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SCA good for what?

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:21 pm
by Gingerstamp
I purchased the SCA and I'm so glad I have it, but to be honest, I'm finding it's just pretty much good for the communication with the bug to cut true type fonts. Designing isn't so good since you can't weld, etc. without getting involved with the Inkscapes and going through that whole learning process.

Is there anything you can do with SCA without getting involved with Inkscapes and other programs, other than just cut true type fonts?

Re: SCA good for what?

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:37 pm
by sboz
When you say 'just' typing fonts that is actually opening an entire new dimension for the Cricut - but since you asked what else it can do look into dingbats. Dingbats are awesome!

Shari

Re: SCA good for what?

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:50 pm
by Gingerstamp
Thanks Shari, Dingbats are cool. What I guess I'm trying to say is that it is only good for cutting fonts and dingbats. You really can't do any design work because you can't weld shapes, use layers, etc. So I'm finding that I still mostly use Cricut DS because you can combine individual shapes to design entire projects. SCA is mostly just for cutting fonts for me and an occasional dingbat.

Re: SCA good for what?

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 6:03 pm
by AnointedHands
Gingerstamp wrote:Thanks Shari, Dingbats are cool. What I guess I'm trying to say is that it is only good for cutting fonts and dingbats. You really can't do any design work because you can't weld shapes, use layers, etc. So I'm finding that I still mostly use Cricut DS because you can combine individual shapes to design entire projects. SCA is mostly just for cutting fonts for me and an occasional dingbat.
That is exactly what SCAL advertised that it would do...cut your TTFs. It is an added bonus that the developer added a filter to import .svg files and that has opened up a whole new world. I have to say that creating with Inkscape takes some work but I have worked with CorelDraw (a vector-based program like Inkscape) for years and am quite familiar with the ins and outs of the program.

I have been working with the Trace function and found that I can get any shape I want and cut it in SCAL...I have not even used DSS since I discovered that. I have nothing against DSS except that it is hard to design, can't group, can't change size...can't....can't...can't....

I read that using DSS would void the Cricut warranty...Is that like using MS Office will void the warranty on a Dell? Gotta go...sometimes I just don't understand.

Re: SCA good for what?

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:56 pm
by dlwrules
I think that this software rocks. Even if it could never do anything but cut true type fonts it would still be a good value. For the cost of a single font cartridge I can cut an infinite amount of free fonts and dingbats!
Man, I've paid a small fortune for qk and sizzlet fonts that can only be cut in one size. With this software I can cut any font in any size I need.
I'm a happy camper.
That's not to say that I don't encourage Todd to continue to develop this. I'd definitely use more features if they were available. I just think that this software is a very good value.

Re: SCA good for what?

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:31 am
by Steph Stimson
And we CAN weld now thanks to Todd and the update that was released on Friday (I believe) plus make shadows/skew/etc. and that just makes SCAL even that much worth it's money! :D

Re: SCA good for what?

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:38 am
by just maxine
It's good for those of us who are not interested in designing! I barely have time to design a page, must less anything else. :-( All I want to do is have access to a million TTF's, so SCAL is good for me!

Re: SCA good for what?

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:37 pm
by shellieh
But it does weld-- and you have your shapes, so if you want to use them, and weld them, you can. You can do shadows with it now too. All without inkscape or illustrator, or corel draw.
if you know any of the above programs-- well that is a whole new world for you.
I can import any design, graphic, turn it to black and white, trace it, save it as a svg, and then cut it. I love that option. If you own this machine, it is worth it to learn at least the free program inkscape.

Re: SCA good for what?

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:54 pm
by raechase
I think SCA is amazing! This update for welding and shadows is the best! I never had much success with shadows in DS but with SCA it is sooo easy! Totally worth it just for that!