Welcome! From my experience, we are allowed to use other's files, just be sure to give them proper credit. If the file is on their blog, make sure to read their file share notice...many allow you to use the file for personal use, but not to claim as your own or use for profit or submissions, etc. If you have questions, just ask the author - everyone is very friendly!
To use a file, download it to a path on your pc (make sure to note where you are saving it). You will also need to note if it is a SCUT file or SVG. Once you have SCAL open, if it is a SCUT file just do File/Open and then navigate to the file and Open it. If it is a SVG file, import it using the SVG icon button toward the top of the screen.
99.9% of the people allow use for PERSONAL use. And 99.9% ask for a link to their blog and credit if you post a project on your blog using their designs. NO ONE allows you to sell items using their designs without their permission. Everyone is very friendly, but no one is posting their files so that others can make profit from them or to say they are their own. If you always ask permission, you will never go wrong. While there is sharing of files, for the most part, my take is that people are here to help you learn how to use your software so that you can make your own designs. Along the way, they'll help and may post a design or two to help you. But their real goal is to get you working on your own.
Hello!!
Thank you for replying. I think it is going to be a long time before I even attempt to cut using SCAL - I am still getting used to my cricut!!
xxx