Help, can't get SCAL to cut...

[kesa1053]

I have a new laptop with Vista. I have scal, and downloaded it.

I have tried to cut an image....several times now and I get a little box up that first says starting connection, then goes to checking mat and then an error comes up.

I have been able to use my wishblade since the minute I plugged it in, but I am VERY frustrated with this machine.

Any suggestions???

[GrammyKrausse]

Hello:
You might want to geive Todd a quick email. I'm not for sure but I thought SCAL only works with Cricut. Unsure about Wishblade?
Grammy

[kesa1053]

I'm sorry I must have been in a hurry and not written it correctly. I am using my cricut expressions - I just meant it seems so difficult compared to my wishblade.

[stargazer20]

what does the error say?

also have you updated your firmware?

[cadguru]

I seem to get this error a lot also especially when I import an SVG into SCAL and then make a copy of it to do more than one at a time. The first time it cuts fine but if I load another sheet and try to cut again it freezes. I have to power off the Cricut and unplug and plug back in the USB cable and restart SCAL and then it all works again. I have gotten into a habit of shutting the machine off and turning it back on when I am doing those types of cuts. Very inconsistent problem though with no error message. I am running the newest firmware as well but not Vista, - XP through Fusion (on a Mac).

[MelindaFord]

Lately I have been having the same problem. But only when I am using a certain svg file that I created using shapes in inkscape. I thought I fixed it by resaving it in inkscape after making sure I did the bitmap tracing, but it doesn't work! Mine comes up with an error that says there is a problem and scal needs to close. I'm so mad!!! I'm working on a toolbox for Father's Day and I can't get the handle to cut anymore! I did it once, and now it won't cut again! Grrrrr. Would love some help on this if anyone knows how to fix it!!

[firstcut]

Melinda,
I am not familiar with this particular problem, but I have put together a troubleshooting guide that might have some clues in it. It is mostly for blank svgs, but can also explain other squirrely behavior involving a particular svg file.

A Guide to troubleshooting blank SVGs

in Inkscape
Check the Outline View by selecting View>Display mode>Outline
to see if it looks like what you want to cut

If the Outline View does not show as expected then...
If you imported a bitmap (jpg, png, bmp, gif, etc.) did you autotrace it?
If not, select it, then Path>Trace Bitmap
If you autotraced, did you delete the bitmap version, and not the vector version. (You will see a red x in outline mode if you accidently deleted the vector copy)
Did you convert text into objects?
If not, select text then Path>Object to Path


If the Outline View does show as expected
then
Have you ungrouped everything?
If not then select all then Object>Ungroup repeatedly until the message at bottom of screen says there are no objects to ungroup.
(You can use Path>Combine but SCAL doesn't like Grouping)

If none of that works then
-Double check that the file you imported was really an SVG. Check this (and prevent future occurences) by not selecting "All Files" in the file type menu of the Import dialog box.
-Make sure all objects are within the page boundaries. (Press 4 or View>Zoom>Drawing to check for stray objects or parts of the image that extend past the page boundaries.)
-Make sure that all shapes are converted to paths (select each shape, then Path>Object to Path)
-Make sure the image is made up of closed paths, Inkscape can not cut lines, per se.
-Resave the document as Plain SVG (as opposed to Inkscape SVG)
-Select all, then copy, then open a new document and paste.
-Select all then change the colors (click the color bar at the bottom of the screen).