I have seen so many questions and there is so much information to slog through, that I put together a chart with as many relevant parameters as I could think of. I anticipate frequent updates in the near term so please send others to this page instead of sharing the file. Thanks for your cooperation.
Click here to download the latest chart in PDF format
Latest update 12/23/10. MTC 3.2 and SCAL 2.038
You may also be interested in the 4 part series on this blog http://www.createyourheartout.com
or a short comparison article from Darcy
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The PDF link at Mediafire gives me an error. Is there a new upload and link coming? Thanks so much for charting out the different features. It’s very helpful to me as I’m getting ready to choose between SCAL2 and MTC! 🙂
Thanks for pointing this out, GW. I fixed the link so it is working now.
Kay,
Thank you so much for keeping on top of all the upgrades to these programs. PC could definitely learn alot about responding to customer requests by taking a look at what Andy and Rob are doing. With all the changes to SCAL and MTC, I am finally able to use the programs without fear. I still need to work on Boolean functions, but overall I’ve learned alot. With the competition between the 2 non PC programs, the customer is definitely coming out the winner.
I am thinking of buying Make The Cut but am confused. on the bottom of page 2 it says it uses .MCT files does this mean all the free .SVG files you see can’t be used in MTC. I learned a lot from your charts.
Thank You
Joyce Dillow
Joyce, that line is for the *native* file format. If you look at the other lines on the chart you will see that MTC both reads and writes svg files.
I emailed MTC and asked about doing it for Mac. They said they had no plans for making it Mac compatible in the future. I have been trying (with little success) to get Parallels and Win XP so I can use MTC, but so far, I have not had any luck. If I can’t get some help to do this soon, I will just go ahead and buy SCAL.
Why not just get SCAL anyway and support the company that supports the MacOS?
My main problem is that they say it is much harder to learn SCAL than it is to learn MTC. However, you are probably right. I should just get the one that I can use on my computer without computer problems. There is a learning curve with anything and I will have to learn whichever one I get…:-( It’s not that I am lazy or slow, I just have very little time. (Still learning how to use the Mac, after 10 years on a PC!) Thanks for the comment. You may have helped me change my mind!
I have just purchased the new Design Studio software by Cricut. I have not used it yet, but wondered if it is comparable to either Make the Cut or Sure Cuts Alot.
Could I be lucky enough that it is a better option than either one of those previous two?
I am looking at purchasing MTC but don’t want to duplicate expense or efforts if what I already have will work about the same. Thank you!
CDS is very different from MTC or SCAL. The chart should show you the differences but basically with CDS works with the cartridges you have and MTC or SCAL use images that are not on cartridges. If you have a lot of cartridges, ideally you would have CDS plus MTC or SCAL.
I just wanted to say that I finally decided to go with SCAL. Yes, it is a little confusing, but I have done a few things already and I am sure I will really enjoy it, once I get the hang of it. I just try to keep watching videos about it and mess around with different things. Thanks for all of the help!
Thank you Kay. I didn’t realize that “CDS” on the chart referred to my Design Studio disc!! I appreciate the helpful information and will probably decide to go with the MTC. I already have 12 various Cricut cartridges but really don’t want to invest in any more since the MTC seems to be so versatile. I gave the demo a try last evening.
I too looked at MTC and decided to go with SCAL since I am on a mac. Running parallels all the time is not an option for me.
if you are on a mac it has been decided for you. MTC is not compatible with mac.
Unfortunately, if you have a Cricut, it has been decided for you. Cricut Craft Room is the only option going forward. Gypsy and CDS are being discontinued and MTC and SCAL can no longer cut to Cricuts.