cricut design studio - VS - sure cuts a lot
Advantages, disadvantages, which is for you?
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Both the Cricut DesignStudio (CDS) and Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) software are for use with your personal Cricut Cutting Machine. Each software is designed to use on your computer allowing you to enhance and expand the capabilities of your Cricut cutter, wether the original Cricut or any of the newer models (expression, create).
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The main differences between the two are that CDS is designed specifically to work with the options found on cricut cartridges and is not Mac compatible at this time, while SCAL software can cut any True Type fonts, designer fonts, dingbats, or unique designed-SVG images, and does have a Mac compatible version.
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Cricut DesignStudioCDS software allows you to create designs on your computer using all of the fonts and images contained in the Cricut cartridge library. You can use the software to format layouts from various cartridges and when it's time to cut, the machine will automatically prompt you to change the cartridges when necessary for the cutting project. |
Advantages...
- Gives you access to the complete Cricut cartridge library to layout your projects without having to continually load, unload, and reload cartridges in the design process.
- Gives you access to the complete Cricut cartridge library so you can utilize images you do not own in layouts to determine if you want to buy the cartridges later.
- Gives you a larger, clearer, virtual cutting mat to organize your images or shapes on to layout larger, more resource-efficient cutting projects.
Disadvantages...
- CDS is still a cartridge-based system and you can not cut any images in the library unless you own that cartridge.
- CDS does not cut True Type fonts, dingbats, or any other images which are not found within the Cricut image library.
- CDS is not Macintosh compatible at this time.
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Sure Cuts A LotThis software can also be directly loaded onto your computer and transmits your designs via a simple USB cord to your personal cutting machine just like design studio. It also utilies a virtual cutting mat layout for organizing and designing your cutting projects. |
Advantages...
- SCAL can be used with any of the Cricut personal cutting machines.
- SCAL is not a cartridge-based system and can cut True Type fonts or designer fonts and dingbats.
- SCAL can also cut unique-design images and graphics in SVG format.
- SCAL includes a Windows compatible option and a Mac OSX compatible option.
Disadvantages....
- SCAL is not compatible with Cricut cartridges and can not produce any of the images or fonts found on Cricut cartridges.
- SCAL may require you to update the firmware on your Cricut machine and this may require a download of the Cricut Design Studio. Free trial versions of CDS have been sucessfully used for this purpose.
What's Next?
- Get Sure Cuts A Lot (note: coupons will be availaible here soon... come back often!)
- Get the Cricut Design Studio Bonus Pak Software ($49 at our mini amazon store)
- Get the Cricut Design Studio Tutorial
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