Cricut Question

EMNTOM · December 2011

Is there a computer program that I can use that will work with my cricut so that I do not have to purchase all of the cartridges?

I downloaded the trial version of Design Studio and I am not sure if purchasing actually makes a difference but I could only cut the fonts that I own. Am I doing something wrong?

TIA

amandasw · December 2011

unfortunately, since the big debacle last year, there is no program where you can design your own images without cartridges I got a Cricut last year for Christmas and wish I'd gotten one of the programs before Cricut sued them to stop it.

I'm thinking about getting Design Studio, but what you do is load in cartridges that you already have. I think it's still great because you can combine all the images and options and make things, but you do have to buy cartridges.

louisvillebride21 · December 2011

PP is right. But do not buy Design Studio. Google Cricut Craft Room and use that. It's a free online program put out by Provo Craft that does the same thing, but is much faster and more comprehensive.

amandasw · December 2011

louisvillebride21:
PP is right. But do not buy Design Studio. Google Cricut Craft Room and use that. It's a free online program put out by Provo Craft that does the same thing, but is much faster and more comprehensive.

oh right, I already forgot about that and someone just told me to use that instead

cmeon_the_water · December 2011

Technically, you can still purchase the programs we used before they were sued by Provocraft- I know that the one I use, Make the Cut, was required to remove the plug-in for the Cricut machines, but, if you can find it, you can install it and make the program work for you. The plug-in is named pccplugin.dll and every now and then someone will upload it to a share site (they always get pulled down, but, they seem to go up again from what I hear). If you can snag a copy, try it out with the trial version (free) of the software. It's fully functioning, it will just cut cross hatches into your cuts (like a watermark) so that your cuts won't really be useable until you pay for the license.

It's such a wonderful program- I've never bought a cartridge (except the one it came with- you need one in, or at least a dummy, to cut).

And obviously, the Cricut 2 and any of the other newer machines without USB connectivity aren't going to work. But, they're pretty flawed little things, anyway- hopefully you have one of the older machines.

Cricut Craft Room has a few free cut files attached to it, but, like Design Studio (a really ridiculously antiquated program), you're limited to cutting with the carts you own and can install- and it is no where near as user friendly and feature full as MTC or SCAL (which obviously don't limit you to carts, either).

amandasw · December 2011

cmeon_the_water:
Technically, you can still purchase the programs we used before they were sued by Provocraft- I know that the one I use, Make the Cut, was required to remove the plug-in for the Cricut machines, but, if you can find it, you can install it and make the program work for you. The plug-in is named pccplugin.dll and every now and then someone will upload it to a share site (they always get pulled down, but, they seem to go up again from what I hear). If you can snag a copy, try it out with the trial version (free) of the software. It's fully functioning, it will just cut cross hatches into your cuts (like a watermark) so that your cuts won't really be useable until you pay for the license.

this is good to know! maybe I'll try to keep a look out for it then...

ETA: bummer, I found really good info here only to find out that MTC is only for PC

cmeon_the_water · December 2011

And I'm not downloading it to check (I run the most recent version of MTC), but, according to a thread here, there's a link to an older (trial) version of the MTC software that should include the plug-in you require. Then you can upgrade to the latest and greatest, as long as you maintain a hold over that plug-in (people back it up multiple times- I have it in several emails to myself, on a back-up drive, and on server space- not losing it , you will be fine.

I would do it with haste, though- if that's still a valid download, it won't be for long, I'd assume.

cmeon_the_water · December 2011

amandasw:
cmeon_the_water:
Technically, you can still purchase the programs we used before they were sued by Provocraft- I know that the one I use, Make the Cut, was required to remove the plug-in for the Cricut machines, but, if you can find it, you can install it and make the program work for you. The plug-in is named pccplugin.dll and every now and then someone will upload it to a share site (they always get pulled down, but, they seem to go up again from what I hear). If you can snag a copy, try it out with the trial version (free) of the software. It's fully functioning, it will just cut cross hatches into your cuts (like a watermark) so that your cuts won't really be useable until you pay for the license.
this is good to know! maybe I'll try to keep a look out for it then...
ETA: bummer, I found really good info here only to find out that MTC is only for PC

Yeah, the developer is amazing, from what I understand, he just doesn't have much experience developing for MAC, and is concentrating on improving the software right now for PC users. I know there have always been whispers about playing nice with apple one day- but, the awesome thing about MTC is that he NEVER charges for updates- and he does some intense updates.

Maybe someday! And you can always dual-boot!

islelily · December 2011

I use SCAL and love it (I have a Mac). I've had to upgrade the plug-in once after I let it lapse. Now that I use the program more often (almost daily now) I catch upgrades and updates quickly.

amandasw · December 2011

cmeon_the_water:

Yeah, the developer is amazing, from what I understand, he just doesn't have much experience developing for MAC, and is concentrating on improving the software right now for PC users. I know there have always been whispers about playing nice with apple one day- but, the awesome thing about MTC is that he NEVER charges for updates- and he does some intense updates.
Maybe someday! And you can always dual-boot!

I've about about getting the software to use Windows on my Mac, not sure at the moment whether it's worth it right now (finding the plug-in, getting the trial etc) vs. if it was easily accessible. I'll play around with the Craftroom software for now (I do have several cartridges that I'm happy with and are sufficient for most of my needs) and maybe by the time I get bored this whole thing will have been worked out

amandasw · December 2011

islelily:
I use SCAL and love it (I have a Mac). I've had to upgrade the plug-in once after I let it lapse. Now that I use the program more often (almost daily now) I catch upgrades and updates quickly.

do you know if there is the same 'underground' system for making it available to Cricut users?

islelily · December 2011

amandasw:
islelily:
I use SCAL and love it (I have a Mac). I've had to upgrade the plug-in once after I let it lapse. Now that I use the program more often (almost daily now) I catch upgrades and updates quickly.
do you know if there is the same 'underground' system for making it available to Cricut users?

I think you can still purchase SCAL 2 and it will work with your Cricut (that was the last update I did for my machine). However, just like MTC, sale and support of it will be ending for Cricut due to Provocraft's lawsuit. If you do purchase the program you should be able to download and save the .exe file on to a CD (if you don't get the CD with the program, which you should) and that should keep the program working on your computer. The only down side is that they will no longer offer any tech support starting in 2012 (I think?)

amandasw · December 2011

islelily:
amandasw:
islelily:
I use SCAL and love it (I have a Mac). I've had to upgrade the plug-in once after I let it lapse. Now that I use the program more often (almost daily now) I catch upgrades and updates quickly.
do you know if there is the same 'underground' system for making it available to Cricut users?
I think you can still purchase SCAL 2 and it will work with your Cricut (that was the last update I did for my machine). However, just like MTC, sale and support of it will be ending for Cricut due to Provocraft's lawsuit. If you do purchase the program you should be able to download and save the .exe file on to a CD (if you don't get the CD with the program, which you should) and that should keep the program working on your computer. The only down side is that they will no longer offer any tech support starting in 2012 (I think?)

It doesn't look like they sell SCAL 2 on their website, so I'm not sure where I could get it :-/

Saxgrl1 · December 2011

Welcome to the wonderful world of Crapcut! LOL! Unfortunately, Provocraft insists on nickle and diming its costumers on spending money on cartridges and halfway decent machines that actually limit your creativity instead of promoting or working with companies that improve their machines and benifit their customers.

Since the lawsuit, its very difficult to find the plug-in. They are HARDCORE searching out anyone and everyone that has the plug-in, even on their file storage websites that they have set to private and not sharing it at all. If you have the plugin...definately save it on flash drives, email it to yourself and save it to a disc b/c if you lose it, you may never get it back.

THose that have Mac's, Andy (created MTC) is working on MTC to work w/ Macs. There are work arounds but I don't really know what they are b/c I don't have a Mac. One of the wonderful things about MTC is that they are constantly improving and updating the software and give it to their customers for FREE. And there is sooooo much support on their message board.

ETA: since you are stuck w/ getting carts, you can get good deals on Ebay and Cricutmachine.com frequently has good sales on them. You really never need to pay full price for them.

islelily · December 2011

I agree with Sax on looking for other places for the cartridges! Amazon had a good sale on some recently and eBay is great too. I get a lot of my replacement mats from a few eBay folks where they end up being $2/each

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