Scan & Cut -- Recommendations -- model? best/cheapest place?

I love my scan n cut! I have the CM350 model (I do want to upgrade to the new model one day, but mine is still chugging along!) . While I'm not all that impressed by the scanning capability of my particular unit, I love the fact that it does not need to be connected to my computer to use it. I just don't have the space anywhere near my computer to put a cutter. It cuts beautifully and I haven't had to change my blade yet in the few years I've had the machine, though I'm nowhere near a power user. Many people like the scan n cut in particular to save time and money when cutting out stamped images, since metal dies are so expensive.

Just a note if you're looking to make your own cut files: the Canvas software that goes with the scan n cut is not all that great, in my opinion. It's clunky, and with all the extra steps it takes to do simple things, you may as well use Adobe Illustrator to make SVGs. I actually recently splurged and bought a program called Easy Cut Studio. It's so much more intuitive to use and it even exports fcm files for the scan n cut. So far I like it a lot.

All in all, I definitely recommend getting one of these machines.

I have the CM350 model and I think I'm in the minority in that I am not a huge fan... When I first bought it (more than a year ago now I think), I couldn't get it to scan much of anything. I had to add pencil lines around stamped images to get a decent cut and that seemed like more work than what it was worth, or than what I was expecting. I also thought it would be perfect for cutting digital elements that I was using the print and cut feature of my Cameo for. Turns out that didn't work for me either. I ended up putting it on a shelf and it sat there collecting dust until a couple of weeks ago. I'm working on Christmas cards using a LOT of stamped designs, and even though I have the coordinating die for the stamp, I thought it would be a whole lot easier to scan in a full sheet of stamped and coloured images and have the Scan N Cut work its magic. Again I ran into problems with it scanning properly, and these images all have a solid outline! I turned to a Facebook group for help and someone recommended turning down the lights in my craft room. Believe it or not, this gave me much better results! Who would have thought??? So I will admit that I am happy to have it because I have a lot of images to cut and using it is making things go a lot faster! However I do have some issues with it, such as the blade settings changing while cutting ... the dial actually moves and lowers the settings significantly enough to not cut through the paper! Now that I've figured out that this is happening, I keep an eye on the blade before cutting, but it's not ideal. I know some of my issues are user impatience. I really do need to watch some YouTube videos again to figure it out but because I'm so familiar with my Cameo, it's hard to find the motivation to invest the time!

I have the CM350 and use it for cutting out stamped images. I use my Cameo 2 for cutting studio cut files, print and cut and everything else.

I only got the CM350 because it was heavily discounted when a new model came out.

Oh, and I would strongly suggest looking at Amazon for Black Friday pricing. I think I saved about 30% buying it then, and it's only a month away. Be sure you know which bundle you want - they sometimes have special kits for sewers with stuff that papercrafters really don't need or want.

I know, right!! Before I heard this, I pointed a light on it too! I thought more light was better. But a lot of people in the FB group said to do the opposite and low and behold, it worked for me! 

Mine seems to work better with my Ott Light shining on it.

Increasing light seems like it would be easier than lessening the light.

I bought the SDX225 this spring and I am still learning how to use it. I've cut a few files from Etsy stores or the Silhouette store, and use the scan and cut feature with my stamps for the same reason scrapnnana does. I also used it recently with a set of alpha stamps to make a custom title for a page. I will have to try the bright light trick . . . I learned something new. I've also used the files that came with the machine, but don't know if you want to spend what I did. I bought local to support a Quilting shop. I try to do that when I can. I am still learning the software. I also own a 10+ year old KNK machine, that took a long time to learn the ropes and software. It was designed for sign makers etc. I would have to relearn the software and use an old computer that has the installation. It also has a dongle needed to operate which is royal pain. I've not used it for several years, so it is now stored in the closet and my Scan N Cut is on the desk. I like that I can use it with or without the computer!

I love my ScannCut so much. I do power use mine. I have the 350M. I have to admit I was on the fence buying one for years. The blades are proprietary. The mats are expensive. My DH got tired of me being on the fence and bought one for me as a gift. Now, I regret not owning one sooner. It has saved me so much money and made my art so much better. It's been such a positive.

Yes, the blades are proprietary. They last forever. I just changed my blade and I have owned my ScannCut after a year and a half heavy use. I am still using that old blade to cut glitter paper and acetate to perfection. I use my new blade for regular work.

I found out you can overlay a Cricut mat onto the ScannCut mat. You don't have to use a Cricut mat. You can use any mat on the market. It saves so much money. I do have some tutorials how to do that over here if you do a search. I also get better scans with my doctored up mat.

Add me to the low light club for scanning. I get perfect scans when I use low light. I scan everything from items I laminated to intricate stamp cuts. Perfect. The secret is don't get all crazy and start scanning full sheets and expect perfect results. I did that too. I am a computer geek so this was a duh moment for me. My DH said to me one day "Try a smaller area because you are maxxing out the memory!" OMG! Did I feel so dumb, lol. I really should have thought of that. Now, I frame the scan smaller like 6x6 then cut. I get no mistakes. It does take longer but it really isn't that much. I am a patient person. I think that is the other secret to the ScannCut is to be patient. I think that is the secret to all our die cutters.

The one thing I don't like is Print & Cut. There is really no particular reason it is just my standards that are pretty high. I don't want to say "Oh, it does this and I don't like it!" That's one of those things that can get jumped on for a con It really is my thing and not an issue or problem with the machine or software. I prefer to use my Cricut to print and cut since I especially figured out how to P&C at 600DPI with the Cricut.

I also do all my paper piecing with the Cricut. The ScannCut does an amazing job with layered piecing files. I am just use to the Cricut.

I watch a lot of Papered Chef's videos on the SnC. She really summed it in one of her videos. The SnC does one thing well and that is Scan and Cut. For all the other things it is a standard cutter. That is a good thing, not a con. If you already own a cutter you don't need to buy the SnC unless you want to power scan. I think of it as a specialty cutter.

Hope that helps.

scrapnnana It is very simple No hijak needed. It also might help SnC users too. When you go to the Make it- Print dialogue in Design Space instead of sending to printer choose send to PDF. My default is Microsoft to PDF. CDS will send to your default PDF "printer"- Adobe, Microsoft, Safari, etc... Choose PDF. I save it to my desktop but if you don't save files to your desktop choose your preferred save folder.

Open the PDF and print. It is super simple. This will give you a perfect 600DPI copy with the bleed and the registration square. Make sure you save your original layout to DS library.

After I save to PDF I then cancel and go back to my project, hit the Make it button again and choose the option that I already printed. It takes less than 30 seconds to do all of this. Lay my printed file on mat and Cricut remembers everything and cut it to perfection.

The quality is perfect. I made two of the same files one on Design Space and the other on Silhouette Studio and there was no difference in print quality. I took my files to friends and asked them to pick out which one had the best quality. Surprising they picked the Cricut. They didn't know what I was up too or even know anything about Cricut/Silhouette. They thought I was doing one of my quirky art things, lol.

Cricut gave us this option so you could take your PDF's to Staples or your choice printing so you could have professional printing done. They are ok with us doing this process using our home computers and printers.

Hope that helps.