Using 3rd Party Software with the Cricut (Part 1)

So you just got a new Cricut from Provo Craft, and you want to make your own files to cut? Maybe you found some SVGs or other artwork and want to cut all those stacks of cardstock you have lying around? Well, I’m going to give a brief rundown of why you can’t currently buy software that allows you to use any third-party art with the Cricut, but in my next post I’ll talk about to how to make that software work anyway.

I know, the Cricut comes with its own cartridges, and they have a lot of images to choose from. But maybe you’ve seen some blogs out there, and the owners have tons of cute SVGs you’d love to cut, or you’ve seen websites like Lettering Delights or SVG Cuts. Well, Provo Cut decided to put an end to that by filing a lawsuit against a few smaller companies that made software that worked with the Cricut.

In March of 2011, Provo Craft sued Craft Edge and Make the Cut, who make Sure Cuts a Lot and Make the Cut, respectively. Sure Cuts a Lot (SCAL) and Make the Cut (MTC) are made by third party developers, and they designed software that could work with the Cricut, as well as with a bunch of other die cut machines on the market (like the Silhouette line or the KNK Zing). Provo Craft wasn’t very happy that its users were skipping out on buying expensive Cricut cartridges and using software that gave them some flexibility.

I don’t think any Cricut customers were out to get Cricut, but Provo Craft wasn’t supplying anything similar to MTC or SCAL for Cricut users. They just came out with some $300 product that looks like a Sony PSP that’s supposed to let you backup your cartridges and create your own files, but that’s six times the price of software and harder to use. Why not let the loyal customers who purchased the Cricut use whatever files they want to? If the cartridges are worth the money, users will buy them anyway.

Perhaps Provo Craft had its own legitimate reasons for these lawsuits, but I don’t know of a single owner of a Cricut who’s happy with this development. I’m not trying to get everybody to write angry e-mails to Provo Craft (although I’m not saying it’s a bad idea), but rather to show a couple of ways to get around the problem. So stay tuned for the next post, because if you’re tired of paying way too much for a cartridge when you just want a few files to play with, you may be in luck.

-- The Cut Source