FIRMWARE UPDATE
- I recently pulled out my Vinyl Express R series for the first time, it was given to me by my Mom. I assumed it would just be plug and play, but so far I haven't been able to do anything and it seems like any link to software I might be able to use with it doesn't exist anymore.
- Intel based Macintosh (Mac) Macintosh OS 10.11 - 10.15 (Mac) (If you are running OSX 10.6-10.10, you can use version 4) 512 MB of RAM or more At least 50 MB of available hard disk space USB Port 1.1 or 2.x. Print & Cut (Contour Cutting) works with supported models with a laser.
Roland DGA also offers a MAC-friendly software solution for its vinyl cutters. Roland has been at this for quite a while. Their Stika hobby desktop cutters were among the first to offer a bundled software solution that doubled as a simple vector design program and a plug-in for Corel and Adobe customers. By Fiolex Media Express is an easy-to-use photo, image, media, and file management software with integrated download interface to image collections provided on the Fiolex Web site. Highlights Manage your Data - easy, convenient, and fast. Vinyl cutters and supplies. Heat presses, garment imprinting and heat transfer vinyl. Sign supplies such as vinyl banners, cor-plastic, license plate blanks, inkjet inks. Laser and rotary engravers. Direct distributor of sign making and custom garment printing products. Buying Guide and Online Sales and Support.
Firmware Can be Updated via Windows OS
Only using a USB Port Exclusively
Items needed are the following:
1. Windows Driver for Selected Cutter Model
- View Windows Driver install video below*
*FC9000 and CE7000 Models have separate video
2. Firmware Files for Selected Cutter Model.
- Find latest Firmware for your model below
FIRMWARE/DRIVERS FOR CURRENT MODELS ▼
FC9000 Series
CE7000 Series
CE7000-130AP
CE6000 Series
CE6000 Plus
CE6000-120AP
FC4500 Series
FCX2000 Series
FCX4000 Series
F-MARK2
CE Lite-50
FIRMWARE/DRIVERS FOR LEGACY MODELS ▼
FC8600 Series
FC8000 Series
FC7000 MK2 Series
FC7000 Series
Automatic Sheet Cutter (ASC)
FC5100 Series
FC5100A Series
CE5000 Series 60-120
CE5000-40 Craft ROBO Pro
FC4500 Series
FC4210-60 Series
FC4200 Series
CE3000 Series
CE3000 MK2
CE3000 120AP
FC2250 Series
- Windows Driver Setup
Let's check out the vinyl cutting software options.
- SVG importing/exporting
- Incredibly easy to use
- Works offline
- If you design more than cut files, it's a bit pricey ($60) for its functionality
- Due to a lawsuit, doesn't work natively with Cricut machines (check below for workaround)
Sure Cuts A Lot 5 brings a lot of the functionality you're used to in Photoshop into the SCAL workflow (easy to use guidelines, magnetic snapping, masking). If you're looking to use a cutting machine offline, or need a bit more functionality than is available in the software that came with your machine, it's a great option.
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Every machine comes with its own built-in software.
It’s only natural to wonder: is this really the best vinyl cutting software?
Should I upgrade?
Can it damage my machine if I use it, or will I be wasting my time learning how to use plotter software that isn’t completely compatible with my machine?
I’ll go over all of this in a bit.
In this review, I’ll go over the best vinyl plotting software you can buy today, along with some free software options.
Whether you’re looking to design your own vinyl signs, stickers, or clothing, I’ll go over the best choice for you.
What’s the best vinyl cutting software?
I’ll start with the software that’s used the most for vinyl cutters – all of the vinyl design software mentioned here is currently recommended.
These options are completely safe to use and will not damage your machine.
As new updates are released, I’ll update this article.
Sure Cuts A Lot 5 review
Sure Cuts A Lot is one of the easiest to use programs for cutting. It supports combining fonts, importing your own shapes, lines, artwork, cut lines, as well as drawing your own.
With Sure Cuts A Lot 5, they’ve brought a lot of the typical functionality you’re used to in Photoshop and other Adobe editing products into the SCAL workflow (easy to use guidelines, magnetic snapping, and masking).
SCAL supports both TrueType and OpenType fonts so you’ll have lots of fonts that you can download for free and use.
If you have pre-existing images that aren’t vectors, you can use its auto-tracing features to convert any shape into a cut image. This makes it a great option for sign making software.
Vinyl Express R Series Mac Software Download Forums Download
If you don’t have preexisting shapes, you can either draw them, use their 200+ free built-in images, or download them through their escape store.
Works with both Windows and Mac OS.
Pros
- SVG importing/exporting
- Incredibly easy to use
- Low system requirements
- Works offline
- Great forum and community support
Cons
- Due to a lawsuit, doesn’t work natively with Cricut machines (I’ve posted a workaround here)
- If you design more than cut files, it’s a bit pricey ($60) for its functionality
Vinyl Express R Series Ii Software Mac
Get the latest version now: Sure Cuts A Lot 5
Site: www.surecutsalot.com
Easy Cut Studio Review
Easy Cut Studio is a newer contender that I just used for the first time recently. It has one of my favorite interfaces, making it easy to draw your own images directly on your cutting mat.
Easy Cut Studio does what every essential piece of cutter software must do: supports SVG file importing and exporting.
This is so important.
Many cutting machines only work with natively the software they come with (for a variety of reasons). With SVG files you can export from one piece of software and import into the native software that comes with your cutting machine, making the list of compatible machines very long indeed!
Vinyl Express R Series Troubleshooting
Its support for vectorization (turning a regular JPEG/PNG into a cut file that you can use) is the best in the industry.
The cut paths it generates are more accurate than other software I’ve used and I rarely have to clean them up after, even with complex shapes.
Pros
- Works for MacOS/Windows
- Updated frequently
- SVG import/export
- Great built-in shape library
- Supports scanning directly into the software
- Free trial, so you can test the software before purchasing
Cons
- Like most other software, doesn’t work natively work Cricut vinyl cutting machines unless you export SVGs and then re-import (not a huge drawback).
- Smaller support community
Buy the latest version now: Easy Cut Studio for Windows or MacOS
Site: www.easycutstudio.com
More coming soon!
Feel free to leave me a comment with any features you’d like for me to examine, other software that I should look at, or details that I might have left out!
I’ll be also updating this review with my favorite free recommendations as well, including the most popular software from Cricut and Silhouette.
I also have a full review of the best vinyl cutters (for both home crafting and business uses). Feel free to check that out if you’re interested in an in-depth look at not just the software but the machines themselves.
And if you’re looking for heat transfer vinyl, I just finished my review of the best heat transfer vinyl!
Vinyl Express R Series Mac Software Download Forums Free
I’ll go over where it works, falls short, and what the best recommendation is for each use! Stay tuned…