Scrappydew.com places this guide out there as a free reference. We put hard work into making sure each step was documented so it would be easy to follow. As you will notice we didn't think of everything that you can possibly do in this program, we have only provided some basic starting steps. This is not a technical manual and it will not tell you what every button will do. The quick guide is task orientated, so with that said if you have a question that should be added in the guide send us an email.
The main goal of this guide is to give you a solid foundation so you may progress and create what you want while getting the desired results. We do change and update the manual often so always check to see what's new. We will never charge money for this guide nor should you have to pay for one.
Feel free to download the manuals and send others here to check it out. You may take this to a copy store and print it out for personal use.
The main goal of this guide is to give you a solid foundation so you may progress and create what you want while getting the desired results. We do change and update the manual often so always check to see what's new. We will never charge money for this guide nor should you have to pay for one.
Feel free to download the manuals and send others here to check it out. You may take this to a copy store and print it out for personal use.
Feel free to add comments or questions at the end of each lesson. - Be Interactive!
Removing double lines from a trace or svg
Select the pattern that has the inner lines
Notice the double lines that are in the inner cuts of this flower. We will have to "Layer" this twice in order to delete the inner tracings.
Tool Bar - Click the Layer Button
Remember that using the layer button is separating background from foreground.
Expand the Layers and select the foreground
We need to repeat the layer function one more time to isolate the inner cuts. Make sure that you see the RED BOX around the foreground in the layer property window. Selecting the layer may be tricky, I always click on the thumbnail image you see on the right.
Click the Layer Button
Delete the top layer
As you can see the layer button now gives you a background and foreground. You will need to delete the top layer.
Click the Main Layer
This will automatically select everything that's under that layer - as you can see by the RED box around the layers.
Visually check to make sure your pattern is selected and click the Join Button
You can also see the marque box around the pattern on the virtual mat.
Success - you removed the inner lines
Getting Started
- Downloading and Installing Make-the-Cut Software Just a quick lesson showing you where to download and giving you more information about the Plugins you will need.
- Show More
- How Do I Register My Make the Cut Software? Registering your software is probably the most important step there is once you have downloaded and purchased this great program. This lesson will show you what you can expect and how to register your Make-the-Cut software.
- Show More
- How to install the MTC Thumbnail Viewer So wouldn't it be nice to view all your Make the Cut files as an image preview? Make the Cut came out with a FREE MTC File Thumbnail Viewer. This was probably one of the most requested features to have because before this viewer came out - you would have had to either place a png export next to your MTC file or you'd have to go to open the MTC program and view them one by one. Now something to note - this viewer as of right now only works for windows vista, 7, & 8 - this doesn't not work windows xp.
- Show More
Text & Fonts
- How do I add text to my mat? This lesson will show you just the basics on adding text to your Virtual Mat with Make the Cut Software.
- Show More
- How to temporarily add fonts to your drop down font list You don't want to slow down your computer and install every font you find from the internet to only use once on your project. Why not temporarily install it using the font loader within Make-the-cut Software.
- Show More
- How to check to see what font you used in your project So you have a saved project and you would like to know what font you used because you don't remember. Well this lesson will help jog your memory and should tell you what font you used in your project.
- Show More
- Welding Text So you have a saved project and you would like to know what font you used because you don't remember. Well this lesson will help jog your memory and should tell you what font you used in your project.
- Show More
Your Virtual Mat
- Changing your mat size & orientation You can create a custom size or select from a built in standard size based on your cutter. This lesson will also show you how you can change your orientation from landscape to portrait.
- Show More
- Getting a SVG file into Make-the-Cut software This process is better known as importing SVGs. There are many websites out there that sell and/or give away SVG files as a vectorized pattern that can be used to cut out. SVG's are just one more way to get your pattern into MTC.
- Show More
- Adding basic shapes to your mat. Make the Cut has a lot of basic shapes in it's arsenal. From stars and squares so more complicated shapes. This lesson will show you how you can add some of the basic shapes to your mat
- Show More
- Get more precise movements using or disabling snap to grid Snapping to grid can either make or break you when you want to move items a certain distance. This lesson will help you understand where the snap to grid feature is and how to use it.
- Show More
Rotating, Sizing, and Resizing
- Resizing your project Resizing items on your mat is easy to do. Simply selecting an object and using correct handles can help you resize, rotate, and warp your shape.
- Show More
- Using custom numbers to resize your project Sometimes you just want to resize things and you want an a rectangle exactly 3 by 5. This lesson will show you how you can use custom numbers to resize your object.
- Show More
- Resizing based on percentage Wondering how you can adjust your size by percentages? This lesson will cover thath using the selection properties toolbar.
- Show More
- Rotating Item 90 degrees Wondering how you can adjust your size by percentages? This lesson will cover thath using the selection properties toolbar.
- Show More
- Pasting items on your mat at the same size as your item that was copied Many times when you copy something to you clipboard you are wanting it the same size when you go and paste it. In Make the Cut you have two options when it comes to pasting. This lesson will deal with pasting what you want the exact same size as you copied.
- Show More
Shape Magic Tool Bar
- Rotating Item 90 degrees A simple tool in your tool box is the rotate button.
- Show More
- Layering button in order to separate the background and the foreground When you layer a shape, you end up with two separate entities: the background and the foreground. This is useful if you want to take a single shape and turn it into two separate colors giving the shape more depth. You can break, layer and split the resulting layers.
- Show More
- The break button Breaking apart your shape can help you delete items that aren't needed or even help you move shapes there were previously together.
- Show More
- The lattice effect This lesson is show how in just a few clicks of the mouse you can get a nice lattice effect on your shape.
- Show More
- Adding the rhinestone effect to your shape This feature was introduced in Make the Cut 3.0 and in this lesson we will show you how simple it is to create the rhinestone effect on a shape.
- Show More
Layer Property
- How Do You Take An Image and Separate it into Layers? So you have individual pieces on your Mat and you would like to layer things based on color just as an example. This assumes that you have already separated items by breaking, splitting, or creating layers of pieces.
- Show More
- How to color your shapes based on layering. By utilizing the color palette in the layer property box you can see some of the color options you have.
- Show More
- Adding a textured picture to your shapes. Adding a textured pattern to your shapes is really easy. This lesson will show you how to complete that task.
- Show More
Importing
-
User Gallery Importing - Video & Text
The basic concept of the Gallery is it’s an online storage bank of user generated SVG’s and MTC files. At the time of this tutorial there are over 6000 items that are donated kind MTC users. Internet connection is needed in order to view the gallery, as it is a free service for those that own Make the Cut. So there’s no additional fees for this it’s just one of the built in features.
- Show More
Exporting
- Export your pattern to a SVG file. Make the Cut has the ability to export a SVG version of your MTC file. One of the best features about exporting an SVG file via MTC, it keeps colors intact as well as every layer is "grouped" when opened by other programs.
- Show More
- Export your pattern to as a PDF file. Make the Cut has the ability to export a PDF version of your MTC file.
- Show More
Helpful Tips & Tricks
- Removing the double lines that you may find in a trace or svg Just a simple tutorial showing you how you can remove double lines that you may have in an SVG.
- Show More
Download the Quick Reference Guide
MTC 3.2 Updated 25 Jul 2011
MTC 3.2 Updated 27 Jun 2011
MTC 2.X Updated 31 Jul 2010