Can I use SCAL with Silhouette Cameo 3

[CraftyWitch]

Hello everyone, I am new to the site so apologies if I am posting this in the wrong place. First time doing the whole Forum thing too so please hold my hand!!!!

I am considering buying SCAL for my Silhouette cameo 3. I used to have a Pazzles machine which I loved, sadly I couldnt get a replacement one (UK) when it eventually broke so I bought a Silhouette Cameo 3. Most of my files are WPC and SVG file formats. I loved using the Pazzles software (made for Pazzles by Funtime) but I really struggle with the Silhouette software. I used to design and manipulate my own cutting files mainly for scrapbooking. I have wasted many hours watching youtube and trying different software combinations (funtime, invue, inkscape, etc) to open, save, convert etc etc and once I have eventually got a file the Silhouette studio will recognise I still struggle to get the software to do what I want, even with the business edition of their software. I am finding the whole process extremely frustrating and expensive, so much so I am considering giving up on it all and going back to good old scissors and a bigshot.

My first question is whether SCAL works perfectly with the Silhouette Cameo 3 or does it have to be adapted in any way? Using pen tool, different blades etc.

I would also like to know if WPC, SVG, silhouette files and PDFs can be imported easily to be manipulated, printed, cut etc so I can just use the one software to open, manipulate, design then cut/print. Instead of the way I have been doing it.

Can you save the files as alternative formats, eg SVGs etc?

Can you import jpgs and crop into circles etc?

Can you save cutting information, type of material, cutting depth, pressure etc?

And finally, phew, nearly there, can you do print and cuts with the software for the silhouette?

I have watched a few videos from the SCAl website and it appears to be reasonably user friendly. There are a few different softwares available and want to get it right this time

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much in advance.

Wendy x

[SandyMcC]

Hi Wendy!

I can help you with all of these questions. I'll copy paste them all so that I don't miss answering any.

My first question is whether SCAL works perfectly with the Silhouette Cameo 3 or does it have to be adapted in any way? Using pen tool, different blades etc.

You can use all of the same blades and accessories.


I would also like to know if WPC, SVG, silhouette files and PDFs can be imported easily to be manipulated, printed, cut etc so I can just use the one software to open, manipulate, design then cut/print. Instead of the way I have been doing it.

Yes, you can import WPC, SVG, and PDF (if the PDF is made up of vector images). There are outside ways of extracting raster images out of a PDF file, when needed. But otherwise, yes, you can import the files, manipulate if needed, and do regular cut or a print-and-cut, as suitable.

Can you save the files as alternative formats, eg SVGs etc?

Yes, you can export as SVG or PDF or various raster formats such as PNG, JPG, BMP.

Can you import jpgs and crop into circles etc?

Yes.

Can you save cutting information, type of material, cutting depth, pressure etc?

Yes, you can save presets and, in my personal opinion, a LOT more easily than in Silh Studio. See screenshot below.

And finally, phew, nearly there, can you do print and cuts with the software for the silhouette?

Yes. See screenshots below.

Also, you can test out the trial version of SCAL5 for 15 days using the following link. I can't recall if you can print or not but you can see how it cuts. There will be watermark cut lines added because you're still in trial version.

For support, I wrote an extensive user manual plus there are lots of videos available on You Tube. There's also a video classroom with over 150 videos that can be purchased with SCAL5 or separately later on. I also provide support at a number of SCAL Facebook groups and I've never seen a single Cameo owner post that they regretted buying SCAL5.

http://craftedge.com/download/download.html

If you have more questions, feel free to email me at smccauley45@cox.net and I'll see your email faster than here on the forum.

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[CraftyWitch]

Thank you so much Sandy. I will check out the trial software this week. Would be so much easier to have everything in one software again and to have access to the tutorials and help etc.

Off subject a little, what facebook group would be best for me to join?

Thanks again.

Wendy x

[SandyMcC]

There are SO many different ones that it's hard to know which to recommend. Because I was hired to write a UM for the Cameo 4, I just focused on those. But here is one dedicated to Cameo 3 with over 12,000 members... I would start there:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/395525624202870

And then here are some good SCAL groups:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/surecutsalotscal

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MTCandSCAL

https://www.facebook.com/groups/LearnCr ... reCutsALot (note there's not that much Cricut stuff on this group... just SCAL and some MTC)