I know I won't be popular, but I just downloaded the trial version of SCAL and don't think it is much of a trial. I have several thousand dollars worth of software on my comp since I do graphic design and I always try the trial before committing. It's all just too expensive to take a risk of not liking something. I totally understand the need for a "watermark" of sorts, for sure. But I wonder if it might be better to do something less dramatic. Can the trial be good for only a few days and then expire like some of the big software guys do? The reason I ask is, how do I know SCAL will be for me unless I cut a test peice? Well, the two "watermark" cuts did a number on my mat. I tried to print a couple letters, and the paper cut to bits due to the watermark cuts and the whole mess trashed my mat. Now that peeves me just a bit because they are not cheap and this mat is only 2 days old. Honestly, I still don't know if this software works for my needs because I couldn't cut the letters out to see. I know y'all think it's great, but I don't know if it's great. And it seems to cut deeper than when I cut with a cartridge. (Settings were not changed from my default cartridge cutting.)
Anyway, maybe a better trial version would be beneficial.
I'm sorry you're disappointed with the trial. I do agree that it would be nice to be able to make a couple of real cuts with it rather than only chopped up samples. I kind of felt that way too when I first looked at SCAL in February.
I don't know why the blade cut into your mat more than the cartridge did. I think the only pressure setting is on the Cricut itself. There is a multi-cut setting in SCAL to cut through thicker papers. You have to know about the setting to use it, so you probably didn't do that. If the paper shredded on you and is hard for you to clean, you could use a baby wipe on it to clean it and add a little more stickiness. Many of us here use spray adhesive, Xyron roll adhesives, and others to adhere paper when the mat's stickiness is gone.
You could try larger letters just to see them cut better, after adjusting the blade since it was cutting too deeply for you in SCAL. My only other suggestion to see actual cuts from the software is to look through the designs section of these forums and some of the SVG section to see layouts or cuts other people created.
I really love this program because I can cut any font and in more sizes than what the Cricut size settings will do. I love being able to cut so many different graphics - not only SVG files, but with a some tweaking in Inkscape (a free vector graphics program) I can use jpgs, gifs, many others. Like any program, SCAL can be improved. They have made many improvements and added features since their inception near the first of 2008 or end of 2007 (not sure the date).
Craft Edge really does listen to us and have given us much of what we've asked for, of course not everything, but they do keep adding. The customer service is outstanding. They used to have same day response time, now that they've grown so much they ask for up to 3 days response time. None the less, they will work with you until the problem is resolved.
My last point to you is that Craft Edge allows you to put the software on multiple machines. Many of us have an installation on our desktops and another on a laptop. Not only that, my main hard drive that had SCAL on it crashed not long ago. I am now using a spare drive and needed to install SCAL on it. They helped me with licensing to get that done.
wreed--Thank you for your response. I probably sounded a little cranky, huh? I just tried again and set the pressure on low, so it wouldn't actually cut all the way through the cardstock. Yet it would still give me an idea of what it does. That was much better. It does look very spiffy.
Thanks again,
Tracy
P.S. I still think there should be a warning on the trial version though. My poor mat looks a little sad right now, and I had bits of torn paper stuck to the blade and all up in the machine.
I'm not sure that SCAL does anything different from running the cartridges as far as pressure, I know it does respect the setting of the machine, at least on the Expression, and you can change the pressure setting on the fly when cutting from SCAL... you can hear it beep and change the setting whenever it reads a new segment from the software.
I know that I have been guilty of cranking the pressure and blade depth a little too deep when changing papers... I will be glad when I get all of my vinyl settings figured out and when I get most of my vinyl in the same series from my supplier so that I know where everything should be to score the vinyl without scoring the backer enough to touch the mat.
I don't want to cut up too many 12x24 mats, they aren't available locally and shipping makes them a bit more pricey. I can get by with 3M spray adhesive to make up for non-sticky mats though.
Last edited by dcpyatt on Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
DaveP in Ohio
One of the few men that will admit to owning a Cricut -- and it's an Expression!
I would have though that too, but I set my pressure on low this second time to just score the letters, so I could see how SCAL worked without making the mess it made the first time. The watermarks still cut pretty deep. When I tried the first time with my setting on medium, they cut two gashes in my mat. Maybe it is my sharp, new blade, but I wish I would have known in advance that that was a possibility.
Sorry for your trouble with the watermark. I don't remember the trial doing that to my mat, but it's been awhile since I did that and it was probably the first time I used my Cricut so I didn't know the difference. I'm still using my first mat however and don't seem to have any problems.
Maybe send an email to Todd about the deep cuts and see what he might have to say about it. If you want to, go to Craft Edge's support page and you can send one online.
Decemberroses wrote:I would have though that too, but I set my pressure on low this second time to just score the letters, so I could see how SCAL worked without making the mess it made the first time. The watermarks still cut pretty deep. When I tried the first time with my setting on medium, they cut two gashes in my mat. Maybe it is my sharp, new blade, but I wish I would have known in advance that that was a possibility.
I am not sure the pressure setting on the Cricut still work when using the software. However, you can make adjustments using the settings on the blade holder. I have used that method many times when using DSS and I didn't want a particular part to cut...setting the blade holder at 1 will not cut anything.
Doin the Bug...ain't nothin wrong if you wanna do da Bug all nite long...
Decemberroses wrote: Can the trial be good for only a few days and then expire like some of the big software guys do? The reason I ask is, how do I know SCAL will be for me unless I cut a test peice?
I totally agree with you. I'd much rather see this as a two-day trial than to have the watermark cut. (Although I guess all I did with the trial version was open it to see what it looked like and then I bought it.)
I wonder if they have it this way because of how some people utilize the "virtual machine" on their computers to bypass some software programs' limited time full use trial versions.
I think it would be neat if maybe the trial version ONLY works with the courier font and no shapes. (Use an ugly font so that people aren't satisfied with just the trial version.)
I am not sure the pressure setting on the Cricut still work when using the software.
The pressure on the machine works with the software. I haven't tried changing the pressure on the machine during a cut though others said that does work. I use the highest setting when cutting heavier paper, and dial it down for lighter weights. I find that I can't go too light even on lighter weight papers because it won't cut through.
Honestly, I still don't know if this software works for my needs because I couldn't cut the letters out to see. I know y'all think it's great, but I don't know if it's great. And it seems to cut deeper than when I cut with a cartridge. (Settings were not changed from my default cartridge cutting.)
