Let’s explore the eraser tool today in the Silhouette Studio software.

To start, the eraser and the knife tool are both very heavy data tools.
This is because both of these tools are changing a large amount of data when in use. The computer and software has to reorganize this data and why the computer may take time to process or some users may even experience a software shut down. This will depend on 2 main factors.: the design that is being used and the user’s computer. This means that each user may experience different results when the eraser tool.
The eraser tool is found on the left side of the Silhouette Studio software.
Or the keyboard shortcut to activate the Eraser is Shift+E.

Once you click on the Eraser tool, the features of the tool will show up in the Quick Access Toolbar along the top of the Silhouette software.

There are several options that you have to customize the eraser you are using.
Solid vs Outline

The solid eraser will erase the section and if the eraser connects to the other side, break that design up into solid pieces.
The outline eraser will erase the section and break the design up into solid lines as shown above.

If an object is filled with color, the eraser will break the design up into solid pieces because of the fill color. It will act the same no matter if Solid or Outline is selected.
Square tip or Circle tip

The 2 choices for the eraser tip style are either a square or a circle.
Size
The size of the eraser can be changed depending on what you want to work with.

The smallest size is 0.375″ and you can see the small blue eraser tip above.

The largest size being 3.875″ as shown above.
And that is it. The eraser tool is a very powerful tool, but keep in mind that it can be very data heavy depending on what you are working with.
Let’s take a look at an example of this data.

On the left I have opened up a Mandala by Sarah Hurley – Design #276072 and on the right I have drawn a square. I selected both of the designs and then double clicked on them to bring up the Edit Points.
Edit points are the data points for the software to tell the Silhouette machine to move to connect the cut.
(Find out more about edit points HERE)
As you can see, the mandala design has a LOT more data points than the square.
This means that using the eraser tool on it will take more processing power to change the design because there is more information in that design to change.

Now, each user may experience something a little bit different.
You may see your computer taking longer to process.
You may hear your computer start running more.
You may experience a software crash.
Since each user’s computer varies, the results may vary in what the computer can handle.
And what you may find is that the Eraser Tool might not be the best tool for the job.
Eraser Tips
If the design can be ungrouped and pieces deleted, that will help with the data processing. An ungrouped design means you are changing the data of a single line or two, versus the data of the entire design all at once.

A design may not be able to be ungrouped, but you might be able to release the compound path and delete pieces, which can help with the data processing.

User’s may experience different results with the eraser, such as creating new lines or the design disappearing. Both of these are indicators of data processing. Try ungrouping or releasing the compound path to make it less data being changed at a time.
I would suggest just playing around with the eraser tool and just seeing what will happen.
I would love to see what you are creating with your Silhouette!
Feel free to post photos or questions on my Facebook group at
Silhouette Secrets with EllyMae.
Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Enjoy!


Hi, the eraser used to get really small if you made the image big, so you could do pixel size changes- Now it stays the same size relative to the image so it is useless- what happened?
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Are you changing the eraser size in the top left corner on the Toolbar?
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yes it is as small as it gets– all I know is it used to work before- not crazy about the newest software
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Do you happen to know what version you used to have that it was like this in?
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I have confirmed this and am reporting it. I am not sure why it has changed.
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Is there a way to blend the eraser edge? So its more of a fade rather than straight line.
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No, the eraser does not have a way to soften the edges or adjust the opacity.
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Every time I try using the eraser tool my image disappears. Its so bad that I can’t see the image being erased. Do you know what could be happening?
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Typically that happens when it’s a large data file and the processor isn’t keeping up.
What are you trying to erase? Can you show us a photo of what it is? If you post on the FB group we could take a look – https://www.facebook.com/groups/silhouettesecretsplus
There may be a better way such as right clicking and releasing the compound path and deleting bits not needed. Or erasing after it’s been broken into pieces by releasing that compound path.
The eraser is a high data usage tool because you are changing the massive amounts of data of the file and the software is having to “reorder” that data to keep it as a cut file.
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I can’t make the eraser work. When I erase an area it creates an extra big blob and doesn’t erase anything. Very frustrating. I’ve tried outline and solid and get the same results on both. I want to erase an area so that it doesn’t cut it so without the eraser it is impossible. I’ve been pouring over the internet and can’t find an answer anywhere. Thanks
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Usually this is due to either computer processing resources or the software version being used.
Is it possible to right click on the design, release the compound path and delete whatever you want gone? After it’s gone, then select everything and right click and choose Make Compound Path again.
Or use point editing and delete the points you do not need.
https://silhouette-secrets.com/2019/04/24/lets-explore-v4-edit-points/
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I have tried everything I can think of. It is making it impossible to combine 2 objects. I want to erase where they connect. It is driving me crazy! lol
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It really depends on what you are working on. Each design will be different. Are the 2 objects overlapping? Are they closed shapes? If so, have you selected both, roght click and choose Weld?
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