Sure Cuts A Lot For A Cricut Expression
Sep 02, 2016 I have a cricut expression (bought used) and I’ve been reading everywhere that the SCAL2 can be pirated from ebay and etsy. When I go to the Sure Cuts A Lot website and look to download the SCAL2, its not available. Sep 2, 2016 - We received this question by email from Michelle: 'How do I get SCAL to work with my Cricut Explore? Is it true that the software is no longer.
Here is the link to the SURE CUTS A LOT (SCAL) web site:will give you ALL the details and overview that you will need for this software. I also recommend you get INKSCAPE (simple drawing program) to help you learn how to create SVG files so all of your own new designs can be converted to SVG files and imported into SCAL for cutting on your CRICUT:can have Cricut Design Studio (DS) and SCAL on the same machine. You must not upgrade your DS software to the latest because it will require you to upgrade your firmware to v1.3 for BabyBug and 2.3 for Expression (Cricut is not playing fair now - monopoly attempt? Realize they should have listened to the customer a long time ago?). You must have v1.1 and 2.1 for SCAL to work. You can downgrade your DS and firmware with an old trial version of software. This DOES NOT hurt your Cricut - I just downgraded mine so I could start using SCAL.
This does not 'blow up' your Cricut or hurt it in any way! Sweet: Why spend the $200+ on the Silouhette if you already own a Cricut Expression? The Cricut cuts 12x12 or 12x24 and the QS cuts 8.5x11? Yes, the BabyBug is 6x12, but why spend new money on hardware, the mats for QS are much more expensive, QS spare blades cost more, and the cost of QS 'CD's (cartridges)' cost more money than the Cricut accessories? SCAL lets you use anything you can convert to SVG and there are tons of free clip art images that have free royalty access on many web sites.
Plus there is a community of SCAL users that are starting to upload their designs for free use by anyone. Well thanks Chrissy, because of you I have been on a spending spree! I have now purchased the SCAL program and for 54.99! Downloaded the free inkscapes, and the link Chrissy has for free and for a total of under 300.00 I have the cricut expressions that will do everything I need it to do.
(thank goodness I didnt buy the wishblade-I knew I was holding out for a reason) And I can still use cartridges and take it with me if I want to.So I am all set up on my laptop except I need the USB cable! I wanted to try it tonight with one of the patterns I just purchased.Michelle.
Thanks guys for the help!justchknout: Those are excellent points and I didn't want to have to pay even more $$ for another machine!Lori: You seem to prefer the Silhouette? And, sorry for my ignorance, but what does HTH mean!?!?Michelle - sounds like you were on the fence too - you are happy with the scal?
I was afraid because I was hearing all kinds of things that it would not work lately because of certain updates?Anyways, I do not have the extra Cricut software - that is still available for a free trial download to update firmware? Total war warhammer faction tier list. And that should work fine as long as I don't 'update' it?
Sure Cuts A Lot For A Cricut Expression
Sweet:The DS Software available at the link posted in Reply # 41 will not update you to v2.3 - it is the version for 2.1. It just does not have the latest new Cricut Solution cartridges or the future ones coming out in October.
The updates that are now on the CRICUT web site update you to v2.3 - they want to tease you or hook you in to getting the new cartridges or keep buying theirs if you want to use them in Cricut DS. It is also a way that Cricut is trying to eliminate SCAL as a competitor in the die cut/scrapbook market.You can use an older version of DS and use the latest cartridges (just not within designs from the latest of DS from Cricut).You would not need DS if you are now creating your own designs without the Cricut cartridges. THIS DOES NOT HURT YOUR CRICUT TO DO IT THIS WAY. SCAL lets you use all the True Type fonts you want that are loaded to your computer without having to go through any other software package - it is only when you want to add graphics to your True Type Fonts is when you need to use INKSCAPE and then import the image into SCAL.The little time and effort you take to learn both applications will in the long run save you tons of money over buying new cartridges or other vendors die cutting machines (and accessories).You can experiment with downgrading your machine and trying SCAL. If you don't like it, then just load the latest DS and upgrade your firmware back to v2.3. Going back and forth DOES NOT hurt your Cricut.
Just settle on one and be patient while you learn the ways of SCAL. It DOES pay off in the long run if you put a little bit of effort into learning the flexibility of this product.Being crative under your terms as a consumer first is the RIGHT WAY to do scrapbooking business - Cricut will learn the hard way if they don't try and work with their current customer base. We will all end up moving to the WISHBLADE or SILOHOUTTE if they cut us off from our CRICUT investments. Robertstark:It is not possible to import your own designs into Design Studio - otherwise we would not need 'Sure Cuts A Lot' and 'Inkscape'.
The only thing you can 'OPEN' into Design Studio are other files created by other users that created files orginally in Design Studio. These designs require the cartridge purchased from Cricut because you can only use the creation or item designed by Cricut.
Having a Cricut Jukebox is a good idea if these designs use multiple cartridges.You can find some message boards and blogs that have designs created by other Cricut users that they will let you have for free - start by going to the message boards on the www.cricut.com web site.Not allowing us to design our own die cuts within DS is the reason why we all are using SCAL and Inkscape AND the big reason we all are having monopoly and competitive issues with Provocraft (Cricut)in how we need to be creative with our investments in our current Cricut cutters. NOW I AM confused!! I thought we couldn't (Cricut users) use SCAL now since the dumb up-date?? The thing is.I don't know which version my DS is. I know I got it somewhere maybe around June but didn't install it til later.
DH did it cuz he wanted a 'lookie-See' at it but he could have been a little bored that day too, LOL!Anyway, when did Cricut up-date the firmware??, does anyone know? I know it's possible to back-date the firmware but don't you have to uninstall it to back-date it?
AND, doesn't this mean you would be going back and forth between new and old versions of DS?I didn't know it was possible to import from Inkscape! Inkcsape requires converting to SVG files, correct?Jackie.