Thanks Kelly!!! I have thought the very same thing. I don't want to spend more than what I really need. If the KNK software will do everything I want it to do then I don't want to buy the ACS software, but if the ACS software is what I really want then I don't want to buy the KNK software.

 

Thanks Kelly!!! I have thought the very same thing. I don't want to spend more than what I really need. If the KNK software will do everything I want it to do then I don't want to buy the ACS software, but if the ACS software is what I really want then I don't want to buy the KNK software.

Thanks, Marilyn. The way you put it is exactly what I am thinking, too. Glad to know I am not the only one with this Q.

 

I assume, by now, you've watched one or more of the Rhinestone Tutorial videos I created for KNK Studio. So you have a general idea of how we can use the software to create rhinestone patterns.

ACS Studio has ALL of the same functions but also an additional feature which allows one to create patterns of lines to fill any image. There are various patterns from which to pick and you can, of course, select the distance between the lines according to the rhinestone size you plan to use. Then you can proceed to apply the circles to the pattern in our one step process. I can somewhat simulate some of these patterns, using other menu functions, but it's not as straight forward as using this feature directly and having the patterns all in one menu for previewing the effects with the image you are trying to fill... so that you can easily compare one to the other. Does that make sense?

In my opinion, the major reason to NOT buy KNK Studio at this point (besides the fact that it doesn't have drivers to cut to other machines), is that we are having future enhancements... future "bells and whistles" added to ACS Studio and they will not be present in KNK Studio.

Now, you may watch my videos and think to yourself, "Hey, I'm great with what Sandy shows. This will do everything I need!" But in reality, nine times out of ten, when a software comes out and it has cool new features, you find yourself REALLY wanting it... especially when others start buying it and talking about what all they can do with the new features.

For the casual home user, I do think a KNK Maxx with KNK Studio is a incredibe value because I've certainly been able to create what I've needed so far. For those who want to have a full rhinestone/vinyl/tackle twill business and compete with what owners of other machines/software can do, then a Falcon or Eagle with ACS Studio is the better answer.

So, I leave it up to each one of you to figure out, for yourself, what would work best for your needs and plans. And, of course, I'm here to answer your questions and provide support where I can.

 

ACS Studio has ALL of the same functions but also an additional feature which allows one to create patterns of lines to fill any image. There are various patterns from which to pick and you can, of course, select the distance between the lines according to the rhinestone size you plan to use. Then you can proceed to apply the circles to the pattern in our one step process. I can somewhat simulate some of these patterns, using other menu functions, but it's not as straight forward as using this feature directly and having the patterns all in one menu for previewing the effects with the image you are trying to fill... so that you can easily compare one to the other. Does that make sense?

In my opinion, the major reason to NOT buy KNK Studio at this point (besides the fact that it doesn't have drivers to cut to other machines), is that we are having future enhancements... future "bells and whistles" added to ACS Studio and they will not be present in KNK Studio.


For the casual home user, I do think a KNK Maxx with KNK Studio is a incredibe value because I've certainly been able to create what I've needed so far. For those who want to have a full rhinestone/vinyl/tackle twill business and compete with what owners of other machines/software can do, then a Falcon or Eagle with ACS Studio is the better answer.

So, I leave it up to each one of you to figure out, for yourself, what would work best for your needs and plans. And, of course, I'm here to answer your questions and provide support where I can.

Sandy,
Thank you for all of the posts that you have taken the time out to do for all of us, I can see your Honesty and Truly wanting to help Forum members make their own Decision, on what is right for them.
Once all the Facts are layed out!
You are a wonderful ray of sunshine in all this Confusion.
Thank you my Friend
Sandy Jo
MMM

 

Thanks Sandy. My decision is not really about whether I want to go for the Eagle/Falcon or the KNK Maxx, but whether I want the KNK Maxx with the KNK software or the ACS software. I don't think I need the ability to run thousands of templates, but I would like to make some templates to make maybe thousands of designs for shirts, bags, etc. I just want to make sure that the software is going have the capabilites to make the right designs that I want to make.

 

I completely understand! And it's great that we now offer that option of buying the Maxx with ACS Studio. I should have actually mentioned it as a third option in my post above but I spaced it out temporarily! lol

 

Thank you again Kelly for starting this thread and thinking the same way I have been!!! And thank you SandyMc for all of your info, help, and support for helping us make a well informed decision of which machine and software we need to do what we want.

 

Hi SandyM.

Thanky-thanky for all the info so far. I have two more, if that's okay.

1. Is there a difference in license between the KNK and ACS studio that would affect commercial sales of finished products, either the templates or the motifs?

2. I am really interested in the visual difference between the fills. I saw the cat design on your site for the rhinestone template and how the fill was done. I have not seen the "auto" fill finished look from the ACS.....

Is there a chance that you may be able to take the same design, and do a "fill" with the KNK Studio, and then do a "fill" with the ACS studio - and then post them side by side?

My main question is, do they look different? I do like when a design has a nice symmetrical fill, and if the KNK is a little half-hazzard, and the ACS more professional looking, that may be the deciding factor for me. If they are fairly close, and not significantly different, then it won't matter to me.

Have you seen both in person? If you think that they are really, really close, so close it's not worth showing, then I trust your word for it, and for me, unless others may want to see, I can skip it. But on the other hand, if you think they do have a different appearance, would you mind and would you be able to show us?

We can't demo the ACS so there's no way to see the fill. I know that others have the ACS, but my main thing is to see the fill on the *same exact* design. So I could see if I was doing, say, the cat design... I could see how with the KNK the fill would look one way, and with the ACS, it would look another way. Then I could see if it is that big of deal or not to me. This is an important feature to me, since I'm a really symmetrical person, even my furniture and designs lean heavily to symmetry by nature. If I know I can get a prettier fill with the ACS, that'll be important.

Sorry so long. I am just trying to be as clear as I can, I know sometimes I am not. If you think the end result is different enough to warrant doing the test, and you have any questions for me at all, in case I was confusing, I'll check in back and forth all afternoon.

Thanks so much just for taking the time to read this, Sandy!!

I think the license will be huge for me, as well, so I am really interested in that question, too. Actually, if you can not resell what you make with KNK Studio, don't even bother with question number 2 (the fill comparison) until I figure out if I even want to deal with that issue. No matter what level of template production one is looking at, being able to sell product *legally* is a big purchasing point. Not sure what good for home use only will really be for me. Thanks alot! Have a great day.

 

Hi SandyM.



2. I am really interested in the visual difference between the fills. I saw the cat design on your site for the rhinestone template and how the fill was done. I have not seen the "auto" fill finished look from the ACS.....

Is there a chance that you may be able to take the same design, and do a "fill" with the KNK Studio, and then do a "fill" with the ACS studio - and then post them side by side?

I believe Sandy M does not have the ACS software, and has not used it, yet,,
She wrote the manual, yes,, but has not used the software,,
I might be wrong if she recieved it today,
let me know if i am, i can take it,
If she does not have the software she will not be albe to make the comparison untill she recieves it,
Sandy Jo
MMM

 

Kelly,

I will be happy to create some comparison fills. We'll need Gary to respond to the first question.

 

i'd love to see a comparison too!

 

SandyM, Then i am wrong and I misunderstood our conversations.,
I am sorry for that,, as I would never do that on purpose,,
Sandy Jo

 

PLUS.....

I LOVE the FACT that SandyMcC has 3+ years experience with the KNK ?brand? cutters!
(and wrote the manual for the new ?eagle acs software? too!!! WOW!!! what TECH support YOU will be able to give! I love it!!!)

YOU KNOW YOUR STUFF SANDYMcC!!!!!!
thoroughly!!!!!

 

I thoroughly agree Mrs. Bacon. I love the fact that SandyMcC has been so helpful with all of the answers to all of the questions we have all had and how she is helping us make our decisions as to which machine and software may work best for each one of us. Then when we make up our minds how helpful she can be with all the questions I'm sure we will probably have about how to do something or how things work for something we will try to do.

 

Thanks again Kelly. You keep coming up with some very good questions. I had not thought of the license issue, but I agree if I can't sell the product it does me no good to spend that kind of money on the software.

Also the fill features have been a big issue I have been debating. The R-wear software has 3 different fill patterns and most of the time only one of them will works well for most of what I want to do. So it would be great to see what kind of fill options the ACS software really has and whether or not they are even worth spending the extra money on. It is great that the KNK software has the demo so we can try it out, but it would be great to see what the ACS software can do also especially to see if the differences are worth the extra costs to us.

 

HEY LOOK....
SandyMcC with some news on the ACS software for the GRAPHTEC...
http://www.t-shirtforums.com/rhinestone-decoration/t93240.html

awesome!!

 

Just to be sure everyone understands ...KNK Studio is not for commercial use,only Hobby and Craft.
ACS Studio has 10 free extra Rhinestone fonts and a fill feature that can put fills in many different ways such as Spiral or Island .Other than that not much other than ACS is Dongled.
I am sure Sandy will cross this post.
Best Regards
Gary

 

KNK Studio is not for commercial use,only Hobby and Craft.

Hi Gary, just curious, does that mean the purpose of KNK Studio is mainly for Hobby and Craft or are you saying that legally, the licensing means that it can't be used commercially?

 

Hello Rodney ,that is correct. The KNK Studio Software is licensed for non commercial use and specifically for Craft and Hobby users. That is 1 of the reasons we are offering the ACS Design Studio.
Best Regards
Gary

 

Great question,, thanks rodney for taking the time to post it and be involved in these posts,
Sandy jo
MMM

 

is this type of license different then an embroidery machine license? There are a lot of embroidery machine/sewing machines that are advertised for home use only - the buyer voids their warentee if the the machine is heavily used for commercial purposes. But certainly they are still on the market and people still sell the products they make with them

 

Thank you Rodney. I am starting feel like I'm going in circles. I do not remember seeing that post where Gary states that ACS software was the software that must be purchased to use in a business or personal proprietor for profit. Thanks again.

 

Yeah, I was confused for a bit as well.

That's a pretty important detail when dealing with a piece of equipment that is definitely for business use.

It looks like the equipment is fine for business use (ie: powerful enough), but the software that comes bundled with the lower priced KNK models (KNK studio) is only for non-commercial use.

So it sounds like you could get the lower priced KNK cutter (or a graphtec) and then buy the ACS software separately.

I'm probably still confused about that

 

I think the last, newest post is where the new confusion comes in. Maybe the non-commercial use is actually the way to use the machine, because Gary says you can sell anything you make with the ACS or Maxx (assuming Maxx to be KNK Maxx Studio - again, not sure.)

This is the way I am reading it from his post above. That with buying the ACS with the Maxx machine you are able to use the maxx commercially. Since the Knk is the name of the non commercial software, not the machine which is maxx, and what he states above along with the ACS. So it would be the ACS (commercial software) with the Maxx(cutter), this combination is ok for commercial use. The KNK software (which is personal use) combined with the Maxx is not ok to use commercially.

I know alot of software companies have different licensing, depending on what the software is used for. Such as Corel Draw had a student addition and a retail version. The student version is inteneded for a student to learn, but not used to profit. And we all know the full version is meant for commercial uses. That is where you would see the difference in price. Another great example is if you were to buy an image off of istockphoto, if you buy it for personal use its like $5 and if you purchase it for commercial use its around $50, this is because the difference of licensing agreements. Most companies work this way when a product is being licensed.

This is how I read it. Basically the ACS software is intended for commercial purposes, and the KNK is intended for personal use. So if the company that is buying the software from the software developer breaks their licensing agreements, they can lose that licensing all together. I would not expect to see a copy of that agreement from the software developer as that would be private between the seller and the license developer.

I am pretty sure that is what was meant here. That Accugraphics has different licensing contracts with the different products, and they have to maintain those agreements to continue doing business with the software developers.

That is also why you will see different prices on the software, because of course licensing a personal product is going to cost the seller less than licensing a commercial product. So personal software is always going to cost less then commercial software. This is my understanding of what is going on here

So the end point? Knk software is personal use and is sold for the intent of personal use, and the ACS is a commercial product and is sold for the intent of commercial use.

Gary if I am incorrect feel free to correct me

 

My understanding is that the software is not the Maxx, The Maxx is the machine. The software I have on my computer is Knk studio, not Knk Maxx. Does this make sense? The machine name is the Maxx. The software is either the Knk studio or the Acs studio. So where he states the Acs and maxx, it seems to me he is talking about the ACS software/Maxx cutter.

 

I know. I actually elaborated my post above with more details I left out "trying" to not write a longer post that could bore everyone to death, lol. But my edit really adds to the heart of the confusion. I understand the same thing you do, Maxx is the machine, not the software. But the wording of the posts opens questions that aren't quite satisfied with me saying Maxx is the machine. I need to know for sure. My hat is hinged on the license and I won't make a move until I feel totally satisfied I've confirmed what Gary is saying exactly. He'll be around at some point. Thanks for trying to help me, Bobbielee. I really appreciate it. But I need to go another step past where we are. If I assume wrong in anyway, I may make a mistake in my purchase. xoxo

Edit to add for Gary: Gary, I am not asking to view any agreements between you and the software developers. I am only asking what the license is that is sold with the KNK Studio (Like my other software and cliparts come with.)

The reason is, just like you have to stay within your agreements, so do I when I buy something. I, too, have to stay within the agreement of the software I buy. I have to watch out for myself, too. We all do. That's why we all read the license agreements. Seems like a normal thing to want to be sure of to me. Hope it does to you, too.

 

Hey Bobbielee, you know how I have a bad habit of asking all my Q's in the threads? If we don't hear from Gary prior to Monday sometime, I'm just going to give him a call on Monday afternoon to clarify. Sometimes a phone call is so much faster, simplier and easier. If I get to call Gary before he steps in here to post, I'll let you guys know what he says. I have to remember I have a phone on my desk sometimes! LOL. Thanks again, Bobbielee, I know you were trying to clear the fog for me. You Rock!!

 

Kelly, I think that's an excellent idea. I just don't feel comfortable speaking on Gary's behalf on this one. I personally took his comment to mean that if you buy an ACS or Maxx cutter from Buy ACS (but not Scrapbook Die Cutter), then you can cut and sell whatever you like, as long as what you are cutting doesn't violate copyright restrictions based on the image.

 

Kelly
My statement was made based on my experience with embroidery machines. First one I bought was a home embroidery/sewing machine. I played with it and had a ball - then got the itch to sell my items - I found out while the machine was under warantee if I made and sold the items I made I would loose my warantee because it was a home embroidery/sewing machine not a commerical machine- I now have 2 commerical machines for my business but still use the orginal home machine but it is no longer under warantee so I would be paying for any repairs no matter how I used it.

how would the companys tech know - when you are sewing for a business the machines take a beating as you use them 6-9 hrs a day. a person using it for their home use would not be using it day in and day out - the difference in wear and tear would be obvious

I know what ever I end up buying will be use for commercial purposes. If not selling actual transfers etc selling the items I make and put rhinestones on and what ever else I branch into

 

Yeah, I totally understand how you wouldn't want to make that call on the license, given the circumstances. What you said about where the machine is purchased, I hope that's not the case. That would be weird. Hopefully it won't be but a few more days until it's clear. Seems like Marilyn and I have the same Q, Bobblielee and I understood it the same way, until Gary's last post, you have a new view I hadn't thought of until you said it, and Sally has a different question on it. Glad I am not alone in my confusion, but also look forward to figuring out what's what.

 

I totally agree!! Thank you Bobbielee for your views. I had not really thought of it that way. Thank you Rodney for trying to clear up the confusion. Thank you Kelly for everything also. I look forward to finding out what you find out from Gary.

 

Kelly I don't think the ACS software is not sold through the knk site anyways The way it works from my understanding is they buy it through accugraphics, and if they want to get Sandy M's support then they have to contact her first through her site, and let her know before their purchase.

Let us know when you talk to Gary Kelly, I think talking to him on the phone is the way to go

 

Sandy,
Thanks that was very informative.
Sandy JO
MMM

 

You're welcome. I had a good time experimenting with the various methods of filling images. I hope to keep coming up with more and update that document according.

 

Wow those cats were awesome - so many choices

 

The stenciling patterns can be a lot of fun... because there are umpteen settings you can choose. In the three on the right, you can move where you want your center target to be located and that can really change the overall look.

Also, regarding Kelly's concern about perfect symmetry, you'll see that a number of them do tend to produce nice even patterns. In the near future, I'll be creating more videos to address this very topic.

 

That is a great pdf Sandy for showing all the different fill options that are available. Thanks for taking the time to show us them