Does anyone out there have this machine?
Can you follow the basic tutorials for Inkscape and create files that can be read by the Silhouette machine?
My friend has one of those that she ordered from QVC. It's still in the box. I'm trying to talk her into sending it back and getting the Cricut Expression and this software as I'm thinking this is much easier to use.
QK Silhouette machine
QK Silhouette machine
Donna Lee
Saying THANKS to Todd for this amazing software and for this very helpful forum, and to all those who are sharing their time and talents here
Saying THANKS to Todd for this amazing software and for this very helpful forum, and to all those who are sharing their time and talents here
Re: QK Silhouette machine
I have the Silhouette also. I am probably going to sell it now. I would love to figure out how to use the shapes I have already bought and cut them with SCAL program. I would love to find out if there is a way to do this. I love the shapes from Quickutz but don't care so much for the Silhouette.
Jill
Jill
Re: QK Silhouette machine
As far as I know Inkscape tuts work for Silhouette as I'm pretty sure it accepts .dxf files. You can load your .dxf file into your Silhouette software and transform it to .gsd.
Other wise if the Silhouette has the same autotrace function as ROBO you can cut your dies in black paper, scan them into your pc, make a jpeg and then turn the jpeg into a .svg in Inkscape ready to cut via SCAL on a Cricut
If you want to cut your Silhouette shapes on Cricut - open a new page in your software, turn off the grid so you have a blank page,open a shape, make it as big as possible, take a screen shot save as jpeg then trace in Inkscape to make a .svg to cut through SCAL with your Cricut
Susibi
Other wise if the Silhouette has the same autotrace function as ROBO you can cut your dies in black paper, scan them into your pc, make a jpeg and then turn the jpeg into a .svg in Inkscape ready to cut via SCAL on a Cricut
If you want to cut your Silhouette shapes on Cricut - open a new page in your software, turn off the grid so you have a blank page,open a shape, make it as big as possible, take a screen shot save as jpeg then trace in Inkscape to make a .svg to cut through SCAL with your Cricut
Susibi
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simplyparticular
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 2:23 pm
Re: QK Silhouette machine
I had a Silhouette and sold it on eBay to buy the Expression. Both require Inkscape or Illustrator to weld words or design shapes. SCAL requires SVG formatted cuts, Sil requires DXF formatted cuts.
Reasons to go with the Expression:
1. SCAL is way more user-friendly than the Craft Robo software that the Silhouette uses.
2. 12x24 vs. 7.9x11 cutting (the Sil says 8.5, but it only uses 8.5 paper but max width is actually 7.9 wide)
3. Much cheaper to buy replacement mats or blades. (A Sil blade set is ~$45, the mats are $25 for a 2 pack, you have to buy them online and they never go on sale)
4. SCAL has Mac software. The Sil is not Mac compatible.
Reasons to keep the Silhouette:
1. QK downloads are really nice and cut beautifully (but more $)
2. QK has much better CS than Provo Craft.
HTH your friend.
Bree
Reasons to go with the Expression:
1. SCAL is way more user-friendly than the Craft Robo software that the Silhouette uses.
2. 12x24 vs. 7.9x11 cutting (the Sil says 8.5, but it only uses 8.5 paper but max width is actually 7.9 wide)
3. Much cheaper to buy replacement mats or blades. (A Sil blade set is ~$45, the mats are $25 for a 2 pack, you have to buy them online and they never go on sale)
4. SCAL has Mac software. The Sil is not Mac compatible.
Reasons to keep the Silhouette:
1. QK downloads are really nice and cut beautifully (but more $)
2. QK has much better CS than Provo Craft.
HTH your friend.
Bree
Re: QK Silhouette machine
Thanks so much for the info, Bree!
I'm trying to convince her to send the Silhouette back!!
I'm trying to convince her to send the Silhouette back!!
Donna Lee
Saying THANKS to Todd for this amazing software and for this very helpful forum, and to all those who are sharing their time and talents here
Saying THANKS to Todd for this amazing software and for this very helpful forum, and to all those who are sharing their time and talents here
Re: QK Silhouette machine
if I were her, I'd send it back while I can.
I also have a Wishblade, which is the same thing, but if the makers of SCAL keep going with improvements, I won't need my WB & that will be $450 down the drain
I can still do some things with the WB that I can't with SCAL, but I'm hoping they add the features so that I can downsize to the one machine.
I can hand trace files in WB--can't do that with CDS or SCAL. I'd love it if they added tracing tools to SCAL. I know the WB software & like being able to trace what I want with the simplicity of the WB software.
I'll hang on to my WB until I find an alternative to the hand tracing that I just can't do in inkscape.
If I had it to do all over again right now, I'd stick with the Cricut & SCAL!!!
I also have a Wishblade, which is the same thing, but if the makers of SCAL keep going with improvements, I won't need my WB & that will be $450 down the drain
I can still do some things with the WB that I can't with SCAL, but I'm hoping they add the features so that I can downsize to the one machine.
I can hand trace files in WB--can't do that with CDS or SCAL. I'd love it if they added tracing tools to SCAL. I know the WB software & like being able to trace what I want with the simplicity of the WB software.
I'll hang on to my WB until I find an alternative to the hand tracing that I just can't do in inkscape.
If I had it to do all over again right now, I'd stick with the Cricut & SCAL!!!
Re: QK Silhouette machine
with Robo, Wishblade and Silhouette you can do print and cut - it's not possible with Cricut as it has no optical eye system, so no matter what you do to the software the machine isn't geared up for that, you'd have to line up by hand which can be very time consuming as well as hit and miss.
With Inkscape you can hand trace your image using the freehand tool and adjust the nodes - but it is a long process.
Robo software has an autotrace function which allows you to trace jpegs, and Design Master software which lets you design most everything you need , Wishblade has Create and Cut software which also lets you design, Silhouette has similar software with the added bonus (?) of being able to buy QK designs on line .
Cricut has less of a learning curve , is stand alone and now with the advent of Design Studio and SCAL allows the crafter freedom of choice. there are people who aren't able/don't want to create their own designs so the carts are ideal.
It just depends on what you want from your machine, how portable it has to be and if you are OK with graphics software.
Susibi
With Inkscape you can hand trace your image using the freehand tool and adjust the nodes - but it is a long process.
Robo software has an autotrace function which allows you to trace jpegs, and Design Master software which lets you design most everything you need , Wishblade has Create and Cut software which also lets you design, Silhouette has similar software with the added bonus (?) of being able to buy QK designs on line .
Cricut has less of a learning curve , is stand alone and now with the advent of Design Studio and SCAL allows the crafter freedom of choice. there are people who aren't able/don't want to create their own designs so the carts are ideal.
It just depends on what you want from your machine, how portable it has to be and if you are OK with graphics software.
Susibi