I have spent the last week and a half testing a new cutting machine and want to share a review of the LOKLiK Crafter™. I have been a Cricut user for eight years now. I know the software inside out, and I do a lot of my design in Design Space. But I am a crafter, and as such, I am curious and like to try out new products and projects.
Plus, I like to share new ideas with my readers, give them options, show them new products, and share my thoughts. There’s nothing better than having a bit of choice—and, of course, a row of pretty machines. There’s always room for another machine in the craft room. pattern cutting plotter
If you want to see me create my projects, follow me on Tik Tok and Instagram.
Now, if you are a regular here, you will know that print and cut is my thing. But I also create lots of SVG files and alphabets, so of course, it seemed only fitting to put the machine to the alphabet test. And test the LOKLiK on SVG and PNG printable letters.
The LOKLiK is a new and exciting smart cutting machine that cuts a wealth of card stock and vinyl and also has the facility to print and cut. The great thing is this comes at a fraction of the price of other cutting machines at £159.99, appealing to a broader crafting audience who want to dip their toe into the world of cutting machines; this is a comfortable amount of money to spend on a machine that does a lot.
The great thing is that LOKLiK is part of the HTVRont brand, who are known for offering some of the best HTV and printable sticker papers on the market, thus giving so much choice on some fantastic materials and products.
These all work seamlessly with the Automatic Heat Press, Auto Tumbler Heat Press and Hat Press. Plus, if you haven’t used puff vinyl, give it a go; I am obsessed, it’s great for hoodies, hats and bags.
Set up is easy. The LOKLiK is very much a take-out-of-the-box and plug-in kind of machine. If you have never used a cutting machine before, it’s super easy because it’s all new. If you have experience with other cutting machines, it’s simply a case of learning the new software; it is different but good.
At first, I thought I would struggle, and yes, the LOKLiK IdeaStudio is in its infancy. But it has a lot of great features already. The more I use it, the more I like it, and like anything new, it gets easier with time.
Now, I never do easy. When I am reviewing a machine, I want to test it out and put it through its paces, so I went straight in with print-and-cut stickers and a layered cake topper.
It took me a while to get the hang of how the IdeaStudio Works, but once you have cut one layered project, it all makes sense, every project becomes easier than the last.
Everything works on layer panels, which you can easily switch between. Plus, it can work on multiple disciplines, such as cut and print-and-cut as part of the same project. I particularly like how easy it is to have several projects on the go at the same time, and create offsets, thus making creating cake toppers easy.
The IdeaStudio has a lot of the features you would expect, such as an offset tool, slice, weld, text and an image library. I still have a lot to learn, but am getting my head around it and enjoying using it.
I couldn’t find fault with the LOKLiK’s cutting capabilities; they are outstanding, and the cut quality is excellent. Firstly, it is so quiet; there is some noise, but it is certainly not loud and cuts quickly, too.
The great thing is that you can adjust the speed and pressure of the cut, which I was able to do for glitter card stock and it worked perfectly. And the preset settings so far have all been pretty on point and accurate. I have cut card stock, kiss-cut stickers, glitter cards, holographic and puff vinyl and all cut perfectly.
Ok, I struggled a bit at first; it was a learning curve. When you upload a printable image, you must create a cut layer to enable a cutting path for your stickers. Once you get used to working with the layers panel, it’s easy to do. Calibration took a few attempts to get right, but I have also had issues with the Cricut print and cutting. It’s all about getting to know your machine.
Like the Cricut, it’s all about light. I was really struggling to get my cut right, but I discovered that one of the spotlights in my craft studio was knocking the laser off. Once I had turned this off, I got a better result. Also, any smudging of the guidelines can cause the machine not to recognise the guides so allow ink to dry before touching it.
Although the machines are very similar, there is a huge difference in price point, which makes the LOKLiK a more attractive buy. The Cricut is a lot heavier and feels more solid, but I prefer the lid on the LOKLiK; it’s lighter and doesn’t stick. Cutting speed and quality are on par, and once you get the hang of the software, it is easy to use. It’s all about learning something new.
I have a way to go to build my confidence with print and cut. However, the capabilities of card and vinyl make it worth pursuing. It’s a nice machine to use once you understand a new way of designing a layers panel.
Yes, I would; I love how it cuts; it seems so responsive, and so far, I have had great results. This is a great entry-level machine for people wanting a cutting machine for the first time. Plus, for anyone wanting a brand change, the cut quality is great for me; the next step is to keep practising and designing the software.
Please note this is a paid collaboration, but the machine is fab; I would like to see a contour tool, but as the software is constantly updating, I am sure it won’t be long. I will be using it a lot more. It’s great to have another machine to work with.
Sarah Christie is the author of Extraordinary Chaos a family lifestyle and travel blog from a 50+ mum of boys, sharing Cricut Crafts and Free SVG Files, family travels, recipes, reviews and country living. Also the co-editor of Cruising With Kids Family Cruise Blog and Mini Travellers family travel blog.
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