Today I want to do some comparisons between the DE version of Silhouette Studio and the Basic version of Sure Cuts a Lot 4 (SCAL). There are some differences and there are some things I think each does better, and being the software junkie I am, I have both. But if I had to choose, I’d go with SCAL. I also have SCAL 4 Pro so I’ll talk about that too. I don’t have Silhouette Business Edition. I have MTC (told you I was a software junkie) but I find it difficult to use and I don’t feel they’ve kept up with SCAL. Also I use a Mac as well as a PC and they don’t have a driver for the Mac.
This isn’t a comparison of all features. I just don’t have that much time. The features that I still use Studio DE for is the Sketch Pens and the Knives. I feel SCAL fell down on this. The most important feature in SCAL (to me) is the ability to export as SVG, PNG and JPG because it allows me to use it as a true design software. I sell my designs and (in my opinion) using Studio to do that yields inferior results. Unless you have version 2.0, you have to trace your image and all but the most simple images will not be as good as the original.
| Studio DE | SCAL Basic | |
| Cost | $49.99 (discounts available) | $59.99 ($19.99 upgrade from any version) |
| Ruler | Yes | Yes |
| SVGs | Yes | Yes |
| .Studio Files | Yes | No |
| Shape Drawing | Yes | Yes |
| Additional Shapes | No | 285 |
| Uses OTF/TTF Fonts | Yes | Yes |
| Access Within Program to Mapped Fonts Such as Samantha | No | Yes |
| Skew Shapes (for taking Upright Fonts to look Italic) | Yes | Yes |
| Eraser | Yes | Yes |
| Knife | Yes (more options) | Yes |
| Rhinestones | Yes | Yes (more options) |
| Wrapper Distort (for shaping designs to tumblers and glasses) | No | Yes |
| Type on a Path | No (but can be moved to a path) | Yes |
| Barrel Distort (see below) | No | Yes |
| Bulge Distort (see below) | No | Yes (many adjustments for unique shapes) |
| Canned Distort (see below) | No | Yes |
| Lattice (see Below) | No | Yes (many adjustments) |
| Sketch Fill (see Below) |
Yes (many options) | No, but can be done in a limited way with Line Fill |
| Knockout | No | Yes, plus ability to create gap effects |
| Puzzle | No | Yes |
| Wave Distort | No | Yes (lots of adjustments) |
| Save as SVG, PNG, JPG | No | Yes |
| Trace | Yes | Yes (better – ability to trace by color) |
Barrel Distort
Bulge Distorts
Canned Distort (adjustments available)
Lattice
Line Fill SKETCH
Wave Distort
