Posted by scrapper | Posted in Die Cut Shapes | Posted on 09-12-2008
Tags: brushes, design, photoshop, resources, textures
For years, schools have been using expensive die cutting equipment for bulletin boards and craft projects. Then as scrapbooking became more popular scrapbook shops and craft stores started selling die cuts and cutting equipment. Usually, the cutting equipment isn’t that expensive. However, you can easily spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on die sets. For most individuals who love to scrapbook, the cost of owning a traditional die cutting machine along with a large selection of dies is just not practical.
With the cost of traditional cutting solutions, most serious scrapbookers were left to either buy cuts or use a cutting machine at local scrapbooking stores. However, that has now all changed. With the advent of computerized cutting solutions, it is now possible for individuals to create their own die cuts in the comfort of their own home without breaking the bank.
There are a number of different computerized cutting machines available on the market. However, most of these machines require users to buy font sets and shape sets to use with the machine. Usually the machine itself is not very expensive. However, like traditional cutting solutions it is easy to spend two or three times the value of the machine on the fonts and shapes. Unfortunately, this isn’t that much better than the old way of doing die cuts.
A few computerized cutting solutions are different. They allow you use your computer to cut any font or shape that you have on your hard drive. With these solutions, there are literally millions of possibilities and you don’t need to buy a single font set or cartridge. You can use any of the fonts, clipart or shapes that you currently have on your computer or you can design your own shapes and cut them out. These solutions even come with software that allows you to “weld” words together to make a die cut of a complete word.
The possibilities for this type of machine are endless. You can use these machines to cut letters and words from virtually any type of paper you can find. You can cut nearly any shape that you can imagine, including complex shapes with small details such as a snowflake. You can even cut a logo or shape out of a card or document allowing you to create unique layers. Plus, if you run out of ideas of things to cut out you can find endless ideas on the internet. In fact, there are even groups dedicated to sharing ideas and designs to use with these type of die cutting machines.
There are currently three different machines on the market that offer the option of cutting shapes and true type fonts from your computer. These options include the Xyron Wishblade, The Craft Robo and the Pazzles Mini. All three of these machines offer similar features at similar prices. Check them out for yourself and start cutting shapes and letters today.
Jeff McRitchie is the designer and Director of Marketing for http://www.MyBinding.com. He has written hundreds of articles on topics related to Paper Handling,Xyron Die cutting Systems Binding Supplies, Binding Machines, Laminators, Laminating Supplies, Covers, Index Tabs, Paper Shredders and more.
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