New here and dumb newbie question

[PoledraDog]

Hi all!

I just recently bought a Cricut Expressions and SCAL. I've wanted a Cricut for a while, but never would buy one because I couldn't see buying all the cartridges when I know darn well the capability is there to run it from the computer (I'm a tech geek ). So I was thrilled when I found out about SCAL.

Ok, so I've done a couple of cuts, but there's something I must be missing. Suppose I have a cutout, and I also want to do a shadow of that. I noticed a lot of the cut files posted have both the original shape and the shadow. How do you print just the shape or just the shadow? Are you doing a "save as" for each piece, or is there some way of cutting only part of the cut file and I'm just missing it? Sorry to sound like such a newbie!

[raewyn64]

I do one of two things.
Either I save the file with everything on it and then delete the shaow item (don't save it!) then cut out the ordinary piece. Then close the file down (don't save) reopen it again and delete the ordinaray pieces and cut the shadow.
Or else I work out where the two pieces are going to sit on my mat and put two different peices of cardstock or paper on the mat in the same places as the image shows me in SCAL and cut everything in one hit.

Hope that makes sense -
Raewyn

[PoledraDog]

Yes, that makes sense. I think I got confused at some of the sample cut files having everything in one file, but I guess it makes sense that it would be less confusing to publish things that way.

And I do understand about using the 2 different papers during one cut. So far I just haven't been comfortable enough with what I was doing to want to cut out everything. I cut out a title for a scrapbook page the other day and had to play with the letters to get them to a size that looked good on the page...I didn't want to cut the shadows until I knew I had the letters right. I know that's all something that will come with practice!

[raewyn64]

Just have a lot of scrap paper around and play - and enjoy because these are so much fun.
SCAL has actually got me using my Cricut cartridges more as I have been more inventive using SCAL and so have found new ways to use my cricut cartridges - so the best of both worlds.
Raewyn

[PoledraDog]

yes, it's getting easier to play now that my mat has gotten un-sticky enough that all my paper doesn't bond to the mat (I had one of the super-sticky mats).

I can see myself buying more Cricut cartridges, but I do love knowing that I won't have to buy a cartridge because there is one shape I just have to have...I can probably find *something* on the internet if I want a particular shape!

[raewyn64]

I guess the only negative is that you can't mix and match SCAL and cricut cartridges - well not easily. That is a bit of a shame - you either make your design in one or the other.
But it isn't the end of the world!