Klic-N-Kut: A Year Later

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Reported By Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

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 11x11 rather than 12x12 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!