What is a vinyl cutter used for?

Can I use a vinyl cutter for paper?

• I do a lot of scrapbooking. I was looking at a cricut machine. Then my husband told me I should look at a vinyl cutter because you can do a lot more with it. I read in forums about people making vinyl signs for there cars and things. I don't want to print a picture on it, I just would want a blank cut out shape. Do they do that? Are they all different or do I need to find a specific one?

• Answer:

  I own a couple vinyl cutters, we make signs. NO, you cannot use a vinyl cutter on paper. The knife will get caught in the paper and tear. The reason you can cut vinyl is because there is a backing, the vinyl is cut, but the backing remains intact, so no tears. The knifes movement is not linear, it cuts a section, then moves and may return to cut a section near where it has cut already. I guess that is efficient for the plotter, but makes paper cutting impossible.