This is an article I wrote for Craft Critique. It appeared on that site last Tuesday.
In March 2007, I wrote a review of the Klic-N-Kut (KNK). I had used the machine for a few months and wrote it from that perspective – a beginner’s take on the KNK. You can read that review here.
Well, I’m considerably further along the curve now! I’m telling you, this machine gets better and better with use. I keep learning new things every time I use it. Here’s what I can tell you:
• I’m using my KNK on my Mac. This requires me to use it with Parallels (a program that opens Windows within a section of my Mac). Several of my user problems stem from the fact that I find Windows utterly bewildering.
• KNK Studio (the program that comes with your machine) is not intuitive. However, they are improving the help section every day.
• You MUST be computer savvy to operate this machine and get at its full potential. Most people can probably operate the machine after a few tries, but to really use the program – design your own stuff, alter clip art, etc. I think you need to be fairly computer savvy. Experience with Photoshop or Illustrator would certainly be beneficial.
• My KNK will cut projects up to 13”x118.” That’s amazing!
• I bought a clear quilting mat from Joann’s Fabrics that has revolutionized my KNK cutting. The grid pattern on the mat makes it so easy to line up the paper and the machine. I highly recommend it to anyone with a KNK.
• I can literally cut anything I want! I can draw an image in KNK Studio, or import it from Photoshop, or import a scanned image, etc. You are limited only by your imagination and technical savvy.
• The KNK will cut fabric, foam, chipboard, and paper. However, to cut fabric, foam, or chipboard you need a fairly sharp blade. I haven’t changed my blade since I bought the machine (over a year) and paper cuts fine. It’s a bit tough going when it comes to other materials, though.
Rather than just talking at you, I thought I’d share three recent projects that demonstrate the KNK’s abilities.
WHAT I DID: I created the “Julie John Heart” paper (in the style of KI lace paper) and the heart embellishment using my KNK.
KNK PROS: Two fabulous features of the KNK are kerning and welding. Kerning allows the user to adjust the space between letters.
Welding allows the user to link shapes that touch or overlap together into a single image.
So basically, I just created the various words I wanted, adjusted the kerning, added some hearts and welded all of it together. Super simple and the results are just fabulous!
KNK CONS: I wish that there were an easier way to zoom in and out. It gets tedious to keep having to manually adjust the zoom when you’re working small and big, small and big, small and big, and so on.
LESSON LEARNED: When cutting delicate and intricate shapes, slow the speed down on your KNK to avoid tearing and keep the cut sharp. Also, make the image 11×11 rather than 12×12 to avoid going off the edge of the paper by accident.
WHAT I DID: I imported an image of the waffle house
and converted it to a KNK file,
and then cut it! Please note, what you are seeing is yellow cardstock through holes cut in the black carstock.
KNK PROS: One of the KNK’s biggest selling features for me, was the ability to cut absolutely anything I wanted. And KNK makes it super easy with their “Scan and Trace Wizard.” The user is able to take any clip art or font and import it into KNK with a few clicks.
KNK CONS: The KNK converts line drawings as two lines to cut (one inside and one outside). I wish that it would just convert the lines. Instead, you must create a solidly filled image.
LESSON LEARNED: To get through cardstock, I think it looks cleaner if you cut twice gently rather than cut on the highest pressure setting and risk tearing the paper or not cutting all the way through.
WHAT I DID: I used my KNK to cut the circles to make the flowers.
KNK PROS: The KNK makes it super easy to cut an entire sheet of the same shape. There is a command that allows you to tile your canvas with a shape. In this instance, I created one, one-and-a-quarter-inch circle and then commanded my KNK to cut a sheet of them. Very easy! Each of the flowers needs nine circles, so this made it much easier than punching or using a circle cutter!
KNK CONS: If you want a shape other than the basic circle, square, or star, you have to import it. KNK comes with a selection of clip art (3900 images), but most of it is geared towards sign makers rather than scrapbookers.
LESSON LEARNED: You can adjust the space between shapes, so that you can fit even more on the page!
If you’re looking for a machine that’s one step beyond a normal die cutting machine and you’re technically savvy, then the KNK is for you! A year later, I am very happy with my KNK and would definitely buy it again!
I totally love what you can do with the tool. You rock girl! That laces are so awesome!
I totally love what you can do with the tool. You rock girl! That laces are so awesome!
I totally love what you can do with the tool. You rock girl! That laces are so awesome!
I totally love what you can do with the tool. You rock girl! That laces are so awesome!
WOW!!!! How clever and cool!!! Awesome results!!
WOW!!!! How clever and cool!!! Awesome results!!
WOW!!!! How clever and cool!!! Awesome results!!
WOW!!!! How clever and cool!!! Awesome results!!
Loving those layouts Julie! Really love the Julie & John one (you could sell that paper on Etsy ya know!) I also enjoyed your journaling on the “Thirty” one, I didn’t realize we were the same age! =)
Hope you have a great start to the week!
Loving those layouts Julie! Really love the Julie & John one (you could sell that paper on Etsy ya know!) I also enjoyed your journaling on the “Thirty” one, I didn’t realize we were the same age! =)
Hope you have a great start to the week!
Loving those layouts Julie! Really love the Julie & John one (you could sell that paper on Etsy ya know!) I also enjoyed your journaling on the “Thirty” one, I didn’t realize we were the same age! =)
Hope you have a great start to the week!
Loving those layouts Julie! Really love the Julie & John one (you could sell that paper on Etsy ya know!) I also enjoyed your journaling on the “Thirty” one, I didn’t realize we were the same age! =)
Hope you have a great start to the week!
That KNK looks like a great little device. You are really testing its limits and coming up with some fabulous uses for it!
That KNK looks like a great little device. You are really testing its limits and coming up with some fabulous uses for it!
That KNK looks like a great little device. You are really testing its limits and coming up with some fabulous uses for it!
That KNK looks like a great little device. You are really testing its limits and coming up with some fabulous uses for it!
Wow, that is one cool tool! I love the layouts. Great post 🙂
Wow, that is one cool tool! I love the layouts. Great post 🙂
Wow, that is one cool tool! I love the layouts. Great post 🙂
Wow, that is one cool tool! I love the layouts. Great post 🙂
duuuude. that KNK looks like heaven. WOW. So not jealous. Even a little.
duuuude. that KNK looks like heaven. WOW. So not jealous. Even a little.
duuuude. that KNK looks like heaven. WOW. So not jealous. Even a little.
duuuude. that KNK looks like heaven. WOW. So not jealous. Even a little.
I’ve never heard of this machine but it’s amazing to see its potential! I’m not very technical but it sure seems like the kind of machine I’d love to own. thanks for sharing.
I’ve never heard of this machine but it’s amazing to see its potential! I’m not very technical but it sure seems like the kind of machine I’d love to own. thanks for sharing.
I’ve never heard of this machine but it’s amazing to see its potential! I’m not very technical but it sure seems like the kind of machine I’d love to own. thanks for sharing.
I’ve never heard of this machine but it’s amazing to see its potential! I’m not very technical but it sure seems like the kind of machine I’d love to own. thanks for sharing.
Hi Julie 🙂
I just came across this article, and some of the things you refer to as CONS of the software are actually in the software and things that you can do 🙂
KNK CONS: I wish that there were an easier way to zoom in and out.
MY RESPONSE: If you have a center wheel on your mouse, that can be set for easy zooming in and out, so literally, it does it with the roll of the wheel.
KNK CONS: The KNK converts line drawings as two lines to cut (one inside and one outside).
MY RESPONSE: the tracing feature ABSOLUTELY only traces the line, not both sides, but you have to use the right feature, it’s called CENTERLINE tracing…easy to do, and if you get stuck, you can check out Sandy’s videos, walks you right through it!
KNK CONS: If you want a shape other than the basic circle, square, or star, you have to import it.
MY RESPONSE: Did you know that you can take that simple circle, and by grabbing the handles on it change the shape? Same with the star and polygon…the star easily becomes many different flower shapes with just the drag of the mouse on the handles of it….it’s a lot of fun to play with!
We also now have an additional 170+ design CD made by the designers that sell files that is distributed with each machine, geared for scrapbookers/crafters!
Great review by the way, I read the first one last year too!! I love when I see different things people do with their machine, and you’ve had a lot of fun with it so far, I can tell!!
Hi Julie 🙂
I just came across this article, and some of the things you refer to as CONS of the software are actually in the software and things that you can do 🙂
KNK CONS: I wish that there were an easier way to zoom in and out.
MY RESPONSE: If you have a center wheel on your mouse, that can be set for easy zooming in and out, so literally, it does it with the roll of the wheel.
KNK CONS: The KNK converts line drawings as two lines to cut (one inside and one outside).
MY RESPONSE: the tracing feature ABSOLUTELY only traces the line, not both sides, but you have to use the right feature, it’s called CENTERLINE tracing…easy to do, and if you get stuck, you can check out Sandy’s videos, walks you right through it!
KNK CONS: If you want a shape other than the basic circle, square, or star, you have to import it.
MY RESPONSE: Did you know that you can take that simple circle, and by grabbing the handles on it change the shape? Same with the star and polygon…the star easily becomes many different flower shapes with just the drag of the mouse on the handles of it….it’s a lot of fun to play with!
We also now have an additional 170+ design CD made by the designers that sell files that is distributed with each machine, geared for scrapbookers/crafters!
Great review by the way, I read the first one last year too!! I love when I see different things people do with their machine, and you’ve had a lot of fun with it so far, I can tell!!
Hi Julie 🙂
I just came across this article, and some of the things you refer to as CONS of the software are actually in the software and things that you can do 🙂
KNK CONS: I wish that there were an easier way to zoom in and out.
MY RESPONSE: If you have a center wheel on your mouse, that can be set for easy zooming in and out, so literally, it does it with the roll of the wheel.
KNK CONS: The KNK converts line drawings as two lines to cut (one inside and one outside).
MY RESPONSE: the tracing feature ABSOLUTELY only traces the line, not both sides, but you have to use the right feature, it’s called CENTERLINE tracing…easy to do, and if you get stuck, you can check out Sandy’s videos, walks you right through it!
KNK CONS: If you want a shape other than the basic circle, square, or star, you have to import it.
MY RESPONSE: Did you know that you can take that simple circle, and by grabbing the handles on it change the shape? Same with the star and polygon…the star easily becomes many different flower shapes with just the drag of the mouse on the handles of it….it’s a lot of fun to play with!
We also now have an additional 170+ design CD made by the designers that sell files that is distributed with each machine, geared for scrapbookers/crafters!
Great review by the way, I read the first one last year too!! I love when I see different things people do with their machine, and you’ve had a lot of fun with it so far, I can tell!!
Hi Julie 🙂
I just came across this article, and some of the things you refer to as CONS of the software are actually in the software and things that you can do 🙂
KNK CONS: I wish that there were an easier way to zoom in and out.
MY RESPONSE: If you have a center wheel on your mouse, that can be set for easy zooming in and out, so literally, it does it with the roll of the wheel.
KNK CONS: The KNK converts line drawings as two lines to cut (one inside and one outside).
MY RESPONSE: the tracing feature ABSOLUTELY only traces the line, not both sides, but you have to use the right feature, it’s called CENTERLINE tracing…easy to do, and if you get stuck, you can check out Sandy’s videos, walks you right through it!
KNK CONS: If you want a shape other than the basic circle, square, or star, you have to import it.
MY RESPONSE: Did you know that you can take that simple circle, and by grabbing the handles on it change the shape? Same with the star and polygon…the star easily becomes many different flower shapes with just the drag of the mouse on the handles of it….it’s a lot of fun to play with!
We also now have an additional 170+ design CD made by the designers that sell files that is distributed with each machine, geared for scrapbookers/crafters!
Great review by the way, I read the first one last year too!! I love when I see different things people do with their machine, and you’ve had a lot of fun with it so far, I can tell!!
Hi! Can you recommend a place to buy the Element?
Thanks.
Hi! Can you recommend a place to buy the Element?
Thanks.
Hi! Can you recommend a place to buy the Element?
Thanks.
Hi! Can you recommend a place to buy the Element?
Thanks.