by pigtailpat » December 3rd, 2015, 11:22 am
The stencil or mylar is not the problem - that media is easy for the cougar or silver bullet. The difficulty lies in creating channels for the images to be cut from the media in the software. With the new stencil bridge ability in SCAL 4, it is less difficult, but it does take QUITE a bit of skill, which has a learning curve. Start with very simple images, and graduate to more complex curves. My advice: purchase SCAL 4 in advance of the cutter (even though it is an extra cost - it is worth it believe me) and play in the software for quite a bit and ask on this board as to how something will cut, and you can ask people here to test cut for you - to get an idea of what you are dreaming about can be a reality. Once you master creation of channels for stencils in the software, THEN you are ready to purchase the machine, because then you will know it can be accomplished. This is NOT a machine limitation, this is much more a software issue, and being able to create those stencil channels for complex images is not an easy task. You have to thoroughly understand how shadow layer works, and to what depth you need to set your shadow layer, and how to create stencil bridges within SCAL 4 so that the cut is retained and not completely separated from your media (i.e. that the positive piece is retained into the negative piece). It can be done, but requires patience and a learning curve. If you know you are a fast software learner and have prior experience with vectors, you probably could make the leap and learn both (software and machine) at the same time. If you are a complete newbie with no vector experience, you might get frustrated in learning how to create the stencil channels and the accompanying bridges to cut properly and learn the machine at the same time. Stencils are a completely different animal, and requires thought to have that positive piece retained. Please understand I am referring to stencils that have a channel and path into which a pencil can be inserted to trace, or paint can be sprayed upon to create the image. I am NOT referring to a template, which is a completely separated positive piece, that can be traced or painted around. Many people refer to templates as stencils, when they are really templates.
I know some may disagree with my advice on this board. I know for myself, if I had not have the prior vector experience and so many helpful people guiding me over the years, including Dawn, Rachel and Terri, I never would have understood the whole concept of what stencils are about. I consider this a concept on the more difficult side.
Pat
[EDIT: I see you have a cameo/silhoutte - my advice is even STRONGER to get SCAL 4 in advance - play with the software and test cut your designs in regular paper on the cameo/silhouette - so you can get the concept down as to how to create true stencil designs. Once you really have that down - then buy the machine - there are limits to thickness you can cut - you will have to get mylar that is around 1 mm - 1.5 [with 1.5 being the top end of machine spec] - thicker might be doable with multicut - but curves are difficult the thicker your media is.]
New owner of an 18" cougar and the gazelle...still a newbie at the cougar and will soon explore it............