Critcut Design Studio?

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Can anyone explain what exactly this does? I get it that it hooks from the computer to the Expression, but I'm just not certain what the capabilities are. I ordered it, but am unclear if this is something I'll find useful in scrapping. How does the library of designs on there work? What kind of things can you do with it? Does it have all cartridges on there or only the ones you already have in your Cricut library? Sorry for all the questions, its just a new concept for me and I really don't know anyone who has it in my scrapping circle.

 

[LindaBabe]

I use mine a lot - but remember you have to have the carts anyway, in order to cut what you design.

You can design for carts you don't have - when you select the cart from the drop down menu it shows the keypad for that cart. When you select icon or shadow, the keypad changes to reflect what would be cut for a particular selection with that 'extra' key pushed. For example if your LSS has a cricut and you know it has a certain cart, you can design for it on your laptop with design studio, go to the crop, plug in the cable to the cricut, load the cart and click cut on the lap top and away you go.

So say you wanted to cut out a lot of stuff covering a whole page, you could type it all in and shove it around on the computer until the arrangement was just so - and then plug into your machine that had that cart on it, load your paper and press the cut button on the computer and your whole page cuts just as you specified on the computer.

You can also weld letters, which is really quite handy. The thing I like best though is the ability to NOT have to enter a few letters, have the thing beep at me that i've entered too many, cut those, go back and enter some more, cut those, and so forth. I can set it to cut a page full of stuff and go off and do something else and come back and it's done.

 

[hopemax]

When you use a cartridge normally, the letters are separate. With the design studio you can weld them together to make words.

Or you could weld different shapes together to make fancy borders or frames.

And some really talented ladies have used the software to weld shapes together in a ways to make completely new shapes.

Here is a blog I like to read, with some examples

http://cricutsoftcuts.blogspot.com/

The software will have a library that includes all cartridges. But the "cut" option will only work if you have the cartridge in the machine. However, with the library you can see exactly what is on each of the cartridges to help you determine which ones you want to purchase.

Oh, and I use it a lot to "size out" how big something will be before I cut it.

 

[Teacher03]

I think this will have to be my next cricut purchase. Thanks for all the info, I was actually wondering this myself. I like the fact that you can weld letters together.

 

[LindaBabe]

When you use a cartridge normally, the letters are separate. With the design studio you can weld them together to make words.

Or you could weld different shapes together to make fancy borders or frames.

And some really talented ladies have used the software to weld shapes together in a ways to make completely new shapes.

Here is a blog I like to read, with some examples

http://cricutsoftcuts.blogspot.com/

The software will have a library that includes all cartridges. But the "cut" option will only work if you have the cartridge in the machine. However, with the library you can see exactly what is on each of the cartridges to help you determine which ones you want to purchase.

Oh, and I use it a lot to "size out" how big something will be before I cut it.

Oh, my gosh! looking at that blog - I can see i've barely scratched the surface! There will be some quality time spent with design studio around here this winter.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Thanks for all the info! I knew about welding the letters, it was just everything else I wasn't sure on. Sounds like I will definitely get my use out of it. I just have to get back into the swing of things here-so much scrapping, so little time!

 

[hopemax]

There are several blogs that have the .cut files available for download, so if you can't manage to create your own intricate designs, you can still use theirs. You can find people mentioning their files on the Cricut message boards.

I've only used a couple of files, because I only have the trial version. The code for the full version is coming, since I did that Michaels promo. I'm looking forward to playing with more carts.

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Is there an easy way to weld the letters together? I tried to weld letters yesterday and I would get them overlapping each other and put a check in the weld box, and they would all move apart from each other. The first time I did it, I just typed the word out, moved the letters and then clicked "weld." The next time, I tried typing one letter, then typing another one so that it has its own handles. Then I moved them so that they were touching and clicked on weld and nothing happened. What am I doing wrong? I hope this makes sense.

 

[LindaBabe]

Just type in the letters and click weld, then apply. DO NOT try to move them around by hand. If they're not close enough together or are too close together after welding, put 0.06 in the "kerning" box to start with click apply, and keep tweaking that number until it suits you.

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Thanks for the advice, Linda. I'll have to try it tomorrow. Sounds a lot easier than what I was doing.

 

[eeyore29]

When you use a cartridge normally, the letters are separate. With the design studio you can weld them together to make words.

Or you could weld different shapes together to make fancy borders or frames.

And some really talented ladies have used the software to weld shapes together in a ways to make completely new shapes.

Here is a blog I like to read, with some examples

http://cricutsoftcuts.blogspot.com/

The software will have a library that includes all cartridges. But the "cut" option will only work if you have the cartridge in the machine. However, with the library you can see exactly what is on each of the cartridges to help you determine which ones you want to purchase.

Oh, and I use it a lot to "size out" how big something will be before I cut it.

If I download one of their AWESOME .cut files, do I need to have all of the cartridges they used to be able to cut their patterns?

 

[morgansmom2000]

Oh no! I didn't realize what you could do with the Design Studio. I neeeeeeeed it!

 

[hopemax]

If I download one of their AWESOME .cut files, do I need to have all of the cartridges they used to be able to cut their patterns?

Yes.

 

[LindaBabe]

Thanks for the advice, Linda. I'll have to try it tomorrow. Sounds a lot easier than what I was doing.

I forgot to say - it will weld the letters that are together - together - not
seperate letters each in their own little box like s e p e r a t e So just type out your word normally.

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

I forgot to say - it will weld the letters that are together - together - not
seperate letters each in their own little box like s e p e r a t e So just type out your word normally.

Thanks, I'm getting ready to give it a try!

 

[hopemax]

I've had no problem welding letters that are in separate boxes, and moving them around with the mouse to overlap them. But you do have to make sure that each of the individual boxes has the weld box checked. While if you put mulitple letters in one box, you only have to check the weld box once, and then either adjust the kerning or use the nudge arrows to push them together.