Are you looking for the best vinyl cutter software to design your own vinyl decals? If so, then you’ve come to the right place where I’ll show you how to design your own vinyl decal using free software. In this article, I will share with you four free programs that are commonly used by sign shops and professional graphic designers around the world.
Well, here it is. If you have been around for even a little bit, then you always hear about some new vinyl software that helps you out. Whether you are looking for free or cheap vinyl cutting software, it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that these tools help in creating some really creative decals, stickers and banners with ease. So let’s get right to the point. I’ve compiled a list of some tools that will help your vinyl cutting in no time!
Inkscape
Inkscape is the most popular free vinyl cutting software among crafters all over.
The free software offers you a suite of flexible drawing tools and a powerful text tool to enable you to work on just any craft from start to finish. Moreover, it presents you with the broad file format and compatibility, as well as the Bezier & Spiro curves, to extend your boundaries on the types of projects you can work on with it.
Just like the paid software, Inkscape also supports SVG (Scalable Vector graphics). This simply means that it’ll work with your specific vinyl cutter even if it comes programmed to work with its native software only.Also Read: T-Shirts: How Do I Retain The Graphics on My Tees?
One area where this cutting software outdoes most of the paid software is its super-user friendly user interface. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or pro designer, you’ll easily figure things out when using this software.
Other than the vinyl cutter, you can also use Inkscape with a good heat press machine to help you design and edit graphics to be applied on t-shirts.
Cricut Explore Air 2
This elegant vinyl cutting machine is going to take you on a true adventure. With countless possibilities built-in, it covers everything you need in a vinyl cutter with software & it’s remarkably affordable. Consider using it for your next DIY project.
Cricut Explore Air 2 is powerful — it can cut over 100 different materials. Some of those include vinyl, cardstock, adhesive foils, HTV & iron-on vinyl, posters, and more. With such a broad range of materials, you can make stickers, car decals, laptop decals, t-shirt designs, custom apparel, home decor — the possibilities are endless.
While pre-made vinyl cutting software is not always the best, Cricut’s Design Space is good enough to start with. It will help you design your first projects while you decide on different vinyl cutting software, and if you like it enough to keep it, you can subscribe to Cricut Access to unlock more features.
With Design Space, you’ll be able to upload, create, and design your own vinyl projects for free. It can even be used on mobile as well as desktop computers, laptops, and tablets. The paid version also opens up the library which contains over 100,000 images & fonts for you to choose from.
This machine comes with a free 2-week trial of Cricut’s trademark software. It also includes a full set of tools. It’s the perfect start to a crafter’s journey through cutting vinyl.
Easy Cut Studio
This premium software will provide you with an impressive range of sign design features and cut programs. Its vinyl cutter can work with versatile fonts, layouts and more components present in your device. In order to check out its basic functions, you can download the free trial version which will last up to 30 days.
Inception
Easy Cut Studio is one of the prominent vinyl cutting software out there. It was launched in order to help graphic designers with more cutting-edge resources for crafting signs. It claims to be the most advanced software for cutting vinyl and making signs!
With ECS, you can experience its functions and instructions in eight languages – English, Spanish, French, German, Simplified Chinese, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese.
Features
You can create interesting signs and logos with Easy Cut Studio since it offers over 250 pre-made unique shapes in the built-in library.
It also allows modifying them by editing vector images and customizing the text included there. Keeping with their name, this software does make cutting the sign easier for you than almost any other competitor.
Other notable features here include node editing, image vectorization, welding, rhinestone templates, contour cut and working with multiple layers.
Compatible Formats
With Easy Cut Studio, you will be able to do image tracing and vectorizing with many formats.
Make the most of its powerful tracing tool by using it on either scanned images or imported files. These files can have the extensions of JPG, PNG, BMP, GIF, PDF, PSD, TIFF, TGA and more.
CorelDRAW
CorelDRAW is not exactly free to use. But it is popular with many users because it is easy to use and the price tag will surely please you. CorelDRAW is compatible with Windows and Mac.
Designed by the Corel Corporation, the software enables you to edit all designs with ease and features many user-friendly tools.
CorelDRAW is a vector design application. This means that it can be easily used for various vinyl cuttings. The software is packed with a professional image set, some design templates, and even some helpful training videos.
CorelDRAW is suitable for beginners and professionals as well. It is undoubtedly one of the most affordable and effective vinyls cutting software out there.
Key features of CorelDRAW vinyl cutting software
- Free & vector graphics editor.
- Best tools for vector illustration, layout, photo editing, typography.
- Compatible with cricut, pixmax, uscutter
- Available for Windows or Mac
Plans: Free/Paid
Download Software: https://www.coreldraw.com/
SignGo
SignGo is a paid software but comes with a free trial of 30 days. You can use this software for a month without spending a cent. If you have a few cutting projects, you can go for this as 30 days is enough.
SignGo can be easily used for various cutting works like t-shirt designs, paint stencils, promo items, stickers, vinyl lettering, and more.
SignGo premium includes cool features like welding, shadows, distortions, node editor, text editor, among others. However, you may not be able to use all the premium features in the free trial. In addition to this, SignGo software supports more than 500 cutters, and your machine will probably be compatible with this.
Key features of SignGo vinyl cutting software
- Free & Cutting Software
- Vinyl Lettering
- Node Editing, Welding
- Advanced Cutting Features, Direct Scanning, Image Tracing
- Available for Windows
Plans: Free/Paid SignGo is free to use for 30 days.
Download Software: http://signgo.com/downloads
Sure Cuts A Lot
Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) is one of the simplest vinyl cutting software ever made. It comes with an incredibly intuitive, user-friendly interface, which makes it the perfect option for absolute beginners.
Sure-Cuts-A-Lot
Though this is a paid software, it offers you a FREE trial, which lasts for up to 15 days.
During the free trial period, you’ll enjoy using this app to cut pretty much any font or shape you can think of. You can choose to draw your own design from scratch, use pre-made designs, or cut your OpenType and TrueType fonts. Download Link
The software also has the ability to import designs from other programs. And thanks to its auto-tracing feature, it does a great job converting any shape into a cut image.
SAi Flexi
Sai fkexi is all in one design, print and cut software. Provides features such as spot color mapping, true-shape nesting and banner finishing.
Plans: Paid
Download Software: https://www.thinksai.com/
USCutter
USCutter is the leading supplier of low-cost, high-quality sign-making and consumer apparel equipment, Vinyl cutters, heat presses, printers, sign vinyl, heat transfer vinyl, banners, important tools, and accessories. It is the best place to get important machinery related to vinyl cutting software.
Website: https://uscutter.com/
Conclusion:
Choosing the right software for cutting vinyl decals is the first step in creating a decal that works well. Look at the comparison chart and you’ll see immediately why VinylMaster Cut is the excellent free vinyl cutting software. The other free vinyl cutter software can’t compare with this great software.