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SCAL vs Make The Cut feature war continues

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Both MTC and SCAL have released new versions over the last couple of days. Both of these programs now have most of the features we previously had to use Inkscape for! Please see the link below for the latest version of my comparison chart.

http://cleversomeday.wordpress.com/2009/12/22/cricut-software-comparison/

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Comments

  1. Thanks to a windfall on our tax refund, I can buy one of these applications. I’m trying to figure out which is a better fit for me now. I’m glad SCAL2 just released an update; maybe that means there won’t be another one for a little while. That’s something that makes me lean toward MTC…Free updates!

    • Up*dates* are free for SCAL, too. It is major up*grades* that have to be paid for as is standard in the software industry. SCAL was out for a year and a half with many updates before the upgrade to SCAL2 was released. SCAL2 has already had a number of updates, as has MTC. MTC has never promised free upgrades, as far as I know. If anyone has a link to the contrary please let me know.

      • We don’t see any difference between updates and upgrades. We will do not charge for new versions period. You will pay a one time fee for MTC.

  2. I am new to MTC/Cricut. I would like to buy some fabulous images from http://www.silhouettemachine.com but I have a cricut, not a silhouette. Do you know what file format the silhouette images come in and if there is any way to transfer them to SVG format that my mtc/cricut can read? Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions you can give a total newbie! Awesome site, btw! I can’t wait to learn more!

    • Tamara,
      Though it is possible there is not an easy conversion. There are lots of sites with great designs for the Cricut with MTC or SCAL (that both use SVG format), though. There are a ton of free files at forums. craftedge.com or in the MTC gallery and on individual sites. SVGCuts.com has freebies and files for sale that are awesome.

  3. Well, I am hooked on MTC now. I was a true blue SCAL2 user but ever since I have gotten MTC I have only went back to SCAL2 to see if they had any updates. Yes, there will be a war on for some time with the talented programmers for both pieces of software. I do feel that the MTC is far more user friendly. I had no problem with either program but for those that don’t want a huge learning curve before having fun…MTC is the way to go. I absolutely love it. I was always pushing everyone to get SCAL2 but now I have to tell them to download both of the free trials and find out for themselves. Myself…I am sold on MTC by a long shot!

  4. Hi Kay, thanks for the updated info. I guess competition is good. Hope both companies do well. I love SCAL and their tried and true fab customer service!! MTC will have to be around a while longer before we know if their customer service will be comparable.

  5. I have a bunch of friends and we are all on the fence with this decision? How do you decide SCAL2 or MTC? I am REALLY wanting one of these asap but I’m worried to make the wrong choice and get a program that either crashes or is too hard to use???? There are 18 of us wanting to buy one or the other?? What would you suggest?

    • Juleen,
      Best way to decide is to load the trial versions of both and play around with them. They will do everything but the cutting (they cut but with slashes as a watermark.) SCAL demo only good for 15 days, MTC demo doesn’t expire.

  6. I have a couple of friends and we purchased the cricut expressions and design studio a while back, but are just now starting to use it. We just heard about SCAL2 and MTC, literally just heard about it today. Our question is, is it like the the design studio that it can only be down loaded to one computer or can one be used for our lap tops and our PC’s?

    • The comparison chart has this information. You can install SCAL on 2 computers and MTC on unlimited computers as long as they are not used at the same time. Much more flexible than CDS. As a workaround, many people just install the trial version of CDS on their second machine since it is free, does not time out and can do everything but cut.

    • Many new features in SCAL2 had to previously be done in Inkscape. Examples are autotracing, text on a path, break apart, subtract, etc.

    • MTC puts a mark on the SVGs created or the cuts made with the trial version to render them useless, but you can still see how the paid version would work.

  10. Yes I just got information from MTC that they have no plans as of yet to come up with Mac compatible program. Weil I love my SCAL anyway, their awesome and very fast and personal customer service as well as the fact that they didn’t neglect us Mac users. I LOVE my mac.

  11. MTC no longer supports cricut 🙁 Guess my decision has been made for me! SCAL2 here I come!

  12. I didn’t know MTC lo longer suppostrs cricut but that’s just another reason why MTC sucks. I love SCAL and yes, you have to use inscape to convert to svg, etc. but that’s the easiest thing on the world. It is not too time consuming, if you take more than 1 or 2 minutes to do whatever you have to do on Inscape in order for you to return to your SCAL to cut your file, then I don’t know what to tell you. Plus MTC is overpriced. More expensive than SCAL. SCAL works perfectly good for me. Very happy with it.

  13. Does anyone know where to purchase versions of SCAL or MTC for Cricut? Which is a more user friendly version for the computer illerterate??
    Thank you in advance 🙂

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