What offset actually is
Offset is the distance between the center of the blade shaft (the part the machine moves) and the point of the cutting tip.
Because the blade swivels, the machine moves the shaft, but the cut actually happens a tiny distance to the side; the offset value lets the cutter compensate for this so the cut follows your artwork exactly.
Why offset matters
Correct offset gives clean, sharp corners and accurate shapes, especially on small text and detailed graphics.
Too little offset gives rounded corners and lifted “ears” where corners don’t close properly.
Too much offset makes corners overshoot and creates spikes or jagged edges at corners.
Typical starting values
A 45° “general purpose” blade commonly uses an offset around 0.25 mm (sometimes noted as 0.25 or 0.025", depending on brand).
A 60° blade (for thicker or more detailed cuts) usually needs a slightly larger offset, often around 0.4–0.5 mm, but the exact value depends on the blade and cutter manufacturer.
How to set and test offset
Enter the recommended offset from your blade/cutter documentation into the cutter’s menu or your cutting software (look under “Condition,” “Tool,” or “Cutter Settings”).
Do a small test cut (usually a square with a triangle inside) on the actual vinyl you’ll use, then adjust in very small steps up or down until corners are sharp, closed, and not spiky.
Signs your offset is wrong
Corners slightly open or “ears” lifting at the edges of shapes usually point to offset being too low or otherwise incorrect.
Corners that look like tiny hooks, spikes, or over-cut intersections usually indicate the offset is set too high.
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