illustrator with black cat cougar?...i'm a newbie

[mac2003yn]

Hi everyone,

I'm getting so overwhelmed with my decision to purchase the Black Cat Cougar that I have no idea where to start. I have decided to purchase the 24" cutter and I wanted to learn how to use the software before it arrives. I purchased Adobe Illustrator thinking that I could create my own designs but haven't been able to do much with it. I create invitations and want to be able to create custom embossing plates with nice fonts. Is there a software program that you suggest I should be using or should I stick it out with Illustrator? I am not a graphic designer. I feel like this...

Thank you in advance!

[Thyme]

Maybe take a look at Inkscape, it's very powerful and it is also free. Plus a lot of us use it to design with so we can help you out with it

[kim]

I think Suzan is the one that uses AI alot. I use MTC as it is more my speed of software.....it was easy to learn and go at my own pace of learning. If you are not a graphics expert, I would say that trying to tackle Adobe Illustrator AND the Cougar will be overwhelming. I am trying out CorelDraw X6 (they have a 30 day trial version that I am doing) and it seems more user friendly but it depends on how much graphics background you have. For the easiest program, MTC. For the more experienced, maybe Corel. For the expert, Illustrator.....but I am NOT an expert so this is my guess.

[Suzan]

Illustrator is not for the faint at heart, there is no vector software out there that is easy. The positive note is a lot of people do use inkscape which is free and can help. I am virtually a novice with AI. I love it, but I also love certain features of ink. Now if you want really easy software, MTC is great. But there are some drawbacks to MTC. File size, this can freeze the software up. Tyler did a webinar one night embossing metal in a cross hatch pattern and it froze it up completely. I don't know how big the files will be or the detail you will be using.
And with any of the vector programs for designing like Inkscape, Illustrator, or Corel, you can export out so you can use MTC. But the software I would recommend for embossing and engraving would be Sign Cut. It is a spot on program. There are a lot of tutorials out in the world wide web for inkscape, and for illustrator you can find alot also. I love the help feature in illustrator, it takes me to a multitude of places. Also there is a site called Lynda.com. It is an awesome place for tutorials for anyof the Adobe products but there is a fee to use it. Hopefully one day I can or hubby can make some videos to show how to use illustrator. Actually playing between ink and AI alot of the terminology is close enough you can work in both. I think it comes down to a cost factor and preference. I picked up AI quick, and fight inkscape all the time. I know Dawn has used AI and probably feels the same way as I do about ink, she is a whiz in Inkscape, as are a lot of the members here and on the UK forum. In the beginning that is what we had, we didn't have software like MTC or SCAL.

The best thing I can suggest is know that no matter what you choose you will have a learning curve. At times you may think oh goodness what have I done. We have all been there. LOL. Right Ladies? Always always always, make sure you start out slow and simple don't try a huge project that was due 3 days ago. And I promise you will be fine. I researched machines for awhile and actually with some questions to Dawn and the UK forum virtually bought the machine site unseen. And this was a girl who had a cricut, and no clue of what an SVG even was. Please make sure you keep asking questions and watch the videos from the learning center and You Tube.

[Gigi]

Great advice Suzan - slow and steady..... and ask as many questions as you need to -we have ALL been there.

[Elizabeth]

If you want something you can learn quickly so you can be up and running when you receive your machine, I recommend Make the Cut. It is inexpensive, has some decent editing features in the latest edition, and is very user friendly for the beginner. It will give you a good idea of what you will want to do in a more sophisticated graphics program. You can download a trial version to use while you are waiting for your machine. Good luck!

[Angel135612]

Any software you choose to use, will have a learning curve. Don't beat yourself up, if you don't catch on right away. I have had my machine for almost a year now, and I'm still learning Inkscape. I have found the best way to learn is to pick ONE thing you want to learn how to do, then find tuts or ask questions on how to do that ONE thing. As you pick up information, you will see how it all fits together, to be able to do a lot more. If you try to learn how to do everything, it gets overwhelming, but learning how to do one thing isn't. I know for me it took quite a while before I had that AH HA moment, where things fell into place, but once it did, it became much easier to do what I wanted.

One correction to Suzans post, she mentioned a site where you can find tutorials on the Adobe products, it is Lynda.com (she spelled it Linda.com) And they have tutorials on more than just Adobe products... and I have used some of their tuts, and they are very well done and worth the money.

[mac2003yn]

Thank you so much for you support! I've been playing around with Illustrator and really like it! Just need to take it one step at a time.

[Dana]

The other thing you can try is download Make-The-Cut and trial it. If you like it and find that it works for you, you can purchase a registration key. Here is a link to the main page of Make-The-Cut.

http://make-the-cut.com/

[Suzan]

Thank you so much for you support! I've been playing around with Illustrator and really like it! Just need to take it one step at a time.

Oh yes my favorite subject Illustrator. I have just downloaded the trial of CS6. It is way cool and fun. Lots of new features, and some other things that are easier to do. Like changing your layer names. Now you just click on the layer and change the name. You used to have to go into another window. Just one of the small things that I love. You also have the option of changing the look to a black background against the white paper or art board. I haven't played with it much, but I am loving what I have used. Also if have illustrator 5.5 you can upgrade to the new 6 for free.