Page Text: Today I’m writing about the new ScanNCut DX Playbook! In the UK, this is only available exclusively through Makers Superstore – their website is http://www.makerssuperstore.com
The gist of this review is –
This book is EXCELLENT and extremely informative and comprehensive –
NO – all the content CANNOT be found online or elsewhere – there is nothing else out there that covers the inbuilt functions as comprehensively as this book does….I’ve already been there, read the book, seen the YouTube videos, got the ScanNCut t shirt….sorry couldn’t help that joke!
YES it is DEFINITELY well worth the price point as it contains so much excellent content – the book plus pattern collection activation card plus usb with extra bonus content and tutorials….so with that said, here is more information for you 🙂
First of all, ignore the title “ScanNCut DX Innov-is Edition Playbook” – this book is for ALL DX series machines, so in the UK that would be ALL the SDX series – so the bottom range SDX900, through to the SDX135PRO, SDX1200 and the top of the range SDX2200D.
Looking at the online blurb, I originally thought the playbook contained just basic content and a bit about using .pes files on the ScanNCut but it’s not – it’s a really fantastic, well thought out manual designed to hold your hand and help you become best friends with your ScanNCut.
It landed on my doorstep yesterday, and I was really surprised – there is a lot more content in there than I thought there was! And most of that content actually isn’t covered on the internet, or on YouTube, so I was really delighted about that!
It’s written by Cindy Hogan, a Brother Brand Ambassador based in the USA. Cindy has been using Brother machines for many years, and is very well known in the embroidery world for her excellent manuals on PE Design, which is digitizing software for embroidery machines. As Cindy normally writes manuals for software, this manual is very much focused on using the functions on the machine itself.
I’ve had a really good read through it – there is some fantastic content in the book, especially for new or users intermediate or those who wish to become more confident and comfortable when using their ScanNCut.
However, this book isn’t just for those of us who also use embroidery machines, far from it! Yes, there are chapters on using embroidery machines and .pes functions etc, but the majority of the book is designed to help you learn your machine inside out, from the beginning, in steps you can take at your own pace.
The book has about 250 A4 size pages and is packed full with useful content. You also get the PigPong Lettering Collection activation card (which normally costs £39.99) separately – and there are some projects in the book that you will create using the activation card, plus other projects, and the book takes you through those step by step.
Inside the book there is also a USB flash drive, which contains the videos and files for the projects inside the book, as well as a glossary – which I love as it isn’t just a description of various ScanNCut terms but this actually takes you through every single screen on the machine and explains both what the menus and options on the screen mean, and what they do. I am an experienced user but even I am going to print this extra bonus content out to put in a folder with the playbook. it’s a brilliant reference guide.
The only thing I had trouble with was working out how to open the usb (it’s a little card with a hinge), so here is a video I found helpful – once you know how to do it you’ll be fine!
Opening the flash drive usb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhU8VKxEocU
The book also helps you become more comfortable with using Canvas Workspace – there are step by step instructions on setting up your Canvas Workspace account, and how to connect your ScanNCut to your wireless internet. There are also chapters on updating the machines firmware, and activating pattern collections and uaing the premium function settings. All this information is step by step, and in depth, meaning you can’t go wrong as you have the book and pictures to follow while you get everything set up.
That’s only a small part of the book though!
A large part of the book is dedicated to all the amazing scanning features that are built in to the machine, again there are pages and pages of in depth, step by step instructions on how to expertly use all the various scanning features – there is a *lot more* you can do with the scan function rather than just dragging a cut file over to the right area of a piece of paper or card! This section is *excellent* and so (here’s that word again!) in depth and informative. It goes right through every single scanning function comprehensively so you can get the best results, and on top of that, there is more content about scanning on the actual USB for you to print out if you choose (and yes I will be doing that! as it’s so helpful!
The vast majority of the content in this book has been written to help you with all the machines inbuilt functions and this isn’t covered in such great depth on the internet, online, on Youtube, or other instructional videos or demonstrations – the content in the book is *extremely* comprehensive.
The playbook also gets you started on the basics of using Canvas Workspace in conjunction with your machine. There is too much in the book to mention everything and it’s not something that you’re going to pick up and use once or twice, I genuinely think new and intermediate users will go to this book time and time again.
The playbook/pattern collection/bonus usb content really is *worth every penny of the price* – it’s written by someone who has extensive knowledge of producing instructional manuals for Brother and this book as I said covers much more than other instructional content – it goes places other ScanNCut instructors and demonstrators haven’t been before, right to the heart of the machine (in detail!).
I love it and it’s going to sit right next to my ScanNCut SDX2200D as a reference guide! 🙂
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Hi all – I’ve just uploaded a new video to Youtube – https://youtu.be/BiL3CCVxntw
I’ve been using the new ScanNCut DX Print to Cut function and OMG I seriously love it – I can’t stop printing and cutting, I’m obsessed now!
Now the function is designed for the SDX machine – however there is a workaround for the CM series – which I am making a video on at the moment- look out for my video though because I have a few tips – but bear in mind it won’t work in the same way as the DX machines.
In the UK the activation card is available through http://www.makerssuperstore.com
I highly recommend you also buy the Enhanced Image Tracing Premium Pack 2, as it allows you to trace images more accurately, cut landlocked areas etc.
You can use any printer, inkjet or laser to print off the printed image pages. I’m so in love with Print and Cut, I bought a laser printer!
I have several friends who have spent in the region of £7,500 (YES REALLY!) on all the usbs with printed images to cut on, so this is going to literally save them thousands of pounds now.
Basically, once you have registered the activation card (I show how to do this in my video) – You can take ANY FREE IMAGE ON THE INTERNET, yes that’s right FREE FREE FREE IMAGES! (Obviously use copyright, royalty free images so you don’t get yourself into any hot water). You can also use your own images or photos. So download a free image – try www.pixabay.com – images with transparent backgrounds are best – think of any object or image you like and you will find a FREE image!
Can you tell I’m excited yet?
Here are some of the images I have printed and then cut so far…
Canvas Workspace will automatically trace the images and put cut lines around the image for you, including landlocked areas!!
Then you can RESIZE AND DUPLICATE BOTH THE IMAGE AND THE CUT FILE TOGETHER – (no more having to mess about with printing and trying to work out how big your images are compared to your cut files.)
– MIRROR IMAGE/FLIP YOUR CUT FILES (you can create double sided printed pages this way – video for this will follow at a later date)
– CREATE PAGES FILLED WITH MULTIPLE IMAGES IN TWO MINUTES IN CANVAS WORKSPACE.
Print those pages off, pop them on the mat and then…
OMG do you know what the ScanNCut DX does? This is the best bit! IT AUTOMATICALLY POSITIONS THE CUT FILE OVER THE IMAGES AND THEN CUTS THEM OUT!
*No dragging cut files over printed images – no aligning any shapes etc – the machine just DOES IT! How fantastic is that!
It is the most magic ScanNCut thing I’ve seen for a long time, I can’t get over how it automatically positions the cut file over the image…you can put the paper anywhere on the mat…no need to worry about lining it up with a corner…the machine reads the registration marks on the paper and knows where to cut!
You can also bring in your own photos or images into Canvas Workspace and put shapes round them and RESIZE THE PHOTOS AND THE CUT FILES TOGETHER.
I print on Wilko Navigator 120gsm paper (£4 for 250 sheets) or matte photo paper – you can also get double sided matte photo paper if want to double sided print to cut)
Happy printing and cutting! 🙂
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OK guys so here is some information you need to know before the new SDX900 is launched tomorrow on Create and Craft.
I’m posting this because I’m passionate about getting truthful and accurate information out there so people can make an informed purchase.
As you know, the CM900 is now discontinued, and the SDX900 has been launched by Create and Craft to replace it.
I don’t like the name SDX900, as that implies it is a improved CM900 with autoblade.
HOWEVER be aware THE SDX900 IS NOT, I REPEAT, NOT A CM900 WITH AUTOBLADE.
PLEASE READ BELOW CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BUY THE SDX900 AS IT IS NOT COMPARABLE WITH THE CM900 IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY.
I don’t know if the SDX900 has the new mat feed roller system or not.
The SDX900 screen is TINY, and I mean TINY. It’s only 3.47″ and that’s measured on the diagonal. The original CM300 actually has a larger screen than the new SDX900 (3.70 inches)
I am really disappointed with the screen size on the SDX900. I’ll add some comparison photos to this post
The SDX900 is meant to be a replacement for the CM900 – but the CM900 has a much larger screen, – 4.8 inches! and 1303 patterns, .pes capability, scans 12×24″ mat so be aware the SDX900 is NOT a CM900 with autoblade..
Don’t be fooled though by anything Mel or Create and Craft might tell you that this is a replacement for the CM900 – because the SDX900 is definitely not comparable with the CM900 – the SDX900 has only 682 patterns, 7 fonts, no .pes capability and doesn’t scan a 12×24 mat – the only benefit is autoblade, and the ability to use the new kits.
Lots of us here have are very unhappy with Create and Craft…some people spent over £500 and ordered their SDX1200 on the 19th September and still haven’t got their machine!
IF YOU WANT A MID RANGE, BUDGET MACHINE, then the SDX135PRO is a MUCH better buy than the new SDX900.
The SDX135PRO has the same patterns (682) as the SDX900, and the same basic specs as the new SDX900 (so doesn’t read .pes, no scan 12×24 mat etc) – but DOES have more fonts, the new mat roller feed system as I said, AND THE LARGER 5″ SCREEN
There are more improvements on the SDX135PRO over the SDX900 but I’m waiting for Brother to email me a full list.
The SDX135PRO has a 5″ screen (same size as the SDX1200 and the SDX2200D)…by comparison the SDX900 screen is only 3.47″
The SDX135PRO (and the SDX2200D) are only available through Makers Superstore.
Yes Create and Craft might have a lower price on the SDX900 tomorrow….but you’ll regret not buying the SDX135PRO with the larger screen and the better features!
The current top of the entire Brother ScanNCut range is the SDX2200D which obviously has a higher price point than the SDX135PRO.
Makers Superstore also have a much better service than Create and Craft – ask your fellow users here, and read INDEPENDENT reviews of Makers Superstore here: