Cricut Design Studio

Cricut Design Studio Software Expands Cutter Horizons

Design Studio Software

Provo Craft's original Cricut Machine does not need to be used with a computer, but with the development of the Cricut Design Studio software, the option is now available. Design Studio can be used with the original Cricut or the Cricut Expression. Consumers must purchase Cricut Cartridges to use the Design Studio. This software accesses designs from the cartridges that the user owns.

The Design Studio is a natural progression in scrapbooking. After consumers purchase their cartridges, they yearn for an easier way to "cross-reference" and intermix the numerous fonts, shapes and patterns into exciting holiday gifts, home decorations and school projects.

This extension of the Cricut family of products is directed towards the more savvy computer users - who have mastered basic parameters of Cricut usage and are searching for increasingly "complex" paper designing techniques.

The Cricut Design Studio has a listing of all of the cartridges that Cricut sells in the "Cricut Cartridge Library" box. The customer selects the cartridge that they own and works from that menu.

This Design Studio software has a user-friendly interface, using big green buttons to control the Cricut paper cutting system. The screen displays a cutting mat - allowing the consumer to change, alter and adjust shapes. This allows the user to better visualize their creations.

Product Reviews

On www.viewpoints.com, desiab described the Cricut Design Studio as "promising" and praised the new welding feature advantages: "Cardmaking is a snap when you are able to lay out the entire card with the words on the front or designs on the side and cut."

This software allows the artist to create a more "finished" product before cutting.

Welding

The Witty Sparks website, www.wittysparks.com, has a handy video showing the process of selecting one letter, then a second, "nudging" the second letter so that it overlaps the first and then pushing the "welding" button to link the two. This feature ensures that each letter, in the "welded" word, receives the same formatting.

Elevated Creativity

The ability - to swivel, turn and rotate shapes - helps the more computer savvy veterans magnify their Cricut system's possibilities. There is a "Shape Properties" box, enabling the artist to format each shape accordingly.

Consumers can save unique designs and share them with other Cricut users.

The Design Studio is a welcome addition to the Cricut scrapbooking family, widening the world of options to Cricut users.