scrapnnana
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Post by scrapnnana on Mar 22, 2018 14:32:49 GMT
If so, how do you like it?
I haven't seen you here for awhile, so I am assuming you've been busy giving the machine a workout.
If so, I would love to hear your review, and I am probably not the only one.
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nicolep
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Post by nicolep on Mar 22, 2018 19:59:36 GMT
@amayalylac I am going to tag her here too because I don't think it tags when the member's name is in the post title.  I am curious to know also. She seems super well-versed and I'd love to hear her take on it! |
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scrapnnana
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Post by scrapnnana on Mar 22, 2018 21:39:14 GMT
Thanks, nicolep!
I've assumed that she has been focused on learning everything she can do with it, since we haven't seen her here for awhile. I would love to know how she likes it.
I've been busy with wedding stuff and haven't had a lot of time to play around with mine much lately.
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Deleted
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Jun 1, 2024 23:33:54 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2018 10:02:00 GMT
I did get the ScannCut!!!! This is the first night I have felt like checking in. I got my ScannCut and then I got sick and life got crazy. DH & I are thinking of selling our home or completely remodeling it. We have been working on that. I love the machine so much. I still in such shock the accuracy I get when I scan in my stamped images & printables. I never got that kind of accuracy on the Cameo. The machine is just so lovely and simple to use. I think it is easier than the Cricut to use. I know the Cricut promotes their machine as the easiest to use. In all my years of die cutting and the machines I worked with. I think the ScannCut is the easiest I have used so far. I set down with all the info they sent in the box. I just followed that. I turned off knowing what I know about machines and read the manuals instead. The manuals just made it so easy to learn. I really wish I didn't wait so long to get the machine. I haven't tried it out with fabric yet. It has become my main cutting machine. I keep buying scrapbook paper so I can cut out images, lol. Everyone knows the reason I was so hesitant was the expensive consumables and the flimsiness of the mats. I did buy extra blades & waiting for another mat. I am still gulping about how expensive the consumables are. The blade itself seems very sturdy. I have no issues so far. I don't like the mats. I do understand why they are so flimsy now. Since the scanner is at the bottom of the machine. The mats need to be flimsy to read what is being scanned. I have not lost stickiness yet. I don't know why. I really don't. I guess I got the newer mats or the mats like me. I don't know, lol. It is a mystery. I was worried about the mat curse of losing stickiness after four cuts. I do clean my mat with a baby wipe after every cutting session. Maybe, that could be it. I did check the scanner out already. It is very high quality. IBM designed the onboard software. For some odd reason the software seems like it is running on Microsfot Vista. I did read that in one of the manuals. When I saw the software for the first time I am like this is IBM coding and Vista before I saw it in the manual, lol I do think that makes the onboard software more stable. The online software- I did check it out. I didn't really delve into it. I can say it doesn't drive me as batty as Cricut Design Space. Poor Cricut I feel like I am bashing them. I am not. Cricut blabs constantly how easy the software is to use. No, I think Brother won that one too. I know we were talking about stamped images and accuracy. I did a black stamped image for my first try. I told to read it as black and white. It didn't read correctly. I switched to colors and got a perfect read. When I switched to the color it cut out perfectly. I cut out a House Mouse. It cut around the edge of the fur. There is a slight left offset on the cuts. I haven't calibrated yet because I was sick and honestly it doesn't bother me. Gale is right about the calibration. I knew the Cameo would become redundant for me if I did get the ScannCut. I did retire my Cameo. I kept my Cricut. I don't really want to cut heavy materials on the ScannCut. This machine I am actually a little more protective of than my other machines. I use my Cricut to cut heavy materials. I will be upgrading to the Cricut Maker. I did hear a rumor that 2019 we might see an influx of new machines or new features for our machines. I am kind of playing a waiting game on the Maker. |
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Post by peasapie on Mar 23, 2018 17:04:06 GMT
I also have the Scan n Cut and I completely agree with you. It's super easy to use and eliminates the need to buy stamp/die sets. The mats - I have now gone through two because I was cutting things that were glittery and the glitter came off and stuck to the mat. I'm trying to find out if there is a way to clean them or fix them so they adhere again. I don't know how to cut fabric, but I'm thinking that it will also affect the adhesive properties of the mat.
But that is really my only issue. Sometimes I get junk mail that has interesting shapes or images that I scan and cut and use the outline over and over.
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Deleted
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Jun 1, 2024 23:33:54 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2018 9:02:11 GMT
peasapie Ooooh junk mail!!!! I love that idea. Thank you for sharing. That is the exact reason I am holding on to my Cricut. I love, love glitter paper. I cut a lot of glitter paper. I keep having horror thoughts of that glitter all over my ScannCut mat. I know it will happen. Then the blade gets chipped because of glitter. That happens too. You know you can have the smoothest glitter paper in the world and then get that nick. ScannCut blades and mats are too pricey for me to feel comfortable cutting certain materials. I know a lot of people probably feel very comfortable cutting those materials. I am a little shy about it right now. My Cricut blades I can get 4/$12. I had to pay $12 for one ScannCut blade. Cricut is the winner for glitter paper, lol. You can clean and restick your ScannCut mats. Lots of great tutorials showing you how to clean and restick your mats. Some use GooGone, others use Windex. Some people scrape their glue off their mats and then restick. They use quilt basting spray, Aleenes Tack it Over and Over or ZigWay glue pens to retack their mats. Peek at YouTube for how to restick your mats. I think Julie has a tutorial too that you could probably find on Brother's website. Cutting Fabric- This is why I bought the machine. The machine was originally made for quilter's. I am not a quilter. I make doll clothing and I like to make fabric embellishments like bows, flowers, etc... You use an interfacing like Heat n Bond on your fabric. Then you can cut. It is very easy and won't hurt your mat. Since the interfacing is just paper, essentially. What is so beautiful about the ScannCut for fabric is that you can cut images out of fabric. For example if you bought fabric with hearts you can scan the fabric in and it will cut out all the hearts. All the die cutters on the market handle fabric very well. I wanted something a little more advanced. That's why I want the Cricut Maker too because I can do different things with fabric without interfacing. I am going to be testing out the fabric on the ScannCut, hopefully soon. I have a pile of fabric waiting to be cut. My home is chaos right now trying to decide if we are staying and remodeling from ground up or moving.
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Post by peasapie on Mar 24, 2018 12:24:31 GMT
Thank you so much, @amayalylac! I just looked up those tutorials about cleaning the mat and ordered the repositionable spray. I have goo be gone, so I’ll try the cleaning part today.
My husband even uses my scan n cut. He wanted to make little decals for his car, so he got self-adhesive vinyl and scanned a Marine Corps logo, resized it, and then cut hs logo. It turned out perfect.
I will try to fabric using Heat n Bond backing. What a great idea! Did you ever see a Julie Fei Fen Balzer’s tutorials for the Scan n Cut? She’s so clever and shows lots of things to do with her machine.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
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Post by scrapnnana on Mar 24, 2018 14:47:36 GMT
Thank you for giving us your thoughts, amayalylac!
I haven't had much time to play with mine, but I really need to sit down and read the info on it more thoroughly. Like you, I have a lot going on in my life. We are preparing the decorations for a family wedding reception. However, that is a lot simpler than what you are doing.
I went through both home remodeling and a move less than two years ago, and I still occasionally have a nightmare that we are still remodeling or packing to move. I hope I neverr have to do either ever again. I don't envy your situation, but I hope it goes well.
The one issue that I am having is that it seems to see some stamps in a cluster, but not all, and I can't figure out why. I try black and white scanning, color scanning, and switching back, and some just do not scan. They are stamped in colored ink, not black, but some of the stamps are scanning fine, even though they are the same color and design as the ones that are not scanning right.
I definitely need to sit down with the manual and info on the machine. I mostly watched videos. It is an easy machine to use. I just need to figure out why some identical stamped images are scanning while others are not.
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Post by moraie on Mar 24, 2018 17:02:32 GMT
Everyone knows the reason I was so hesitant was the expensive consumables and the flimsiness of the mats. I did buy extra blades & waiting for another mat. I am still gulping about how expensive the consumables are. The blade itself seems very sturdy. I have no issues so far. I don't like the mats. I do understand why they are so flimsy now. Since the scanner is at the bottom of the machine. The mats need to be flimsy to read what is being scanned. I have not lost stickiness yet. I don't know why. I really don't. I guess I got the newer mats or the mats like me. I don't know, lol. It is a mystery. I was worried about the mat curse of losing stickiness after four cuts. I do clean my mat with a baby wipe after every cutting session. Maybe, that could be it. I'm guessing you got the 2? What mat are you using? I love the mats. I'm pretty sure mine are the newer style. They keep their stick forever and seem thicker than my Cameo mats. They also don't flex as much, so I don't accidentally bend my my paper, which I'm loving. I'm having a lot better luck keeping the blade at the right depth, too. I feel the exact same way about the machine. It was a total game changer, and my Cameo had been on my desk since the day I bought my first one, but I gave it's place of honor to the Scan n Cut 2 after about 2 days. Last night I couldn't sleep, and I was thinking about some cards and making notes to work from later, and every one of them has a different application for the Scan n Cut. On the glitter, I found I could reduce my mess a bit by using pieces that were closely sized to what I was cutting, and I cover my mat except right under my shape with whatever kitchen stuff I have handy--parchment paper, waxed paper or press n seal. The loose glitter that normally comes loose all over is contained to a tiny spot, and I release my shape upside down so any loose glitter falls to my desk or floor instead of the mat. It's not perfect, but it helps. I'm going off now to hunt up the tutorials on better ways to clean my mat. If you find any tutorials that are particularly helpful, I'd love a links. |
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scrapnnana
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Posts: 6,177
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Post by scrapnnana on Mar 24, 2018 19:58:32 GMT
Those of you who are getting great results and love your Scan N Cut to the point you are getting rid of other cutters, please tell me what you love so much about it. I am still a novice, with no time for the next few weeks to devote to really delving into it, but I want to know more.
What is the software like? How capable is it? How easy is it to create your own designs and alter designs? If you have used Silhouette software, how does it compare?
If you use it to cut out stamped images, do you always color them first? Are you getting good results with cutting stamps that need to be cut both inside and out? What about highly detailed stamps, or stamps that do not have cutting lines that are clear enough for the scanner? (That seems to be one of my biggest issues right now.)
What other types of projects are you using your Scan N Cut for? If you have future projects that you plan to do but have not yet tried, why do you think it is the only machine you need? Does it really do everything you need it to do?
I love it when it scans and cuts the way I expect it to, but it doesn't always, so I can't say I love it as much as I'd hoped at this point. Is it because I am still a novice without time to devote to learning more about it? I know that would make a difference, but I am also wondering if I really need to learn to use the software. I have had to learn various graphic software programs, and I am really good with the Silhouette software. I know I can learn this one if I need to, but I really would rather not have to learn to use the Scan N Cut software, too. I bought it to scan and cut stamped images without being connected to a computer, but my somewhat mixed results are making me wonder if I need to use their software for the best results.
I am a little frustrated right now. I may just have had unrealistic expectations. I also have a lot of stamps that are more complex and detailed, sometimes without complete cutting lines. I hate coloring, and the methods I use to color flowers quickly (such as sponge daubers) are better for stamped images that have been previously cut out. If I color first, because the daubers do not stay completely in the lines, it messes up the scan and the cut. Yes, I can use my Copics, but sometimes I prefer the look the sponge daubers give me.
Because I am really adept at using the Silhouette, I can't see this machine ever replacing my Cameo, but it sounds like most of you who own the Scan N Cut don't feel a need for any other machine. Can you explain why?
I'm sorry to ask so many questions. Don't feel you have to answer every one. Just help me see what I appear to be missing, please.
I do want to love this machine.
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Post by freeatlast on Mar 24, 2018 20:46:48 GMT
scrapnnana, I'll address some of your questions. I am only using the SNC2 to cut out stamped images. 95% of the time the images are just stamped in a Copic friendly black ink. I guess I do it in this order because I don't want to waste the time coloring them in if I have a SNC malfunction! Most of the images I cut are pretty simple (think Lawn Fawn, MFT or Avery Elle). I do have to watch the images to make sure they are totally connected before trying to cut them. For instance, I was trying to cut a Studio Calico stamp of a flower bunch. At the bottom, the stems were not connected and the SNC got confused. Once I drew a pencil line connecting them across the bottom, it cut just like it was supposed to/I wanted it to. I simply erased the line after cutting. I've seen the images you are cutting and they are way more detailed than mine. I think you are also cutting with no border? I always choose a .4 border. From the little I've played around with it, the color of the ink may make a difference. Or the SNC may need a fairly high contrast between the ink and the paper colors to see everything. Black ink on white paper seems to recognize and cut with no problem. Kraft or light brown ink on white? I've had mixed results. I've not tried anything complex yet (for me, this would be inside cuts like the inside of a basket handle). But I have 3 friends who have just bought a SNC so I'm sure one of them will figure it out and give me the step-by-step. Looking forward to hearing others' experiences. There's much to learn.
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scrapnnana
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Post by scrapnnana on Mar 24, 2018 22:22:46 GMT
Thank you, freeatlast. Yes, I am cutting with no border. I also have gotten good results if I color first with Copics, or draw a pencil line.
I bought this machine so I could stop buying dies, but I was frustrated enough that I am seriously thinking of buying more dies to go with some stamps that are having issues. I can't figure out why they are having issues.
I wanted to stamp them in a vividly colored ink on white paper, then color them with sponge daubers after cutting them out. I wanted a specific look. Some scanned and cut fine, while others that looked exactly the same to me, did not scan, so they would not cut. They were groups of flowers, all separate but all the same, for making 3D flowers. Only half the flowers scanned and cut. Some parts showed up and would have cut the flower blossom apart.
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Deleted
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Jun 1, 2024 23:33:54 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2018 7:56:46 GMT
scrapnnana Congrats to the soon to be married couple. Weddings are crazy and stressful. Thank you about the remodel. We decided tonight not to move but do the huge remodel instead. We have been remodeling but are going to do some harder work on the home like adding garages, workshops, wrap around porch, greenhouse. My DH does this professionally. I am excited and apprehensive. Least, I know everyone who will be doing the remodeling since my DH has worked with all these people for the last two decades. The manual does help a lot. It isn't a big manual but very informative. I noticed in a lot of videos they are giving opposite advice than what is in the manual. I am all for playing with our machines and breaking rules. Some of the YT video advice is damaging the machines. I am not one for warranties or fretting about my electronics. This is one of the rare times I feel like the videos are actually detrimental. I am not talking about like Julie's videos or other Brother affiliates but just the normal girls making video's. I did find a lot of Russian videos that had great advice. They are in Russian. That is not very helpful if you don't know Russian. I think we are both going to side eye the software. We both use advanced software. I can say Canvas is better than Design Space and a lot more stable. It is plain, with no bells and whistles. I am only going to use it for conversion. I heard SCAL3 can convert too. I knew if I got the ScannCut my Cameo would be redundant. I use my Cameo mainly for Print & Cut and to make stickers. That is the only reason why the ScannCut is replacing my Cameo. I am still keeping my Cameo just packing it away. DH & I keep electronics for a least a year until we decide it is no longer needed. We just went through our box tonight and got rid of a ton of stuff. I do like my Cricut. I just not enamored with it. Honestly, it is only because the software sucks for my needs. I know I am hard on the software. I don't want to make anyone feel bad that loves the software. Cricut hasn't lied about the software. They are pretty transparent when they say this is what it does and why they choose to do so. It is good software for many. Just not for the way I create. I would replace my Cricut with the ScannCut if I didn't have a need to cut heavier materials. I know the ScannCut can cut heavier materials. Blades & Mats are cheaper for the Cricut. I am more willing to cut things I normally wouldn't because I know if I chip a blade on the Cricut I can replace another one affordably. moraie I got the CM350 is that the 2? I am using the Standard mat. I think I got the new mats too. My mats compared to the Cricut mats are flimsy but seem sturdier than the ScannCut mats I have seen on videos. They are definitely thicker than the Cameo mats. I know when I got the mats I thought "Of course their flimsy the scanner is on the bottom." "They are thicker than the Cameo mats." "Maybe I am missing something with the complaints?" Those Cameo mats need to be outlawed. My ScannCut mats don't flex either. I have seen videos where the mats are flexing all over the place. Maybe, we both lucked out or got the new versions.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,177
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Post by scrapnnana on Mar 25, 2018 21:38:18 GMT
Thank you, amayalylac, for explaining. I understand better why the Cameo would be redundant for you, since you use yours differently than I do. And yes, software matters. I'm sure that I could handle the new software. I'm just being a stick-in-the-mud. After the wedding, I should have more time to just sit down, read the manual, and experiment more with the Scan N Cut.
I hope your remodeling goes quickly and well!
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,177
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Post by scrapnnana on Mar 27, 2018 3:33:56 GMT
I spent a little more time last night and today using my Scan N Cut. I used black ink on white cardstock and made sure it was a good image. Even the detailed curly vines cut well. The problems seem to be mainly if I am stamping with a colored ink, such as pink ink on white cardstock, even though the pink ink was pretty clear. It doesn't always see the stamped images when I have used colored ink, unless the image is fully colored wih Copics before scanning and cutting. I realized that when I want to use a colored ink, I can use the "Cut First, Stamp Second" technique described in the Avery Elle die thread. I will try to link it for those who may not have read it. Counting UP from the bottom of the 1st page, it is the 8th post up. Stamp First, Cut Second technique |
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