SNC Basics - Overview - All about file types that can be used by Canvas and the two methods of importing them

This post is an overview of  common computer file types and the two methods to import the differences between jpeg, gif, png, bmp, svg, fcm and dxf file types and when to use Trace (free) or Enhanced Tracing icons (additional purchase) and when to use SVG Import icon (free).

From Wikipedia

The short answer to this is that you use Tracing Icon for jpeg, gif, png and bmp files as these are Raster files, and the SVG icon for svg, fcm and dxf files as these are Vector files in Canvas Workspace. However what the blog post covers is characteristics of those file formats and WHY you use one or the other for a particular file and also what the likely outcome will be - this enables you to make an informed decision as to whether a file is likely to acheive the desired result or not. Thus saving you time, energy and a LOT of grumpiness.

I have to say that doing the research to enable me to write this post, as I was seeking to understand what the different file formats are and how they behave has really provided several light bulb moments! It has also prompted an increase in respect for Brother and how they've chosen to develop and provide Canvas to us for free. It is pretty simple to use (compared to full featured graphics packages) but once you get to know how to use it, it really can do some very sophisticated things!

NB: This post DOES NOT cover how to get hardcopy images into the machine - that's the scanning function and will be written in due course and be found in the Index Section about the Machine itself

Designing from Scratch - Stage 1 - Finding inspiration - personal project hand embroidered mobile phone sleeve

Evening. I'm just about to embark on a proper project from scratch to make myself a hand embroidered mobile phone sleeve. So I thought it may be interesting to blog about the design decisions I have to make starting with a blank sheet of paper right through to the final finished item.

ScanNCut Project - How to design a Charley Harper style papercut Cardinal Bird in Canvas

Evening. I originally designed this bird shape as a papercut within the machine itself. However, as it turns out, I've not actually seen my camera since Christmas Day so I assume it's still at the parentals' house. So this project has been done using the Free Brother Canvas software to then be transferred to the machine for cutting. Eventually if I ever remember to ask the parentals, I may well have my camera back. But for now, Canvas all the way!

This Project uses basic shapes in Canvas to create a 3 colour papercraft Cardinal Bird in the style of Charley Harper, a mid 20th century American designer. If all goes well, it will look like this:

Charley Harper style Cardinal papercraft bird

Design Your Own 1 - Papercuts - Designing Bridges, or, how to avoid confetti and unresolved designs!

One thing I've noticed from being in a variety of Facebook Groups to do with papercraft and the Brother Scan N Cut machine, is how many people are a bit flummoxed about designing their own images and cutting files. One of the key reasons for me choosing to buy the SNC was because, for the first time, I would be able to easily make my own designs and not be tied into buying someone else's.

So, this part of the series is to give some basic techniques and pointers on how to design your own images and cut files so that they
a. look 'resolved' - are pleasing to the eye, the design flows well and feels cohesive and finished, and also
b. work in technical terms - they don't fall apart into confetti or have layers that are impossible to match.

Here's the first one - this falls into the TECHNICAL side of designing your own images for the SNC - all about Building Bridges or Connections between the elements that make up a finished design.

White Rabbit by EmbellishCuts (currently available as a free pdf download HERE February 2018)

Canvas - Altering Shapes - removing holes in shapes with Path Tool.

This has come out of a question the group was asked on Margret Teta Singleton's awesome Facebook Group called Brother Scan'n'Cut Users - find it here https://www.facebook.com/groups/scanncutusers/

So the person in question had this image:

I have no idea if this has copyright etc. I'm using it solely to show you an example of what I'm talking about. If anyone knows who owns the copyright, tell me and I'll credit them here.

So. the question was, what if you have holes in an image, and you want to keep some of them, say the eyes, but not others (apparently this is the islands of Hawaii across the abdomen).

I had a think. And a play in Canvas. And finally worked out why it was such a simple answer...