Let’s Explore v4 – Line Tools – Silhouette Secrets+ by Swift Creek Customs

Sometimes, I think that the tools on the left side of the Silhouette Software get lonely. There is so much that you can do within the software in creating your own designs and I love seeing what everyone comes up with.

First, let’s take a look at the Design Tab. On the left side are the Tools in the software and on the right side are the Panels which control the properties of the objects created.

Check out the Let’s Explore v4 series (HERE) to see more information on the Panels on the right side and how they can be used.

And if you need a little more detailed diagram of the Design tab, don’t forget to grab the FREE PDF in this post – HERE.

Today, we are going to cover the Line Tools located on the left side of the Silhouette Studio. This is available for all users, no matter if you have a software upgrade or not.

Here is a close up of the options available in the Line Tools menu – Draw a Line, Draw a Polygon, Draw a Curved shape, and Draw an Arc

Draw a Line

This will draw a simple line from Point A to Point B. Holding down the Shift key will make it a vertical, 45 diagonal, or horizontal line.

I often will draw a line if I have to separate designs when cutting without a mat to make it easier to weed.

Sometimes, I’ll use the Weeding Lines within the Silhouette software, but other times, it’s just as easy to draw my own line.

Draw a Polygon

This tool will continue to draw lines until you connect the red dots together to close the shape or double click to end the line.
Holding down the Shift key will also make it a vertical, horizontal, or 45 degree angle line.

Have some fun and see what kinds of shapes you can draw. Turning on the Snap to Grid found under the Page Setup Panel – Tab 2, can also help in making sure that you get even spacing and help with drawing objects.

I’ll use this tool or the Draw Curve Shape to create my own weeding lines around a detailed design or when I’m cutting multiple designs on a page.

A combination of tools can make it easier to weed a detailed design or a page filled with designs like the one above by allowing you to weed smaller areas instead of having a full sheet of Oracal 651 stick back to itself.

Draw a Curve Shape

This tool will draw a line each time you click the mouse, but the point will be a curved point.

Continue clicking the mouse to add points and curves in the shape. Double click to end the line or connect back to the first red dot to complete the shape.

After the design is complete, double click on the line and the Edit Points will pop up and the design can be altered more.

Each point has 2 blue squares that are handles that can be adjusted. Or select an option from the Point Edit Panel on the right hand side.

Draw an Arc

Select this tool and click onto the design mat, this will be the starting point of the Arc line. Move the mouse and the next click completes the Arc.

In the center of the arc, there is a grab handle that can be moved in or out to alter the Arc even more.

Click off of the design and an arc line is left.

There are so many fun things that can be created with the tools in the software. You can create your own shapes, add weeding lines, or add Text to the Path you have created.