Let's check out the vinyl cutting software options.
- SVG importing/exporting
- Incredibly easy to use
- Works offline
Free Download Unleash The Power Of Your Cricut! Allows you to easily cut virtually any shape and TrueType Fonts with your Cricut without needing to purchase expensive cartridges. With its easy-to-learn interface, the possibilities are endless. So you bought a Cricut machine and are wondering which software to use? Every Cricut machine comes with the Cricut Design Space software. But you are probably confused because you heard something about a free version and a paid version. Let’s look is Cricut Design Space is really free or not.
- If you design more than cut files, it's a bit pricey ($60) for its functionality
- Due to a lawsuit, doesn't work natively with Cricut machines (check below for workaround)
Sure Cuts A Lot 5 brings a lot of the functionality you're used to in Photoshop into the SCAL workflow (easy to use guidelines, magnetic snapping, masking). If you're looking to use a cutting machine offline, or need a bit more functionality than is available in the software that came with your machine, it's a great option.
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Every machine comes with its own built-in software.
It’s only natural to wonder: is this really the best vinyl cutting software?
Should I upgrade?
Can it damage my machine if I use it, or will I be wasting my time learning how to use plotter software that isn’t completely compatible with my machine?
I’ll go over all of this in a bit.
In this review, I’ll go over the best vinyl plotting software you can buy today, along with some free software options.
Whether you’re looking to design your own vinyl signs, stickers, or clothing, I’ll go over the best choice for you.
What’s the best vinyl cutting software?
I’ll start with the software that’s used the most for vinyl cutters – all of the vinyl design software mentioned here is currently recommended.
These options are completely safe to use and will not damage your machine.
As new updates are released, I’ll update this article.
Sure Cuts A Lot 5 review
Sure Cuts A Lot is one of the easiest to use programs for cutting. It supports combining fonts, importing your own shapes, lines, artwork, cut lines, as well as drawing your own.
With Sure Cuts A Lot 5, they’ve brought a lot of the typical functionality you’re used to in Photoshop and other Adobe editing products into the SCAL workflow (easy to use guidelines, magnetic snapping, and masking).
SCAL supports both TrueType and OpenType fonts so you’ll have lots of fonts that you can download for free and use.
If you have pre-existing images that aren’t vectors, you can use its auto-tracing features to convert any shape into a cut image. This makes it a great option for sign making software.
If you don’t have preexisting shapes, you can either draw them, use their 200+ free built-in images, or download them through their escape store.
Works with both Windows and Mac OS.
Pros
Cricut Design software, free download 2012
- SVG importing/exporting
- Incredibly easy to use
- Low system requirements
- Works offline
- Great forum and community support
Cons
- Due to a lawsuit, doesn’t work natively with Cricut machines (I’ve posted a workaround here)
- If you design more than cut files, it’s a bit pricey ($60) for its functionality
Get the latest version now: Sure Cuts A Lot 5
Site: www.surecutsalot.com
Easy Cut Studio Review
Easy Cut Studio is a newer contender that I just used for the first time recently. It has one of my favorite interfaces, making it easy to draw your own images directly on your cutting mat.
Easy Cut Studio does what every essential piece of cutter software must do: supports SVG file importing and exporting.
This is so important.
Many cutting machines only work with natively the software they come with (for a variety of reasons). With SVG files you can export from one piece of software and import into the native software that comes with your cutting machine, making the list of compatible machines very long indeed!
Its support for vectorization (turning a regular JPEG/PNG into a cut file that you can use) is the best in the industry.
The cut paths it generates are more accurate than other software I’ve used and I rarely have to clean them up after, even with complex shapes.
Pros
- Works for MacOS/Windows
- Updated frequently
- SVG import/export
- Great built-in shape library
- Supports scanning directly into the software
- Free trial, so you can test the software before purchasing
Cons
- Like most other software, doesn’t work natively work Cricut vinyl cutting machines unless you export SVGs and then re-import (not a huge drawback).
- Smaller support community
Buy the latest version now: Easy Cut Studio for Windows or MacOS
Site: www.easycutstudio.com
More coming soon!
Feel free to leave me a comment with any features you’d like for me to examine, other software that I should look at, or details that I might have left out!
I’ll be also updating this review with my favorite free recommendations as well, including the most popular software from Cricut and Silhouette.
I also have a full review of the best vinyl cutters (for both home crafting and business uses). Feel free to check that out if you’re interested in an in-depth look at not just the software but the machines themselves.
And if you’re looking for heat transfer vinyl, I just finished my review of the best heat transfer vinyl!
I’ll go over where it works, falls short, and what the best recommendation is for each use! Stay tuned…
Update (10/7/2019): The wait is over! We've completed rollout of the Offline feature and it's now available for everyone using Design Space for Desktop Beta. You can design and cut offline right now! If you haven't downloaded the beta app, please review the article below for links and Help articles!
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Today we are absolutely thrilled to announce Design Space for Desktop Beta – an early-release version of our Windows and Mac OS software that lives on your computer.
In the coming weeks, our beta app will receive an update to support the ability to design offline. This means you can design and cut offline without an internet connection.
To get to the front of the line for this feature, we recommend that you download Design Space for Desktop Beta by September 10th. Go download it now!
What's Different About Design Space for Desktop Beta?
Many of you use the web version of Design Space to create and cut. Design Space for Desktop Beta is a version of Design Space that lives on your Windows or Mac computer. You will launch the beta app right from your computer instead of going to design.cricut.com on the internet. The benefit of using the beta app is that we can give you features like offline (and seamlessly rollout future features) that will make Design Space an even better experience.
When you download Design Space for Desktop Beta, you’ll sign in with your Cricut ID and access your projects as you typically do across your devices. All your content and favorite design features are in the same place.
Only soon, on top of the peace of mind you get from having your projects safe and sound in the cloud, you’ll also have the choice to save them to your computer, too, so you can design with your saved project any time, even without an internet connection.
To learn how to download the beta app and get an overview the offline feature, watch this video.
For more information, you can also visit help.cricut.com.
There’s More to Come
Because we are releasing Design Space for Desktop in beta first, there are certain features that will be available right away and others that will come in time. If you receive the offline feature during this first rollout, you can expect to:
- Save projects for offline use on your canvas
- Save images and fonts within a project for offline use
- Create new projects offline (if your internet goes down, you won’t lose your project)
- Cut offline from anywhere
In the future, you’ll also be able to:
- Download images for offline use
- Download fonts for offline use
If you have an iOS device, you can cut offline right now! For those of your designing on Android, we will plan to roll out the offline feature in the future.
How to Download Design Space Desktop Beta
Ready to get in on the action? Just download and install Design Space for Desktop Beta here.
If you have more questions, check out this help article.
Cricut Design software, free download For Windows 7
When will I get the offline feature?
We will roll out the offline feature to the beta app in phases over several weeks starting in September. This means some members may get the feature before others. We can't give you an exact date of when you'll get it, but the sooner you download the beta app, the better!
You Are Our Inspiration
It is our top priority to make Design Space the best possible experience. To us, that job will never be “done.”
We have approximately 100 amazing software engineers working on Design Space and we’re making tons of improvements.” – Ashish Arora, CEO of Cricut
Your feedback inspires us. You motivate us to make sure that Design Space delivers on our mission to help you live your most creative life.
We look forward to hearing what you think, and eventually, launching a full Design Space Desktop experience for everyone.
The Cricut Team
P.S. Stay in Touch
To keep us better connected about all things Design Space, we opened our first Official Cricut Software News Facebook member page. We’ll share real-time feature announcements (including the moment offline rolls out), give news about planned software outages, and even surprise you with a product giveaway here and there. Join us!
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