Hi all, I see a post about this from 2015 which is forever ago in the world of devices like this, so I thought I’d start a new thread. I’m planning to purchase one of these printer this week if I can find a good sale.
I’ve read/watched several comparisons and people seem to have widely differing thoughts about which is best for our hobby. Specifically it seems to come down to the software not the printer.
I’m planning on making my own masks Canopy and Decal replacements where I want to paint it on rather than use a decal.
The software is ok- the basic stuff is free with the Cricut app- you can upgrade it to a subscription and get various things but I find the basic stuff is all I need. Takes a bit of trial and error to get used to it but it is fairly simple. I tend to use Scotch blue tape varieties as they respond best to complex shapes and curves.
I have a Silhouette (that I bought more for crafting) and can tell you that the reason I bought that versus a Cricut is because I am not a fan of their “it sends your print to their cloud to process and then down to your device” model. If anything happens to the company, every one of those units becomes a brick - or at least, that was the way it was when I was looking to buy. With the Silhouette, I own the unit and the software and can use it even when the internet is out.
I have used the Silhouette a couple of times to make masks and an iron-on design for a tee shirt, but not for anything model-related…yet. It is very much my intent to see if I can scan things like the printed Tamiya tape outlines and convert to a cut pattern, but I haven’t had the opportunity, yet.
Edit: I wanted to confirm I wasn’t confusing with the Glowforge and while I’m not, I misrepresented the situation above. Cricut requires the use of their web-based design software, which is what put me off (see above). I think the fact that they killed their “Craft Room” in 2018 - a few years before my purchase - and their legacy machines were not compatible with the new software was a huge strike against them (for me).
That is very helpful, I’ve been leaning toward the silhouette for a couple of reasons but your thoughts on the software is clarifying.
And yes, I want to scan the masks and print them, rather than cut them out myself where possible. Canopy masking is by far my least favorite part of this hobby.
Is anyone using liquid mask on their canopies? Or is it too imprecise? I used it yesterday on the windshield and side windows of my fuel truck while gloss coating and it worked great. It seems to me that if you can paint precise details on figures, you should be able to paint liquid mask on canopies. Inquiring minds need to know!
I use it where the tape masks don’t fill in the center portion. I don’t like using it where I have to be precise in application. It never leaves a straight edge.
I’ve seen it demonstrated but never tried it personally. I have put narrow strips of tape down just around the edges and liquid masked the rest.
Honestly, I kind of hate the stuff, it can be hard to get completely off and it leaves a light residue that I have to clean that worries me will damage the clearness.
While I have done 60+ tee shirts and a bunch of other HTV (heat transfer vinyl) projects with my Silhouette Cameo 3, I’ve only done a few masks and stencils and to be honest, I don’t remember what I used them on. I have done a number of adhesive vinyl labels, some in two color which is done by carefully stacking multiple layers. I have used it to cut clear plastic sheet for windows in printed RC cars, it does not like the thicker plastics but I do believe that the newer cutters can handle up to 2mm. I’ve only very recently gotten back into building models as they are much less expensive than Tamiya RC cars! And they tend to take up less space.
I don’t find the software difficult and rarely yell at it but it does seem clunky at times. Keep in mind this is from a guy that is still using CorelDraw 12. The free Basic version isn’t bad but does lack some features that the paid version has. If you go with a Silhouette, I wouldn’t bother with the Bluetooth connection, it has dropped enough data to ruin a cut a few times where the USB cable has been 100%. My Cameo is very noisy! I don’t know if they’ve tamed it with newer versions.
The big kerfuffle with Cricut was when they tried to monetize their cloud based data transfer from your PC to the cutter. If you went over a somewhat small threshold, you would be charged. This caused such an uproar that they backed down fairly quickly. I have no idea what the state of affairs is today. While Silhouette software does has some cloud features such as the ability to save projects in the cloud, it can also be run without any connection to the internet once installed. I will say that I regularly read that Mac users have a lot of trouble with Silhouette’s software. It may be fixed, it may not.
You are welcome.
If you don’t mind a “refurbished” cutter, you can get the Cameo 4 for $150 at Silhouette America. Check under sale on the top right. That said, it would be up to you to get a cutting mat, software, knives and vinyl so a bundle is a better choice if you want to hit the ground running. I got my Cameo 3 during a Mother’s Day sale.
Sorry I’m late to the party. I just joined. We were comparing between Cricut and Silhouette, as well, about a year ago. We settled on a Silhouette Cameo 4. We got it on sale from swingdesign.com not long after the Cameo 5 came out. So it was on sale for around $150. The Cameo 5 is a lot more expensive. So you might look for a used unit on eBay, FB Marketplace or Craigslist. We chose it because it doesn’t require an online connection to a mother ship (which may be unavailable) to operate. I’ve not used any of the subscription stuff, just the one-time purchase software. I can import several formats for custom stuff, or make my own within the software. We don’t use it a ton. But it really comes in handy occasionally,
In the end I purchased, though haven’t setup yet, the cricut. I’m still not sure that was the correct decision as I don’t like how they license the software. I’m going to test it out this weekend and form a final opinion. Thank you for the info.
