Talk to me about Scan and Cut machines please

I have an older model of the ScanNCut. I already had a Silhouette Cameo, which I love, but I have to admit, the ScanNCut is easy-peasy for cutting out your stamped images, as long as you have a solid outline. If not, fill in the gaps with pencil, which can be erased after it’s cut.

The older model that I have is the CM350, and I think that it may have cost me as much as $350, but it was a newer model at the time. It wasn’t cheap, but I have a ton of older stamps that don’t have matching dies. I like that it can stand alone, without having to use the computer, and it can cut out a bunch of stamped images at a time. I bought an extra blade and extra mats.

WARNING: never use Washi tape to hold stamped card stock to your SNC cutting mat. I nearly ruined my machine because the Washi tape came off and stuck over the scanner eye. I did finally succeed in getting it off, but I’ll never make that mistake again.

I came across a review that I wrote on my blog back in May of 2018. I will edit it just a bit, especially since I have grown to like it better than I did at first:

I had unrealistic expectations based on overly positive reviews that never mentioned any of the limitations.

The videos always showed the machine cutting out cute, but simple stamps with a slight border. Since a lot of people prefer that style of stamp, I did not think much about it. A lot of people also like a slight border. I did wonder a little about that one until I saw someone cutting right on the lines. However, those were also simpler, less detailed stamps.

My huge stamp collection is made up of more intricate, detailed stamps than simple ones, and I want them fussy cut right on the line. No border.

Intricate details do not always scan well, so either a lot of the stamped images don't scan the full design, or they don't scan the stamped image at all. Your stamp needs to have a solid outer line, with no break in order to get a cutting line that will cut the entire stamped image, without chopping off parts. You can and should use a pencil to create a solid outer line for these types of stamps. Just erase the pencil line after cutting.

It can see a fully colored image much better than just an uncolored stamped image, especially when there are a lot of details. While coloring, you can fill in any inconvenient little artistic gaps in that outer line. However, I prefer to stamp and cut out a bunch of images at a time, to color in later, once I know what colors I will be using for the project that the stamped image will eventually be part of, so this issue is a bit frustrating to me at times.

One very good thing about the machine, though, is that once you get a good scan of a stamp, you can save it and keep it for later. That comes in handy if you like to cut first, stamp second (my recent tutorial post). I did a blog post awhile back with that title, although I was using dies, not an electronic cutter.

If you like simple, cute stamps that have a simple outline, the machine works great. If you like a border, many of the more intricate stamps will scan and cut fine, too, just not if you want to fussy cut on the line. If you stamp and color first, this machine works well, as long as your colors are dark enough for the machine to see them.

Had I known these things before, I probably would not have bought the machine. It’s a few extra steps to create stamp blanks in my Silhouette Cameo, but I can do up multiple blanks easily, along with a template, then use my stamp platform to stamp them all later. However, if I am only doing one card, and have colored the stamp, this machine cuts it out quickly and easily. I do wish there were more flexibility in the amount of white border around the stamp when using my ScanNCut. It’s either cut on the outside line, have a 4 mm border, or larger border. I have more control in Silhouette for the amount of border.

I definitely use the on screen editing. For one thing, you can see if the machine sees a gap in your outline that you don’t, so you can deselect that image, preventing it from being cut to ribbons.

That reminds me. Lighting in your craft room makes a difference sometimes in how it will cut.

You can wash and re-sticky the mats with Zig Two way glue, just like Silhouette mats.

I have the 350 and paid something like $300 for it when it was the new model. I justified that I would save that much easily if I didn’t buy dies but eventually I realized I like the look of die cuts better (no sharp edge) and I don’t especially enjoy coloring and cutting. I don’t use it more than a few times a year and I’m considering selling it.

I’m not sure about the on-screen editing feature unless that means you have to use the Canvas software to do the tweaking. I wouldn’t like that. The screen on mine is small and hard to see but being able to do the cutting without hooking up to a computer was one of the selling points for me.

Canvas is not intuitive at all, and I’ve struggled to do anything besides cutting out stamps or basic shapes. I never look at the included shapes - I’ve used the hearts for one project where I cut up paint chip calendar pages. But more recently I forgot that I could use the machine instead of buying dies.

As scrapnnana said there isn’t much flexibility for border size. It either cuts on the line, or with a small halo/border or a big border. I’ll link an example from Flickr later - my iPad is glitching right now. I like the small 4mm border size.

I got a stash of cheap SnC mats from a store that was closing down but I’ve used the same 2 or 3 for years (infrequently). I think I have a couple unopened. I’ve never tried off brand mats.

It’s a useful gadget but also takes some commitment to figuring it out, especially using the canvas workspace. I don’t have that kind of patience. I’ve only bought a couple of files to cut. The first two were very easy and made nice Xmas and Easter cards but didn’t really feel very crafty/satisfying to me. The Doodlebug one I got recently was a complete bust - I got it into the canvas workspace but had trouble figuring out how to separate all the bits to cut in different colors, it was such a headache, the whole thing just felt like too much trouble so I gave up.

The more I reflect on the machine the more I realize I don’t like it even though my brain says it’s a useful tool. I’m not a good salesperson for it but I’m pretty sure I will sell mine.

I have the 350 too. It was worth the purchase for me because I like to stamp and Copic color images.

I’ve never used any of their images or designed my own.

When my mat gets unsticky, I tack my images down with a removable dot runner. I try and be careful to not get adhesive on the outline where the blade cuts, just to keep it from getting gummed up.

Yes, I think most dies probably cut a similar border although I've never done a direct comparison. I think you can run a bone folder over the sharp edge to smooth it a little but it's never as nice as a die. It's also harder to get interior cuts and I still like to get dies that include stitching and embossed details. I also end up with dies in kits and bundles and when I forget that I have a cutting machine... If I could have the machine set up all the time I might be better about using it - that might play a role in deciding whether to invest or not.

This is the main reason I haven't purchased a SnC. I have a Cameo 3, but it's not located in a place that I can just turn it on and use, so it doesn't get used. I know that I would use (or rather, not use) the SnC the same way if I had one now. However, in the next iteration of a crafty space I intend to have space for machines to be usable with only turning on the power button.


I'd like to get the SDX125E model for the larger display screen after we move. MichyM If you haven't gotten one by then, you're welcome to come over and give it a test drive.