We last left off with #12 in my countdown to 25… which now will probably extend to 30 since I’ve had time to explore and discover more cool functionality available in MTC. So, we start the numbering of these seven new reasons with #13. Note that I also made a demo video to cover these 7 reasons, in case you prefer to just watch versus read! Also, there are additional details on the Pixel Trace function in the MTC user manuals here at this site, as well as in my free MTC training videos covering tracing.

Reason #13: Single Icon Access

In MTC, you only have to remember one location to activate the tracing, whether you are importing an image already saved as a file on your computer, scanning an image directly into MTC, or pasting an image that has been copied to your Windows Clipboard. The Pixel Trace function is located on a toolbar at the top of the MTC screen, easily accessible. If you prefer shortcut keys, then Ctrl+Shift+T will also activate Pixel Trace. Or you can activate in the File>Import menu. But again, what I like is that one window opens with three options available, as shown below:

My favorite method for finding images is to Google what I’m needing, click on “Images” on the left side of my browser window, click on an image I want, right click to select Copy, and then paste that image into MTC using Option 3 above. It doesn’t get any faster than that!

Reason #14: Preview of Results Before Accepting

After clicking on Open in the window above, I see the next reason I prefer to use MTC over KNK Studio: immediately the tracing I will get with the default settings appears. The blue lines show the path being traced while the green fill indicates what would be cut out using these settings. To the left, in black, I can also see the trace results, using the current settings, on the main MTC screen:

Further, as I modify settings to refine the trace, I can continue to see the effects of these settings without accepting the results. While this is standard in many vector programs, it is still the case, in KNK and ACS Studio, where you must accept each change in settings, leave the tracing functions, and move the original image away from the trace, before being able to see the results of that trace! Talk about tedious!

So, in this example, if I reduce the Threshold and increase the Resample in order to capture more detail of the flower, I can see the effects before accepting:

Reason #15: Viewing Settings

There are three settings which do not affect the trace in any way, but can be quite handy. First off, there is an Alpha setting which changes the visibility of the original graphic. Scroll to the far left and none of the original image shows and the user can better see exactly what will be cut. Scroll to the far right and more of the original graphic is visible in order to better see the fit of the trace lines around and within the image:

There is a Zoom function so that the user can zoom in on specific spots on the image to check the tracing. There is also a box to mark if the user wishes to view the nodes that would be produced with the current settings:

Reason #16:Useful Info about Imported Image and Traced Image

The lower left section of the Pixel Trace screen contains information about the original imported graphic, as well as the tracing itself:

The most useful data for me is noting the number of nodes and then the number of shapes. If there are thousands of nodes, then the file will take longer to cut. To reduce the nodes, the Resample setting should be decreased. If there are numerous shapes then I know I should increase the Despeckle to filter out tiny paths that are not necessary to my cut.

Reason #17:Texturize and Blackout Options

There are two typical situations in which I’m using the Pixel Trace function: (1) I need just a quick die cut shape or possibly a paper piecing of an image and (2) I want to perform a print and cut in which the original image will first be printed to my home printer and then my KNK will cut it out. In the second situation, I will typically be needing the original graphic to be imported and I only need the outside of the image traced. This is where the Texturize and Blackout options are useful.

The original graphic will not be imported unless the Texturize box is checked. Note how the original image now appears inside the tracing lines, to the left, in the main screen:

The Blackout option is used to delete any interior (child) paths contained within a larger path. Now, in this particular example, applying Blackout would delete the interior parts from being cut, which may or may not be wanted. But the nice thing is that the option to do this is there, if needed. Note that if you forget to do it, there’s a second Blackout tool on the Magic toolbar at the bottom:

Reason #18:Separate Tracing Option for Images with a Transparent Background

Images with transparent backgrounds can be more difficult to trace using the standard method in MTC. In the following example, a PNG file has been imported for a print and cut application. The default threshold is far from acceptable and even increasing it up to 200 still fails to complete trace this big cat! It was necessary to increase it up to 250 to get the best tracing:

But not to fret! Simply click on the Alpha tab and often the Default setting for the Threshold will give much closer desired results:

How does one know when to use this tab? Again, it’s applicable with files having transparent backgrounds, as found with many PNG files and especially when there are pale colors (such as yellow, gray, and white) next to the background.

Reason #19:Two Color Tracing Options

Most vector programs now have the option to provide color tracing, as well as monochrome tracing. But the uniqueness of MTC is that you have TWO separate color tracing options AND the ability to employ both of them, as well as the regular monochrome tracing, all during the same trace! Trace any part of your image, import it, and when asked if you want to trace more layers, answer, “Yes.” You can then stay with the same tracing option or click on another tab to use another tracing option! VERY cool!

Now this probably isn’t necessary for the majority of the tracings being done, but as I tell my students, “When tracing, you never really know what you’re going to need!”

The two colored options are the other two tabs in the Pixel Trace window, labelled “Palette” and “Color”. First let’s look at Palette in which the 16 most prevalent colors are identified and users can choose to select one or more at a time to be traced. In the following example I show two situations. In the first, only two of the four pink colors are marked. The pixels closest to those two colors are selected to be incorporated in the trace. In the second, all four pink colors are marked, resulting in more of the flowers being traced. Note how this results in a merging, of sorts, so that larger paths, incorporating more of the image, are created:

The Color tab allows one to use an eyedropper tool to move around the original image and then click to select a color to use in the tracing. The Tolerance setting is adjusted to then select how much of a similar color to include in the tracing. Below, the lighter pink is selected, but note the difference in what gets traced based on the whether the Tolerance is left at the default of 5 versus being lowered to 3:

Once the pink layer is imported, another color is then selected using the same eyedropper tool and then the Tolerance adjusted. Again, you can continue using this same Color method or switch to the Palette method! Either could be used for the black background OR the original Pixel tab could be employed instead. Or one could even use the Shadow function after leaving the trace window to create a background option! So many choices… so much fun!

Below are the results of the Palette trace and the Color trace, along with the original image… in some order? Can you tell which is which?

Make-The-Cut sells for $58.36 and will cut to a wide range of cutters, including the majority of the KNK models. Feel free to email me if you have any questions about using it with your particular cutter.

Carol B contacted me asking for help with designing what I’m going to call a “shaped inset”. The original file was a onesie-shaped greeting card and she wanted to have a separate shape cut that would contain text for the inside of the card. She wanted it to be the same shape as the card but smaller so that there would be an even border or margin around the smaller shape, as shown in the screenshot above. Conveniently, I had another similar onesie file that I had designed several years ago, so I used it for experimenting and for making the videos for today’s post.

Since Carol was asking me how to do it in EITHER KNK Studio or Make The Cut, I decided to show how to do it in both programs since it is equally easy in both programs! In KNK Studio, I used the Ginsu Knife tool to bisect the card, followed by the Inline function under Transform>Outline to shrink the shape. This created a nice even border to appear around the smaller onesie shape. In Make The Cut, you will use the Erase tool to bisect the card, followed by the Inset Shadow function under the Shadow Layer to shrink the image, creating the same kind of border or margin.

Here are the links to the two videos:

Creating an Inset Shape from a Shaped Greeting Card in KNK Studio

Creating an Inset Shape from a Shaped Greeting Card in Make The Cut

If you want to follow along during the video and repeat exactly what you see, then the file I used can be downloaded here:

Onesie in KNK Format

Onesie in MTC Format

Stellar Stationery is now selling their cutting files under the name Kris Kutz and I will continue to host these files here in my store: Cutting Files by Kris Kutz

This latest one is SO incredibly cute and is a great value based on the detail of this project! Note the little fence which surrounds a carrot-shaped box, which is supported vertically within another box:

The top of the carrot lifts up to reveal any of SIX different animals that can be used as the surprise within the box:

Is this not just the cutest little gift idea or even table favor for your Easter meal? And the price for this entire project is only $4.99! Available in KNK, PDF, and MTC formats.

Team KNK is back on line again! Be sure to check out the LATEST KNK projects above! Here are some direct links to these projects:

Advent Calendar by Deb

Christmas Cupcake Wrappers by Judy

Paper Angels by Judy

Santa Plate and Joy Card by Nancy

Be sure to check Team KNK every day in the following week! To catch up on our absence, we will be posting a new project EVERY single day!

I want to thank all of the Team KNK designers for their beautiful and creative projects this year. I look forward to working with the team throughout 2012 as we provide more inspiration for the readers of our Team KNK web site!

Friends, do you dread meeting new people at holiday events because you don’t remember their names even though you just met them?

Do you dread meeting new people at holiday events because when they said their name while everybody was talking and you couldn’t hear them BUT they heard YOUR name and they address you by it?

Do you dread meeting new people at holiday events because they end up sitting right next to you and you still haven’t remembered their name?

Do you dread meeting new people at holiday events because, well, maybe you don’t like meeting new people…but, I digress.

FINALLY, you can enjoy Thanksgiving Day dinner next to your new best friend and call them by their name because you can make all your guests feel welcomed with these amazing Turkey Place Cards!!! Beautiful, eye-popping and a conversation piece because you can write your guests’ name on the front and BACK so everyone will know each other’s name. What a concept! You can make them in traditional colors or for you “walk on the wild- turkey side” make them in any colors you wish. This also makes an adorable favor to take home. For the scrapbooks at your feast, they can mount this on a page without distorting the image. Just gently slide all the cutouts to one side and it will lay flat. Again, what a concept! Need a centerpiece? Look no further…actually, you kinda have to look further in the cutting file because – are you ready? Are you sitting? Can you stand the excitement? As an added bonus, you get a second helping of turkey with the included Turkey Center Piece! Your wish came true and you didn’t have to wrestle Uncle Larry for the wishbone! Unbelievable!! It truly is a Thanksgiving to be thankful. So gobble this up and have your guests thanking you for being so thoughtful. Have a wonderful holiday!

This file is sold in .KNK, .MTC, and .PDF formats. Click here to purchase!

The pre-ordered Zings began shipping yesterday and the on-line user manual is now available for interactive viewing and downloading! Note that the manual is a first draft and I plan to make updates regularly as new video links are added, along with rewrites of certain sections, additions of a trouble shooting section and glossary, and basic corrections to grammar and typos! : )

Here’s the link: Zing with Make The Cut User Manual

Even if you haven’t ordered the Zing, this manual also covers all of the functions in Make The Cut and will be updated as new versions of MTC are released. You’ll see that this program has an incredible amount of designing and editing functionality now available! It’s an incredible program for only $58.36! MTC will cut to a long list of cutters including all models of Klic-N-Kut, Pazzles, Gazelle, Craft Robo, Silhouette, and more. You can purchase Make The Cut here at my store.

While all of the pre-ordered Zings sold out, there will be more Zings arriving at the end of the month! So, be sure to check out this incredible new cutter and let me know if you need a recommended dealer to contact!

I am proud to introduce Stellar Stationery cutting files to the store. There are 10 Halloween products available and I invite you to not only browse through the photos of these adorable cupcake accents, but be sure to read the product descriptions! Wow… if only I could make the KNK User Manuals so entertaining! lol

Each cupcake accent file contains the cutting shape for that accent plus the shape without the “poker” so you can use it for other decorating projects or in your scrapbooks and greeting cards!

Note that a special $9.99 package deal includes all 9 cupcake accents PLUS a Jack 0′Lantern shapes notecard.

So, before Monday arrives, be prepared for your cupcake baking with these adorable accents from Stellar Stationery!

Congratulations, Salley! You have won the $25 gift certificate to KNK USA and Chris’s fabulous set of cutting files!

Thanks to everyone who posted comments yesterday! I know how much your kind words meant to Chris and her team of designers.

Salley, Chris and I’ll be contacting you by email with your prizes!

Congratulations to Visual Designs by Chris and her team of designers! They are celebrating three years of providing cutting files to all of you wonderful customers creating magic with your machines!

To celebrate this 3rd Anniversary of www.visualdesignsbychris.com, I am offering a $25 gift certificate to www.knkusa.com AND Chris is donating a Qmc “The Gift” which is a set of 15 cutting files focused on gifts you can give for this holiday season or throughout the year:

Here are a few project ideas using files from this membership:

The winner will be selected randomly from those who post a comment HERE to THIS post today. Note that I will need to approve the posts and will do so as quickly as I see them. As long as your post makes it to my approval section by midnight PDT, it will qualify. I will then draw the name of the winner Sunday and announce in a new post! Good luck to all!

And don’t forget to then head over to VDBC to see the adorable cutting files available by Chris and her designers. Also, click on the Forum there to join in on more celebrations this weekend!

Happy Anniversary, VDBC!

But first… I have a hot key list for MTC now ready to share. This will go into the user manual, but since it’s mostly complete, I wanted to go ahead and make it available to all of my readers. Here’s the link:

MTC Shortcut Keys

And now for three more reasons to check out MTC:

Reason #10 Rhinestone Feature

MTC’s Rhinestone window provides an automatic way to outline your vector shapes or do a horizontal fill using the circle size you choose, along with the spacing. Additionally you can preview the results before accepting and also see the circle count in this same window:

Video of Rhinestone Feature in MTC

Regarding the tweaking of the designs, MTC has short cut keys set up for top (T), bottom (B), right (R) and left (L) alignment, as well as equal vertical ([) and equal horizontal (]) spacing. I also really like the new Esc hotkey to unselect all images.

Reason #11 Path Thinning

Path thinning is the same thing as Center Line Tracing in KNK Studio and other vector programs. It converts a thick line shape into a single line, such as shown above in the image of the glasses. This can greatly simplify some rhinestone designs, especially lettering, as shown in the video below. It can also be handy when pens or markers are going to be used for drawing images and/or lettering.

Thin Paths Feature in MTC

Reason #12 The Font Name Is Automatically Listed in the Layers List

How many times do we forget the name of the font we used in a design? Well, MTC has a solution for that! When you type new text, the name of the font will be assigned as the name of the layer! This was a brilliant feature to include in a program that is used by those who love to collect the thousands of free fonts available on the Internet!

Click on the image to see the fonts names that were assigned for each text I typed:

Speaking of collecting fonts, here are some of my favorite sites to grab free fonts:

http://www.dafont.com/

http://dingbatdepot.com/

http://www.urbanfonts.com/

http://simplythebest.net/fonts/

http://www.acidfonts.com/

If you’re ready to take the plunge to Make-The-Cut, here’s the link to MTC in my own store:

http://www.iloveknk.com/products-page-2/make-the-cut/

You will receive an activation pin for registering MTC and your registration number will work for all of your computers. Other videos for MTC are now available at this link:

MTC Support

And the first detailed on-line User Manual will be available within about 3 – 4 weeks!