Instructions:

1. Choosing your message and font.
   
   Your ScanNcut will have some fonts already on it. You can use them if you wish to. If you choose to use the fonts on your ScanNcut you may not need to do Steps 1-4 and can go to Step 5. If there is not a font you like you can use a PC/laptop for more choice, like I have.
   
   I am using Pages but Word would have just as many options for different fonts. Play around with the fonts and find ones that work for you. I type into document the message I wish to use, I have used “crafting forever, house work whenever”.
   
   If you are using a text that will have some intricate cutting then you need to make sure the text is in a large front so that the converter will be able to read the file clearly.
2. Screenshot and editing your image.
   
   Once you are happy with the fonts you are using screenshot your screen.
   
   Find your screenshot and open it to edit it. You will be able to crop the image so that you only have the part you want to use. Select the area you would like to crop, then click crop.
3. Image tracing and editing.
   
   Open Canvas Workspace and click on image tracing. You will be given the option to find your edited image. Click on the image you desire to use and then click choose.
   
   Once you have chosen your image you will be given tracing options. I have chosen colour and put in the maximum number of colours so that the software will pick up my image nice and clearly. You may find that you only need a maximum of colours equalling five any less than that software may not pick up the centres of some of your letters ie. A, O and E. Once you have chosen your tracing options click preview.
   
   The window that is sharing your image will have traced out your image in blue, this shows your cutting lines. If the software has not picked up enough of your image you may need to choose more or less colour choices. Once you are happy click the ok button to import it to your Canvas Workspace.
   
   Your image will be broken down into many pieces which are cut lines it is best to group them so when resizing they will resize together as one piece. I grouped each word so when I moved it so it moved as one piece. If you want to make your image bigger or smaller you can edit and resize using the editing tools.
4. Adding and removing a basic image.
   
   I wanted to add a heart instead of the dot on the I. I did this by selecting a heart shape from the basic images that are in Canvas Workspace. I resized it.
   
   To edit the word ‘crafting’. You select the word to edit, ungroup - this will enable you to delete the dot on the I (4D) and replace it with a heart.
   
   I resized the heart to the size I felt fitted and tilted it slightly. When you are happy with the size and placement any changes you’ve made reselect all the elements for the word and regroup them (4F).
5. Using an existing SVG file.
   
   I wanted to add another element to the piece. Canvas projects has lots of free projects that you can use. I chose a feather (5B). This is a useable SVG file.
   
   Once you have downloaded the feather file. You can import it to Canvas Workspace by clicking on import SVG/DXF/FCM file...
   
   When I say “cut file,” I mean the design that you want to cut from vinyl and put on your project. The most common cut file type is probably SVG, but you might be using a .Studio, .png, .dxf, or .jpg file depending on the software you are using. I personally am a fan of SVG files because they work with most cutting software.
   
   (5E.) You can now edit the image. I have made it smaller and tilted it.
6. Flipping your design.
   
   Next, you need to mirror or flip your design horizontally. The reason that you need to mirror your design when working with heat transfer or iron-on vinyl, you cut the design on the back side of the vinyl.
   
   HTV has a clear plastic carrier sheet that covers the top of the vinyl, and the other side is where the heat-sensitive adhesive is (it is not sticky or tacky to the touch). You cut your design on the adhesive side, and then the clear plastic sheet on the other side holds your design in place until it is applied to your bag or other surface.
   
   So, to make sure your design looks right when it is applied to the final surface, we need to first mirror or flip the design before cutting.
   
   This is really simple to do with whatever machine you have. Click on the object to select it. Then, choose the Mirror option from the Edit menu and then select Flip Horizontally (6A).
7. Placing HVT on your cutting mat and Test cut.
   
   You will need to download the file to your machine. Depending on the model of machine you have it will either be by USB or WiFi.
   
   7A) It is possible to cut vinyl directly from the roll without a mat using your ScanNcut. Whatever mat and machine you are using, put your HTV glossy side down onto your mat so you will be cutting on the matte side. Remember, we are cutting on back side of the vinyl where the heat-sensitive adhesive is. This side will be more matte. The glossy side of the vinyl is the side with the clear plastic backing. For my Crafting forever bag I used a glitter HTV and a smooth black HTV. If your vinyl came on a roll, you can cut off a piece to fit on your mat.
   
   The great thing about using the ScanNcut is if you have some little off cut you can still use them, place the cut off on the mat and scan the mat in, the ScanNcut will register where you have put your vinyl so you can position your image to fit, this cuts down on wastage.
   
   Tip: After you’ve loaded the mat into the ScanNCut, you should always do a test cut. You can find this function at the top of your ScanNcut display panel. Then you can choose from a variety of shapes to test cut. The circle and square are good choices. Next, resize your shape if you need to.
   
   You’ll have to go through a few menus, selecting “Set”, “OK”, “Cut” when prompted and finally choosing the flashing “Start/Stop” button to cut out your shape. I have my blade set at 5 and my cut pressure set at 2. This will be different for everyone depending on how much your blade has been used, this is why it’s so important to do test cuts at you do not want to cut through the HTV clear plastic carrier sheet or your cutting mat.
8. Weeding.
   
   Once you find your cut lines, use your hook or other weeding tool to grab one of the edges and lift up the excess vinyl or negative space from the carrier sheet. I like to start by removing the vinyl from around my design first and then remove the pieces from inside letters and other parts of the design. Once you have weeded and cut out your design you will have several pieces.
9. Ironing your design on to your project.
   
   Last but not least we get to iron! Read the directions on the back of your specific heat transfer, but most direct you to place your iron on a very hot setting. I use a heat pressing sheet between the heat transfer and the iron, I also place one on the table I am using to iron on (a towel will be too thick). I iron on my table as there is too much give in an ironing board and you need a firm surface to get even pressure.
   
   I find the middle of my bag by folding the bag in half and ironing a little crease in it, this allows me to have a guide that is not permanent and can be ironed away. Now I have a guide to the centre of my bag I can now place my HTV.
   
   Now you will want to put your hot iron on the design for between 10-40 seconds depending on the type, again read the directions for your specific heat transfer. Make sure that you are covering all of the edges of the design with the iron. You can release it and carefully pull up the backing to see if the design has stuck or needs to be heated more.
   
   I also found that on designs larger than the iron, it was easiest to iron the design in sections rather than going back and forth across the entire design. I placed and ironed my design in stages working out from the middle.
   
   Once the design has transferred I like to let it cool for about 30-45 seconds and then gently peel back the clear plastic until it is completely removed. I find that letting it cool for just a short time helps because on smooth vinyl, if it gets too hot it can pull a little bit when you are removing the backing and cause wrinkles in the vinyl. Cooling a little seems to prevent this.
   
   Once you have pressed all of your design you are finished. If you would like more on your design continue with the next steps.
10. Silhouette images.
    
    Find a Silhouette you wish to use, I have use a paintbrush, scissors, needle and buttons but you can use anything that relate to you. I found the images on a google search and saved the images.
11. Reshaping and editing a Silhouette image.
    
    Your image is likely to be saved as a JPEG, import the image using the image tracing option, this is the same process as Step 3.
    
    Your image may import small. I always enlarge an image if i need to edit it as it is easier to work on.
    
    You will need to group all of the parts of the image before enlarging.
    
    I added a small circle back in to the design as the tracing did not pick it up.
    
    This was easy to do, using the basic shapes I found a circle and sized it to fit where the hinge would have been on the scissors.
    
    I felt that the image needed sharper lines. I edited this using the Path editing tools. Double-click on the object to enter selection mode, you can grab a point and move it to the desired location or you can select a line and change it to straight or curve.
    
    Grab the handle for the control points and drag them to adjust the degree of the curve or to straighten. The left and right handle for the control points can be adjusted separately or symmetrically with the “symmetrical Handles” option. 10G
12. If you have a part of the image that needs to be joined, you can do this by overlapping the images then selecting them together, next click on the edit function and select “Process Overlap” and then “Weld”. This will merge the images as one. 11C
    
    Now that you have your image as one piece you will be able to edit the shape. I deleted one of the points for a better shape. Once you are happy with your extra elements you are ready to cut them out. Follow Step 7 for cutting and Iron on to your project (follow Step 8 for Ironing on to your project.)
    
    You are finished and ready to show off your new bag!