by Tyler » February 13th, 2013, 8:37 am
If you have no control over the printed material, Elizabeth's answer sounds to be the best route. Alternatively, there is a method called the hinge method where you tape a template that has your image cut - the image is the exact same size as your printed image. You line up your image to fit in the template cut and then recut the image. It is sometimes tricky to get things exact, especially with some of the conversions that go on in sizing.
Elizabeth's answer would let you transfer the needed marks to the printed material. It is not nearly as messy as it sounds - I have done it before in a pinch. Does it take longer? Yeah it does and you would need to have a scanner and printer as well. However, if you are doing several copies of the same printed image, it cuts that time down though. Regarding resolution, if you line everything up meticulously and have spot on calibration to begin with, you can still get a pretty good cut. I believe it depends on how methodical/perfectionist a personality you have.
If you can't control the printed image, and don't want to go through that process, then that is a downside and you won't be able to do what you are asking. There is no software out there that is able to do what you are asking, and hence no machine either. Every software/machine needs some sort of registration mark to do a print and cut/contour cut.
Could you post what you are trying to cut so we can see the lines you are talking about?