Posted on November 30, 2008 - by GL
Sure Cuts a Lot by Craft Edge
Powerful software that turbo charges your Cricut Machine, or rogue software that compromises your Cricut Machine?
This seems to be the debate that goes on over the 3rd party software for the Cricut. There is no question the “Sure Cuts a Lot” software by Craft Edge is very powerful. From researching the product, it appears that you can almost eliminate the need for cartridges as you can just about use any shape or font that you can bring into your PC. Sounds great right.
I think this software puts Provo Craft into a bind. The real income power for Provo Craft is not in the Cricut machines, it is in the cartridges. I would bet most Cricut users easily outspend the price of their machine in cartridges many times over. I believe that the price of the Cricut machines is probably lower because they expect to make up more money over time on the cartridge market.
So now along comes a software program that costs about as much as a cartridge or two, that may end the need for more cartridges. This could throw a big wrench into the entire product model for this flagship machine. At this point I doubt that “Sure Cuts a Lot” is making a big dent into the sales of cartridges, only because most Cricut users are not aware of the software, and many will be wary of using a 3rd party product with their machines.
So how do you use Sure Cuts a Lot? The first step, besides having a Cricut machine, is to update the firmware on your Cricut machine. The recommended way is to download the trial version of the Provo Craft Design Studio software, which will then update the firmware for you. Once this is complete, you no longer need the Design Studio software. Now you install the Sure Cuts a Lot software, and the optional free program call InkScape. With this in place, your options now are almost limitless as far as what you can do with your Cricut machine.
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January 4, 2009
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Tammy Calloway said:
WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IF ANYONE HAS BOTH SURE CUTS A LOT AND DESIGN STUDIO INSTALLED ON THEIR COMPUTER AND USE BOTH. HAVE READ SOME GREAT THINGS ABOUT S.C.L AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OPTION OF USING MY FONTS AND CARTRIDGES
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January 28, 2009
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Sally Cherry said:
Me, too!
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February 6, 2009
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Samantha Bobbitt said:
I have both and SCAL far exceeds DS in ease of use and versitility. I can customize whatever I want from fonts to shapes by combining with inkscape. Cartridges are easier and faster if you are not into learning inkscape(learning curve involved) but isn’t hard- really…
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April 4, 2009
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Leslie said:
I’m planning on buying a cricut expression very soon and am budgeting on what all I can get. I’m a little confused though – why do you need the Design Studio if you have SCAL?
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July 10, 2009
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Lee said:
I know this post is from April of this year, however, in case anyone was still looking for more users of SCAL to add their comment, here’s mine:
I have the Cricut Expression, which I love & I have the SCAL software. I don’t feel the need at all to purchase Design Software (DS). The options that I have by using SCAL/Inkscape are virtually unlimited so I feel that also having DS would be redundant. The only cartridges I own are the ones that came with my Expression, so I’m also saving a bundle by using SCAL. If there are limitations..I’ve not found them yet.
I found that the price of the Cricut Expression was not at all reasonable to be honest. Not for what you get. The machine cost me over 400.00 with taxes, then I purchased extra mats (two sizes), extra regular blades, a heavy duty blade & of course, there are even more options to purchase if I choose to. Is that not enough? I realize the company is in business to make money, but seriously, it’s more than a little pocket change where I come from & that’s just the “starter kit”. After that, if you want some variety, you have to purchase very expensive cartridges. I don’t regret for one moment my decision to use the SCAL software. Provo Craft still made (& will continue to make) profit from me as a customer to replace blades, mats etc.., so I really don’t have a huge amount of pity for their bottom line, which I’m sure is quite healthy.
Just my opinion, but I hope it helps a little if you are still in the planning stages.
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October 2, 2009
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Ann said:
Is Inkscape also necessary for SCAL to work? I have the Expression, still in the box and realy want to be able to create my own things. I had a touch of Inkscape with my CraftRobo and hope that SCAL is much easier than the CR.
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October 10, 2009
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jennifer said:
Has anyone used SCAL with Vista yet?
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October 13, 2009
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My Cricut Buddy said:
Inkscape is not required for SCAL to work – SCAL is a self-contained piece of software. Inkscape allows you to create your own designs which you can import into SCAL, but it is by no means a requirement. With version 2 of SCAL, you can now trace your images within the program and work with image layers – two things that you needed a separate program to do (such as Inkscape). Inkscape is free, by the way, and the majority of SCAL users will end up downloading and using Inkscape also as they work great together. You can download Inkscape at http://www.inkscape.org
SCAL does work with Vista and is fully supported. Craft Edge (the parent company of SCAL) is in the process of fully testing it with Windows 7 to ensure no bugs pop up, but it current does work with Windows 7 as well.
If you have used Design Studio, SCAL works in much the same way. SCAL is quite simple to use but can be a pretty powerful tool if you want it to (which means more creative projects).
Jereme
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November 28, 2009
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jan said:
hi,
I am about to order a cricut expression machine and sure cuts alot, I buy digital papers etc for scrapbooking, will I be able to cut out the embellishments and alphas that come with these downloads?
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January 16, 2010
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Kim said:
Hi! I applique a LOT with my business. I am wondering if anyone has used the cricut machine with SCAL to cut applique letters for embroidery? I am also wanting to integrate it somehow into my embroidery software. Can you save images you create in SCAL into a jpg file to be used in other softwares? Thanks!
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May 8, 2010
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Cristina said:
I’ve got both SCAL & a Inkscape. I think I need help. I thought w/ inkscape you could convert a picture that you got off the internet into what’s needed (SVG), and then open it up in SCAL to cut on the expression. I save an image as an .svg in inkscape, then try to open it up in SCAL and it never shows anything. What am I doing wrong?