Craft Edge

I have been pouring over the pages of this forum and different blogs to see if I am ready to purchase SCAL yet. I have a few questions and was hoping you all could help.

* I have the Cricut expression with firmware version 2.32 (at FAQ they say you need 2.1 or 2.3) - how do you get an earlier version of the firmware? Can the version updates block SCAL from your cricut?
* Am I reading correctly that SCAL 2 will convert jpeg and gif files to svg files?

Thank you all for your help. I am still nervous and haven't committed to taking the plunge, but I am so on the ledge. Somebody push me!! Thanks again!

csmazur wrote: * I have the Cricut expression with firmware version 2.32 (at FAQ they say you need 2.1 or 2.3) - how do you get an earlier version of the firmware?

You don't need an earlier version. It could be more clearly stated 2.1x or 2.3x, any of the 2.3 series versions will work. The latest is 2.34 and works fine.

Can the version updates block SCAL from your cricut?

In theory, yes. Some day Provo Craft may go to the effort to try something like that, but so far they have not. SCAL works with the current versions of firmware.

* Am I reading correctly that SCAL 2 will convert jpeg and gif files to svg files?

Yes. But be aware of how it does this. It attempts to find the edges of the image and draw lines around them. If you have a picture without clear contrast - like a photograph - it won't be able to figure out what to draw lines around. It does a pretty good job on line drawings and high contrast images, but it is not all-powerful.

- Jasen.

I'm new to these parts too and just got the Expression. JPG, GIF, BMP are all raster file formats. That means they are created by a series of dots. The DPI (dots per inch) and the overall size of an image determines the resolution. SVG, DXF, AI....are vector file formats. They are created by a series of lines. When you increase the resolution, the quality remains the same because the lines simply get longer--not wider, as is the case with raster images (the dots increase in size and you get pixelation). A cutter, obviously, cuts lines--not dots.

I notice some around here are using a freeware product called inkscape. They could tell you more about it's ease of use and capabilities. As a graphics person, I use CAD, Illustrator, Corel Draw which are vector programs. There are ways to trace images, but there are limitations. The picture of the President, that was so popular during the election, was taken from a photograph and then vectorized. If you go back and look at it, each color has a definitive outline and makes a closed shape.

ok, that was my little graphics lesson for the day! hope it at least provides some insight into the process.

Thanks so much for your help and response. Off to download the program!

CADChick, THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge. i love reading this stuff cuz i learn so much. you cleared up ooodddles of questions.