Question about the Digital Machines

[pinkfrog]

Ok I have a question I'm thinking of the Craft Robo or Silhouette and want to know to get my image do I have to print it through my printer first then through the cutter?

I saw the a video on the craft robo and the person made a design printed it on the printer then through the machine

Thanks I just sold my cricut in hopes of getting the expression but carts are expensive and I'm on a limited budget especially since were getting a second car. So now I'm reconsidering and thinking of these machines, though I'm in Canada so not sure how cheap it will be to buy in the US

Lexi

[Paperthreads]

Yes, you would print to your printer first, then cut through the cutter.

That is what we call a PRINT and CUT. if your project doesn't require any printing, then you would just "cut it".

There is a supplier in Canada for CraftRobo's, so you don't have to pay for shipping from the US.

[pinkfrog]

Yes, you would print to your printer first, then cut through the cutter.

That is what we call a PRINT and CUT. if your project doesn't require any printing, then you would just "cut it".

There is a supplier in Canada for CraftRobo's, so you don't have to pay for shipping from the US.

Ok please bare with me as I"m still really new to this type of technology and only recently have been reading more into it.

If I buy downloads or get free one's are those called a print and cut? or would I just be able to cut it from my machine?

Are the print and cuts considered designs that I may design myself?

Can I also get the retailer info for the craft robo here in Canada please?

Thanks

Lexi

[Paperthreads]

Print and cuts are like "stickers" or other things. Where you "print" a very pretty graphic on your printer, of lets say a pretty ROSE, then you take it to the cutter, and have the cutter cut "around" the rose. Leaving you with a beautiful cut out rose.

If you look in the store, you will find the "specific" category called "print and cuts"

In the crafting world, these are also known as printables, and sold by companies, for the customer to buy, print, then use scissors to cut around it. These machines take it one step further by allowing you to take the printed item, and the machine will cut around it, saving you the work of havin to use scissors.

[Paperthreads]

For Canadian suppliers, you would have to check locally, as we had a place that shipped Canadian, but since we can only get the CR100's here in the US, and other retailers in Canada can get the CR200's, we couldn't compete with them there.

I am sure if you check online, you will find many suppliers :)

[altastampsalot]

Just a suggestion, but check the gallery - that might help you become more familiar with what the machines can do.

The cr will do alot of the same cuts you're used to on the cricut - fonts and outlines of images. Sometimes the images are designed with some scoring marks to add a little bit of detail.

As far as I know, the cricket can not do print and cuts (and these are really fun!).

I have a birthday card in the gallery that has some cats on it (I think you can look up my screen name and find it). I played with these cats in photoshop (colored them) and then brought them over to my wishblade. Then I was able to print them on the printer, then to my wishblade for cutting.

I know it all seems overwhelming right now, but there are so many more possibilities with these cutters than with the crickets. Those definitely have their place, but the versatility that these machines have is so worth taking the time to learn the technology and terminology. I've only been here about a month or so and I'm amazed at these machines and still learning all they can do!

Good luck!

[kabebout]

If you were using your Cricket to mostly cut letters/words then you will definately want to go with a digital cutter. The Cricket will give you 1 maybe 2 fonts per cart and you get 3 maybe 4 sizes. The digitals will cut any TTF that you have in any size from about 1/2 inch to the paper size limit for that machine. No extra cost other than the machine. Depending on the software/machine it may take some work to learn how to weld the letters into words. If you are mostly wanting shapes (die cuts) then it takes a bit of a learning curve. You can find lots of them to download or for sale and you can buy only what you want usually rather than an entire cartridge. PLUS again you can make it almost any size you want, limited only by how intricate the cuts are. My friend had a Cricket and Wishblade, she sold the Wishblade because she didn't want to spend the time it took to learn. I've used her Cricket but can't see how she can justify the cost of the cartridges when I have 1000's of font choices without spending anything more than my machine.

Sorry this is so long but these machines are expensive and you should know what you're buying before you take the leap. Good luck, Karen

[pinkfrog]

thanks paperthread this is all oh so very overwhelming and now I have no die cuting machine and have no clue on what to get :(

[pinkfrog]

Just a suggestion, but check the gallery - that might help you become more familiar with what the machines can do.

The cr will do alot of the same cuts you're used to on the cricut - fonts and outlines of images. Sometimes the images are designed with some scoring marks to add a little bit of detail.

As far as I know, the cricket can not do print and cuts (and these are really fun!).

I have a birthday card in the gallery that has some cats on it (I think you can look up my screen name and find it). I played with these cats in photoshop (colored them) and then brought them over to my wishblade. Then I was able to print them on the printer, then to my wishblade for cutting.

I know it all seems overwhelming right now, but there are so many more possibilities with these cutters than with the crickets. Those definitely have their place, but the versatility that these machines have is so worth taking the time to learn the technology and terminology. I've only been here about a month or so and I'm amazed at these machines and still learning all they can do!

Good luck!

thanks for responding I am feeling overwhelmed and lost I am such a visual person that I know the light bulb would go on if only I could see one in real life and see how they work.

I nearly fell off my chair when I read ppl's post about the ttl cost of the cricut AND cartridges though it shouldn't be no surprise. One reason why I'm looking into all this is I don't have the money to buy extra cartridges I had my small cricut before I sold it and only had one cartridge and that was the one it came with and I had that machine for about 4 months and only used it a total of 3 times :O

My main concern with these machine is printing first from my printer and then placing it in the cutter. anyways off to check the gallery out and see if a bulb might come on lol

[pinkfrog]

If you were using your Cricket to mostly cut letters/words then you will definately want to go with a digital cutter. The Cricket will give you 1 maybe 2 fonts per cart and you get 3 maybe 4 sizes. The digitals will cut any TTF that you have in any size from about 1/2 inch to the paper size limit for that machine. No extra cost other than the machine. Depending on the software/machine it may take some work to learn how to weld the letters into words. If you are mostly wanting shapes (die cuts) then it takes a bit of a learning curve. You can find lots of them to download or for sale and you can buy only what you want usually rather than an entire cartridge. PLUS again you can make it almost any size you want, limited only by how intricate the cuts are. My friend had a Cricket and Wishblade, she sold the Wishblade because she didn't want to spend the time it took to learn. I've used her Cricket but can't see how she can justify the cost of the cartridges when I have 1000's of font choices without spending anything more than my machine.

Sorry this is so long but these machines are expensive and you should know what you're buying before you take the leap. Good luck, Karen

Hi Karen thanks for responding I was TRYING to mostly do letters but I never had the funds to go buy more cartridges so I only had the one it came with. I also want different die cuts to use in my scrapbook like I said to the previous person I'm a visual person and need the light bulb to go I'm sure I would grasp it better then

[janbryson]

Just a suggestion, but check the gallery - that might help you become more familiar with what the machines can do.

The cr will do alot of the same cuts you're used to on the cricut - fonts and outlines of images. Sometimes the images are designed with some scoring marks to add a little bit of detail.

As far as I know, the cricket can not do print and cuts (and these are really fun!).

I have a birthday card in the gallery that has some cats on it (I think you can look up my screen name and find it). I played with these cats in photoshop (colored them) and then brought them over to my wishblade. Then I was able to print them on the printer, then to my wishblade for cutting.

I know it all seems overwhelming right now, but there are so many more possibilities with these cutters than with the crickets. Those definitely have their place, but the versatility that these machines have is so worth taking the time to learn the technology and terminology. I've only been here about a month or so and I'm amazed at these machines and still learning all they can do!

Good luck!

Now see altastampsalot, I knew you'd be giving advice in no time! You are an old pro now! LOL!

To Lexi, don't panic! Take a deep breath (always my first advice) and check out that comparison chart and make sure the machines you are thinking of do everything you want within your budget. Most of the basic computer based ones are very similar and what sets them apart is the software. There is a learning curve with all the machines, but with a little work, time, and help from your friends here, I'm sure you'll do fine!

Jan

[altastampsalot]

Thanks Jan!

Lexi -
The only time you need to put paper through the printer and then the cutter (print and cut) is if you want to cut out a picture (usually in jpg form). It's a really fun feature, but I don't think most people use it as much as they use the basic feature of just cutting out letters and shapes.

Print and cut is just an added feature, not the main use for the machine. Does that make sense? I can't remember who said it, but there's a lady in the forum that does some really great work (designing and sharing files) but says she's never used the print and cut feature. I wouldn't let the print and cut stress you out too much at this point since it's not the main feature of these machines :)

There are great tutorials here too. Michelle gave me the link to an old software download so I could "practice" before my machine got here, maybe that would be helpful for you too :)

[altastampsalot]

FYI - I saw your comment to mai_lin about the "sweet as cherry pie" LO in the gallery, and it doesn't look like she used the printer at all. The gallery doesn't seem to be as busy as the forum and I didn't want your comment to get overlooked :)

Mai-lin - hope I didn't step on any toes, but I know how eager one is at the very begining to understand and get answers to their questions :o That was a great LO btw!

[Paperthreads]

Hi Lexi,

I think you have some confusion on the machine.

You don't run everything through the printer. You only have to put things through the printer that you want to "print" first.

Here is an example of a printed project, the lantern, fire, marshmallows on sticks, tent and picnic table were printed graphics, you print it out first, then put it in the cutter, and it cuts out the outline. Makes like a sticker effect.
http://www.paperthreads.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=205

this second one is a file made by Butterfly Designs, it's a picture of a Yule Log. you don't run this one through on the printer, but rather, you cut each piece in various colors of cardstock, layer them together, and embellish with chalk, glitter or other decorations.
http://www.paperthreads.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_dnld_info&cPath=7_17_19&products_id=654

Two distinctly different processes, but both giving you a great look, and created by creative people :) You can create either type of file once you learn the software programs! No need to buy files, but some people just buy the file, as the time involved in making a detailed, unique file is not something they want to do!

so basically with these machines you get the best of both worlds. You get the ability to create anything your mind can think up, or you can purchase a file her or there to supplement your pages.

[pinkfrog]

Hi Lexi,

I think you have some confusion on the machine.

You don't run everything through the printer. You only have to put things through the printer that you want to "print" first.

Here is an example of a printed project, the lantern, fire, marshmallows on sticks, tent and picnic table were printed graphics, you print it out first, then put it in the cutter, and it cuts out the outline. Makes like a sticker effect.
http://www.paperthreads.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=205

this second one is a file made by Butterfly Designs, it's a picture of a Yule Log. you don't run this one through on the printer, but rather, you cut each piece in various colors of cardstock, layer them together, and embellish with chalk, glitter or other decorations.
http://www.paperthreads.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_dnld_info&cPath=7_17_19&products_id=654

Two distinctly different processes, but both giving you a great look, and created by creative people :) You can create either type of file once you learn the software programs! No need to buy files, but some people just buy the file, as the time involved in making a detailed, unique file is not something they want to do!

so basically with these machines you get the best of both worlds. You get the ability to create anything your mind can think up, or you can purchase a file her or there to supplement your pages.

thank you for that I think I'm starting to understand lol now if this next question confuses you please let me know as I'm going to try and type this out.

Ok so with the machines I just place a colour I want into it and then press cut like for example cherries I would first put red in for the cherry part and then brown or green for the stem?

[pinkfrog]

Now see altastampsalot, I knew you'd be giving advice in no time! You are an old pro now! LOL!

To Lexi, don't panic! Take a deep breath (always my first advice) and check out that comparison chart and make sure the machines you are thinking of do everything you want within your budget. Most of the basic computer based ones are very similar and what sets them apart is the software. There is a learning curve with all the machines, but with a little work, time, and help from your friends here, I'm sure you'll do fine!

Jan

Hi Jan I'm trying not to lol, the main thing I have always wanted and something cricut is just coming out with is welding words however I could eventually save up and get the program as the craft robo I notice you have to buy the software separetly. I haven't very good things about the wishblade.

Any suggestions for just a person who scrapbooks? I was orginally looking at the silhouette but the warrenty and lack of files has be rethinking this

[pinkfrog]

FYI - I saw your comment to mai_lin about the "sweet as cherry pie" LO in the gallery, and it doesn't look like she used the printer at all. The gallery doesn't seem to be as busy as the forum and I didn't want your comment to get overlooked :)

Mai-lin - hope I didn't step on any toes, but I know how eager one is at the very begining to understand and get answers to their questions :o That was a great LO btw!

so it was basically a die cut that she used? Where she placed red in the machine and the a different colour for the stems?

Thanks

[altastampsalot]

Pretty much :)
She created the images she wanted and then cut the colors of paper that coordinated with them.

I would think the cr would come with some sort of software - Michelle has some listed in the store - that should give you an idea of what comes with it. I could be wrong though, since I don't have that one.

Looking at the prices of the cricut expression in the store the other day, I almost fell over! You wouldn't have to save up as long for the cr/wb/sil as you would for the price the expressions was going for at JoAnn's!

I just got my wb, and I look at all the fonts I have access to, and all the flexibility I have and it cost me LESS than my wb did!

Have fun!

[Paperthreads]

Yes! That's it, she cut the cherries in 3 colors, stem, cherry, and small yellow piece for highlight on the cherry.

[mai_lin]

Hi Lexi,

Everyone did a good job of explaining how I created those files - its a pretty easy process.

I have a KNK now but I had a WB and it was great (before XYRON decided to not support it anymore). You mentioned you were looking at a Silhouette. Silhouette is essentially the same as WB and CR - the files you would cut with those you can also cut with the silhouette, there are TONS of free files out there!

My recommendation if someone is looking to get a WB is to get either a CR or a silhouette because they're cheaper and the customer service is better - they really are the same machine. QuiKutz (who makes the Silhouette) has files you can buy too. The only difference between the machines is the software you use with it. Unfortunately I know nothing about the software.

Personally, if I were you I'd go with a craft robo - Michelle sells them here and the support you get from her, and us is fabulous (even if you don't buy from her).

Best of luck,

Jen D.

[mai_lin]

Yes! That's it, she cut the cherries in 3 colors, stem, cherry, and small yellow piece for highlight on the cherry.

Close! hehe

red = cherry (highlight is cut out of it)
brown/tan = stem, background on cherry and background on leaf (all one piece)
green = leaves

I did have the highlight in the file and could have cut that in white, but I thought it looked fine without the white piece - the brown in the background is what you see there.

[Rosemary]

Lexi,

I don't know where you are in Canada, but if you have a local scrapbooking store that sells Quikutz and the Silhouette, I would suggest that you go and have a look of the machine in action. Most of the stores will do a quickie demo that should give you an idea of how it works and the capabilities of the machines.

Hope this helps
Rosemary

[pinkfrog]

Lexi,

I don't know where you are in Canada, but if you have a local scrapbooking store that sells Quikutz and the Silhouette, I would suggest that you go and have a look of the machine in action. Most of the stores will do a quickie demo that should give you an idea of how it works and the capabilities of the machines.

Hope this helps
Rosemary

Thanks Rosemary I did call the place I know has the silhouette however they don't have a computer to hook it up to and they are waiting for it to arrive and she didn't know if it'll arrive by Christmas either

I think I have decided on the machine I want though