Episode 15 - Cricut Gypsy Basics - Design Application

Just one more day to go for a New Year. How quickly this year has gone by and what all it has brought/wrought. 3 months Before I just was happy to use my laptop for emailing and of course online shopping ;) for art , craft & books.

Now I am a blogger. Before now I considered video a man's job - ha ha (funny thing is in my house all the assembling and the handymanny thing - I am expected to do ). And look at me making videos and editing.

I blame this all on the G.

So a Happy New Year's Eve to you all.

Let me cap this year end  blog post with another video.

Here's the 3rd video in the series. As it was loooonnnnng - had to divide into two parts. Except for deleting a page which I think I covered in one of my other recent videos it basically covers almost everything. Atleast all the buttons. I had to cut the deleting a page out as :) it would have had to be in part 3 then - ha ha.

Just don't be worried if your Application Launcher Menu looks a little bit different from yours. I landed on the other side after the jump of faith - ha ha and have update 0158. They pulled this one so if you have any build lesser than 0158 you will have just 2 buttons on your screen.

Episode 14 - Cricut Gypsy - Basics - Reseting your Gypsy & more

This is once again a basic video on the Gypsy. This video is on how to reset your Gypsy and also shows you how to calibrate the gypsy .
I have already written in previous post - way back on how to reset the gypsy and cricut.
Link to the post is here
http://www.thebugbytes.com/2009/11/resetting-your-gypsy-your-cricut.html
So here is the video (only for the Gypsy and not the cricut). My build is 0158 so you will see 3 icons in the application launcher. But since this was pulled many of you will see only 2 icons on yours for some time till they get the update right.

Gypsy Battery Report

Ha Ha. - the watch patrol paid off

That battery icon caved in and budged.

Here's the report

5:40 a.m - Full 

7:17 a.m - 3/4th - pink - 1/4th white



7:55 a.m - ½ full - ½ white

8:45 a.m - ¼ full - ¾ white 

9:05 a.m - yellow - 

Well. after seeing the yellow I wisely started charging again. :)

Battery - I'm watching you.

The other day after doing the update I saw that battery in my Gypsy was half pink and half yellow. But then yesterday after being completely charged  - the pink is not budging. But I only had it on for some time . Only variable from the day of update was that after that since I made a video (editing - will be up shortly) about Reset - so of course I reset the G. Since I was too tired went to sleep.  Oh did I mention my friend is back and I'm a happy camper. Yep went to bed tired and happy. Very happy as my blog also got mentioned by the 3 musketeers of the Scrap world - christmaswithcricut.. Well... that's how I think of those three. Cute and funny girls those three. Hmmm.. now if I could only be mentioned by pinkstamper - my very own Florence nightingale.......
Ok - snap out of it... click!
Today - ha ha - Oh G Battery icon-  I will be watching you.
Singing here - Every breath you take, every move you make, every bond you break, every step you take - I'll be watching you ..
Ok maybe I have to go back to sleep for a while.

Update 0158 has been pulled

So the freezing G's has made PC pull the update 0158.
Now we are back in 0155. For those who made it across - we have some awesome features.
Now we will wait for the others to catch up.
Or will they? Will it be build 0158 or something new?
but guess 155 is relatively safe with some bugs but atleast a working G. (see MB for the glitches) and I think I also have them here.
The last few days have been so crazy. I don't know what  I have been able to write  :)

Episode 13 - Cricut Gypsy - Basics - Cables & Cartridge Connections for Linking

When  I started the Video the build was 0158. This update is being pulled as there were many cases of Frozen Gypsies after the update especially for new users and for those who did the update after a long time. Since I did the update my Gypsy has a 3rd icon in the application launcher - the photo application.
This is a pretty basic video for new users just talking about the cables and the how to connect the cartridge for linking - ie just the hardware aspect of linking.
Once again - don't link until you are familiar, you want to keep it , it's to some extent glitch free, you can cut with it and it's not caused problems with the cricut - for once you link it's permanent.

Pros and Cons of Gypsy after build 0158

well here it goes for the 3rd time. I updated the 1st post but thought since that is in the archive maybe it needs to be in the top and the only way is to repost.
updated on dec 27, 2009
When one of my friend asked me to email me the pros and cons of gypsy I made this list. Just thought that I would add it here for the rest in case they need it. Hope it helps a someone.
disclaimer *I want to stress that this is just the pros and cons as relates to me *
Gypsy - Build 0158
Pros

1. Easier to design with the touch screen and can design anywhere and at anytime. As the as says it's in the palm of your hand. To quote a user" It's therapeutical" 
2. Can store all cartridges so makes it easy to take to crop - more portable than lugging all the cartridges and also can replace the jukebox- this means also using all my cartridges in one design without having to swap the cartridges in cricut or jukebox 
3. Comes loaded with two cartridge - one font - Gypsy font and one shape - Gypsy wanderings (and u get reward points for these two ) 
4. Can now after the latest update transfer files to and fro between gypsy and DS (though don't know how mac users will manage this. also you need full DS and not trial version for this) 
5. Has a multi page option now like DS 
6. Can Weld - we need not glue down each tiny pieces in a word - creative possibilities endless as we can join images together. 
7. Welding flipped images now possible 
8. Grouping images possible so can apply parameters like size changing etc to a whole bunch of images in one go. 
9. Copy and paste a whole group of image possible and can now copy across page (to copy across page - select the image and then go to the new page and tap the copy/paste button). CDS(design studio) users will find this very useful 
10. Can get accurate effects with numpad/10key feature in controlling sizing, rotation, kerning and placement (x and y axis) 
11. Mac users can use the gypsy (depending on your Cricut firmware - you still might need PC to update your Cricut for the first time) 
12. Virtual mat (like in CDS) makes it easy to lay different papers on a single mat thus saving paper and cutting layers also in one go. 
13. Keyword search brings up the images on the keyboard layout 
14. Keypad layout now brings the cartridge as help bubble when you tap on it and hold 
15. pressing zoom button and then selecting image buttons on keypad now zooms it up to full size though the creative feature buttons still don't have help bubble telling their function. 
16. Image can now go out of the mat and is not only visible but can even cut the partial image. 
17. It has a new photo application though is more just like a digital photo album and the photos cannot be brought to the mat. 
18. Cartridges are now categorized by all, linked and used (i.e gives the cartridges used in a design) so designing now is easy. 

Cons

1. Once cartridge is linked it’s permanent and it can be done only once (in the cartridge’s lifetime) to just one gypsy (but cartridge can be reused on any Cricut as it is as it does not get erased) - so resale value of cartridge if any (not quite sure that we can sell - check EULA for this) - but if you can then you have to disclose that it can’t be linked to any gypsy 
2. Policy restriction about selling a gypsy. Please read EULA (end license agreement) 
3. Even though settings can be changed for left handers users say it is not completely left hand friendly. For e.g according to one of the users when you scroll through lists you still have to put your left hand over to the right and doing this makes the wrist cover up the screen. 
4. No help bubble to name the creative feature in the keypad layout. Have to refer the book. 
5. Even though multipage option is now possible - it opens up as a template (you can of course press preview to suppress the template) and since there is no way to turn it off (ie be selective) the mat gets way too chaotic by the time you reach page 5. 
6. Cutting time of welding image is proportional to the number of welded image in a mat and also the size of a mat 
7. No autofill feature/fit to page/fit to length but workaround possible by copy/paste and sizing features. 
8. Hide and contour not possible like in DS. 
9. Keyword database not complete. Some cartridges's images do not show up on the database 
10. Battery life ? Can it be replaced by provocraft? How long will it last? 
11. The power cord doesn't go all the way in when charging and hangs out. User can easily when trying to press it in make the pin fall inside the device as the pin inside does not seem to stand sturdy. (it has happened to more than one user) 
12. The device is temperamental at best. Quality is poor when compared to the cost. Many a G's have been known to freeze while updating or even randomly and has to be sent back to the manufacturer and this process is lengthy if you have linked your cartridges. 
13. The Gypsy has also been known to interfere and mess up the cricut while updating the cricut and rendering the cricut useless. 
14. Each updates done by the company has so far brought more problems with it.

So the pros seem better but getting a working G itself is like a luck of the draw. If its working right then it's a nice device to have. But I live forever in fear when the Gypsy might die out on me .Will it be the next file or the next update? :) But then with uncertainty is a part and parcel of life. It's working for me right now. I love the 2 new cartridges - the cartridge hoarder that I am I just have to say that. In fact these 2 cartridges are sufficient to have and u don't need any more cartridges - well maybe you can add wild card to the list and tags and boxes too though you can design your own ... and maybe...(ok snapping out of it now - sheeshh I need to get into that CCC program right now)
***Note: For new users
Mercy from cricut gypsy messageboard has a thread which tells you to how to update and install. Here's the link http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=5553391&mpage=5
see #post 2 in the link above

What has caused the problem with the frozen G's?

I racked and racked my brain and re read all the posts of those who have frozen G's
It's frozen because the g sync got interrupted somehow. That's for sure But why did it get interrupted? The OS were all different and were compatible. Most were first time users or returned only after some time
All were running as administrators. Many programs ask the firewall to be down while installing a new program. So if your are doing it for the first time obviously it's better that firewall be down. And hopefully they were doing it too while running G sync.
So the only other thing which can affect or interrupt the G sync - is the browser
IE has been having some problems lately especially IE 7 and IE 8.
So before updating try to download google or firefox. Make that your default browser. Add cricut .com as a trusted site (can be done from tools or options or wrench - in the top task bar ).
It's either this or the giant leap across build/update that the G has to make (first time users are jumping all the way from 1st build to 0155 in one go) that is freezing up our poor birdbrained G


If you already have a frozen G seems like only PC can unlock it for you. 
For the rest try to do it this way and choose a time to update when PC is open so that you can call instead waiting through the holidays.

Cartridge not linking with Gypsy

I had thought I had a post on this one as I constantly write this steps in MB ( well rather cut and post from previous post). But I looked today when I searched to copy from my blog I saw that this info was not in my blog and all the old posts seem messed up in Mb too
So here I go again
If you have trouble linking cartridge (unlike the other post about freezing G's these method are not just a wild throw and are totally safe :) :) )

1. You have to hear a click when plugging.
2. If you have reversed it - sometimes the other way works.
3. Blow to get dust out and try. 
4. Cut something with it and try.
5. Plug in cricut, link G to cricut, cut something while still in cricut and link through 
6. cricut and try (george and basic most of the times works only while linking from 
7. cricut). 
8. Jiggle a little bit so that if you have loose contact - then contact is made. Don't jiggle too much , else cartridge will break. 

If all the above steps fail please call PC. Hopefully you should have registered your cartridge as soon as you bought it.
One other bit of advice is not to link lots of cartridge at the one time. Do it in batches and give a space of time before doing the next batch. The Gypsy does write atleast it's serial number on the cartridge so if gets overloaded (LOL) well... . There have been cases when some cartridges have to be sent back to PC

Reseting a Gypsy - maybe there is a third way

Since PC is able to repair the G's my guess is that there is a 3rd way (or even 4th way) to reset . But maybe that reset is a full reset and erases all cartridge data along with the code writing capability which makes the G recognize and not link previously linked cartridge. PC wouldn't want us to do that would they so we are stuck with the 2  resets and not able to unfreeze some G's
Hmm....

What is SVG and why is so important in a electronic die cutting machine?

This post is a general chit chat. So if you consider yourself  as a member of an orthodox G cult - ha ha you can skip reading. :) 
For others grab a hot drink (well it's morning herefor me and Can one really drink anything cold in the morning? Yes? Oh my gosh does such a world even exist?) 
Ok to come back to the topic - At first I asked myself the same question - well maybe it was  worded more like - What the heck is SVG???
So what's my solution to anything  - GOOGLE for it. Between wiki and google almost any question within reason can be answered as far as I am concerned (well at least in my little world). 
So here's what SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphic.
Ok so what and why is that so important to our electronic die cutting machines. 
Heres' my two bits and how I interpret this
What does SVG do? SVG uses the basic x and y coordinates  to plot the image. remember how we used to plot a graph when we were young. We would be given a set of coordinates and we could immediately plot a point on the graph and all we need to do is connect all the dots and there you have it a graph or an image. So at any moment in that image all you need is the coordinates and you know exactly where you are. 
This is the whole key. For a cutting machine needs to know where to cut at each and every point of the image (even fonts are nothing but images).
So desn't JPG or GIF or BMP do that. Nopes - they all use pixels to plot. Pixels are like boxes. You fill up the screen with boxes. And think about it. How many boxes can you fill in a space. So you set a constraint. That's what all that resolution numbers means for eg 1024 x 640 etc . the number of boxes across the screen column wise and row wise. So now here comes the problem. You say you are going to draw say 10 x 10 pixels as you just wanted to fill up a small area say 1 inch x 1 inch. .Now  someone wants to fill up a bigger area say 2 inch x 2 inch. But all I have is 10 x 10 pixels. So what happens? I have no data for the extra pixels So when I have to fill up the extra pixels. And as the boxes get filled up - it results in a jagged image. 
Just zoom in on any JPG or GIF or BMP images - you will see boxes and the image climbs up or down like a step whereas the SVG image is always just a line. And just a line is what a die cutting machine needs.  We want a nice dies cut not some jaggedy ones do we? 
BTW this is why all the latest camera cell phones which use this technology are all  so in craze. With photo files as SVG  you can take a photo anywhere and blow it up and it will not be blurred but as crisp as you saw in your phone.

Trying to handle frozen G's and unsuccessful G updates

updated on dec 27 2009
First of all a disclaimer
I am not a PC employee and this is just a collective info from earlier posts in what was successful during those earlier updates. Some steps maybe risky to your computer so following these steps is entirely upto you .Always better to have a computer savvy person by your side when doing some of the steps. Best option is to reset try and then to call PC . Nobody is forcing you to do this 
I've tried to make a list here for you to cross check and troubleshoot. 
First before starting your G should have be on and in the settings screen when you connected the G to Gypsy sync and then you would run the gypsy sync for successful update to occur. Also preferably with the G connected to ac power cord and almost fully charged for you never know how long the update will take. [:D]Whew! wasn't that a long sentence. Taking a deep breath here to continue. Now to go to my check list which actually is just a list of what others have done before which led them in having a successful update:

1. First use the stylus reset to unfreeze the G and power off (check my earlier posts for the resets of both cricut and G). Then go ahead and do the other G reset too. (totally safe) This is the only thing which unfreezes the G. If your G does not go past the initial screen rest of the steps are moot anyway as you need the G on and in the initial settings screen to proceed. So the rest of the steps are just for G being recognised by the G sync 
2. Fully charge your G - some have advised to allow it to drain and then recharging. (safe -what u got to loose - oh wait - maybe power wastage)
3. Check if your OS is blocking/interfering with Gypsy sync some how. Most of the problems are cropping with windows and not mac and that too windows 7 or vista. (safe - what's the harm in checking) 
4. Check antivirus program is interfering with G. ( risky - anytime you lower a defense - wham - enemy strikes can occur - so see if this is worth it? But best of luck calling PC as they ask you to do this) 
5. So uninstall Gypsy sync; reboot your computer; turn both off (firewall and any antivirus or any security  device that may block the G sync) and then reinstall G sync and then try again. (very risky to yor computer but the g sync guy may be happy) 
6. Check if you have administrator privileges while doing this. This was the main culprit in previous updates. You can right click gypsy sync and choose run as and then choose the option as administrator (or user with that privelege). If that still does not work  restart your computer and running as admistrator run the G sync (totally risk free as most of the program ask this - to rule u need to be a the guy) 
7. And lastly but not the least check if you are using the right USB port. It should be a data transfer port as you're using USB type 2.0 cable. See your computer's manual if necessary to check this.( [:D] Simpler way is also to plug into each USB port to check). (totally safe)

The G is a temperamental creature. This being just my checklist and not PC if you have hubbies, friends or anyone you know who are computer experts please rope them in. Give these people extra love and gifts if necessary :) - don't let them go and have them by your side. :)
If all this fails it's time to call PC.

More on handling the date error - Problems in G and CDS going international

While opening the cut files you may experience date format exception.
This is because the date format is not in month/date/year ie american format . I have already written a post and made a video in the previous version but to summarize -
To overcome this error
You have to download any hexadecimal editor by googling for it.
Then following the editors instructions change the date - the first two digit less than 12 and then save as filename.cut and open in CDS and convert to filename.gypsy and save.
Well that solves the problem for american users.
But for international users here is the painful part which I hope PC when reading this fixes soon.
This did not solve the problem. So I asked one of MB members here to send some of her files and compared with mine.Her gypsy file would not open in CDS.
and here is what I found. When I opened her converted .gypsy files in hexadecimal editor (in the right frame on my editor) alongside mine all the dots on mine were comma in hers.
I had to find and replace all commas with dot and then save as filename.gypsy in hexedit and then I could open the gypsy file in CDS. Seems to work then.
So to all international users - you may have to try this on a file and see if it works for you. Painful process I know. And just think of having to do this in every file? whew! 
Find an hexadecimal editor which can replace all in one shot for hexedit does not do that but will find(toolbar/navbar of the editor) the commas


or maybe there is an easy way for international users
I do not yet know if this would be a simpler solution . Maybe before saving the cut file in DS you could change the date in your computer (ie in the blue start taskbar if in windows) to any of the american time zone .Then save the cut file and then converting to .gypsy file and uploading.
If that does not work you have to follow what I've written before in the previous paragraph and manually change all the commas to dots in the .gypsy file in your hexadecimal editor and save the file as filename.gypsy in the editor.

New Users of G - please do not link cartridges to your G at the beginning itself

For those that have purchased the G new , it looks like for some of the G's are freezing on the new update. Unfortunately you have to update and the update jumps from the 1st version which did not have many functionality (no file sharing, no copy/paste, no pages, no cds compatibility etc ) to the present version which is 0158.
This is not just with this update but has happened during earlier updates too. It would work for some and not so for some. Same would go for updating the cricut. It would freeze the cricut and make it uncuttable. (wow! that's a new word for the dictionary) So please do not link cartridges for some time until you are sure that the G is not defective/freezes. Please update your cricut next. Cut some with G and cricut alone. Play with the 2 preloaded cartridges and get familiar with your G for a week or two. Be sure that you are going to keep the G and then and only then start linking. As linking a cartridge is permanent. PC will repair your G and reserialize if that happens but it would take additional time and is extra headache all around. If you don't link you could even exchange in your local shop itself.
So please take some time.

Gypsy tips - Ungrouping just a single image from a bunch of grouped images

Grouping is one of the main plus points in Gypsy. It's so easy now to just select a bunch of object and perform a single action on them. In CDS if you want a bunch of objects copied  to another page then you have to select each one individually  copy and then paste on another page. But here - as long as it's grouped  - wham ! just a single action.

Well if you look at Grouping carefully as soon as you group you cannot just leave it at that. Grouping needs another action to come out of that mode or complete the picture if you will. Try it yourself. Let's experiment. Randomly select 3 objects. To get a clearer picture - do not select in a single line in the keypad overlay (white box at the top) as this will make it automatically  grouped for you. We don't want that now. But instead select an image - go to the mat tap elsewhere - come back to keypad and select another image and do the same and then select another. Now you have 3 ungrouped images. Now press group and select all three and try tapping outside to get back your nudge keys - you will be stuck as you cannot get your nudge keys back. This means the action is not complete. To get out of the mode you atleast have to press preview. You have to press any other key .Is this a fault? No - since grouping is done so that you have to do something else to the image - anything weld, kern, rotate etc.

Now for the tip

Now after pressing preview twice (once to get out of group and once to get out of preview) just select one image in the group till that turns purple and press copy/paste. That image will also be blue as it is automatically grouped. 

And suppose you do not want that image only to be in a group. And you do not want to ungroup all the rest . How do you do that? 

Maybe you have spent hours over a complicated design and then mistakenly added another image in the image queue and it's grouped too and you don't want that ? Is there a way other than just deleting the image or just ungrouping and then cumbersomely grouping everything back together? Wouldn't that be a nightmare?  So what do you do?

Very simple. Tap out on the mat where it's clear and tap on the group button and just tap on the image you want ungrouped - it'll turn red (if the rest are welded) or black . Now just press preview to get out of grouping mode. Press preview again to get out of preview mode now and come back to the mat. Now you will have a set of grouped images and another ungrouped single image. You can check by tapping on the bunch of images - only those will be in blue and not the single image - Lo and behold you have just ungrouped one image from the bunch.
You can also press group again to get out of the group mode but in this case I wanted to avoid doing it for confusion

Hope that tip was useful...
-

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah

Wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah

New update : Gypsy build now 0158 and Gypsy Sync - 1.2.3643.21101

New update is now available.
For windows users you have to uninstall and then reinstall the new gypsy sync (it will take you to the webpage). 


The bug in 0155 is now fixed.
yes - atleast in mine when I press preview the multipage looks right. Have to cut and check though
2) the photo app is cool but does not say how many KB's each photo can be. There are a some already there and looks like it can run uptill 930 kb (in gypsy sync one preloaded photo file size is 948090 - since 1024 is 1 kb makes that 926 kb's)
3) so now gypsy sync also has an extra folder - Gypsy ->designs and photos

4) when I tried jumping apps - the pink battery now shows up three quarter pink and some white. So guess we now can see how much battery it has left.
5) Cartridges are now categorized into - all, linked and used. The used especially will be so useful. Now we can go to any design file and just select used in the cartridge list and it will give you all the cartridges used in the file. (This is one more plus point  over CDS - hooray)

This is in addition to all that we had in 0155 i.e image can go off the mat and the partial image inside the mat will  cut. Zoom and Pan works like a scroll for all lists; undo not taking as to 1st page but remaining instead in that page itself ; cutting order now as unwelded and then welded images; etc etc.
Have to check if the speed is still slowed down when cutting.
But still no hide and contour .
Hooray!
looks like this update was the one we expected to have when we first opened our g's 3 months back. 


Updated:
Not all users need to uninstall and reinstall. So before doing anything just run gypsy sync. It will tell you what to do. It will either update directly or lead you to the website where you have to download new gypsy sync (in this case u have to uninstall old and then reinstall the new and then run it the new gypsy sync).
Also here is what I found
Did some test cutting
1) cut multiple pages fine. preview looked nice too without any selection box
2) hung an image outside the mat - that cut fine too
3) did a simple welding - that cuts fine too
And
yes - the image height cannot go beyond dotted inside mat line. Increasing with numpad i.e typing actual figure or the pressing the size buttin will only take you that far. The image is limited to size of the selection bob/image touching the dotted line.
Was it there before ? Don't know never noticed as I was more distracted with the image disappering but thanks to Gypsy MB members  - noticed that. 
If you find anything new - please do ping me and I can add.


warning: though the update is glitch free the process itself seems to cause some G's to freeze
Merry Christmas

Gypsy Error Log Files

After the update which gave us build 0142 (now the build is 0155) in our G if you take a look at your documents folder in your computer you will see a new folder called Gypsy Sync. In windows it's under My Documents/Gypsy Sync/. Open that and you can see a text file called GypsyError. This is the place where all the error logs will be keep according to Provo Craft (PC). So if you run into any problems with Gypsy Sync and G ie if they throw up any errors or exception  and you have to call PC then keep this file open and handy. (I had already mentioned this in the MB but just thought I would add this to my blog to keep in a centralized spot  ).
In CDS exception can be read immediately when its thrown in a pop up window (green window). Jot down the exception and also press the details button to get a dropdown detailed version.

Bon Bon box and another doily

Well I was bored and staring at Mya (Crystal's - well she'll be Mya to me) beautiful box and me with the 0155 and not able to create my teacups with multipage - grrrr..
So what do I do when bored ? Create some doilies/mandalas. Well so I designed one. But still was not appeased. So did a octogonal bon bon box too. Please resize if you need it bigger. The small holes are there for threading the ribbon through.. Just score straight aligning the inside v's to form a octogon. If you have a circular shape you can even score to form a circle. Entirely upto you. I decided to take out my imaginisce brad maker out of the box and give it a go. So I just added a brad from same pattern paper on top of the ribbon and added a stone and some stickles.
As for the doily /mandala I just xyroned it with adhesive and added martha stewart fine gold glitter. 
And I was surprised by two things while cutting
It cut slower after update 0155 and also did not fall short while cutting welded images
Here is a picture. Only gloves you will see me wearing are the cleaning or gardening kind ha ha.
Both cut files and gypsy files are uploaded in the usual spot (Note; cut file only for bon bon box as doily uses gypsy wanderings so there is no point in having a cut file). Only warning is that it is with 0155. No harm will occur as they are just single page files and I have sent files to others who have opened them. But you may not be able to see them. Let me know if that occurs

Cool features in Cricut Gypsy update 0155

Before I post the features - if you have not updated yet - please don't do the update. Wait on it. To see how you can avoid the update see my post below. Even otherwise as prevention is better than cure , update fixes are usually fast so as far as possible try not to upload/download till then
But first time users please register/update as the bug is minor compared to the fact that you have to know if  your G works or not. So please register and update. Your G build should be higher than 0142.
That being said
well I looked closer at this update and it has some cool feature
and some of the main things I wanted
1) I wanted to cut partial image ie -I wanted an image to hang off the mat like a cool frame so that I could cut a plastic/stencil sheet and help as borders for my scrapbook layout and hooray we have it now
2) I did not want undo to take me back to 1st page and now we have that too.
I have highlighted in bold what I liky liky
Here's the full writeup from the cricut.com update notes
Enhancements: 
1.Updated the help menus.
2.The selection box is now hidden in in preview mode.
3.The zoom and pan buttons can now be used to scroll through all lists. preview mode.
4.Shapes can now be partially off the mat and the Cricut App will still cut the part that is on the mat.
5.Cartridges can now be filtered by categories to show all cartridges or just the linked cartridges.
6.Unlinked cartridges are now marked in red in the search results screen
7.Cuts that are not welded are now cut in an order that will minimize the amount of time it takes to complete all the cuts
Fixes: 
1.Fixed drawing issues that occur after relative/true-size mode change of glyphs that are not fully on the mat.
2.Fixed an issue where an application failure didn't preserve the file that is open during the application failure.
3.Screen saver no longer activates immediately after Cricut upgrade.
4.Fixed an issue where an application failure didn't preserve the file that is open during the application failure.
5.Undo no longer switches back to layer 1. 


updated this post: It cuts slower than before so guess a little less paper wastage and before when it used to cut just a tad short in welded images - that problem also seems to have gone atleast for me in the files I cut.

Episode 12 - Handling Date Exception in CDS .cut file and converting then to .gypsy file

At the request of some of the Mb members here is a video to go with the earlier post.
All the written instructions are in that post. The hexadecimal editor I have used here is Hexedit - a free editor
Once again the link is http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~prewett/hexedit/.  But you can use any other hexadecimal editor of your choice. Just change the first two digit where you find the date to less than 12 so that it can be in read as month/date/year format. Remember to save as a .cut file as that's what CDS will read.
Here is the video.

Thanks for all the comments

Wow. Thank you. I thought nobody read my blog except a few. But was amazed and overwhelmed by your comments.
This blog is for all of you Gypsy users. As long as you all read the blog and I have something to share about the G, I will keep posting. So do keep leaving comments and dropping email about what you want to know and learn and do leave lots of love. Only if the meter is atleast half full can this machine work :)

More Cricut Gypsy Tips

Here is another tip with your G
When you press the zoom button and tap 4 times i.e the max. as far as zoom can go - the squares match up exactly to scale. You can then take a ruler and measure up against the figure. This is very helpful while designing.
You can measure for eg how much of a image gets overlapped in welding or you can measure the height or sides of a triangle, octagon or hexagon  without the need to whip out your calculator and ruffling through those complicated :) (this coming from an engineer - well look how far I've fallen into this art world) mathematical formulas.
Ok - a question here to you all (if any of you are here ie :) )
Are any of you really reading my blog? I don't see any comments so don't know if I'm passing on useful info.. Should I continue posting? I don't want to write to myself. I would much rather paint

Cartridge not linking

Sometimes some cartridges do not link. Hopefully you should have registered the cartridge at cricut.com in your account immediately as soon it falls in your hand. Please do not be lackadaisical with this step. Do register, as always having more written proof you have the better as in all things in life. Do this whether you have the G or not. I used to do this blindly but how important this step was i just now being brought home to may of us who own the Gypsy as this can cause you a replaced cartridge if you have problems.
Well without much ado let me get back to topic
If you have followed all the steps. Link after each step and go to the next step only if the previous step fails.

1. Plug it in till you hear a click. Only then is the cartridge plugged properly
2. Reverse it and plug in- sometimes the other way works.
3. Blow to get dust out and try cut something with it and try.
4. Plug in cricut, link G to cricut, cut something while still in cricut and link through cricut and try (george and basic most of the times works only while linking from cricut)
5. Jiggle a little bit so that if you have loose contact - then contact is made. Don't jiggle too much , else cartridge will break.

If all the above steps fail please call PC right away.

How to avoid updating the gypsy but still being able to transfer files. Only for windows users

Yes - you can do this but only when you are using windows. Unfortunately does not work for Mac
When you connect the powered on gypsy to the computer  and then run gypsy sync then you will not be able to avoid updating , as this is the first thing that the sync does
But if you instead run the gypsy sync. Yes - it will throw up an error that there is no Gypsy connected . But then connect the G and switch it on - then  it will just refresh the data and not do updates.
I always do it this way as I do not want the update to take me unawares.
When you want to update just drop down the File menu and press check updates and lo presto - updates !!

As I have mentioned before only works for windows users. Mac users - try blocking the internet and see if that works.

Gypsy tip for the day - Zooming to the maximum to get exact scaling

Zooming the mat/screen to max ( I think it is 3-4 taps) gets each box to measure exactly an inch. While designing I zoom max and take my ruler or the  rough template and put it up against mat to see if I have the dimensions right in my design.

Handling the exception date error when transfering/converting international cut files

Since G has gone international we have more and more of this error popping up. Either CDS throws up an error or the gypsy sync fails to load the file.
So always check the date in the cut file or g file
Fixing this error is very easy.
Download a free Hexadecimal editor
I used the one by HexEdit but you can use anyone of the numerous files out there by googling for it . Do read the how to use manual as each editor is different . So edit the date based on your particular editor.
Here's a link to the one I used
http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~prewett/hexedit/
Run the editor and then open the file.
Here's a screen shot of this particular editor

Change the date so the the 1st 2 digits are less than 12. I have drawn a yellow box using my photoeditor to show you  where to change(so do not look for that in the editor - trust me I sometimes do this and think - where is that yellow box?.... :) ha ha). I changed the date to 10 (the cursor has then shown up in the next spot - so read the 1st line in the yellow box - the 10 was what I changed)

Do change the date in yours depending on the editor - always making it less than 12.

Save the file - either replace or if you want to keep the original - choose save as.

Then open this new file - if you have replaced then of course it will the same file - and then convert and upload to G and presto - you can open the file in G.

Hope this helps.

Now - where did I keep my teacup...

A simple wedding greetings card I made

My sons teacher got married this week and I made this simple card .

I cut the card base and the envelope using the G. Then cut  a maroon/red cardstock 1/2 an inch less than the base and cuttlebugged it. Then cut another brown patterned paper about 2 1/2 inch wide to add vertically. Label is spellbinder die. Added ribbons and popdarted the label after stamping congrats and adding 2 pink stone brads. I cut the dove and heart from wedding cartridge . Used gold foil pen to outline the heart and the edged around the heart. Stickled the dove and then added some bling. Added some 3 D dimensional stickers to just 2 corners.

Inside the card and then on the envelope  added 2nd generation? stamping of manuscript stamp.

Ha - I love this method. I ink the stamp and then on another paper and then stamp on the cardstock/envelope. I then printed out a sentiment n the inside (not shown). Cut the same patterned paper for the envelope and another label to print the name. 2 more stickers in the corner of the envelope and the card is done

I did not do this card from any sketch. Just chose an image from the wedding cartridge and felt (yes felt as color brings out emotions) what colors I wanted to speak for me and then the rest just went with the flow.

Episode 11 - Cricut Gypsy - How to add shadows and weld them

Well - here's a video I made for adding shadows and yes and how to weld them too. And to the pot I have thrown in Deleting a page and refreshing an errant cursor.




This video is maybe a little faster than my usual style. It came just a notch over 10 mins so I compressed it a little bit. So if I sound like Minnie mouse...:) Happy Holidays.

updated pros and cons

I am bringing this back up again as some new problems have popped u with the G. So had to add to the cons

Gypsy - Build 0148
Pros

1. Easier to design with the touch screen and can design anywhere and at anytime. As the as says it's in the palm of your hand. To quote a user" It's therapeutical"
2. Can store all cartridges so makes it easy to take to crop - more portable than lugging all the cartridges and also can replace the jukebox- this means also using all my cartridges in one design without having to swap the cartridges in cricut or jukebox
3. Comes loaded with two cartridge - one font - Gypsy font and one shape - Gypsy wanderings (and u get reward points for these two )
4. Can now after the latest update transfer files to and fro between gypsy and DS (though don't know how mac users will manage this. also you need full DS and not trial version for this)
5. Has a multi page option now like DS
6. Can Weld - we need not glue down each tiny pieces in a word - creative possibilities endless as we can join images together.
7. Welding flipped images now possible
8.  Grouping images possible so can apply parameters like size changing etc to a whole bunch of images in one go.
9. Copy and paste a whole group of image possible and can now copy across page (to copy across page - select the image and then go to the new page and tap the copy/paste button). CDS(design studio) users will find this very useful 
10. Can get accurate effects with numpad/10key feature in controlling sizing, rotation, kerning and placement (x and y axis)
11. Mac users can use the gypsy (depending on your Cricut firmware - you still might need PC to update your Cricut for the first time)
12. Virtual mat (like in CDS) makes it easy to lay different papers on a single mat thus saving paper and cutting layers also in one go.
13. Keyword search brings up the images on the keyboard layout
14. Keypad layout now brings the cartridge as help bubble when you tap on it and hold
15. pressing zoom button and then selecting image buttons on keypad now zooms it up to full size though the creative feature buttons still don't have help bubble telling their function.

Cons

1. Once cartridge is linked it’s permanent and it can be done only once (in the cartridge’s lifetime) to just one gypsy (but cartridge can be reused on any Cricut as it is as it does not get erased) - so resale value of cartridge if any (not quite sure that we can sell - check EULA for this) - but if you can then you have to disclose that it can’t be linked to any gypsy
2. Policy restriction about selling a gypsy. Please read EULA (end license agreement)
3. Even though settings can be changed for left handers users say it is not completely left hand friendly. For e.g according to one of the users when you scroll through lists you still have to put your left hand over to the right and doing this makes the wrist cover up the screen.
4. No help bubble to name the creative feature in the keypad layout. Have to refer the book.
5. Even though multipage option is now possible - it opens up as a template (you can of course press preview to suppress the template)
6. When the selection box goes out of the mat (includes even the 0.25 margin so basically the active mat size is 11.75x11.75) image disappears.
7. Cutting time of welding image is proportional to the number of welded image in a mat and also the size of a mat
8. No autofill feature/fit to page/fit to length but workaround possible by copy/paste and sizing features.
9. Hide and contour not possible like in DS.
10. Keyword database not complete. Some cartridges's images do not show up on the database
11. Battery life ? Can it be replaced by provocraft? How long will it last?
12. Physical components like the plug in points for USB connector is falling inside the G.
13. Hardware problems like the port on G not being recognized - popping up randomly  which persists beyond resetting. Only option is to return their G 
14. Even though the cutting is supposed to be precise on the mat. It is not accurate as it claims. Also some of the images are distorted and cut that way too. You can end up with wasting paper in the first case if you do not leave about 2 inch margin and in the 2nd case you may very well have a lopsided circles or unparallel squares (can you even call it square if the sides are not perpendicular and the same size?)

***Note: For new users
Mercy from cricut gypsy messageboard has a thread which tells you to how to update and install. Here's the link

http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=5553391&mpage=5

#post 2

Ferrero Rocher box.

Here is a very simple and pretty basic box/wrap? I made for the Ferrero Rocher chocolates to give as a gift.
The gypsy file can be downloaded from the navbar - Gypsy files.
At first I didn't think I would put up the file as it's pretty basic but then thought it might save time by a tad for someone during this very busy season.
So here's the photo

and here is the box before folding and gluing to see the scoring. I have not added score marks as it is pretty easy to see where to score from this picture and the box itself. Also no instructions as it is pretty basic

The holes are for the 1/2 and inch ribbons to thread through and tie around.

Gypsy - Error message - Image extends beyond cutting mat area

How best to deal with this error message?
Here's how
1) change the mat size and save the file. open it again and check. Works in case you have downloaded someone else's files 2) Also you can try using actual size and reducing the image. When a image uses the layered function - like for eg the dress from paper doll the image's height unless you turn the real dial size on (that a with a line above and below it on the basic menu) is actually the original doll's size. So even though you think the image is 4-5 inches it'll be 13 according the gypsy. So turn on the actual dial size and then 4 means 4.
This is the usual number one culprit in these cases. Reducing also takes care of the following problem - If in case you have selected more than one image and if they have been grouped together one might have moved off the mat , so with reduction you can delete this image. 3) Zoom and check if you have inadvertently added another image. Then it's easier to grab hold and delete of that stray image. Setting the cursor size small also helps in grabbing without getting the double cursrs.
If these method fail - well just save and come back. If its still there dump it and start over. Gypsy is sure finicky sometimes.

Success - Finally tested the pazzles embossing mat and the embossing blade assembly

**Edited this post**
I finally tested the pazzles embossing mat and blade assembly on cricut machine. It works wonderfully.
I did a mistake and cut my mat to 12" - yep chopped a whole inch with a guillotine cutter . Don't do it. Measure up against the cricut mat before doing this. You might just need to trim 1/4 - to 1/2 and inch if at that - and not a whole inch like I chopped.
I got mine from amazon with free shipping for the mat when I combined it with something and 30 something with almost 5 dollars shipping again through amazon with scrapbooking alley I think. Well considering the images I can emboss It's almost the price for one nestability set (it still has it's uses though. So don't dump them yet)
Here's the crude rough picture. I have inked ( badly done I know)  to bring out the embossing. This is regular cardstock and single cut . Shown using both sides of the blade. Not much difference between the two in cardstock but am sure will have more effect in vellum.

Will post better trials later. Just wanted to share the excitement . Seems like I am always editing my posts too. Guess I should be less impulsive and think it out before posting.
So have fun and let's see what you design with it.
**edition**
forgot to mention one important thing though. The mat does not have any grids. You have to eyeball it or draw your own. Sorry to have not mentioned that with all the excitement. Maybe you can just get the foam and apply repositionable adhesive all over it - huh? This foam is more like the ones we have for rubber stamp? Like the easy mount one. Hey maybe that will work as it is sticky and repositionable. But the blade housing assembly is definitely worth it.

Some awesome websites for software learning

After scrapbooking (and that was after getting a cricut 6 months ago) I saw that I was way behind computer wise. Shame on me!


I am not that much impressed with the company ie Provocraft mind you as their instructions on their products leave a lot to be desired though their products are nice. Maybe it's because of just this that we learn more as we  explore more. So I went fishing.Well not for real :) ... I am a veggie.. and also can't watch fishes being hooked and struggling... I went exploring in the internet world.

 On one of those explorations I went searching for videos - found pinkstampers - wow - learnt about cricut. Then searched about DS and found www.learningthecricutds.com. And then searching for SCAL ( a software like DS but with this we can cut almost any solid image or fonts) found that I did not know anything about SVG - which means scalable vector graphics. My bulb fused. After replacing that - ha ha decided I needed a update. So google my life saver got me two sites www.lynda.com/ & www.vtc.com/. Saw some free lessons and decided that even though lynda has less number of tutorials it suited my style more as the instructions were not cold and business like and had more artist tutors. Great so I joined and am I learning. It's thanks to this website http://www.lynda.com that I am making videos and began playing with my digital photos

Then comes my gypsy and what can I say... If  DS had less instructions then this one - Have to borrow some curses from TinTins  - Captain Haddock - " Billions and billions of blue blistering barnacles!*##**!!!" & "Thousand thundering typhoons!!**##*!!!!". I just love these comics along with Asterix.


Anyway there I go and before you know it start a blog, make videos and become so addicted to the Gypsy MB. Would you believe that I never visited the cricut MB before this in all the time I had cricut (theat long 6 months :) and here I am with a Gypsy and in one day and night I start a blog and put up video. I am crazy!!!

Well without further ado - one of the most sweetest ladies on MB - yes our very own Myamagoo suggested after I appreciated her blog and asked her questions to check out a website called http://www.jessicasprague.com/.  Gosh! I just love this site. This site is made for scrabookers who want to learn digital or hybrid scrapbooking focussing mainly on photoshop and some photography with photoshop. Another website which I like with monthly downloads and videos is http://www.scrappersguide.com/. This site was recommended in Scrapbook memories TV.

So these are the 3 sites I am learning from - lynda.com , jessicasprague.com and scrappersguide.com . And a disclaimer here - I am just a student here and I am sure they do not even know I exist apart from being a paying customer/student and I do not get any benefits ( hey would I even get a coupon for this??? cool. Oops sorry that was just my inner de... speaking.I just squashed it - don't worry :) ).

Anyway just sharing info. If you are interested you can jump along and join me.

Adding pages and Open as template

Why am I touching on this subject  - open as template - again? Old gypsy users are familiar with this feature as this was the only way they could do wordbooks or layer or resize images based on another image. But for new users - well it's something new :) :) and strange. 
With the new adding a page feature  (that + sign at the top right gray area of the mat when pressed opens a new page) this feature automatically comes up and  when they go to the next page - questions may arise   - "what's  that light gray image ?" - "why can't I delete?", " will it cut?"
So here I go lecturing...  :)
the image/images that open up on the following pages which are copies of the images in all the previous pages (yes all - page 3 will have both the image of page 1 and page 2) - opens as light gray  and is a template and  it will not cut. It's just a ghost to help you in placement. It's the automatically done for you. Earlier before pages the same thing was possible by using open as template. We could make word books then or other stuff only by opening the parent file as open as template and design as page option wasn't there and we couldn't copy across files. 
Unfortunately now they don't have a selective off feature for this in the pages. So even though it's helpful most of the times - by the time you reach page 5 - it becomes a jumble. Only way to switch all the noise out is by pressing preview and this effectively freezes all actions so is not much help. Hopefully this , hide contour and DS one page dumping will be fixed in successive updates.
Coming back to pages and templates
(Some more point to note  - each page has to be cut individually or separately. They are different mats  They are put together like pages only for our organizational purpose. As far as cricut is concerned it can see only 1 mat at a time. Also when pressing preview you can see what is going to be cut just like in welding. Welded images go red (outline) and other ordinary images are dark black (again outline)).
-  I have an early video on open as template in wordbooks. This feature still works. And now you just are adopting it into the new page feature and it is automatically done for you. 
So when do you use open as template feature? Is it completely redundant. No.
If for  e.g I were to do a wordbook, I would just use the new page feature.
But if I wanted to do let's say a new bag and I want just some dimensions to remain same so I would in this case I would want another file and would use the original as " open as template" . Another use can be as someone in our MB suggested - She has all her card dimensions in different files (named that way too) so that when she wants to make a card with particular dimension she just whips out one of her respective card files   - opens it as template and then designs the card based on these dimensions.
Well that's just a little bit about Gypsy feature I wanted to share.
So folks please do comment. You can tell me straight if I am boring you.
You can also request if you want me to :) lecture on something that would help you and if I know the feature I will post and if you want a video showing some technique on gypsy please do also comment or email.