A heart-shaped opening is a useful plotter trial because the cleft and the pointed tip are easy to recognize. In a shaped bokeh photograph of defocused lights, a rounded tip or a nick may repeat from one bright patch to the next. Inspect the physical opening before trying to fix that shape with the camera.
The supplier lists its 45° blade for general vinyl work on compatible Summa plotters. Check the dimensions of the blade fitted to your holder. For a removable insert, test a single heart in a scrap of opaque plotter film. ORAFOL describes 8870 as a blockout film for signs. This proposed use puts the film on a separate card frame, with an opening in the frame large enough to clear the heart. Remove the cut heart and any backing across the opening. Keep the adhesive off the lens and inspect the finished opening against a lamp.
Canon’s example uses a shaped cutout to alter the appearance of out-of-focus highlights. Try a row of small indoor lights behind a nearby object. Focus on the object and look at the bright patches behind it. If the lights themselves are sharp, first adjust the scene or focus to get clear blur before judging the outline. OM SYSTEM also points out that imperfections in the cutout can show in the shaped bokeh result.
Make a second frame from the same file only if the first opening has a visible flaw. Compare the two openings before comparing shaped bokeh photographs. If both frames have the same unwanted notch, inspect the vector at that position. If the cutouts differ, examine the cut and how the waste was removed. No aperture dimension is specified for every lens. Record the lens and keep the camera setup fixed between the two shots.
Sources on shaped bokeh
Sources checked 7 November 2026:
- Supplier blade listing: 45° blade for compatible Summa holders and vinyl
- ORAFOL ORACAL 8870 blockout film
- Canon bokeh effect tutorial
- OM SYSTEM bokeh tips
Related reading: Vinyl Cutter Commissioning Checklist: 4 Essential Tests
