Craft Edge

I am looking to offer svg files or SCAL for the SCA software.

If I buy the software do I have to have a number from a machine? I already own two personal cutters and my husband would have a fit to see another. However, if I could just buy the software as a stand-alone. I would love to be able to offer the correct file type for additional users.

I have read in other places that the svg files for some are not importing correctly. This is my concern in offering SVG files and not being able to check the quality of the file. I create in Illustrator and can export from there. Does anyone have any other information or does there not seem to be a problem importing? My files can be pretty detailed.

Also, wonderful tutorials being made here for Inkscape. There are also some at paperthreads.com forum for those ready to go. I know when I am trying new software I want to know how to do it all right away!

Well thank you for the input and I am glad to have stumbled across this forum when trying to understand an additional cutter.

Enjoy!
Chris
http://visualdesignsbychris.blogspot.com/

You don't need a machine to register or use the software. I use SCAL at work and it is not connected to a machine (I am sure I would be fired it I bought my Cricut here and decided to start cutting). I use it to see how my design will look before I post it. I basically know (from experience) what will cut.

Are you familiar with the Cricut? I checked your site and the difference between the Cricut and the other cutters is that Cricut designs have to be done in layers. The other files can be fully created, printed and then cut. Cricut files have to be cut in layers and then glued together.

I have a Klik n Kut and a Craft Robo and I test cut all my files on one or the other. So I wouldn't be able to test cut on the Cricuit. But looking at the file within the program would give me some confidence that it imported correctly. However, the program doesn't have a problem importing at all or you don't need to tweak once you get it there. Then I will just start offering the svg form now.

what are your thoughts on importing?

Thanks for the help
Enjoy!
Chris
http://visualdesignsbychris.blogspot.com/

I was so excited to have someone respond so quickly ( I am a software addict) I didn't respond to the last paragraph.

I create most of my files in layers. So you would layer cut pieces of paper on top of eachother to create the final result. I haven't created any print and cut files and prefer the challenge of creating an image from cuts. All my files are cutting files that can be used in whole or in part.

Enjoy!
Chris
http://visualdesignsbychris.blogspot.com/

The only adjustment you can make once in SCAL is the size/shape. I have posted a file showing two bitmaps traced and converted to .svg and the difference in tracing. If you are not going to trace, you probably won't need this.

This looks very much like the KNK software when you import from other software sometimes it can have Thickline Attributes.

However, all my files have single line cuts and as many "nodes" removed as possible to make a smooth cut.

I think I will download the free demo and try a few imports of the svg to see how it comes through.

I just wasn't sure if you had to have a serial number from a cricuit in order to buy.

I thank you sooo much for your help and quick answers!! I'd love to be able to offer these right along with the other file formats.

Enjoy!
Chris
http://visualdesignsbychris.blogspot.com/

Hi There! I'm also a designer like Chris. I've been playing with converting a few of my existing designs to SVG format and importing them into SCAL. I've tried exporting them from Inkscape and Adobe Illustrator. Both ways I've found when I open my designs in SCAL some of the lines appear skewed. I've confirmed that the SVG itself is fine by viewing them in other programs, it's just when they come into the SCAL software that the lines are off. Unfortunately, I don't have a Cricut to test the cutting on. I wondered if anyone here had the same problem.

I have another question as well... is there any way to tell the Cricut to cut a dashed line? Or would you actually have to make tiny little line segments in order for them to cut a dash (say for example a fold line).

Thanks in advance for the advice!

I haven't had any problem with skewed lines once imported into SCAL.

You would probably have to make a dashed line in order for it to cut. Many of the shapes from the cartridges have a dash at the bottom and a dash at the top to show where to fold...not a full dashed line. I hated those lines because as the size of the shape increased, so did the size of the dash making envelopes impossible cuz you had the huge slash (that is about what it amounted to) in the fold on each end...guess I'm anal like that. Ruined a prefectly great dark green envelope...had to color it cuz the otehr side of the paper was white and you could see where the envelope was slashed for the fold.

Regarding dashed lines, I've noticed that any line that's not a "closed path" will not import into SCAL. For example, a straight line is an open path while a circle is a closed path. So, that would explain why your dashed line became huge rectangles when you sized it up... becuase in essence they must be tiny rectangles or they wouldn't show up.

Jan

I've prepared .svg files in Illustrator( when you export as .svg untick the conserve Illustrator editing properties box) , KNK ( remember to flip them before you export other wise they import back to front and upside down in SCAL and there is no way of getting them the right way round unless you cut with your paper face down! see the Creating svg in KNK thread ) and Inkscape.
Sometimes what you see on the SCAL screen seems only half a template with bits missing but cuts OK.
SCAL can do no editing other than rotating and resizing.
As far as dashed lines go - whereas KNK. ROBO and Wishblade cut according colour/line type association Cricut doesn't have this possibility as being cartridge based all the commands 'come from within'!
It is possible to import non closed paths to SCAL - try this:
Draw a rectangle then draw a straight line somewhere inside it select all then Path>stroke to path save as .svg and exit . It will import to SCAL as you drew it
Susibi