Newbie. Beyond confused!

[brandielou]

Hello all!

I've had my Cricut Expressions for over a year. I thought I would just love it. Well, it has been a little much for me to take in. I was not at first told of all these cartridges you had to buy to make the shapes. The actual finding out the pic, pushing a button and cutting is easy. BUT....I'm not good when it gets much more advanced than that, like using the shadow key to make only a fraction, cut it in that color, then come back with another color and use the underline key and it will make the other section of shape you need.


I'm just a shape and letter girl. So when I came across all these Cricut cart. for fonts & shapes, I was fine. But that only worked if they had what I was thinking. So my friends told me about the Cricut Online Design program where you could use the program on your computer to design. Which makes WWWAYYYY more since. But the obvisous drawback was that you can only design with what cartridges you bought.

So then came the SCAL.....to which I was too late for the Cricut version. But I've hear such wonderful, wonderful things about SCAL I'm wondering about selling my Cricut and buying a machine that I could use with SCAL. I like the design studio portion and how I can go copy & past fonts & then use them to print them out. Waaayyyyy easier.


So what cutter, that is SCAL compatible should I be thinking to go with? There's just no need for me to have a $350 cutter sitting under my desk due to the nonfunctionality of using it.


What I wish I could do was have an online program, come across a font I like (ex: twilight), be able to download it to my computer and then design and send to the cutter. Is this impossible?

[Butterfly]

Yes Brandi it is possible.

But there are many things to consider when buying a new one

For sure if you want things the easy way

I would say stay away from the Ecutter, There have been alot of bad reports about it out there. Also there is a big learning curve with the cougar. People right now seem to be seeking the Silhouette line. With that said This is my opinion not intended to offend anyone

I am sure there will be a few more along with more advice, It is a wonderful group here mnay going through the same thing that you are


forgot to say these are the machines scal 3 is compatible with



Works with Craftwell eCraft™
Works with Black Cat Cougar/Lynx™
Works with BossKut Gazelle™
Works with Pazzles Inspiration™
Works with Silhouette SD™
Works with USCutter™
Works with Craft ROBO/Graphtec™ machines including Wishblade™ (Windows Only)

[judyjo]

Well...from what I understand it is not too late for you and your Expression. SCAL is still available from certain retailers in the CD version, which is what I own. Then you would not have to buy another die cutting machine. I also understand that once you own SCAL noone can take it away from you. Moreover, I have heard that support will still be available from Craftedge for the CD version.

I absolutely love using SCAL 2 with my Cricut Expression.........don't know what I would do without it.

Sooooooooo, what do others have to say about this?

[sstehman]

At this point, there should not be any retailers selling SCAL. There were some selling it on e-bay, however, SCAL is non-transferrable and it was quite pricey on the E-bay sites. You might get stuck with software you cannot use if you buy it there.

I don't have a Silhouette, but agree with Butterfly in that there seems to be a lot of good reports -- even in the way it cuts compared to the Cricut.

Here is a link with a comparison chart if you choose to look at it.... http://thatsscrapinc.com/ComparisonChar ... ackCat.htm

Since this question seems to come up quite a bit on what cutter to buy, I'm going to start a thread and perhaps we can get some more input from others on their "actual experiences" using the cutters they have.

[Butterfly]

Judy jo,

I don't know where you are hearing this from. But the official word came down to this forum as soon as they terms were agreed on in the court case.There will only be support for Scal2 until I believe it is the 28 of december. Regardless if it is a down load or a cd install

[Friend]

re-Butterfly...

I have a Cricut Expression.. and purchase SCAL last year.. does this mean that in the future if I need to switch computers and have a problem re-loading the software onto my new computer ... Craft Edge would not be willing to help me at all... even though I purchased the software from them directly! I have made a back up of the software and also of the expression drivers so I think I will be fine... well I hope! (lol)

re-NewBie...

In the future I will not purchase a Cricut again because of the required cartridges and that this software is no longer compatible with it... I have copied a link to a web site that has some information on the different types of cutters available... hope it helps! (they have done testing on various cutters available)
http://svgcuts.com/blog/review/svgcuts- ... -machines/

This community area has so many people willing to answer and help when ever you need it... I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all of those who post often... there are so many like me who don't often post messages... but so much appreciate you sharing all of your wonderful designs... and knowledge!

[Butterfly]

Friend,
I have no idea for sure how it is all going to work as far as support for Scal2 goes but I truly believe that you will have to rely on the knowledge here on the forum to get you through any problems. But there are alot of people here, and I think in the end it will all work out just fine,
But that is my opinion