Thread by @VeemonTamer

⚠ RT - Help Small Artists Fight Back Against Greedy Companies ⚠

#Cricut rolls out a shady update that screws over small artists requires a subscription to use the hardware already purchased. Here is a thread that explains things, how to help, and good Cricut alternatives. 1/11

To put this into perspective imagine you buy a Nintendo Switch and a copy of a game. What if you were only allowed to play that game for 30 minutes a month unless you purchase a Nintendo Online Subscription? How would you feel? This is what Cricut is pulling on us right now. 2/11

Limiting the number of uploads takes away our ability to get around a SOFTWARE limitation that they refused to fix/patch. In short, the app prevents full hardware functionality. The core feature in question is "Print Then Cut." 3/11

Problem 1: Paper used by most home printers is 8.5 x 11. Catch this, Cricut's app only lets you use 9.25" x 6.75" of the paper when using the "Print Then Cut feature." So much wasted space. Coincidence? Nah, they just want you to buy more of their overpriced sticker paper. 4/11

Granted, you can buy whatever sticker paper you want, but for customers loyal to the Cricut brand and those who don't know any better when first starting, this is absolutely awful! 5/11

Problem 2: The Cricut app does a terrible job at rerendering your artwork in the "Print Then Cut" option. It reduces colors leaving your art lower quality with choppy gradients. This would force users to go back and tweak their art thus burning through their upload limit. 6/11

The way many of us got around these limitations that Cricut refused to fix was by printing and drawing our cutlines and registration marks in other programs like Photoshop etc. THEN importing the file over to the Cricut app to cut. They are taking this away from us. 7/11

Some speculate, "Cloud storage getting too expensive for Cricut so they limit uploads" But they killed the Design Space online app back in September and now runs strictly Desktop. No reason we shouldn't be able to open cut files LOCALLY on our own PCs. No uploads required 8/11

Cricut is putting FULL HARDWARE functionality behind a shady paywall. I highly recommend not buying a Cricut or supporting a company that goes back on its word! THIS POST RIGHT HERE is WHY I (and I'm sure many other users) bought a Cricut to start with. 9/11

Please help us small artists and content creators out by signing these petitions!

change.org/p/cricut-cricu…
change.org/p/cricut-liste…

(Also, if change asks for money, do not donate. I don't think it goes towards the cause) 10/11

Here is a nice article on Cricut alternatives. I encourage people to reply to the thread and share their experiences with Cricut alternatives to help fellow artists make an informed decision!

freshlypickedblog.com/cricut-alterna…
11/11

For you "That was 2014 and things change" folks out there nah this is clearly a bait and switch power trip. They are even still advertising "free" on their own site and many others. If the only software that works with the machine is advertised as free it should stay free.

Yes, I'm still on my soapbox about this bull but THIS backs my theory up even more that this has NOTHING to do with "uploading too many on limited cloud space" and more to do with them trying to have control over you and hardware you already paid for. Also LOL no rollover.

This seems to be gaining traction. I'd usually plug something but not today. Thread is to save folks 💸 Don't wanna be predatory like Cricut. I'll just suggest NOT caving into their demands with your #Stimuluscheck #stimmy no other reason they chose NOW to try this mess 🙅‍♀️

❗ UPDATE ❗
We won! They released a statement! Anyone registered before December 31, 2021 will not lose their rights to unlimited uploads.

Here are my takeaways from this whole thing. I'm really pleased they reversed their decision but seeing what could have been was frightening and I no longer feel comfortable with Cricut. I have settled on getting the Brother ScanNCut to replace my Cricut and here is why 1/6

The thought of knowing how much control a company has over my hardware doesn't sit well with me. I have the feeling of walking on eggshells, wondering if anything like this will happen again. 2/6

Also, I know mistakes happen, and that's okay, but a mistake like this shows that this company really doesn't understand its user base, and that's not a company that I can feel confident in 😔 3/6

For me personally, I think a stand-alone machine that can operate offline (no cloud required) is best for me. I feel like it's mine with no strings attached and no chances of getting or even suggestions of getting locked out. 4/6

I had so much fun with my Cricut despite its shortcomings. It got me through pretty tough times and let me shine as an artist! It bought me so much joy. But it's time I part with it so I can have more peace of mind. 5/6

Choose what's best for you but also ask yourself
▨ Do I want a standalone machine that's 100% mine
-or-
▨ Do I want a cloud-based machine where the company has the ability to change the rules at any given time?

Choice is yours. It's been fun. Catch you all later 💙 6/6