Silhouette Specialty Tools Panel – Emboss Panel

New for the Silhouette Studio version 4.5+ software is the Specialty Tools Panel on the right side of the Silhouette Studio software. It originally started with only a few options showing available, such as the Silhouette Emboss Panel and Alta options. When Silhouette released the Cameo 5 and Curio 2 along side software version 4.5.735+, they introduced more options.

If you are using older software prior to v4.5, check out this post on the Emboss Panel HERE.

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The Specialty Tools Panel resides on the right side, just below the Page Setup Panel. Upon its addition, all other icons shifted downward, and the Silhouette Emboss Panel became nested under the Specialty Tools.

The Emboss Panel is available to Silhouette Curio 1, Silhouette Curio 2, and Silhouette Cameo 5 model owners. If one of these machines is not plugged in and recognized, the panel will appear grayed out, and you may not be able to select the options.

Specialty Tools Panel – Emboss Tab – Tab 1

1 – Deboss – the design will be created as seen on the screen & will press the design down into the material exactly as seen on screen.
For example, if using cardstock, it will create a valley where the design is.
Emboss – the design is flipped horizontally so it is mirrored BUT it does not show this on the screen. You will place your material face down on the embossing mat and the design will be pressed mirrored. When it’s finished, you will flip it over and the design should be raised on the side that was face down on the mat.

2 – F – This tells you which way to put the material on the mat.

For deboss, put the material face up.

For emboss, put the material face down.

3 – Embossing Patterns – Choose between 5 options: none, lined, concentric, cross hatched, or spiral.

Each design will vary in which pattern may look better for the emboss. Again it is a matter of personal preference. I prefer the look of the cross hatched pattern for most projects. However, the only way to know what might look best on any material is to test it.

5 – Spacing – Increase or decrease the grid spacing between the lines of the pattern. The dark blue heart shows a 0.004″ spacing – a really tight Deboss

If we zoom in on the design, you will see the pattern.

This is another area where you are changing a lot of data at one time, so be patient with your computer if it is thinking.

If you ever encounter a blue square/rectangle with an X in it, it may be smaller than what the Silhouette can process. Use the up arrow and increase the spacing just a bit or delete and type in a number just a bit higher than the current spacing, until the box disappears. Remember, be patient and go slow, it is processing a lot of data.

Here is an example of what it might look like.

5 – Angle – Change the angle of the deboss or emboss pattern.

6 – Release Emboss – Releases the lines of the emboss pattern. When you are satisfied with the pattern, click the Release Emboss button. You will not really see it do anything, but it is no longer an editable fill pattern.
Once you release the emboss/deboss, you can add another pattern on top if you choose to.

Embossing is available on the following Silhouette model machines: Curio 1, Curio 2, Cameo 5.

Here is a look at embossing cardstock with the Silhouette Curio 2.

The Silhouette Embossing tools (fine & wide tip) are designed to work in conjunction with the Silhouette 12″ x 12″ Embossing mat.

At the time of publishing this post, a bug persists in the Silhouette software for the Silhouette Cameo 5 causing it not to emboss where it shows on the screen. I will release a tutorial until this bug is fixed, as I don’t want users to ruin their $30 embossing mat, as I did on the first try.

If you do attempt to do this with the Silhouette Cameo 5, I would highly recommend that you use a full 12″ x 12″ sheet of cardstock to protect the entire emboss mat surface.

Cutting completely through a material on top of the Silhouette Embossing mat is not recommended as it can damage the embossing pad and tear it up.

On the Send tab, select Score & Emboss paper to have the settings for embossing. If you want the emboss settings with any other material, you would need to create your own custom setting.

And then test, test, test! Remember that the preset settings in the Silhouette Studio software are just a starting point to test!!! All cardstock and materials will vary and there is no perfect setting for all materials worldwide.
More information on Perfect Cut Settings found HERE.

Additional resources

I will add additional resources for embossing as new information is released and the bugs are fixed.

Silhouette Cameo 5 additional resources found HERE
Silhouette Curio 2 additional resources found HERE

Silhouette Studio Specialty Panel Tabs 2-6 Info (coming soon)

• Specialty Tools Panel – Tab 1 – Emboss Panel details above
• Specialty Tools Panel – Tab 2 – Score & Emboss – details HERE
• Specialty Tools Panel – Tab 3 – Power Engraver – details HERE

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Enjoy !

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