................................................................................16
1.09.3 Cutting Mat..........................................................................................................................................17
1.10 PINCH ROLLERS...........................................................................................................................................17
1.11 BEGIN WITH THE TEST PEN!..........................................................................................................................18
1.11.1 Loading Test Pen and Paper ..............................................................................................................18
1.11.2 Setting an Origin Before Drawing (or Cutting) ....................................................................................20
1.11.3 Setting Up a Test in CREATE.............................................................................................................20
1.12 MAINTENANCE .............................................................................................................................................24
2. CUTTING...........................................................................................................................................................25
2.01 INSTALLNG THE BLADE AND MOUNTING THE BLADE HOLDER .............................................................25
2.02 SETTING THE ORIGIN BEFORE CUTTING.........................................................................................................27
2.03 PREPARING A CUTTING PROJECT..................................................................................................................27
2.03.1 Controlling Which Shapes Will Cut.....................................................................................................27
2.03.2 Controlling Where Shapes Will Cut.....................................................................................................28
2.03.3 Style Panel Assignments ....................................................................................................................30
2.03.4 Preview the Project.............................................................................................................................32
2.03.5 Determining Cut Settings....................................................................................................................33
2.04 CUT SETTINGS.............................................................................................................................................33
2.04.1 Pressure..............................................................................................................................................34
2.04.2 Speed and Up Speed..........................................................................................................................34
2.04.3 Blade Offset and Overcut....................................................................................................................34
2.04.4 Multi-Cut..............................................................................................................................................35
2.05 PRESETS .....................................................................................................................................................35
2.06 LANDSCAPE CUTTING...................................................................................................................................36
2.07 OTHER CUT OPTIONS OF INTEREST...............................................................................................................38
2.07.1 Mirroring Designs Before Cutting........................................................................................................38
2.07.2 Setting Up an Array of Repeats ..........................................................................................................39
2.07.3 End of Cut Action................................................................................................................................40
2.07.4 Cut by Color ................................................................................................................40
2.07.5 Weeding ......................................................................................................................43
2.07.6 Tiling .....................................................................................................................................43
2.08 TEST CUTTING FLOW CHART FOR THE SOLO................................................................................................44
2.09 SUGGESTED CUT SETTINGS FOR VARIOUS MATERIALS ..................................................................................45
3. PRINT+CUT (CONTOUR CUT)........................................................................................................................ 46

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3.01 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................................46
3.02 CAMERA CALIBRATION PROCEDURE ......................................................................................46
3.03 PERFORMING A PNC IN CREATE ......................................................................................48
3.04 REGISTRATION MARK SETTINGS ...................................................................................................................52
3.05 SETTING AN ORIGIN USING THE CAMERA .........................................................................................52
3.06 ADDITIONAL PRINT+CUT NOTES ...................................................................................................................54
4. STARCRAFT CREATE SOFTWARE............................................................................................................... 55
4.01 MAIN CREATE SCREEN ..............................................................................................................................55
4.02 COMMON USER PREFERENCES AND SCREEN TOOLS .....................................................................................57
4.02.1 Common User Preferences ................................................................................................................57
4.02.2 Screen Tools.......................................................................................................................................58
4.03 LIBRARY ......................................................................................................................................................58
4.04 PROJECTS AND PAGES.................................................................................................................................59
4.05 LAYERS PANEL.............................................................................................................................................60
4.05.1 Parts of the Layers Panel....................................................................................................................60
4.05.2 Moving Layers.....................................................................................................................................62
4.06 HANDLING FILES ..........................................................................................................................................65
4.07 COLORING AND MANIPULATING SHAPES........................................................................................................65
4.07.1 Fill & Stroke Panel...............................................................................................................................65
4.07.2 Resizing, Rotating and Moving Shapes..............................................................................................66
4.07.3 More Shape Manipulations .................................................................................................................67
4.08 TEXT ...........................................................................................................................................................68
4.08.1 Type Tool Options...............................................................................................................................68
4.08.2 Changing the Font ..............................................................................................................................69
4.08.3 Text Panel Settings.............................................................................................................................70
4.08.4 Creating a Connected Letter Title.......................................................................................................70
4.09 TRACING AND DRAWING ...............................................................................................................................71
4.09.1 Tracing Procedure and Input ..............................................................................................................71
4.09.2 Image Settings....................................................................................................................................72
4.09.3 Output and Output Settings ................................................................................................................74
4.09.4 Drawing Tools.....................................................................................................................................74
4.10 EDITING TOOLS............................................................................................................................................75
4.11 DESIGNING ..................................................................................................................................................76
5. APPLICATIONS AND TIPS ON MATERIALS .................................................................................................78
5.01 PAPER AND CARDSTOCK TIPS.......................................................................................................................78
Selecting Paper and Cardstock .....................................................................................................................78
Cutting............................................................................................................................................................78
Troubleshooting .............................................................................................................................................78
5.02 ADHESIVE VINYL TIPS...................................................................................................................................79
Preparing the Design .....................................................................................................................................79
Cutting............................................................................................................................................................79
Weeding.........................................................................................................................................................80
Applying .........................................................................................................................................................80
5.03 IRON-ON /HEAT TRANSFER VINYL TIPS.........................................................................................................80
Preparing the Design .....................................................................................................................................80
Cutting and Weeding......................................................................................................................................81
Adhering HTV.................................................................................................................................................82
Why should I upgrade to a Heat Press?........................................................................................................82
5.04 FABRIC AND FELT TIPS .................................................................................................................................82
5.05 CAKE DECORATING TIPS ..............................................................................................................................83
5.06 CHIPBOARD TIPS..........................................................................................................................................84
Selecting Chipboard.......................................................................................................................................84
Cutting............................................................................................................................................................84
Troubleshooting .............................................................................................................................................84
6. ACCESSORY TOOLS ...................................................................................................................................... 85
6.01 USING ACCESSORY TOOLS...........................................................................................................................85

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6.02. SETTING UP TWO-STEP PROCESSES ...........................................................................................................86
6.03 DRAWING WITH A PEN ..................................................................................................................................86
6.04 SCORING FOLD LINES AND DEBOSSING/EMBOSSING......................................................................................87
6.05 SCRATCH ENGRAVING..................................................................................................................................88
APPENDIX A TROUBLESHOOTING...................................................................................................................89
A1 COMMUNICATION ISSUES.................................................................................................................................89
A2 OPERATING ISSUES.........................................................................................................................................90
A3 CUTTING/DRAWING ISSUES .............................................................................................................................92
A4 SOFTWARE ISSUES .........................................................................................................................................95
APPENDIX B CONTROL PANEL ADVANCED SETTINGS................................................................................97
B1 ARRAY ...........................................................................................................................................................97
B2 SHOW POINT ..................................................................................................................................................97
B3 UP SPEED......................................................................................................................................................99
B4 TO RIGHT POWER ON.......................................................................................................................................99
B5 YKEY MODE..................................................................................................................................................99
B6 SYSTEM MODE ...............................................................................................................................................99
B7 SCALE..........................................................................................................................................................100
APPENDIX C: ALTERNATIVE CONNECTION METHODS .............................................................................103
C1 WIRELESS STAND-ALONE .............................................................................................................................103
C2 USB FLASH DRIVE .......................................................................................................................................104
APPENDIX D CREATING PRESETS ON THE CONTROL PANEL..................................................................107
APPENDIX E ADDITIONAL PRINT-AND-CUT APPLICATIONS......................................................................110
E1 PNC FROM A FLASH DRIVE ...........................................................................................................................110
E2 PRINTING A PNC PROJECT FROM OUTSIDE OF CREATE................................................................................112
E3 TWEAKING THE CAMERA CALIBRATION...........................................................................................................113

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1. Introduction and Setting Up
1.01 Unpacking and Support
• Thank you for choosing a StarCraft SOLO Digital Cutting Machine.
• Verify that you have received all contents. There is a checklist in Section 1.04. Please notify your SOLO
supplier immediately if anything is missing.
• Remove all foam pieces and other packaging before turning on the SOLO. Currently, the cutter ships with
two end cap foam protectors. There are also two plastic zip ties that will need to be cut. Be very careful to
only cut those ties and NOT the black cable behind them. Note that you can more safely cut them from
behind the cutter.
• Because the cutting mat must be folded over to fit into the box, it may have become slightly rounded
during shipping. Gently and only partially roll the mat in the opposite direction to remove the roundness
and place on a flat table to make sure the mat now lies horizontally to the surface.
• Use the enclosed test pen as you experiment and become familiar with operating the SOLO. Place scrap
paper on the mat and simply draw shapes rather than cut them. This will prevent possible damage to the
blade, mat, and cutting strip as you learn where shapes will cut and the basic operating procedures.
•For SOLO and CREATE support, please use the following resources:
https://www.starcraftvinyl.com/solo
Facebook: StarCraft Vinyl and StarCraft Solo School
You Tube Channels: Rhonda M Shawn Mosch Mr.CraftyPants Corinne Blackstone
1.02 Safety and Warnings
Please be aware of the following guidelines when working with the SOLO:
•Pinch Points: Keep hands, long hair, loose clothing, jewelry, etc. away from the moving parts.
•Risk to Children and Pets: Please supervise children around the cutter when it is in use.
•Movement and Touching: Do not move the SOLO or touch any circuitry while it is plugged in.
DO NOT attempt to move the blade carriage by hand while the SOLO is powered on.
When lifting and lowering the pinch wheel lever, maintain control with your hand. Do not allow the lever
to “pop up” on its own.
USB Cable: If using the USB cable, allow enough room between the SOLO and the computer for a bit of
slack in the cable. If too much stress is put on either the computer’s port or the SOLO’s port, it can
damage the port.
Blades: the blades are fragile and can chip if dropped onto a hard surface or if the blade is
overextended and hits a dense material, the mat, or the cutting strip with too much force.
Power Adaptor: ONLY use the included power adaptor. Attempting to use a different model can result in
seriously damaging the SOLO. If either the power cable or adaptor are damaged, replace with the
appropriate parts.
DO NOT touch or jam the plotter’s track while it is operating. If the cutter is damaged, it is the owner’s
responsibility.
DO NOT shake the cutter while it is operating.
DO NOT cut any materials that have staples or other embellishments attached.

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DO NOT touch the cutter with a magnet. It is safe, however, to cut thin magnetic sheets, such as those
used on refrigerators and car exteriors.
DO NOT allow any liquids to spill into the cutter.
DO NOT allow small items to fall into the cutter.
Place the SOLO on a sturdy and stable table, desk, or trolley.
•Always turn off the SOLO when not in use. Leaving the cutter turned on for extended periods of time can
possibly damage the machine.
•Always turn off the SOLO before unplugging the power adaptor or removing the power cable from the wall
outlet or power strip.
•Unplug the SOLO from a wall outlet or power strip during an electrical storm or when the cutter will not be
used for an extended period of time.
•Transporting: When transporting the cutter, move the pinch wheel lever into the upward position. Remove
the blade from the blade holder and cover the tip with the colored cap.
1.03 Warranty
•IMPORTANT! If your SOLO is damaged during shipment or appears to be defective, your reseller should be
notified as soon as possible.
•StarCraft warrants the StarCraft branded hardware product contained in the original packaging against
defects in materials and workmanship on all registered machines for two years. This warranty does not
include accessories, mats, and blades. Contact your reseller for warranty issues.
•It is recommended that you retain the original box with packing materials in case you ever need to ship your
SOLO.
1.04 SOLO Package Contents
• Besides the SOLO, your box should also contain the following items:

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1.05 Parts of the SOLO Cutter
Front
•Alignment Arrows: indicate to the user the available positions for the pinch wheels
•Blade Carriage: moves the Blade Holder Seat left and right
•Blade Holder Seat (Jaw or Clamp): holds the blade holder, test pen, and other accessories
•Control Panel: used to change settings, set up Wi-Fi, calibrate camera, cut PLT files, and more
•Cutting Strip: protects a blade when cutting backed materials without using a cutting mat
•Grit Shafts (total of 3): allow the pinch wheels to grip the mat or material so they can be moved in and out of
the cutter during cutting
•Pinch Wheel (Roller) Assemblies (total of 3): grip the mat or material so that the grit shafts beneath will feed
the mat or material in and out during cutting
•Power Button: turns cutter on and off
Right Side
Power Port
USB Flash
Drive Port
USB Port
Pinch Wheel Lever
Alignment Arrow
Pinch Wheel or
Pinch Roller
Control Panel
Left
End Cap
Right
End Cap
Power Button
Blade
Carriage
Cutting Strip
(white)
Grit Shaft (dark
gray and rough)
Blade Holder Seat
(aka Jaw)
•Pinch Wheel Lever: move down to lift the pinch wheels
up for loading the mat or material and move up to lower
the pinch wheels for cutting
•USB Flash Drive Port: used to load PLT files via the
control panel for cutting
•USB Port: option to connect computer to the SOLO with
included USB cable
•Power Port: connect the SOLO’s power adaptor

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Back
1.06 Installing StarCraft CREATE
•To obtain your free CREATE Serial Code, go to the following web site and register your new SOLO:
https://starcraftvinyl.com/create
•Write down your SOLO’s serial number which is on the bottom of the cutter. In the registration window, enter
this 9-digit serial number in the upper gray field. Click on Get CREATE Serial and a 30-digit CREATE
Serial Code will appear:
•This new CREATE Serial Code can be used on any two computers you own. If you want to activate
CREATE on a new computer, go to Help>Deactivate (inside CREATE) on the computer no longer needing
CREATE and confirm you wish to deactivate.
•If you choose to not register CREATE right away, it will run in DEMO mode only. This mode will have the
following limitations:
When cutting, horizontal (watermark) lines will be added across the design.
Exporting will produce a DEMO file without your design shapes included.
1.06.1 Downloading and Registering CREATE
•StarCraft CREATE can be downloaded from the following link. Note that there are two choices - Mac or PC:
https://www.starcraftvinyl.com/solo
•Install the downloaded file and open CREATE. Immediately following the StarCraft CREATE splash screen,
a window will open. Click on Activate to open the software registration screen:
Pinch wheel lever
Pinch wheel
assemblies
1. Enter your SOLO’s
serial number from the
bottom of the SOLO
2. Click here
3. Copy this number to
your computer’s
clipboard

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•After successfully registering the software, an initial window will open where you can choose if you are
starting a new project, opening an existing project, or recovering a project after a software crash. Because
this is the first time you are opening CREATE, choose New Project and accept the defaults shown:
1.06.2 Installing the SOLO in CREATE
•Go to Cutter>My Cutter>Manage Cutters and the following window will open:
•Click on Done to save and close the window.
4. Click on Done
1. Select StarCraft
2. Select Solo
List of cutters
you’ve added
3. Click on Add to list
Click on New
Project
Accept whatever settings are
shown. Details about these
settings will be covered in later
sections.
Click here to
register CREATE
OR…
Click OK to
continue in trial mode
1. Enter your name
Do NOT use this function
2. Paste in the long
CREATE Serial Code
you copied from the
registration window
(NOT the number on
the bottom of your
SOLO)

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1.07 Control Panel
• Place your SOLO on a sturdy horizontal surface. Connect the power cable to the power supply. Plug the
other end of the power cable into a wall outlet or power strip. Connect the other end of the power supply into
the power port on the right end cap.
• To turn on the power, press the power button just below the control panel screen.
• The SOLO will take a few seconds to power up. A splash screen will appear. Then the LED light will come
on and the tool carriage will engage. IMPORTANT: Once the cutter is on, do not move the tool carriage
using your hands. This can damage the tool carriage and/or main board. Use only the arrows on the control
panel to move the tool carriage.
• To power off the SOLO, press and hold the power button for several seconds until the cutter powers down.
•When you first power on the Solo, the following Main Screen or Home Screen will be displayed:
•Throughout this manual, the functions above will be referenced along with submenus and additional
screens. You will also see the following icons at the bottom of many screens. Pressing the one on the left
will always return you to the Main Screen above. Pressing the one on the right will return you to a prior
window/screen.
1.07.1 Set Screen
•Pressing the Set icon opens the Set Screen which contains access to many functions and settings.
Note the general description and section number:
4 arrow keys for moving the
head left/right and for moving
the pinch rollers
Repeat last cut. While cutting, this icon and function change to
Pause.
Open and cut PLT files from an
inserted USB flash drive
Execute a test cut using current
speed and force settings
Set the desired speed and force.
Toggle the speed for moving the head and
pinch rollers. In slow mode, the icon
changes to:
Stop and cancel the
current cut
Open Set menu
Refer to
Section 1.07.1
Go back to Main
Screen/Home Screen
Go back to prior screen