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how to cut to exact size?
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:36 am
by cut king
can someone make a tutorial from start to finish from converting a jpeg to svg then cutting it to exact size in scal???
i don't know what i'm doing wrong but i can NEVER cut an exact size without precutting a couple of times
someone please help and make the tutorial detailed like you are explaining to a 10 year old

Re: how to cut to exact size?
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:27 pm
by nemmy2007
OH YES PLEASE, THIS IS SO WHAT I NEED XX
Re: how to cut to exact size?
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:00 pm
by Soraya
the tutorial section of this board has some good how to's. these two members always come frist to mind when i'm in need of a tutorial
http://susanbluerobot.blogspot.com/
http://dan99.blogspot.com/
Re: how to cut to exact size?
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:14 pm
by cut king
i've been through those blogs unless i missed it
it would be nice to see a good step by step on how to go about this
Re: how to cut to exact size?
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:32 pm
by mommyto3bugs
cut king wrote:i've been through those blogs unless i missed it
it would be nice to see a good step by step on how to go about this
Both sites listed have tutorials on how to take an image and convert it to an SVG. As far as how to cut to an exact sizse, there are size boxes in the program where you can set the exact width and height of an image. Have you been using those? You can also resize using the resize arrows that appear on the box around an image when you choose the image. You can use the marks on the virtual mat to resize the image to the size you want.
With the new version of SCAL you can draw a selection box around an entrie group of images and resize them ALL at one time (but each image is still an individaul image), or you can use that same select all feature to select several images, group them and then you can resize them all at the time same time (and they remain together as a group until you ungroup them). Note that in order to keep the resizing proportional, at this time you must select your objects and then check the "Keep Proportions" box in the properties window. The resize button does not keep them proportional, even when holding down the shift key. That's a bug to be fixed in a later update.
Re: how to cut to exact size?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:03 am
by talanhart
If you are making an artwork to scale in an artwork program and then want it to cut to that same size in SCAL, here is what I do. I select all the elements and check out the dimensions and then make a note of them somewhere. When you open it in SCAL, check the Keep Proportions box and then enter one of the dimensions and you will be cutting at the same size. This is what I do when I make signs. The last sign I made was 28" x 48". I had all my elements to size and then I just scaled them in SCAL using the dimensions. Some people even put the dimensions in the artwork file name. ie. "sign18x24.svg"
I hope this helps.
Re: how to cut to exact size?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:22 am
by cut king
hmmmmmm i never check the keep proportions box, maybe i need to try that
Re: how to cut to exact size?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:12 am
by talanhart
It's interesting that you have to check the "Keep proportions" box. In most program that is the default and you have to uncheck it if you want to scale disproportionately.
Re: how to cut to exact size?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 1:01 pm
by firstcut
I have a true size template and instructions on my blog so that anything you create in Inkscape will be the same size in SCAL.
http://cleversomeday.wordpress.com/2009 ... sy-sizing/
A couple of other tips
-If you are scanning in an image, like a stamp you want to cut out, scan at 90 dpi or scan at 100% and scale down 90% in Inkscape. 90 dpi is the default screen rez for Inkscape so it resizes bitmaps to that which can cause size issues.
-The Cricut is not very good at cutting exact sizes. If it really has to be exact (closer than plus/minus 1/16 inch), use trial and error with an actual cutout as opposed to relying on the size box in SCAL or Inkscape.