One of the reasons that I love my Silhouette is for tracing images, which I can then use for crafting. You can trace a photo and turn it into a cutting file, but for those who aren't as familiar with tracing images, it's easiest to start with free clip art, coloring pages, etc. Some fully colored images can also be used.
As anyone who has followed my blog probably knows, my DH had a widow maker heart attack almost a year ago, which he thankfully survived. His recovery has been slow, and we spend a lot of time every week going to two different types of physical therapy. He is improving, though, and one of the things that gives him hope and encourages him to work on his recovery, is the hope of going to Disney World when he is well enough. He watches a lot of Disney YouTube videos, and I spend time designing what shirts we want to wear.
In 2017, we took a family trip to Disney World. I made 27 different t-shirt designs for various family members, each one a unique creation according to their preferences. I started with free clip art from the internet for some, and bought Cricut Disney designs for others. The ones that I made with the Cricut designs were definitely the nicest.
What do you do, though, if you want to do a specific kind of design, but it's not available as a cutting file? This is where the trace feature of the Silhouette software comes in handy.
The Silhouette video on tracing specifically states that you shouldn't use it on proprietary designs. I'm sure their lawyers were thinking that they didn't want Disney lawyers to come after them, and they have a good point. You will see Disney cutting files online for sale by individuals, who have essentially created unauthorized cutting files for sale using internet clip art. Before long, the Disney lawyers usually shut those entrepreneurs down. However, when we went to Disney with our very unique home made Disney shirts, no one at Disney gave us a bad time about it, and a few of the shirts were really well done. They were home made, but the last ones that I did looked professional. The more shirts that I made with heat transfer vinyl, the better I got. I assumed that since it was for personal use, it was legally acceptable.
Apparently, it's not legal. Will the Disney lawyers go after home crafters who just make their own t-shirts but don't sell them? Probably not, since there are a lot of people trying to sell the products which is a truly blatant copyright issue. However, technically you are supposed to get permission from Disney to even make a shirt only for you, unless it is one of the licensed Cricut designs, and I kind of doubt that Disney will grant permission, even if you go through the hassle.
Will you actually get into trouble? Will Disney folks deny you entrance to the parks or throw you out for a home made but professional looking t-shirt, with their lawyers in hot pursuit? Probably not, but I wish I knew the answer to that. Some of the Cricut designs are great, and would certainly be legal to use if you've bought the cutting file. I've bought quite a few. But I've also found Disney designs that I like better, which aren't available, so I have to decide if I am willing to take the time to make them if wearing them to the Disney parks could land me in legal trouble or get kicked out.
