Posted on March 26, 2019July 13, 2019 by silhouettesecretsplus — 7 Comments

Let’s Explore v4 – Text to path

Text to path

*created in version 4.2 of the Silhouette software

Let’s explore how to take ordinary text and make it more interesting by adding it onto a path. The most common way I see this used is when you want the text to form to a circle or oval shape.
But why stop there? You can add text onto so many other paths.

Let’s take a look at how to do this.

Click on the Text tool on the left side, then click on the mat to get a text cursor and type out the text.

Next, I fill my text with color using the Fill Color Panel on the right side. This helps to see the text better and select the object easier.

Then, click on the Text Style Panel on the right side and change the text style.

Now, draw the shape that you want the text to snap to. Let’s start with an oval, since this is the most common shape I see users try to use.
Note: I have increased the Line thickness so that you can see my shape easier.

Double click on the text and a control point will appear in the bottom left corner.
Note: if the text has been changed in any way, such as welding or converting to path, it is no longer editable text and this will not appear.

Grab the control point and drag it to the object you want it to conform to.

When the text snaps to the shape, a slider bar will appear on the left side and the text can be adjusted.

Moving the slider up on the bar, moves the text out away from the shape.

Moving the slider down on the bar, moves the text inside of the line of the shape.

Make any additional changes to the text, such as increasing the character spacing, etc.

If you have a script text, right click and choose Weld.

This will weld any overlapping letters and then release the font from the shape.
Now, keep in mind that the text is no longer editable once it is welded. Make a copy and pull it to the side if you want to keep the original text to go back to.

Each font style is going to look different and you may need to adjust the character spacing on the Text Style Panel to make it overlap so it welds.

If the text is not overlapping, right click on the text and choose Convert to Path.

This will release the font from the shape.
Now, the text is a design and no longer editable text.

This is an important step, especially if you are cutting the design from HTV and need to flip the image before you cut. If the text is not converted to a path, it will not flip correctly.

Now, if that ever happens, you know why and how to fix it.
Make sure to convert to path or weld before you flip the design.

Now, let’s play with some shapes.

In the newly released v4.2 software, there are Flexi-Shapes on the left tool menu. I chose the star and then changed the points to 5.

I have increased the Line thickness again, so it can be seen better.

Now, type out the text.

If the text does not fit on one line, grab the teal slider bar on the right side and move it farther right, until all the text is on one line.

Now, grab the control point that appears in the bottom left corner of the text box and drag it to the shape. Move it around the shape until you have it how you like.

Each font and shape will vary in what looks better or if it splits words, etc. Play with the character spacing, the text size, and more until the desired look is achieved.

Want the text on a wave?

Use the Draw Curve Shape tool on the left side and draw your wave.

Type out the text, grab the control point in the bottom left, and drag to the wavy line.

When it’s positioned how you like, right click and choose Convert to Path. Now, the line can moved away.

Now, what can you think of to create with the Text to Path feature?

What about adding to a pre-made design to personalize it?

Or inside a banner?

A design for a card or a sign on a wall?

Each one of these shapes works a bit differently and you will need to play with it to see how the Text to Path snaps to the image.

Don’t forget to make a copy of the design before right clicking on the image and choosing Convert to Path.

I would love to see what you create with this feature!

Designs used in the examples are from the Silhouette Design Store:
Heart Arrow by Sophie Gallo – Design #177769
Hot Air Balloon by Rhonna Farrer – Design #182992
Banner by American Crafts – Design #19529
Banner by Skyla Design – Design #267349
Basic Banner by Silhouette – Design #141887
Baby Footprint Heart by Studio Illustrado – Design #198883

Feel free to post your comments and questions below or on my Facebook group at Silhouette Secrets with EllyMae.

Enjoy!

**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.

Posted on March 19, 2019July 14, 2019 by silhouettesecretsplus — 2 Comments

Let’s Explore v4 – Image Effects

Image Effects Panel in Silhouette Studio v4

Did you know there are a lot of options to change the Image Effects
in Silhouette Studio v4?

Under the Image Effects Panel on the right side, there are many options that include:
– Grey Shade
– Colorize
– Contrast, Brightness & Saturation
– Gamma
– Invert
– Sepia
– Tint
– Shadow

Let’s take a look at what each of those options means.

Grey Shade

Select the design by clicking on it and then move the slider to the right or increase the numbers to adjust the grey in the photo.

Here is the original graphic at 0% grey shade

As the number is increased, the colors are muted and turn grey.
Here is at 50% grey shade

And here is 100% grey shade, which turns the entire image black and white.

Colorize

Increase the slider to change the colors in the design. There are so many options with this and you can alter the image to your liking.

Look at the difference in this image with only changing the Hue to 50%.
Wow – I kind of like that!

How about Hue at 70%

So many ideas! You could change your craft room colors anytime you want and have the same graphic for decor, just by changing the Image Effects.

Contrast, Brightness, & Saturation

Adjust each one of these from zero for many different effects.

If you don’t like what the result is, click on cancel and it will revert back to the original design. If you love the look, click on apply to keep the changes.

Gamma

This slider starts at 50.

Decrease the gamma to get bolder colors.

Increase the gamma to get lighter colors. This reminds me of a watercolor effect.

Like what you see? Click the apply button to keep the changes or cancel if you want to revert back to the original colors.

Invert

This effect flips the colors. So if the design was a white background, increase the invert will change it to black.

That is pretty neat!
Click the apply button if you like it or cancel if you want to start again.

Sepia

Adjust the strength to change add a brown look to the colors.

This reminds me of an antiqued look.

Tint

Change the red, green or blue colors to achieve different results.

Shadow

Add a shadow to the design. Below I added a shadow to the text in the middle.
The shadow feature is available in the Designer Edition upgrade or higher.

There are so many option such as adding a shadow, changing the color of the shadow, pan the shadow, releasing the shadow, or choosing to cut around the shadow.

Adding a shadow is a great feature for Print and Cut projects!

If you release the shadow, it then becomes a stand alone design and can be cut.

Wow! This software is amazing! I learn new things every time I play with it!

So here is the original image.

And here is the final image. I changed several things in the Image Effects panel until I had the look I liked.

And then I printed on my new Canon TS9521C printer that I am in love with.

My original plan was to print it on cardstock and put it in a frame. But, then I saw the Silhouette Printable Cotton Canvas and thought I’d give it a go.
I love it!

There are just not enough hours in the day to play with all the cool features in the Silhouette software!

The designs I used in today’s post are Painted Floral Square by Loni Harris – Design #139088 and Craft the Life You Love Phrase by Kolette Hall – Design #262129.

Pin this image to save for later.
Find me on Pinterest HERE!

I would love to see what you create – feel free to post on my Facebook group at
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae.

Enjoy!

Posted on March 13, 2019June 17, 2020 by silhouettesecretsplus — 16 Comments

Let’s Explore – The Curio – Getting started

There is this little Silhouette machine called the Silhouette Curio that came into my studio and has quickly grown to be another favorite tool.

Now, I have to admit that the first day I opened the box, I did holler upstairs to my husband and say something like “I think I made a mistake. I don’t get this machine.”
But, at that point and time there was not much out there to tell you how to get started with it.
Now, the more I use it, the more I love it!!!

So I thought I’d share a few tips to get you started with it.

Silhouette Secrets+ – Curio tips

Platforms

The Curio differs from the Cameo in that it uses a platform system to accommodate thicker materials. The Curio has a clearance of 5 mm and the platforms are added or taken away from the base to bring the height up or down as needed.

This machine comes with a 8.5 in. x 6 in. base and platforms labeled 2, 2, 1, 1 = cutting mat, and 1 = embossing mat.

The platforms are stacked on the base for a total number of 6 to reach the height for the machine to work.
Each material that is used will vary in the number of platforms needed to use with the machine.

For instance, if you have a thin material under 1 mm, you would use a total platform stack of 6. This would be for materials such as cardstock, adhesive vinyl, heat transfer vinyl, or the Silhouette metal etching sheets. These are thin materials and need all the platforms in to reach the height needed to perform the task.

What I can tell you from lots of testing is that each material you get will be different and testing is the very best answer.

For example, I get my acrylic for etching from Craft Chameleon and it is 3 mm thick. I get a good etch using a platform stack of 2+1+the cutting mat and the Silhouette etching tool. If you add this up, it equals a total of 7. Yes, that is more than 6, but my etch comes out well.

Every material and brand of material will vary in what works best. Testing is the answer.

Curio must be recognized by the software

With the Silhouette software open, plug the Curio in to the computer and turn it on.

Next, click on the Send tab in the top right corner.

Then gently load the base in the Curio machine and push the Load button. When the base is loaded you should get a message that a new machine has been plugged in and the Emboss Panel will then be unlocked for you.

You will see at the bottom of the Send tab that the Curio now shows Ready instead of Syncing.

With the v4.2 software version, the Emboss Panel will not unlock the first time a Curio is plugged in until you have loaded the base in the machine. This is how it recognizes that a new Curio has been plugged in.

Curio base position

The Curio machine is unique in a way that the machine can be paused and unloaded in the middle of a project and then be reloaded and continue in the exact place it left off. This is if the Curio base is loaded into the machine correctly.

There is a notch on the side of the Curio base.

This notch must be loaded into the machine past the front of the machine in order to orient the blade into the correct starting position.

How far past the front? There is no magic area, just past the front of the machine. I always push mine in so it is well inside the machine before pushing the Load button on the side.

Emboss Panel

Once the Curio is recognized, the Emboss Panel in the software is unlocked. This allows you to fill designs with different patterns and fills.

The Emboss panel is where I do most of the designing for etching. Each user will vary in what they like to use as an emboss fill. I prefer a tight etch and often use the Cross hatched fill with a small spacing. Check out this post on the Emboss Panel for a detailed explanation of the entire panel.

Test the materials and have fun!

There are so many options in creating with this machine and you will learn so much from just playing with it.

Here are a few projects I’ve created with the Silhouette Curio.

These acrylic coasters are from Craft Chameleon and etched with the Silhouette Etching tool. The Silhouette Etching tool is not typically in the original Curio purchase, unless it is a special bundle. So you will need to order that separately.

Above is a leather bracelet that I designed and tooled with several tools in the Silhouette Curio. The Curio did not cut clean through the tooling leather, but it cut most of the way through and then I could use scissors to cut the rest.

This is a Silhouette metal etching sheet and what I recommend for a beginner to start etching with and practice. I would suggest creating smaller designs and using the entire sheet to practice. It is double sided too, so more bang for your buck!

Check out this virtual demo table on my Youtube channel of many Curio projects I’ve done HERE.

Need a little more help getting started with the Curio?
These classes and tutorials may help:
Beginner Setup & First Cuts on Cardstock & Vinyl online class HERE
Beginner Metal Etching tutorial HERE
Basic Acrylic Etching online class HERE

Don’t have a Curio yet, but are in the market? Here are 3 places to shop for one:
Silhouette America
Swing Design
Amazon

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

I would love to see what you create – feel free to post on my Facebook group at
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae.

Enjoy!

Posted on March 6, 2019July 14, 2019 by silhouettesecretsplus — 1 Comment

Silhouette Spring Retreat 2019

This past weekend I had the opportunity to teach at the Terri Johnson Creates Silhouette Spring Retreat. This was an intermediate level retreat and not only did the attendees learn lots of new things, but I learned from both the attendees and my colleagues as well.

But, do you know what the most important part about the entire weekend was?
The people!

We had a fabulous time learning, creating, and laughing through the entire weekend!

The time goes so fast and the hardest part for me is getting photos of things.
But, here are a few I managed to snap before it was over.

Every single time I tell myself that we need to take photos on the first day when we are all refreshed and every time it is always on that last day after we have been learning new things and staying up late chatting.
The first day there are many new faces, but by the 3rd day so many new friendships have been formed. I almost think, even if we look tired, those are still our best photos and there are finished projects to show as well.

The first class I taught was how to create a Faux Rhinestone scatter with Siser Holographic HTV & Siser Red Glitter HTV that was applied to a black apron.

For this design we started with a Silhouette Design Store file – Crafting is Cheaper than Therapy by Sweet Afton – Design #206867 and created several offsets using the Offset Panel. Then we used the Rhinestone Panel, which is available with the Designer Edition upgrade or higher to create our rhinestone pattern.

This project was very interesting to create and took quite a bit of testing to get the scatter to be random instead of a set pattern.

Thank you to our sponsors for this Faux Rhinestone scatter project!

Siser Holographic Rhinestone HTV was provided by Heat Transfer Warehouse,
Siser Red Glitter HTV was provided by Heat Press Nation
Silhouette Design Store file was provided by Silhouette America, Inc.

The next project I taught was a card in a box project. Every user comes from a different background, so for many cutting paper was something new for them.
I started as a papercrafter with the Silhouette, so I always love to pass on my tips and tricks for working with paper to others.

For this project, I showed the attendees how to open and work with a paper piecing file from the Silhouette Design Store. We used the Happy Birthday Balloons Card in a Box by Suzanne Cannon – Design #256894.

They used the Fill Color Panel, Replicate Panel and the Reveal mat option on the Page Setup Panel to position this design and cut multiple colors out on one cutting mat at the same time.

I use this method for almost all projects whether it is cardstock or vinyl. I find that it saves time and also saves the adhesive on my mat. Since I am not putting down a full sheet of material on top of the mat and then peeling it off, the adhesive remains sticky longer in the areas not used as much.
For more tips on extending the life of your cutting mat, check out this blog post HERE.

This was the first pieces that we cut.

And this is how it was set up on the Silhouette virtual cutting mat in the software.

After cutting the white and blue pieces of the design, we moved those off the mat and positioned the other pieces onto the mat, using the grid revealed on the Page Setup Panel.

Then we placed the colored cardstock on the mat in the same locations as it shows on the software and sent a second mat through to cut.

Now, all the pieces are cut in only 2 times loading into the machine and this fabulous card is ready to assemble.

We used Close to My Heart cardstock and patterned papers to complete this project. When cutting cardstock, the quality of the cardstock makes a big difference. I love using the Close to My Heart brand or the Michael’s Recollection cardstock. They both cut very well.

A big thank you to Silhouette America, Inc., for providing the Happy Birthday Card in a Box file for the attendees.

And the third project I taught was the Silk Screen with the new
Silhouette Silk Screen Starter kit.

We used a free cut file from Cutting for Business called Blessed Are Those Who Do the Dishes and applied it to a hand towel.

Thank you to Silhouette America, Inc. for the Silk Screen and Christine with Cutting for Business for allowing me to use her file to teach this class.

I started working with the Silhouette silk screen kit when it was first released in Fall of 2018 and just like anything else, it takes practice. I encourage you to try it out and keep on trying with it. I love that the screen is HTV and is reusable, just wash and let it dry. Then when needed, assemble it back in the frame and apply your paint.
I am making a list of ideas for Christmas gifts this year.

And finally, I do have to share with you the shirt I made to wear on the first day of the event. If you have followed me for any time or see me post on Facebook, I troubleshoot a lot when users post an issue and the first question I ask is
“Can I see a photo of your blade installed in the machine?”.
While that might be annoying to some, it is one of the most important things to start with any time there is a cutting issue. I was talking with Terri at Terri Johnson Creates one day and she said, “You need a shirt.”, so I create one and used the Silhouette Printable Heat Transfer for Dark Fabrics.
It turned out great! I’ve made several more shirts with this product and am loving it!
And this photo is taken after it was washed and dried, no special treatment.

And guess what, I fixed a few gaps in blades this weekend too!

So a tip for any user, always start with the blade. No matter which Silhouette blade you are using, if there is a gap in it, it can create cutting issues.
All blades need to sit with the lip of the blade flush with the housing.

The weekend was fabulous and even though you may feel tired by the end of the weekend, it is a refreshing tired and I get a sense of renewed energy being around other Silhouette users.

To keep up with events by Terri Johnson Creates, make sure to follow her blog HERE. There are still spaces left at the moment (it has sold out every time – so don’t wait too long) for the All Things Silhouette Conference in June in Peachtree City, GA outside of Atlanta, GA. It is the largest Silhouette conference in the U.S. and a great opportunity to learn from so many in the Silhouette Industry!
Find out all the details here – June All Things Silhouette Conference.

And new this year, there is a Pre-Day event with more hands on classes!
Join us for the Ultimate ATS Package!

Here is a short video showing a glimpse of the ATS conference – I get excited every time I see it.

https://vimeo.com/312305252

You can also check to see if there is a Terri Johnson Creates Licensed Instructor in your area that may host retreats, workshops or even one on one classes.

I would love to see what you create – feel free to post on my Facebook group at
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae.

Enjoy!

Posted on February 26, 2019July 14, 2019 by silhouettesecretsplus — 1 Comment

Creating designs in Silhouette Studio v4

This week let’s take a look at how to create your own design in the Silhouette Studio software using basic shapes and text.

We will create an overlay that could be cut out of cardstock or other materials. I most often see these at trade shows cut by big, fancy laser cutters.
But, why can’t you create your own?
You can!
With just a few basic shapes and tools, you can open up so many doors.

Let’s Explore how to create this overlay in the Silhouette Studio v4.

Start by drawing a square using the Draw a Rectangle Tool on the left side.

To draw a perfect rectangle, hold down the Shift key while drawing the shape.

Do not worry about drawing an exact rectangle dimension.
Use the Scale Tab (2nd tab) located under the Transform Panel on the right side, click on the lock to lock the Aspect so that the dimensions of the object change proportionally. Then type 12 inches in the width and hit enter.
Since the lock was closed, the height will automatically change keeping the proportion of the design.

Select the Square by clicking on it and then choose the Center to Page option. This is found in the QAT (Quick Access Toolbar) or under the Transform Panel – Align Tab.

Now, draw 2 more rectangles and resize them using the Transform Panel – Scale Tab to 3.8″ x 5.8″ and 4.8″ x 6.8″.
These are the sizes for a 4″ x 6″ and 5″ x 7″ photo, the overlay will overlap the photos by just a little bit when it sits on top of it.

Make a copy of the 3.8″ x 5.8″ rectangle and move it to the bottom left side.
My favorite way to make a copy is to hold down the Alt key and drag a copy off of the design.

Make another copy of the 3.8 x 5.8″ rectangle and move it to the top right corner. Resize this rectangle using the Scale Tab to 3.8″ x 5.8″.

Next, use the Transform Panel – Align Tab to align the rectangles.

Select the top right and bottom right rectangles, choose Align Right.
Select the top left and top right rectangles, choose Align Top.
Select the top left and bottom left rectangles, choose Align Left.
Select the bottom left and bottom right rectangles, choose Align Bottom.

For the next step, select all the rectangles including the 12″ x 12″ rectangle.
To select everything on the page, left click and drag the cursor across all the objects or on the keyboard hold down the Ctrl + A buttons.

With all the rectangles selected, click on the Fill Color Panel and fill it with black.

Now, what you have created is 4 rectangles on top of the 12″ x 12″ rectangle.

We are going to take those 5 separate objects and combine them into 1 object by making a compound path.

With all 5 rectangles selected, right click and choose Make Compound Path.

This combines those 5 objects into 1 layer.
Check out this post on Compound Paths for more information.

With those basic shapes you have created the overlay base.
You can create any combination of layouts you want using any shapes you want for the overlay.

Now, let’s add a few more things to this.

Click on the Text Tool on the left side, then click on the design mat to get a text cursor and type “Paris”.
Click off of the text to deselect it and then back on it once to select it.
Open the Fill Color Panel and fill the text with black.
Then open the Text Style Panel on the right side and choose the Text Style you prefer.

Each text style you choose may be different. I chose LW Kaylee’s Script by Lori Whitlock. Resize the text to your liking.
Because of the slight angle of the text from left to right, I also rotated the text to sit straighter on the frame. This is a personal preference and each user may vary in what they like.

Move the Paris text so it overlaps the bottom section on the top left rectangle.

Next, let’s add one more element to this. I have an Eiffel tower image from the Silhouette Design Store by Samantha Walker – Design #41675.
From the Silhouette library, double click on the image and it will add to the design mat.
If it does not and opens onto another design mat, either copy and paste it to the previous work space or go back into the library and right click and choose Merge.

Click on the Eiffel tower to select it, then using the Fill Color Panel, fill it with black.
Then resize it to your liking and place it in the bottom left rectangle overlapping at the bottom.

And now the final step. Select the overlay background, the Paris text and the Eiffel tower design and right click and choose Weld.

Keep in mind that once you weld or change text in any way, it is no longer editable text, so you might want to make a copy or use the Sticky Note feature to make yourself a note on the Text Style used. For more information on Text tips, check out this post HERE.

And we have now used basic shapes, text and a design to create a overlay.
Click on the Send tab and it will show us how this will cut. It will all cut as 1 piece except the dot of the i, since it was not overlapping any other piece, it does not weld to the frame.

What will you create today?

Check out the video of creating this overlay here:

I would love to see what you create – feel free to post on my Facebook group at
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae.

Enjoy!

Posted on January 8, 2019December 11, 2020 by silhouettesecretsplus — 16 Comments

Let’s Explore v4 – How to open an svg file

I see many questions regarding .svg files come up across the Silhouette world, so let’s take a look at it.

What is a svg file?

A .svg is a Scalable Vector Graphic.
But what does that mean to a Silhouette user?
It is a cut file that you can resize without losing image quality.

How is it different than a file from the Silhouette Design Store?

Silhouette design store files (.studio or .studio3) files are a proprietary file that can be found in the Design store and downloaded direct to your Silhouette library. These files should be ready to cut when you open them.
These are the easiest files to open and cut as a new beginner with the Silhouette and what I would recommend a new user starts with.
As with any file, it is dependent on how the designer saved the file.
The Silhouette Design store does have an option to purchase the .svg file in addition to the .studio file, however, it is not needed unless you are using it outside of the Silhouette software.

An .svg file is a common cut file and can be opened in many programs.

How to Open a .svg file in Silhouette Studio

In order to open a .svg file in the Silhouette Studio software it requires a Silhouette software upgrade of Designer Edition or higher. I highly suggest at least the Designer Edition upgrade, it is a great investment and will save you time & headache in workarounds.

With a software upgrade to Designer Edition or higher, it unlocks additional features in the software.
For a list of those features unlocked with each upgrade check out this chart from Silhouette America HERE.
Click on the video camera icon for a brief demo of each feature.

Where do you find the software upgrades?

The software upgrades can be found at an authorized Silhouette retailer. I suggest Swing Design or Silhouette America.

After you purchase the upgrade and receive the code, enter it under Help > Upgrade in the software and it will be active.
As you can see in this photo, my Upgrade option is grayed out because I have the highest level of Business Edition. This will show at the top of the software or under Help > About Silhouette (PC) or About Silhouette (MAC).

Extracting a downloaded folder

The first step to opening a .svg is to download the file from the source. Most files will come in a zipped (compressed) folder and this will need to be unzipped/extracted first. This will depend on your computer system but for me on a Windows PC, I right click on the folder and choose Extract All. Or select the file by clicking on it once and choose the Extract button at the top of the folder.

You can tell this is a compressed folder because it says at the top of the window and has a zipper on the file icon.

You will not be able to access the full design files unless the folder is unzipped/extracted.

Once you click the Extract All button, it will give you the options to choose where to save the Extracted file to. Select where and then click Extract.

Now, the folder can be fully accessed.

Opening a .svg file in Silhouette Studio

Now that the downloaded file is fully accessible, it can be opened in Silhouette Studio. Again keep in mind, that you must have the Designer Edition upgrade or higher in order to open a .svg file in the Silhouette software.

As with a lot of the tools and features, there are several ways you can open files in the Silhouette software.

1. Using the menu options.

In the top left corner, choose File and then Open.

Then choose where the file is located and click OK. Or double click on the file and it should open in the Silhouette software.

2. Drag and drop the file from the Computer folder.

With the Silhouette software open on the Design tab, open the My Computer folder where the file is saved.

Now grab the .svg file by left clicking the mouse and holding the mouse button down, then drag the file on to the design mat of the Silhouette software.

The design will show up on the Silhouette work space where you drag it to.

3. Double click the .svg file to open directly in the Silhouette software.

The computer will use the default program to open any file type when you double click it.
What does this mean?
You will most likely have to change the default program that the computer uses to open .svg files with a double click.

When an .svg file is downloaded, the icon shown next to the file name will most likely be a web browser icon such as Internet Explorer or other. This means that the computer is set to open a .svg file with a web browser. But, you can change that.

Changing the default program for .svg files on Windows

Right click on the .svg file name and choose Properties.

Under the General Properties tab, next to the “Opens with” section, click on Change.

Now, find the Silhouette program and choose it as the default. Scroll down to the bottom and choose More Apps if you do not see it in the list.

You may need to keep clicking to look further on the computer programs.

Once you find the Silhouette Program keep on clicking into the folder, then choose Silhouette Studio for the default to open .svg files.

The Silhouette software will be found under the C: Program Data (x86) if you are using a software version older than v4.3.
For all v4.3 and higher versions, the software is found under C: Program Data.

Once you have set the default to use the Silhouette software to open a .svg file, then you will see the icon next to the file name change to the Silhouette icon.

And when you double click on that file, it will then open up in the Silhouette software.

Another tip here is that you can change how a .svg file opens in the Silhouette software. The choices are As Is, Centered, or Fit to Page. You will find these options under the Import tab in the Preferences.
I have mine set to open Centered, meaning that the .svg image will be centered on the design mat.

MAC users: On a Mac – right click on any SVG file, then click on Get Info. In the popup window, near the bottom, you’ll see where it says “Open With”. Click on that and you’ll see a list of programs. Click on “Other” to open the Applications folder, where you’ll be able to select your Silhouette program. If Silhouette Studio is greyed out, make sure you have “All Applications” enabled. There is also an option in the Get Info window to make the selected application (in this case, Silhouette Studio) open all file types with the same extension as the one selected (which would mean all SVGs in this example).
Thanks to my colleague Lycia Evanoff with Caught By Design for this MAC information.

Now, once the .svg file is open in the software there is one more thing you will need to do before it will cut.

Turn on the cut lines.

The .svg files open in the software with the cut lines defaulted to off.

How to turn the cut lines on.

1 – Select the image by clicking on it.
You will know that it is selected by the gray box showing around the object.

2 – In the top right corner of the Silhouette software, choose the Send tab.
You will notice that the design is selected and “No Cut” is highlighted on the right. This is because the default for a .svg file is the cut lines are off.

3 – Choose Cut and the bold red cut lines should turn on.

Two key things to note here are:

The Design must be selected in order to turn the cut lines on. If nothing is selected, choosing the Cut option will not turn anything on.
It must be the .svg file that you opened. Other file types such as .jpeg or .png files are not cut files and will not have cut lines around the object. Most often you will only see the outer edge of a jpeg or png file turn on and show a rectangle.

There are so many great cut files out there and from many locations. The file that I used as an example today is from SoFontsy that has 100% Commercial Use friendly designs.

Keep in mind that with any file you acquire, it is dependent on how the designer designed and saved it.

Hope that helps explain a very common question I see all the time.

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Feel free to post your comments and questions below or on my Facebook group at Silhouette Secrets with EllyMae.

Enjoy!

Posted on December 11, 2018July 14, 2019 by silhouettesecretsplus — 6 Comments

Tips on Silhouette Studio Updates

I see so many questions regarding Silhouette Studio Updates, so let’s discuss some information about a software update.

Update vs Upgrade

First, a Silhouette Studio update is different than a Studio upgrade.

A Silhouette software upgrade is a product you can purchase that unlocks additional features in the Silhouette software. There are 3 levels: Designer Edition, Designer Edition Plus and Business Edition.

Check out this chart by Silhouette America on what features are unlocked with each upgrade. Click on the video camera icon next to each feature to see a short demo video.

A software upgrade can be purchased from a Silhouette retailer such as Swing Design or direct from Silhouette America. The code can be either a digital code or a physical card mailed to you. I would suggest a digital code as it’s much faster and no shipping.

A software upgrade unlocks features that are already in the Silhouette software program. You can purchase the upgrade in steps or go directly to the one you want. For instance, if you have the Basic Software (free), you can go directly from Silhouette Studio to Business (the highest level) by purchasing the correct upgrade option.

A software update is something that makes changes to the actual program. An update is rolled out for many reasons such as adding new features or fixing a bug in a previous software version.

There is a lot of anxiety around a software update. So here are some tips about Silhouette software updates that I’ve picked up through using the software, teaching, and troubleshooting.

Tips for Silhouette Software Updates

Back up your Silhouette library. It is ALWAYS a good time to make a backup. Get in the habit of making a back up of the library monthly or weekly. This is especially important if you store your personal files in the Silhouette library.
I highly recommend storing your personal files to an outside source or at the very least making a backup of the library. Just keep in mind that no place is 100% safe, so having multiple backups is a good idea too.

This is direct from the Silhouette website regarding the Silhouette Cloud library “Silhouette America’s Cloud Storage is a syncing service rather than a backup service. Files deleted locally will be deleted on the cloud. We strongly recommend users save important and/or valuable files to another location outside of the cloud or local library, or to a third-party backup service.”

I see so many users who say they’ve lost their designs and there can be many reasons for this happening.
Another reason I highly recommend making a back up of your library and a back up of your external storage as well.Personally, I store all my files to an external hard drive which I also back up on a regular basis (probably should do it more than I do).

To find out more information about the Silhouette cloud library click HERE to go directly to the Silhouette Cloud Overview.

How do you backup the library in the v4.1 software?

There are 2 sections of the Silhouette library – the Local User (computer specific) and the Cloud (email address & below). You must back these up separately.

Local User

Right click on the Local User section and choose Export. Save this file to a safe location. I like to save mine with the date included.

Cloud (email address and below)

Right click on the email address, choose Export and save this to a safe location. I add the date and ‘Cloud’ to the name of this file, so I can tell the difference in the files.
The “Check for Updates” option under the Help menu does not work. This will give you a message that there are No Updates available.
Download the Silhouette updates direct from the Silhouette website. If you are prompted for an update through the software, I highly recommend that you choose Later and then when you are ready, update directly from the Silhouette website.
You can find the current software updates HERE on the Silhouette America site. Click on the option for MAC or Windows to download it to your computer.
Change how the software checks for updates. Under the Preferences you can change the Check for Updates option to Daily, Weekly, or Never.The Preferences can also be found under the Edit menu in the top left corner or by using the keyboard short cut Ctrl + K.

Personally, I have mine set to “Never”. I can go out to the Silhouette America website and check if there are any software updates that have been released and download it directly.

Once you change the Preference, then click the Apply and the Ok button.

It is a complete personal preference on how you have the updates set to check.

Software updates are not bad.

There are many good reasons for an update. I love that the Silhouette software is such a powerful graphics program and it is amazing all that is included in this software. There are even more great things coming with the Silhouette Studio v4.2 release. It is still in the Beta testing phase and Silhouette is continuing to work to fix software bugs that pop up.

If you ever do get an update that has a bug you cannot live with or perhaps your software program updated to the Beta version, you can simply uninstall the Silhouette software from your Computer operating system and then reinstall the version you would like to roll back to.

Previous software versions can be found on the Silhouette America site under the Legacy section of the Software updates.

Do you have to update?

No.
You do not have to update your Silhouette software unless you want to. If you have the “Check for updates” set to Daily or Weekly, it will ask you when there is a new update if you want to update. If you are not paying attention or happen to share a computer with another person and the Ok gets pushed on the Update, the software will download the update.

If you choose not to update, you may not have access to all of the Silhouette features available to you. Features released are not retro-active, so if you would like access to new released features, you will need to update the software to at least the version where that feature was released.

Can you have multiple versions of the software installed?

Yes.
Something that not many do not know about is that you can have multiple versions of the Silhouette Studio installed on both a PC and a MAC.

I would not suggest this for the average user unless there is a specific reason that you want more than one version installed, such as downloading the Beta version to test it.

On a MAC, it will download another version with no additional steps needed. After the software downloads, you will need to make sure you change which Silhouette application is docked and make sure you are opening the correct version that you want.

On a PC, there are several steps and Kelly Wayment over at Finding Time to Create has a great post on this. You can find her post on “How to Install Multiple Versions of the Silhouette Studio – Windows 10” on her blog HERE.

I love how Kelly explains things. Kelly is also the voice behind many of the Silhouette America videos on Youtube, the writer behind the ebooks from Silhouette and many product videos for Silhouette.
If you have not seen the new Silhouette 101 blog, check it out HERE – there is lots of information on there.

Again, I would not recommend multiple versions for the average user. But, it can come in handy for certain reasons.

How do you have the Check for Updates set? Did you know you could change it?
I would love to hear – comment below or find me on my Facebook group at
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae.

Enjoy!

Posted on October 2, 2018July 14, 2019 by silhouettesecretsplus — 2 Comments

Let’s Explore v4 – Warp Panel

Warp Panel in Silhouette Studio v4

I love that with the Silhouette software you can pretty much manipulate anything. I am one who likes to have control over my designs and files. And that is why I love the Silhouette software – I can do that!

The Basic Warp is a Designer Edition upgrade feature that gives you the ability to move Edit points in the design to manipulate or warp the image.

The Warp Panel can be found on the bottom right side of the Silhouette Studio v4 screen. The size of your computer screen will determine whether you have to click on an arrow to have the menu expand.

On a larger screen, you will find it here:

On a smaller screen, you will see a little arrow pointing left at the bottom of the icons. Click on this arrow and a menu with more icons will pop out.

So let’s take a look at what each part of the Warp Panel means.

Warp Selected Shapes – Select the object to warp and then click warp selected shapes and the design will change to points you can edit.
I am using Spooky Font by Lori Whitlock found in the Silhouette Design Store.
Restore Original Shapes – Selecting this will revert any changes made back to the original shape. This is very helpful if you want to play around with the design and change your mind.
Release Warp – This option releases the design back to a vector format and the points are no longer editable and how to finish the design once the warp is complete.Keep in mind that once the text is changed by welding, converting to path, releasing the warp, etc. it is no longer editable text and is now a vector image. For more information on this and the Text Style Panel see the Let’s Explore v4 Text Style Panel post.
Divisions – Change how the warp is divided up. The default is 3 divisions and each option chosen will change the look of the warped object. Here is the default of 3:
And here is when there is 2 divisions chosen with the sides pulled down the same.

The more divisions, the more points you have to edit and pull the direction of the design.
Columns – Change the number of columns in the design that can be edited. The default is 1 and the photo below shows it increased to 4.
Rows – Change the number of rows in the design that can be edited. The default is 1 and the photo below shows 5.

As you can see, there are many things in this small panel that can be changed and many ways you can created fabulous, unique designs.

When you are finished with the design, make sure to click the “Release Warp” option to finish the design.

The Warp feature does add a new complexity to the design, so you will notice that it can take more time for your computer to “think” and process the data that you are changing. This will vary by individual users computers and I would recommend saving the design file often, just in case.

*Positionable Skeleton by Samantha Walker – Design #4828

Now I have a little bit of Halloween decor for my door. It may be there until January but it’s a step. I did use the great feature of cutting without a mat to complete this project – find out more about Cutting without a mat HERE.

What have you used the Warp Tool for?
I would love to see what you create – feel free to post on my Facebook group at
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae.

Enjoy!

Posted on September 18, 2018July 14, 2019 by silhouettesecretsplus — 7 Comments

Let’s Explore v4 – Layers Panel

Layers Panel in Silhouette Studio v4

Unless you’ve worked in another graphics program, like Photoshop, you may be wondering what layers are. In the Silhouette software, you can create a design in layers which allows you to do many things such as hide, lock, rename, cut by layer, etc.

The Layers Panel is an option if you have the Designer Edition software upgrade or higher for the Silhouette Studio.

If you open the Layers Panel on a blank design mat, you will see that there isn’t much in there.

What this tells us is on the design mat I have open, there is 1 layer. If I start drawing shapes or text, it will place all of those pieces on Layer 1.

For example, if I open this A2 Pop Up Owl card by Jamie Cripps from the Silhouette Design Store, it will tell us several things.

Here is how the layers panel looks for this design.

On the right side is the Layers Panel and it shows 1 layer and that this layer is grouped together. If I un-group the design, it will show each shape on that layer or each grouping of shapes, depending on how the file was created. But, the entire design is still on the same layer.

So let’s take a look at what all of this means and what you can do with the Layers Panel.

The layers panel can be found on the right side towards the bottom of the Silhouette Studio v4 software, if you have the Designer Edition upgrade to the Silhouette software.

There is a lot of information in this small panel, so let’s explore all the features.

File name – This is the name of the file that is currently open.
Layer details – The default name for each layer is “Layer 1” and then each proceeding one will be in numerical order, but you can change that by clicking on the word Layer and typing a new name or right clicking and choose Rename Layer.
There are many options here including: add a layer under this layer, rename layer, delete layer, cut, copy, paste, select or deselect.In additional to those options, there are toggle options too.

The eyeball can be toggled on and off which hides or shows a layer.

This can allow you to see how a design will look without moving the shape or object.

The lock can be toggled on or off and allows a layer to be locked so it cannot be moved by accident. Again very helpful when designing if you want something to stay in place.

When a layer is locked, it cannot be selected, moved or altered. The layer can be hidden by clicking on the eyeball, but no changes can be made to the layer without toggling the lock off.

Maximize and minimize the layer details by clicking on the circle next to the Layer name.
Designs on layer – All objects that are on that layer will be listed below the layer title in the order they are on the mat.Objects can be grabbed and dragged to rearrange the order within the Layers Panel.
Additional layers – Add as many layers as needed to a design. Having the parts of the design on separate layers allows more control over things while working with a design.
Add or Remove Layers – Use these quick button to Add or Remove layers as needed.

Layers can be fun to play around with and can also serve many useful purposes when designing or using more complex designs.

The other option available once layers have been created is to Cut by Layer.

On the Send tab, choose the option to Cut by Layer and it will open up a window with all the Layer options. Now the cut lines can be turned on and off, depending on which part of the design is being cut.

I hope this helps explain the layers panel just a bit more!

Enjoy!

Feel free to post questions or project photos on my Facebook group at
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae.

Posted on August 21, 2018July 16, 2023 by silhouettesecretsplus — 8 Comments

Let’s Explore v4 – Rhinestones

Bling, sparkle and wow!

Exploring the Rhinestone panel today!

This is a Designer Edition upgrade feature, so if you have the Basic software, you will not see this icon on the screen.

If you only have the Basic software, you can still cut rhinestone designs, but you cannot create rhinestone designs. The Silhouette Design store has many rhinestone designs that can be opened and cut with the Basic software.

The diamond icon is what how you can tell at a glance that it is a rhinestone design or you can use the search box and type in “rhinestone” and it will bring designs up.

With a rhinestone design, it comes it at a specific size to use with certain stone sizes, so they cannot be resized if you are using stones.

The description of the design will also tell you more information about the design, such as size, number of rhinestones, and rhinestone sizes needed.

With the Designer Edition upgrade to the Silhouette Studio software, you can create your own rhinestone designs in just a few clicks.

There are so many options in creating your own designs in this panel, let’s take a look.

*Please note – throughout the entire post I have filled the rhinestone design in with color so it can be seen better. When a rhinestone design it is not filled with a color.
Check out more information on the Fill Color Panel HERE.

Rhinestone Effect – 3 options for rhinestone placement
Edge Effect – places rhinestones around the edge of the designLinear Effect – this fills the design in a linear formation
Here is another example of the linear effect

Radial Effect – fills the design in a radial pattern

Here is another example of the radial effect
Rhinestone Size – 4 options: 6 ss, 10 ss, 16 ss, 20 ss
ss stands for Stone SizeChoose from the most popular stone sizes or adjust it to a custom size.
Rhinestone Spacing – further customize the design by adjusting the spacing between the rhinestones
Draw Rhinestones – left click and hold the mouse button down and draw a design. The rhinestone pattern will follow your drawing and the stone size will be what is chosen above in Rhinestone size.Here is a the Freehand rhinestone in action:https://youtu.be/DopgVUlOshQ
Release Rhinestones – releases all the rhinestone circles into individual design pieces. This allows you to manipulate the design even further by moving the rhinestone holes, adding more or deleting some. A selection box will appear around each rhinestone circle.Zoomed in to see the selection boxes.Here I have moved some and added more to fill in the blank spaces.
Something to keep in mind when you do release the rhinestones is you are breaking the file up from 1 object to LOTS of objects – each of those boxes around the hole is a new object. This means that it is a lot of data for your computer to process. Do not be surprised if you experience a little lag or it doesn’t react as fast as you’d like. This is normal and depends on the processing speed of your computer and how much data it can process at once.

After adjusting the design, select the entire image and then Group it back together, so the file will move as 1 object.
Totals (all Shapes) – this tells how many rhinestones are either on the mat or if 1 object is selected, how many are in the design.When no objects are selected, it totals all the rhinestones on the mat file.When 1 object is selected, it totals the rhinestone count for that 1 object.

Rhinestone designs can be so much fun to create and design!

The design is then cut out of a rhinestone template material that can be reused over and over again to create fabulous rhinestone designs.

And you have another customized project that you have created with the Silhouette machine.

For a full online video course going step-by-step through the rhinestone process, check out the class on Designing with Rhinestones and Silhouette – Creating 4 projects

Supplies used in this post:
Love design by Silhouette Design #9651
Magic Flock rhinestone material, Hot Fix Transfer tape, and Rhinestones
from The Rhinestone World
Canvas Zipper bag from Craft Chameleon

Feel free to share your sparkly rhinestone projects on my Facebook group at
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae.

Enjoy !

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