Let’s Explore v4 – Eraser Tool

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!

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