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Post by Basket1lady on Nov 16, 2018 4:38:40 GMT
Do you mind giving me a quick rundown on what or why Sure Cuts a Lot is better than Designer Edition? I've googled but so much of what I find is way outdated. I use Inkscape to covert SVG files. I would like to make some of my own shapes in the future and wondered how well SCAL works. I'd appreciate an opinion from a pea. I love that I can export in svg or design space compatible. It also allows for easily importing/tracing/whatever. I'm still learning quite a bit of what it can do. I am by no means a power user but really like the interface compared to studio. To me, studio feels clunky and not very user friendly. I like that I can easily scale and size stuff. I can edit things fairly quickly as well. There's a few facebook groups that are awesome for support with SCAL. You can go on there and ask about the comparisons. People are really friendly in the groups I'm in. This is one I go to all the time... www.facebook.com/Sure-Cuts-A-Lot-106996399332239/I get that we all like certain aspects of software, and stay with what we are used to, but you can save in SVG with Silhouette's upgraded software. And to change the scale on a design in the Silhouette software, you just drag on the little box on the side or corner of a design. Or in the toolbar, you can enter the actual dimensions that you want. I'm not sure how it could be any easier! I also do a lot of tracing with the Silhouette software. You can trace inner areas, outer areas, the entire design, just the outside line, by color, ... It's pretty user friendly and one of my favorite features. I am curious as to why you want to save in SVG. Is it to send to others? I just save my designs as a Silhouette file and I've never had a bit of trouble. I do send files to friends, but they all have Silhouettes, so I've never messed with SVG files (other than to download them myself, which you can do with the free Silhouette software.)
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,433
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Nov 16, 2018 5:33:08 GMT
I love that I can export in svg or design space compatible. It also allows for easily importing/tracing/whatever. I'm still learning quite a bit of what it can do. I am by no means a power user but really like the interface compared to studio. To me, studio feels clunky and not very user friendly. I like that I can easily scale and size stuff. I can edit things fairly quickly as well. There's a few facebook groups that are awesome for support with SCAL. You can go on there and ask about the comparisons. People are really friendly in the groups I'm in. This is one I go to all the time... www.facebook.com/Sure-Cuts-A-Lot-106996399332239/I get that we all like certain aspects of software, and stay with what we are used to, but you can save in SVG with Silhouette's upgraded software. And to change the scale on a design in the Silhouette software, you just drag on the little box on the side or corner of a design. Or in the toolbar, you can enter the actual dimensions that you want. I'm not sure how it could be any easier! I also do a lot of tracing with the Silhouette software. You can trace inner areas, outer areas, the entire design, just the outside line, by color, ... It's pretty user friendly and one of my favorite features. I am curious as to why you want to save in SVG. Is it to send to others? I just save my designs as a Silhouette file and I've never had a bit of trouble. I do send files to friends, but they all have Silhouettes, so I've never messed with SVG files (other than to download them myself, which you can do with the free Silhouette software.) Part of it, for sure, is that I’m used to it. I have used SCAL since 2010 when I got a hand me down cricut personal machine. I bought my cameo 3 last October and upgraded to SCAL4. 5 just came out over the summer, I will most likely be getting that as it runs on Mojave and 4 does not. Anyway, I have lots of years of learning in there! I have tried to use the studio software and it seems clunky to me, I don't have the upgraded software. For the cost of the upgrade, I’d just get SCAL5. I save as an svg so I can send to others who may or may not have silhouettes. I can sell my designs and anyone with any cutter can use them. I also like that I can export to design space since I have a cricut maker at school that I use from time to time. If you want to use a larger format cutter, studio will not work. You’ll need to get vinyl master or sure cuts a lot or some other program. If you’re going to learn a new program, why not learn one that is useable on multiple machines rather than just one?
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Post by zuke on Nov 16, 2018 12:38:55 GMT
Question... so for my DD to create and cut her own designs, she'll need to purchase additional software?
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Post by Basket1lady on Nov 16, 2018 15:15:00 GMT
Question... so for my DD to create and cut her own designs, she'll need to purchase additional software? No, not if you are getting her the Silhouette. The software is free at their site and she can start learning it now. Silhouette has upgrades to the free software that offer additional features. She will probably want to upgrade at least one level (there are two additional levels.) But you can wait to do that for another time, or she can do it herself. There are always deals out there for about 50% off, so it’s about $25 to upgrade. It’s worth it if she starts designing her own projects, but it’s not a must for a newbie. If she ever starts selling her own designs or wants to get a larger cutter, she can look into other programs then. I wouldn’t buy other software at this point.
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Post by Basket1lady on Nov 16, 2018 17:33:33 GMT
I get that we all like certain aspects of software, and stay with what we are used to, but you can save in SVG with Silhouette's upgraded software. And to change the scale on a design in the Silhouette software, you just drag on the little box on the side or corner of a design. Or in the toolbar, you can enter the actual dimensions that you want. I'm not sure how it could be any easier! I also do a lot of tracing with the Silhouette software. You can trace inner areas, outer areas, the entire design, just the outside line, by color, ... It's pretty user friendly and one of my favorite features. I am curious as to why you want to save in SVG. Is it to send to others? I just save my designs as a Silhouette file and I've never had a bit of trouble. I do send files to friends, but they all have Silhouettes, so I've never messed with SVG files (other than to download them myself, which you can do with the free Silhouette software.) Part of it, for sure, is that I’m used to it. I have used SCAL since 2010 when I got a hand me down cricut personal machine. I bought my cameo 3 last October and upgraded to SCAL4. 5 just came out over the summer, I will most likely be getting that as it runs on Mojave and 4 does not. Anyway, I have lots of years of learning in there! I have tried to use the studio software and it seems clunky to me, I don't have the upgraded software. For the cost of the upgrade, I’d just get SCAL5. I save as an svg so I can send to others who may or may not have silhouettes. I can sell my designs and anyone with any cutter can use them. I also like that I can export to design space since I have a cricut maker at school that I use from time to time. If you want to use a larger format cutter, studio will not work. You’ll need to get vinyl master or sure cuts a lot or some other program. If you’re going to learn a new program, why not learn one that is useable on multiple machines rather than just one? You make a persuasive argument! I'm good for now, as I don't sell my designs or want a larger format cutter. But it's good to know that good software is out there for that. I think the Silhouette software has come a long way since 2010 and you may be pleasantly surprised at it now. I use the Mac version and I'm constantly amazed at what it can do. Just yesterday, I traced a word that was italicized, but made it normal with just a few clicks with the warp tool. It's fun to use and I'm seldom stumped with how to make something work. And if I am stuck, a quick Google search turns up the answer quickly.
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Post by Basket1lady on Nov 16, 2018 17:45:03 GMT
Question... so for my DD to create and cut her own designs, she'll need to purchase additional software? Here is a chart that compares the different features of each level of software. Some won't make sense if you aren't used to a graphics program, but it gives you a rough idea. Again, never pay full price for a software upgrade--there are frequently deals out there. Your DD will probably like to upgrade to DE at some point--it makes a lot of the basic tasks easier. But like I said, there are frequently deals out there for about $25. I think I paid $24 when I bought my upgrade through Amazon--it's $26 right now. I have the Design Edition (not plus) and the only thing I'd really like is the automatic weed lines from the DE+ software. But it's easy enough to add those weed lines on my own, so I haven't upgraded any further. And I use my Cameo A LOT.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,433
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Nov 17, 2018 0:10:56 GMT
Part of it, for sure, is that I’m used to it. I have used SCAL since 2010 when I got a hand me down cricut personal machine. I bought my cameo 3 last October and upgraded to SCAL4. 5 just came out over the summer, I will most likely be getting that as it runs on Mojave and 4 does not. Anyway, I have lots of years of learning in there! I have tried to use the studio software and it seems clunky to me, I don't have the upgraded software. For the cost of the upgrade, I’d just get SCAL5. I save as an svg so I can send to others who may or may not have silhouettes. I can sell my designs and anyone with any cutter can use them. I also like that I can export to design space since I have a cricut maker at school that I use from time to time. If you want to use a larger format cutter, studio will not work. You’ll need to get vinyl master or sure cuts a lot or some other program. If you’re going to learn a new program, why not learn one that is useable on multiple machines rather than just one? You make a persuasive argument! I'm good for now, as I don't sell my designs or want a larger format cutter. But it's good to know that good software is out there for that. I think the Silhouette software has come a long way since 2010 and you may be pleasantly surprised at it now. I use the Mac version and I'm constantly amazed at what it can do. Just yesterday, I traced a word that was italicized, but made it normal with just a few clicks with the warp tool. It's fun to use and I'm seldom stumped with how to make something work. And if I am stuck, a quick Google search turns up the answer quickly. Lol. I have the new studio software since my cameo is only a year old. I may have to revisit and see what it can do. I think it does serve a purpose. I’ve used it when helping friends out with stuff.
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