Canvas - What is it and what can it do?

Hi. It's a very very long time since i've blogged! Sorry about that. I was getting ready to move and then actually moving house and then unpacking, and being disabled with the main issue being lack of energy,  absolutely nothing craftwise has happened for ages!

I'm now on a few facebook groups, and I keep seeing the same sort of questions over and over again, but as I don't have a clear table surface for my machine, and I can't find my SD card reader for the laptop post move (I know I've seen it since, just can't remember where), I can't do more blogging about working with the machine.  So I decided that I can do blog posts entirely on the laptop using LightShot for screen grabs, so I should start the series on the Canvas software.

WHAT IS CANVAS?

It is a piece of free software that is browser based (ie you need a computer or tablet and internet connection to use it) that anyone can use (even if they don't own a Brother ScanNCut - though it's not much use without one!) that Brother have developed to give you the

• SAME functionality for manipulating basic shapes as you have in the machine itself
• PLUS additional functionality for manipulating basic shapes online to send to your machine for using

ADDITIONALLY there are

• Downloadable Projects with instructions and cutting files (everyone can access these)
• More Images linked to Kits (locked until you buy the relevant kit - rhinestones or foiling or embossing or stamp making or stickers etc)
• Enhanced Image Tracing with 125 or 25 images (locked until you buy the relevant Image Tracing Activation Code)
• Special Image collections such as Disney or Tattered Lace (locked until you buy the relevant Activation Code).

What isn't there? Well, you are limited to manipulating the Basic Shapes and Fonts in Canvas. These are identical to the ones preinstalled in your machine within the Basic, Border, Logo and Text sections - all the other preinstalled images on the machine can't be used in Canvas (there is a workaround for this I'll tell you about later). Similarly, the images you get with the Enhanced Tracing are stored in Canvas for you to download to your computer, but you can't just bring them into Canvas, to look at and use them, they need to be taken to the Machine. (same workaround for that too).

Why are the preinstalled images restricted? Why can't I use them in Canvas? Pure speculation here, but I suspect it's down to copyright and Brother not wanting people to be able to actually change those images - other than resizing or changing the angle or flipping etc. In Canvas you can actually change an image pretty significantly. It's a business decision they have made. And as customers we have to live with it.

What about the differences in pre-installed images in the Machine? New models have more images and fonts than my machine  Very true. My machine is a CM600 from at least 2 years ago. I can only use a USB stick to transfer files from my computer to the machine, not wifi, and I only have the basic pre-installed images and fonts.

This is one thing I adore about Brother - they originally designed the machine to be used to cut fabric for patchwork and applique, their customers use it for all sorts of other things and Brother have introduced more functionality to both Canvas AND the newer Machines , including new tools and also the Kits.

Also, as time has gone on, Brother has added more functionality to the machine itself in top end models, that earlier models can only do using Canvas. An example of this: is the ability to cut a dotted line (for scoring). The new top end machines have a dotted line in their pre-installed Borders menu in their machine, the rest of us with earlier machines, we have to create this in Canvas and download it and save it in our machines to be able to use a dotted line when cutting.

However, pretty much as far as I can tell (but I don't have a brand new top end machine, so I don't exactly know) - anything people can do in their new top end machines, people with older or less expensive models can do with their machine and Canvas.  You don't often get companies who upgrade their earlier models in the same way Brother does (I've already had a whinge about Bernina in an earlier blog post about their embroidery software) and Brother really really needs to be congratulated on this! So long as they don't change this policy, my older machine can hold it's own with the newer ones. Hurrah Brother!



Where do I find Canvas?
Here I need to say that I use a laptop for my internet use. I know that Canvas can be used with a tablet, but I've never done it!

You can use Canvas in most browsers - Microsoft Internet Explorer 10+, Google Chrome 27+, Safari 6+ (Apple only) and Opera 12+ and Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge.


BE AWARE! Not all browsers behave the same way with Canvas, for example some functionality is lost in Firefox and also in Chrome. From a cursory read of the available information, Microsoft IE or Edge for Windows and Safari for Mac/Apple users seem to have the fewest issues.


HOW TO START USING CANVAS

Visit scanncutcanvas.brother.com 

This is the front landing page, - two grey boxes on the right and a scrolling marquee of news on the bottom are the bits we are interested in.

User Manual  - Top Right Grey Box - has an explanation of what Canvas is and does AND the link to the Canvas User Manual - Called Help (PDF 14.6MB)

You can also find it once you are logged into Canvas by clicking the Question Mark icon in the top right corner, as well as other useful documents (on which more below), it's the first document called Help (PDF 14.6MB)

The User Manual is 32 pages long and it tells you how to - for computer and for tablet:

• Import an existing image file (SVG, SCF, FCM and in some machines PES)
• Trace an existing image file (JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP) including explaining what the settings are - outline or colour and the limitations.
• If you have wifi enabled machine, you can trace a scanned image from the machine
• Navigate your way around Canvas - using the Projects, My Projects and Pattern Collection tabs
• Use the Projects (created by Brother consisting of a PDF of instructions and the Pattern Cutting files in fcm to download)
• Create your own images in Canvas (once imported) or from scratch using basic shapes.
• Manipulate the patterns for layout, resizing, aligning, grouping, using colour to distinguish pattern layers, showing cutting and drawing lines, including the different cutting lines (dotted lines for scoring)
• Editing patterns to weld (join together), Divide (separate into bits), Remove Overlapped (make holes) and Subtract (take away).
• Creating Offset lines (for seam allowances but also to make your pattern fatter (say for fonts) both inward and outward 
• Select 12x12 or 12x24 mat in Canvas
• Node Editing with Path Tools - you can use Canvas to draw patterns freehand OR using the straight/curved path tool, AND edit the paths from straight to curved and back again, alter where your lines go and also change the curves
• Inputting and editing text within Canvas including changing the font and character spacing,
• Saving in Canvas and then downloading your finished patterns to your machine (this is always as FCM only (and PES in some machines I believe)) 

There's also

• List of Functions (index) telling you if it's available on computer or tablet, and what page to find it on, 
• List of Error Messages
• How to manage your account.

Personally, I find it much easier to use a Manual that's printed out. So that's what I did. It's not totally comprehensive, particularly with Node Editing, but it gives a really good overview, with pictures to show what's possible.

Just underneath the User manual area, is the second Grey Box - this contains the buttons for creating a New Account and for Logging In after you have registered.

CREATE AN ACCOUNT OR LOG IN
 Pretty self evident - if you want to set up an account you need a valid email address and to choose a username and  password. You click the NEW button and follow the instructions, you then get a confirmation email from them to finalise the registration. Here's some instructions from Brother in video form New Account Video Link

After that you just login using your Username and Password and it'll keep you in for 7 days if you tick the box.

REMEMBER you can set up a Canvas account before getting a machine, it's a good way to familiarise yourself with the functionality of the machine (it looks different in the machine but once you know it can do something, it's easier to learn how).

SETTING UP WIFI BETWEEN CANVAS AND THE MACHINE
Not all machines have this, mine doesn't for example. So if you are using a USB stick or cable, you can ignore this.

But if you want to set up the wifi connection, you need to have an Activation Code (this comes with your machine or you buy it separately depending on the bundle you buy), your machine and your computer or tablet and the password/network key for your internet router to follow this video - it's in several steps first you activate wifi in your machine, then you link it to Canvas via the browser with a bit of to and fro between the two, so best to have your machine and your computer as close to the router as you can to get a good connection. WIFI Activation Video Link

CANVAS CHANGES AND UPGRADES
And at the very bottom is a rolling marquee telling you the News about Canvas. This isn't very easy to read so if you look at the bottom right there's 2 phrases, one says More News, the other says Release Notes. These give a quick overview of what's changed since Canvas was created. It's well worth having a look because it shows you how Brother has improved and added to the software, and gives you an idea of what's possible.

HELP INSIDE CANVAS

Ok so, that's the contents of the front page of Canvas. Remember above I told you how to get to the Manual from inside Canvas via the Question Mark icon at the top right of the main screen once you are logged on - it really is worth looking at what's there in more detail. As well as the Manual you can also find

• Manual for using the Enhanced Tracing Function (you buy an activation code for this with either the 125 or 25 pattern collection) I'll do a separate blog post on this later on in the series as I've bought the 25 pattern collection version.

Also:

• Manual for setting up the Wireless WiFi connection (in addition to the video I linked to above)
• And the FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions.

The FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions file is VERY interesting. It's regularly updated, my Canvas says the last update was 6 November 2017 - and basically, it's a list of KNOWN ISSUES with Canvas - things that don't work and why - for example fonts and fabric, and which bits don't work with certain browsers. Well worth a read every couple of months to see what has changed and possibly printing out if any issues apply to the things you want to do with Canvas and your machine.

WHAT DOES CANVAS LOOK LIKE?
 Well, when you log into Canvas you see the Main Screen. This has at least 3 tabs on it (depends on your country)

The tabs are

CANVAS PROJECT (always comes up first)

This is where you find Projects that Brother's paid consultants have created especially for the ScanNCut. They can be used by ALL MODELS of the machine. They consist of a project picture, click on it, and it gives you a bigger picture of the finished thing, a video to watch, pdf instructions to download and the actual FCM cutting files you need to make the item.

TIP - See the bottom right corner there's 3 icons on the main Canvas Project Tab? A filter, and big and small icons. The filter allows you to search the projects to find one you want to save you scrolling through. (I didn't know that until I read the News rolling marquee when I was prepping for this blog post yesterday. Such a cool feature!)

Personally I find these Projects a really good way of easing yourself into using the machine - you can practice without feeling daunted, because it's all there on a plate for you. Just remember to know about blade settings, mats and testcuts before you start! (my posts on those start HERE)

MY PROJECTS 

This is where you create your OWN projects, by manipulating basic shapes found in the left hand column or TRACE or IMPORT your own images in the various file formats, and where the projects YOU create are saved in Canvas. Given that Canvas is online browser software, I always also download my saved projects as well as save them in Canvas - this is so that I can use them when Canvas is down or running slowly, and also, makes sure I don't lose them in future and know they're in two places is safer than one place!

This is my own My Projects tab - everyone has the New Project icon in the top left, then as you save projects, they'll show up in the rest of the tab screen. At the bottom left you can see you can choose between large and small icons (but no search function).

If you click the New Project icon you get a mat space and a sidebar on the left giving you the basic shapes, and a toolbar along the top giving you the functions available, as well as 2 new subtabs called Project, Edit and View. I'll explain how those work in later blog posts. To get out of new projects, click the ScanNCut icon at the top left, it takes you back to the Main Screen.

The final (main) tab is

 PATTERN COLLECTION
There are two collections available in the UK - the 125 and the 25 patterns collections that are part of the Enhancing Image Tracing you can buy as a card with an Activation Code. You can see I've bought the 25 one, as the padlock is unlocked. However, you can go and look at the patterns before you've bought them by clicking on the collection to see what's in it. (I'll let you do that for yourself!)

Also on the Main Screen in the top right corner is a series of icons - how you

• Access your Account for activating Kits you've bought that contain additional images, and to change your details
• A My Projects button - this is the ONE place you can DELETE your saved projects so be super careful when using that! you wouldn't want to delete something by accident! (also a good reason to have them downloaded and saved in your computer so you can upload them again if you do delete anything by accident).
• the Log Out button
• the Help Question Mark (discussed above).

 WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER COLLECTIONS I'VE HEARD ABOUT?

Some countries (the USA) have more collections available - there's basic images for festivals that you can obtain ONLY in the USA via the Brother ScanNCut shop, there's some Tattered Lace and also Disney. I managed to get to see these by using this url HERE but it isn't showing me the Disney.

To see the contents of these Collections, if you go to the USA Brother Website for ScanNCut and have a rootle around, you should be able to find them in the Accessories/Kits area and there's screenshots in there of what images are part of the collection if you can't access them in Canvas.

OTHER SOFTWARE

Whilst Canvas is probably good enough for most people, others are more adventurous. If you want to curve text for example, you have to do it manually in Canvas, other programmes will do it automatically for you.

INKSCAPE - is an open source FREE piece of software that you download into your computer, so you don't need to be online to use it. Download it HERE. I've downloaded but never used it yet. There's tutorials for using it within that website, and there's also tutorials for using it with the ScanNCut online in blog form and video. Eventually I will learn to use it, then I shall blog about what I learned.

NB If you have a super whizzy Windows 10 computer and the Inkscape icons are ridiculously tiny, right click on the Inkscape desktop icon, or the .exe file in the Inkscape folder in programs, choose Properties and then the Compatibility Tab. Then in the second box down, Settings - tick the DPI change and choose system or system enhanced - that will make the icons and functions readable without a magnifying glass! Screen shot below to help you see what it looks like in my computer.

 
SCAL4 - This costs about 50 US dollars (it was on sale for black friday recently at about 32 dollars). Some Facebook Groups have negotiated group discounts, so ask the admin of the group you are in if they have this. Some Groups also have a system where you are charged slightly more than the discounted price and the difference goes into a pot to help fund the software for a group member who can't otherwise afford it.

What's the difference between them?
Canvas is super basic and user friendly image manipulating and creating software. Inkscape is free, and has more functionality and you can do more in it, but it has a steeper learning curve. SCAL4 costs money and I hear it has more functionality than Inkscape, but I've not ever used it so I don't know. I'm not one for spending money, so I'm learning Canvas, then Inkscape myself. I doubt I'll ever use SCAL4.

Other Resources (I'll add them as I find them)

Applelover53 on YouTube has videos on using Canvas so does Julie Fan Fei Balzer a paid consultant for Brother.

Jen Blausey of Jam Sessions on YouTube has a LOT of videos on how to do specific things in Canvas and SCAL4.

Alandacraft has blog posts on Canvas

DesignBundles website has a Design School with Canvas tutorials also.