new to this! 0 Posted August 13, 2013 Hi, I'm Tina and I'm a Louisiana girl and own a small pharmacy and gift shop with my husband and two daughters. We just purchased the US Cutter 871-MK2 and installed the Sure Cuts A Lot Pro software. What next??? I'm overwhelmed with the options I have for design software. Should I download Inkscape for free and learn it, or buy Corel? I'm not very "computer literate", however, I love to design. We would like to use our plotter to personalize gifts, make decals, make stencils, etc. We've had it for 3 weeks and it's just sitting here - I need to learn what to do fast - It's not going to pay for itself sitting idle! HELP please! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slice&dice 2,450 Posted August 13, 2013 Tina, welcome. I have said this numerous times on the Forums, and I'll repeat it here -- SignBlazerElements might be preferable for a design/cutting combination, and I highly suggest you download and install it. http://support.uscutter.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/GetAttachment/190/24198 From the very first hour after assembling my MH cutter and loading up SignBlazer, I was up and running, making yard signs and banners. Since you have a store, that would be the most logical first project, creating a banner and some yard signs (coroplast 18" x 24") that promote BackToSchool or Labor Day Sale, or whatever you have going on. As far as personalizing gifts, get used to the Fonts that come with SignBlazer, and when you want to use one, you'll have some idea which of them would be best. Also, SignBlazer has a built-in Library of ready-to-cut clipart, including Animals. I guarantee your two daughters will be happy to get a few stickers with frogs, fish, elephants, rhinoceros, bear, etc etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jay2703 704 Posted August 13, 2013 Tina, Slice is right on the money. SignBlazer is as easy to learn as it gets. there are a lot of royalty free clip-art sites to get cutter ready vector images from. http://all-silhouettes.com/ is one of my favorites. Jay Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
petroman2012 168 Posted August 13, 2013 Hi.....What part of Louisiana are you located.....We(wife and I) reside in Rayne... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted August 14, 2013 welcome from Michigan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ravenwind / One Off Grafx 187 Posted August 14, 2013 Welcome from the northwest, and no mans land Montana. Where the nearest thing is 2 hours away. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WiL1978 46 Posted August 14, 2013 Welcome From Missouri.. This place has a bunch of great people, your going to learn a wealth of knowledge from here.. :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mabscotthandyman 1,410 Posted August 14, 2013 Hello and welcome Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sleeveofwizzard 104 Posted August 14, 2013 Welcome from California Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BannerJohn 1,324 Posted August 14, 2013 If you are going to have to learn the software from the ground up, might as well learn what you already have..SCALP. The few who have taken the time, find it to be a fine design and cut program. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dwp99 283 Posted August 15, 2013 Hello and Welcome to the forum. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slice&dice 2,450 Posted August 15, 2013 Anyway, after you settle upon whatever program you decide you like best, Tina, I notice that Louisiana is a state with a requirement for only a single (rear) license plate on vehicles. That means you might want to pursue making CUSTOMIZED front plates and offer them to your clients. US CUTTER will sell you these license plate frames --- http://www.uscutter.com/License-Plate-Frame Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OWJones 1,981 Posted August 15, 2013 Anyway, after you settle upon whatever program you decide you like best, Tina, I notice that Louisiana is a state with a requirement for only a single (rear) license plate on vehicles.That means you might want to pursue making CUSTOMIZED front plates and offer them to your clients. US CUTTER will sell you these license plate frames --- http://www.uscutter.com/License-Plate-Frame Slice is right (as usual) that custom front plates are a great way to get started. I, sadly, live in a 2-plate state so I don't have that option. If you're looking for clipart, check this thread I created with a long list of free (and almost free) clipart sites to get you started - http://forum.uscutter.com/index.php?/topic/39774-are-you-ready-for-some-clip-art-links-to-free-clip-art/ that should get you going... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
