Would I have bought the machine? Probably not.
Just to clarify, it is a good machine. Some people will love it! I am just not one of them. The reason? I had unrealistic expectations based on overly positive reviews that never mentioned any of the limitations.
The videos always showed the machine cutting out cute, but simple stamps with a slight border. Since a lot of people prefer that style of stamp, I did not think much about it. A lot of people also like a slight border. I did wonder a little about that one until I saw someone cutting right on the lines. However, those were also simpler, less detailed stamps.
My huge stamp collection is made up of more intricate, detailed stamps than simple ones, and I want them fussy cut right on the line. No border.
Intricate details do not always scan well, so either a lot of the stamped images don't scan the full design, or they don't scan the stamped image at all. Your stamp needs to have a solid outer line, with no break in order to get a cutting line that will cut the entire stamped image, without chopping off parts.
If I were willing to fully color each stamped image before cutting, the machine would meet my needs better. It can see the fully colored image much better than just an uncolored stamped image, especially when there are a lot of details. While coloring, you can fill in any inconvenient little artistic gaps in that outer line. I prefer to stamp and cut out a bunch of images at a time, to color in later, once I know what colors I will be using for the project that the stamped image will eventually be part of.
One very good thing about the machine, though, is that once you get a good scan of a stamp, you can save it and keep it for later. That comes in handy if you like to cut first, stamp second (my recent tutorial post).
If you like simple, cute stamps that have a simple outline, the machine works great. If you like a border, many of the more intricate stamps will scan and cut fine, too, just not if you want to fussy cut on the line. If you stamp and color first, this machine may be right for you.
I bought it as a stand alone machine, to scan and fussy cut stamps without using my Cameo or buying matching dies. It did not quite live up to my expectations. Maybe if I wanted to use the online software, I would feel differently.
However, I am used to using a Silhouette Cameo. It has great design software. If I have to use software, I would rather use Silhouette. I can scan my stamps, import them into the software, use it to get a good trace of the outline (which I can manipulate if I need to), and cut all the blanks I need. I don't have to have a matching die. I also don't really need the Scan N Cut, so I could have saved myself some money.
I will keep the machine. There will still be times when it is more convenient than using my Cameo. Besides, I would be selling it at a loss, because no one will pay me the price I paid for it, since it is now a used machine.
My one recommendation is that before you buy the Scan N Cut, or any other machine, find out the negatives, not just the positives before you buy.
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