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Understanding Compound Paths in Silhouette Studio: Beginner-Friendly Tips

Silhouette Studio: Compound Paths
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Compound paths are one of the things in Silhouette Studio that can take the longest to grasp. We see compound paths every day but are not always really “seeing” them. Most often the initial experience with compound paths leaves you saying, “What the heck?” or something along those lines. Or “Why did it do that?

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Compound Paths in Silhouette Studio

In this month’s LIVE YouTube tutorial we covered compound paths and I walked through several different demonstrations starting with simple compound paths and working our way up to a little more complex designs with compound paths.

Those who attended live were able to ask questions and I answered those on the spot and showed additional demonstrations.

Check out this month’s YouTube LIVE on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE.

Demystify Compound Paths in Silhouette Studio YouTube video tutorial

Additional Resources:

Make sure to check out the Events Tab HERE for upcoming LIVE tutorials and more events too!

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Compound Paths in Silhouette Studio

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Let’s Explore v4 – Cut by Fill Color in Silhouette Studio

Silhouette Studio Cut by Fill Color
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Silhouette Studio – Cut by Line Color

In this Let’s Explore v4 tutorial, we will cover the Silhouette Cut by Fill option. The Silhouette Studio software, has 4 options on the Send Tab on how to send the design to be cut – in the top right corner of the Send tab you will find the options Simple, Line, Fill, and Layers.

I’ve covered both the Send Tab – Simple option and the Send Tab – Line option in-depth in previous tutorials.

Silhouette Studio Send Tab - Cut by Fill Color

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The Silhouette Cut by Fill option allows you to cut a project by fill color. The Silhouette software generates the list shown under the Fill option based on the colors that you (or the designer) has filled the design with.

Silhouette Studio Fill Color

In this example using the Mardi Gras Mask file by Cut Files Makers, the file is already filled with color. If a design is not, you would need to select the pieces you want to fill and then select the color you want designated for that piece from the Fill Color Panel on the right or the Fill Color icon in the QAT in the top left of the Silhouette Studio software.

Silhouette Send Fill Color Option

In this Send – Fill option, you have each fill color separated out in it’s own line and you can adjust the settings accordingly.

If you see an option that has a crosshatched pattern in it, that means there is no fill color for that cut line. This can happen when shapes haven’t been filled with a color or there is an image such as a png or jpeg on the file.

Silhouette Cut By Fill Color

Details of the Silhouette Cut by Fill Color

Let’s take a look at what the actions are at the top of the Send tab in Silhouette for Cut by Fill Color.

Silhouette Cut by Fill Color

Tool No.
Choose whether you will be using Tool 1 or Tool 2, also called Carriage 1 and Carriage 2

On/Off
Checked = Cut lines On
Unchecked = Cut lines Off

Bold color lines will be around the design that the cut lines are turned ON for. Notice the purple and yellow lines are not bold since they are turned OFF. Some colors are more difficult to see the bold edge, such as white.

Silhouette Send Cut by Fill Color

Weld
The outer edge of overlapping objects of the color selected will be cut. Welding typically combines objects, but in this instance, the objects remain separate and the Cut Edge is activated.

Fill Color
The same colors of the fill that were set up on the Design Tab, should all show in the list under Fill Color. Different shades of a color will show up as different options.

Material
Choose the Material type you are using for each color.
Each fill color will need to be changed separately if you did not select the material on the Simple tab before clicking on the Cut by Fill Color option.

Action
Choose what action you will want to perform.

Tool/Carriage
Choose what tool you will be using to perform the action.

If you were to keep all of the colors checked and have the cut lines ON, the order in which they appear in the list is the order in which the action will be done. For instance in my photo that would mean, the green would cut first, then the yellow, and then the purple.

You can rearrange the order by clicking and grabbing a color and move it up or down in the list as shown in the video below demonstrating with the line color option.

Moving down the right side of the Send tab – Fill Option, you will see that the cut settings are expanded further down to show what the settings are for each option you have chosen.

Silhouette Cut by Fill Color Selection

The color that is highlighted (selected) at the top of the panel will be the settings that you see at the bottom. In my photo, the green color is highlighted, so it shows the settings for the green lines in the bottom.

Here is where you can adjust the settings as needed. The key here is to make sure that the color you want to change is the one highlighted at the top AND the color shows on the bottom. We are seeing many users changing the settings for the wrong color.

This happens so often, that I put out a video on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel showing exactly what I mean. Check it out HERE.

Silhouette cutting issues with Cut by Line or Fill Color

You can also add a Pause in between the difference color actions if you would like to do that versus unchecking the box to turn the cut lines off. Each user is going to vary in what they prefer to do. I prefer to check and uncheck the boxes as needed, just in case I have to step away from my machine.
But you can test out which way works best for you.
See a quick demo of Adding a Pause HERE.

Now, the rest of this panel is the same as when using the Simple tab.
Check out the in-depth tutorial on the Send Tab – Simple Option HERE for all those details.

Having options in the Silhouette Studio software is fantastic! I’m also thrilled with my new shirt adorned with ThermoFlex Plus Metal Flake HTV. Be sure to check out the “Crafting a Shirt with ThermoFlex and Silhouette (Poli-Tape)” video available on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel right HERE.

Silhouette PoliTape ThermoFlex Plus Mardi Gras Shirt

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Silhouette Cut by Fill Color Pinterest

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Silhouette Classes

Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!

Silhouette step-by-step Classes by Silhouette Secrets+

Silhouette Secrets+ by EllyMae
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae
**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.
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Silhouette Software Upgrades – My Favorite Features

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Silhouette Studio Software Upgrades

Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

One of the most asked questions we see is about software upgrades and unlocking features in the Silhouette Studio software.

Silhouette Software Upgrades

Software upgrades can be purchased through an authorized Silhouette retailer.
Please be careful buying through sites like Etsy, etc. as they can sometime not be the real deal or exactly as advertised. Look for reviews first.

Where to find the Silhouette software upgrades?
Swing Design
Silhouette America

Sales happen often – check each one to see where you might score the best deal!

What is an upgrade?

A software upgrade is a code you purchase that unlocks additional features in the software.
It is a one-time fee that can be active on up to 3 computers per code.

I highly recommend at least the Designer Edition upgrade for all of my students.
It makes life easier and saves you time and headache.
Just being able to open a SVG file and cut is well worth it.

But I LOVE the Business Edition upgrade because it unlocks it ALL and I never have to question if some tool/feature is available to me.
Both are well worth the investment!

Don’t let the name “Business” edition fool you though – you do not have to have a business to use it or have it be useful. There are just some features that are helpful to those that run a business such as using multiple machines.

If you have the basic (free) software, you will want to purchase 1 of 3 options depending on what upgrade you want to go to:
Option 1 – Silhouette Studio to Designer Edition (highly recommend at least this)
Option 2 – Silhouette Studio to Designer Plus (unlocks a few more features – see below)
In all honesty, if you are upgrading to Designer Edition Plus, you might as well go all the way and unlock it all
Option 3 – Silhouette Studio to Business Edition (unlocks it all)

Now here is the important part, if you already have an upgrade, you only need to purchase the step up to the next level you want.

For instance, if you already have the Designer Edition upgrade but you want to go to Business Edition, you want to buy the Designer Edition to Business Edition upgrade. You do not need to buy the full upgrade. You would purchase the level that you need to go from to the level you want to be at.
On the Silhouette website, you simply select the Business Edition upgrade, and it will recognize which upgrade(s) you already have when you are logged in and only show the price for the upgrade you need.

Now, keep in mind, if you purchase the upgrades in steps it is no different than purchasing the upgrade all together.

What does each level of upgrade do?

Here are a few of my favorite features and the ones I find most might use in the software:

Designer Edition unlocks:

Designer Edition Plus unlocks all of the above and

Business Edition unlocks all of the above and

  • Import Ai/CDR/EPS Files
  • Weed Line Feature
  • Multi-cutter Support (I use this one all the time)
  • Multiple Undo/Redo (one of my favorites)
  • Export SVG, PDF, JPG
  • Edition Toggle (this is great for those of us who teach, so we can see exactly what the students see in their version)
    And more…

Now, the list above is not the extensive list of all the features unlocked with each upgrade.
However, it is a list of the features I find the most useful in each upgrade.
For the complete comparison chart click HERE to go look at Silhouette America.

I want you to be successful and use your Silhouette software to the fullest!

How to activate the upgrade

It is now easier than ever to activate an upgrade!

I have all the details outlined in this post depending on what software version you are currently using.

Additional Resources on Silhouette Upgrades & Troubleshooting:

If you have question about an upgrade just let me know in the comments below.

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Silhouette Classes

Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!

Silhouette step-by-step Classes by Silhouette Secrets+

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae
**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.
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Designing in Silhouette – Circle Frame with Basic Tools

Designing in Silhouette Studio does not have to be difficult or complicated. With a few basic tools, you can create your own designs to use in projects.

Anyone can do this! Yes – that means you! Let me show you how!

Check it out HERE on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel.

This technique could be used for a variety of projects from adhesive vinyl, heat transfer vinyl, cardstock and more! It is how I created the Swift Creek Customs logo that my husband and I use for our shirts, social media logos, project creations, watermarks, and more!

What would you use it for? Let us know below.

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Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.

Silhouette Classes

Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!

Silhouette step-by-step Classes by Silhouette Secrets+

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**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.
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Let’s Explore v4.4 – Page Setup Panel – Updated

Over the years the Silhouette Studio software has changed. If you’ve been using Silhouette for a while, you may have seen it, but if you are new, you may not have noticed these changes.

I’m sharing an updated tutorial today on the Page Setup Panel in the Silhouette Studio software v4.5+. With new versions, new features are added or moved. This means the panels change and sometimes they can change quickly.

If you are still using an older version of software or yours looks a bit different, that is ok – you do NOT need to update. Check out these older tutorials HERE for more details. This is all dependent on your software version.
Again, I DO NOT recommend you update just so it looks like this tutorial, especially if your software is running just fine.

I’ve also created a video tutorial that you can find on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE as well.

This tutorial is written in version 4.5 of the Silhouette software.
*Note: tutorial is photo heavy

What software version are you currently using?

Here is how to find out this information.

On a Windows computer, in the top left corner, click on Help > About Silhouette.

Software version

On a MAC, navigate to the top left menu, click on Silhouette Studio, and then click on About Silhouette.

MAC About Silhouette copy


(Thanks Libby Ashcraft for this MAC screenshot!)

This little window tells us a lot of information.

From this screen we can tell what the exact software version is and what level of upgrade the user has. This helps immensely in troubleshooting issues with users as some bugs can be version specific.

Let’s Explore v4 – Page Setup Panel

The Page Setup Panel is found in the top right corner of the Silhouette Studio software and it opens automatically when you open the software.

It is one of the most important panels in the software because it’s where you tell the program, and ultimately your Silhouette machine, exactly what you are doing.

Simply click the top right icon if you need the Page Setup Panel to open again.

Now, let’s take an in-depth look at what is included on this panel. As I mentioned above, it is one of the most important panels in the setup for your projects.

At the top of the Page Setup Panel is the Design Area Setup.

This is where you tell the software and machine exactly what you are using.

#1 – Machine
This where you tell the software what machine you will be using.

With the release of v4.4 software, several changes were added and you have more options in the machines selection, even if you do not own that particular model machine.

#2 Feed Type
This one you may or may not see. It is completely dependent on what Silhouette model machine you have. This option will show up when the Cameo 4, Cameo Plus, Cameo Pro, or Portrait 3 models are selected. This is only an option for the Silhouette Auto Sheet Feeder.

If you do not have a Silhouette Auto Sheet Feeder, you do not need to do anything here.
For more information on the Silhouette Auto Sheet Feeder, click HERE.

#3 – Cutting Mat
This is where you tell the software & machine what size cutting mat you are using or if you are not using a cutting mat.

When a cutting mat is selected, you will see the cutting mat appear on the screen. Notice the gray border around the cuttable area. The Silhouette software virtual mat is calibrated exactly to a Silhouette cutting mat. This is how the machine knows how far in to pull the cutting mat before it starts the cut.

The black arrow is ALWAYS the top of the cutting mat that is the leading edge going into the machine, no matter what direction it is turned on the screen.

When no mat is selected, you will only see a white page and you are telling the machine to start the cut at the top of the material.

#4 – Media Size
This means your page size or your material size. Media = material.

Select from the preset option in the drop down or set your own custom size in the width and height boxes.

Transparency
Slide the transparency slider over to reveal the cutting mat below the media page.

At 0.0% it means the media will be white*
(*read below for additional information)

As you slide the Transparency up, it reveals the cutting mat below. The media becomes more transparent on the mat. The photo above shows at 65% transparency.

I use this option all the time when making projects. It is how I line up multiple colors of material on one cutting mat and send it through the machine to cut once.
Check out this tutorial on Cutting Multiple Colors at Once HERE.
It also is how I make my mats last longer and save the adhesive on my cutting mat. Shhhh don’t tell anyone!

Constrain Media to Mat
This was introduced in v4.4 and it is often confusing for users. Basically it means with this option checked that the media will not go outside of the cutting mat borders, no matter what the user sets it to.

As as example, if I set the media size to 14″ wide and 11″ height, with the Constrain Media not checked, the page/media will hang off the edge of the cutting mat as shown in the photo.

With the Constrain Media to mat, it will not allow you to set the custom media size to larger than the cutting mat size. It will automatically recalculate that based on the machine selected and cutting mat selected.

Orientation
This is in reference to your media size. Portrait Orientation is vertical and Landscape is horizontal. Here is an example of Portrait Orientation.

With the release of v4.4 software versions there was a bug released that we call the “orientation bug”. It is a bit difficult to explain in photos and this tutorial is already photo heavy, so I would recommend checking out the video tutorial HERE for more details on that. At the time I write this, the “orientation bug” has been present since July 2020, so I don’t really see it going away. I explain in the video how it works and why.

Now let’s take a look at the bottom half of the Page Setup Panel.

Media Color
This is new and was introduced somewhere around v4.4.8xx.

This was implemented as a user request to make it easier to see what a design might look like on top of a particular color instead of drawing a rectangle behind the design and filling it with color.

It does not print or cut, but simply changes the color of the background of the media set in #4 at the top of the Page Setup Panel.

Rotate View
This is a visual reference only! Rotate the cutting mat or material (set to no mat) on the screen for better viewing while you are designing.

No matter what direction you rotate the mat on the screen, the black arrow is ALWAYS the top of the cutting mat or leading edge of the material that gets fed into the machine.

I show you how you can use this to “fix” the orientation bug in the video on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE.

Print and Cut Borders

Show Print Border
Check this option and a gray box appears around the area that is set by the current printer set up with your computer. I recommend checking this box anytime you are doing a print and cut project or printing from the Silhouette Studio software.

The Print border does NOT affect your cutting ability. It only affects printing and if your design is outside of your print border, it will not print. This is especially important if your registration marks for a print and cut are outside of this area and do not print properly.

Show Cut Border
Check this option to see a red border for the maximum cuttable area on the media size you have setup.

If you do not see your Cut Border extended to the edge of the page and you want it to, click the gear icon in the bottom right corner to open the Preferences Panel. Then select the Defaults tab and check the box to Cut to Edge of Page. Click Apply (if available) and OK.

I work with my Cut Border on the majority of the time. It is especially handy when you are cutting without a mat and need to know the space you have to place your design so it will cut.

Look at where the red cut border is adjusted to when cutting without a mat. This is for a very specific reason! The left and right margins and the 1″ on the backside are for the rollers on the machine to securely grip the materials as it’s being cut. If you try to “trick” the machine, you risk the material falling out of the machine when it’s cutting. It’s an easy way to waste a good piece of vinyl.

Whew! Who knew the Page Setup Panel contained so much information! It is one of the most important panels as it’s where you start with the setup of your project!

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Silhouette Classes

Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!

Silhouette step-by-step Classes by Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

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**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.
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Creating 4 Eclipse Cards in Silhouette Studio

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Eclipse cards – have you seen them?
This is a technique that has been around the card making community for quite some time and seems to be making a comeback lately.

In April, I released a video tutorial on the Swift Creek Customs YouTube channel sharing how you can create these cards in the Siser Leonardo Design Studio software and now am sharing the new video tutorial showing step-by-step in the Silhouette Studio software. Not just 1 card though, I have 4 (well, actually I made more than that) eclipse cards to share with you.
You’ll see in the video why I ended up with more.

I have to say that these cards are definitely better in person than a photo can capture, so I recommend you give it a try and see what you think.

Let’s take a closer look at some photos and I’ll share the supply list below too!

Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Supplies for Eclipse Cards

Designs used:
Spring Watercolor Roses Arrangement by Clikchic Designs – Design #439787
Watercolor Spring Flowers Arrangement by Clikchic Design – Design #408256
Spring Watercolor Greeting Card by Graphic House Design – Design #398289
Painted Tropical Drinks by Sarah Bailey – Design #325607

3-D Foam Tape
Recollections Cardstock
Scrapbook Adhesive Tape Runner
Scissors
Paper Trimmer
Score board
– Optional: Combination trimmer and score board or Mini Score Board

This is the first style of eclipse cards I share how to create in the tutorial. I share some tips for working with print and cut graphic files in Silhouette too!

Photographing the cards from an angle gives you an idea of the dimension of the card. Some cards can be difficult to see the effect when looking straight at the card.

In this card, I used circles to give it a new dimensional look. You could use any shape you want. I’ve seen many variations out there and it gives it a unique look.
My husband saw this one and said, “That would look good with a bubble pattern.” So guess what I bought? Watch for some new cards coming soon!

And you can also use text. In the tutorial, I show how you can use text in 2 ways to give each card a different look. Again, photos do not do these justice, especially looking straight on.

But coming at it from the side, you can see the dimension in the card. I share some tips and tricks to working with the text to create these 2 opposite effects of the cards with text.

I think this one might photograph the best from this angle, so you can really see the dimension.

Check out the new step-by-step video tutorial on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE

Check out the video tutorial HERE.

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Thanks for your support!
I’d love to hear what you thought in the comments on the video tutorial too!
Thanks for your feedback and engagement on the video!

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Silhouette Classes

Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!

Silhouette step-by-step Classes by Silhouette Secrets+

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae
**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.

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Sublimation Coffee Mugs with Silhouette

I am so glad I added a sublimation printer into my craft studio!

It can be an investment and while I don’t use it daily, it does come in handy. Especially for gifts!

If you are not familiar with the sublimation process, I have several tutorials on the website HERE that explain it more in-depth. But in reality, it basically is creating the design, printing, and pressing that design to the blank or substrate.

Flat objects are much easier to press on than curved surfaces, but as with everything, it all just takes practice!

Sublimation does require special equipment such as a sublimation printer, paper, ink, and blanks that are all made for this process. But, it can also be a great way to add graphics that are difficult to cut with a cutting machine to objects for customization.

Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Sublimation Supplies

Epson F-170 Sublimation Printer
Epson Sublimation Inks
Sublimation Paper
Sublimation Coffee Mugs
Parchment Paper
Silicone Wraps
Alcohol Swab
Lint Roller
Heat Tape
Sublimation oven/Convection Oven
*dedicated for sublimation, not food
Optional: Paper Trimmer, heat safe gloves, heat safe protective mat

Sublimation with Silhouette Tutorial

The part that takes me the longest is deciding on a design.

I finally chose a design from the Funny Sublimation Bundle by SVG Cuttables found HERE
and Eagle, American Flag, Patriotic Sublimation Wrap by SunDesign found HERE

Once I’ve decided on the design, I measure the coffee mugs to see how much space I have to work with.

Then I draw a basic shape in the Silhouette Studio software to create a “template” to design within.

If I have extra space on the page, I’ll try to fill it up with another design. But, sometimes that takes me too long to decide on what I want to print, so I just go ahead and get my project started.
In this case, I tried to print a couple pen wrap designs. That didn’t work out in the end as my pen template wasn’t quite long enough, but it was worth a shot.

I printed the design pages through my Epson F170 Sublimation printer.

Then I trimmed them down to size with my paper trimmer.

Next, I cleaned the mugs first with an alcohol swab to get any oils, dust, or debris off. Dust or debris can cause discoloration and odd spots on the finished project.

Then I clean with a lint roller for any fibers. Most times, you cannot see these fibers until after an object has been pressed, which can affect your final outcome.

Once it’s clean, I try not to touch the outside of the mug or blank, so there is no debris or oils transferred. Once it’s completely dry, I wrap or place the design on the mug and secure with heat tape.
Make sure to get it secure on the mug and as centered as you can.
Sublimation is permanent.

Next, I grab a piece of parchment paper and wrap it around the cup and then secure the Silicone Mug Wrap around it.

The parchment paper is very important otherwise the ink can transfer to your silicone wrap. That ink could transfer to a future project. I ended up ordering a 2nd set because I didn’t think to protect my first 15 oz wrap and it now has ink on it.

I preheated the Oster oven I have to 400 degrees. Once preheated, I carefully placed the mugs inside for 12 minutes. Make sure to check your specific sublimation mugs for the time and temperature that you should use.

Once the time was up, I carefully removed them with heat safe gloves and set it on my heat safe protective mat to cool.

Once cool enough to handle, I removed the sublimation paper and heat tape to reveal the design.

And they were ready to mail to my folks.
Unfortunately, the eagle mug did not make it to Montana in one piece. I had saved my file in the Silhouette Studio software and all I had to do was print and press again.
Now to get it in the mail and hopefully this time it arrives safely.

It took me longer to write out this post than it did to make the actual project.

I am loving having all the options. I do find that I still need to print from my Epson F170 printer at least every couple weeks or I end up having to do a print head cleaning. Sublimation ink is different than inkjet inks and if left too long without use the printer lines can get clogged up.

Hope this has given you some ideas of the possibilities with a sublimation printer and how easy it can be.

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Enjoy !

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Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.

Looking for more in-depth, step-by-step classes, check out all of my online Silhouette classes on my Teachable site HERE.

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**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.
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Drawing Designs using Object to Path & Tools in Silhouette Studio

This past week there was a question on my Silhouette Secrets+ Facebook Group and I was working on my computer so did a quick video tutorial on how they could accomplish the design they wanted.
Several asked if there was a way to save that video so I re-recorded it and put it up on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube Channel.

While the video shows how to create a saw blade because that was what the user was asking, the techniques could be used to create all kinds of designs from wreaths, frames, and so much more!

Check out this video HERE

Here is more information on the tools I used in Silhouette Studio:
Drawing Tools
Rotate Panel
Replicate Object to Path
Modify Panel
Compound Paths

And check out the A to Z Silhouette Resource tab at the top of the website as well. You can search for any tool or keyword for Silhouette in alphabetical order.

If you are looking for step-by-step classes for Silhouette, check out all my Silhouette classes on Teachable HERE.

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Enjoy !

THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee.
Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.

Watch for more from me on the Silhouette Secrets+ blog and YouTube channel this month!

Find me online at: Silhouette Secrets+ Blog – https://bit.ly/3CnLZ8s
Silhouette Secrets+ FB Page – https://www.facebook.com/SilhouetteSecretsplus
Silhouette Secrets+ FB Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/silhouettesecretsplus
Silhouette Secrets+ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/silhouettesecretsplus/
Swift Creek Customs FB Page – https://www.facebook.com/swiftcreekcustoms
Swift Creek Customs FB Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/swiftcreekcustoms

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**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.

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Silhouette Studio & a New Computer

New computer – Now what?

Are you a Silhouette owner and just got a new computer? Not sure where to go from there?

It is pretty easy to get setup and running with a new computer and I’m going to share a few tips.

First when you get a new computer, be prepared that it will take a little bit for it to be ready for you to start using. There will be some computer setup instructions for you to follow. And if you are a Windows owner, you may find that you have a lot of Windows updates that need to install in order to get it ready for use.
Be patient and let it setup correctly. I know you are excited, believe me, I always am too!
But, there really is no rushing it.
The updates will finish when they finish.

Steps to Setting Up a New Computer with Silhouette Studio

Below I’m going to list the steps to start with when setting up a new computer with Silhouette Studio.
Each step in this process has some tips that can help you get set up faster and I’ve included important information in detail below.
I would highly recommend reading the entire post before you get started.

1 – Download Silhouette Studio from the Silhouette America website
2 – Activate Software Upgrades
3 – Log in to the Silhouette Library
4 – Install Fonts
5 – Export User Designs

IMPORTANT TIPS!

1. Silhouette Studio Software Installation

When you get a new computer, you will first need to download the software on to the new computer.
This can be found on the Silhouette America website.
Click on Software & then Get Software

For the Silhouette cutting machines, you will select the Silhouette Studio option.

For the current version of the software, you simply click Download and it will download the current version to your computer.
It is the Basic software program. We will talk about upgrade activation further down.

Note: As of the publication date of this post, I DO NOT recommend the current version unless you have a Silhouette Auto Sheet Feeder to use. I would highly recommend v4.4.554 for most users.

Legacy Versions

To find Legacy versions click on Learn More

Click on Download Legacy Versions

Choose which Legacy version you want to install

This will download the installer to your computer and you will open that to start the installation.

Click HERE to go directly to the Software download page.

There may be some pop ups that come up that need approval in order to proceed. Watch the bottom task bar for any flashing shields if the pop up doesn’t actually pop up.

If a flashing shield appears, click on it and then approve ALL the pop ups.
If you do not click on the shields to approve, it will look like it stalled, but it is waiting on you!

Once the installation is complete, you can open the Silhouette Software.

If by chance you have a new Windows Computer and it is running in S mode, it will not let any program that is outside of the Microsoft Store install on the computer. You will need to take it out of S mode in order to install any programs, including the Silhouette software.
For more information on how to take it out of Windows S mode click HERE.

2. Activate Silhouette Studio Upgrade

Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Silhouette software upgrades include Designer Edition, Designer Edition Plus, and Business Edition. These upgrades unlock features that are in the software.
To see what each upgrade unlocks, click the Feature Comparisons to find out more information.
Find this HERE

This will bring up a chart you can scroll down through to see what features are with each upgrade.

Check out my favorite features of the software upgrades HERE in this post on
Software Upgrade – My Favorite Features.

Upgrades activation on current software

If you are using a software version of v4.4.554 or higher, you do not need to enter your upgrade codes in the software. Click on Help – Apply Upgrade Edition and enter your log in information. Do NOT enter your upgrade codes. Once you log in with your Silhouette account info, your upgrade should be active on any computer you log in to.

This is a new feature and is only available in software versions of v4.4.554 or higher. The upgrade can only be active on 3 computers at a time. If you log into a 4th computer, it will deactivate on the oldest computer that has not been active.

For more information on this in detail, check out this post
Let’s Explore v4 – How to Activate an Upgrade

Upgrades activation on legacy software

For older software, software upgrades do not automatically activate when you download the Silhouette software to a new computer. If you have ever entered an upgrade code, you will need enter the upgrade codes in the order that you purchased them for it to activate on the new computer. So if you purchased the Designer Edition and then the Business Edition later, you would need to enter the code for Designer first and then Business next. If you try to enter Business Edition first, you will get an error and it will not activate.

If you are a brand new user, there is a new system that is in process and you can activate the upgrade on the Silhouette America website to be used on any computer you log into. This is still very new and only available for those that are brand new and have never entered an upgrade code as of 10/15/21.

If you do not remember what the codes were, you can easily access them under your Silhouette account information in the Silhouette Design Store. Open the Silhouette Design Store, make sure you are signed in, move the mouse over the person icon in the top right corner, and then choose Account Settings.

Design Store screenshot copy.jpg

Then click on the License Keys section.

3. Log in to the Silhouette Library

Once the software is open, click in the top right corner on the Library tab.

Library tab copy.jpg

Enter your Silhouette Account information and all of the files that are in the Silhouette Cloud should Sync up. It will depend on how many files you have in your Silhouette library on how long it will take to fully sync. Another hurry up and wait moment.

As a point of reference, I have high speed internet and 12,000+ files. This took approximately 3 hours to sync my library completely. Keep in mind that each of those files has to sync fully to the new computer.
That is a LOT of data, but just depends on how many files you have in the library.

Plug in Silhouette machines to computer & turn on

If you have an older model Silhouette machine of a Cameo 3 or older, the free files download to the library once the machine is recognized. Plug in the Silhouette machine, turn it on, and click on the Send tab.
Once it has recognized the machine, then the files will download to the library.
You will need to do this for ALL machines that you have had plugged into your software to get those free files to download.

If you have multiple machines, click on the little machine icon in the bottom right corner of the Send tab to choose the machine you want active.

This will also unlock any panels that are associated with a particular machine such as the Emboss Panel for the Curio or the Stipple Panel for the Cameo 4, Cameo 3, Portrait 2, and Curio machines.

Exporting files on old computer

Note: this is only needed if files cannot be recovered in another way

If there are files that did not show up when you logged in and the library synced, the first reason would be they are the free with machine and I would suggest looking at the above information again. If you have done that, then it could be because those files were only stored on the Local User section of the old computer. This will be dependent on the Silhouette software version you were using before. If you were using a version prior to v4.1, you will find more tips on exporting the library in this post – Library Tips (v4.1).

If you have a library backup file, it can then be imported into the Silhouette library by clicking on your name in the top left of the Library and choose Library Import, then select the location of the file backup.

Screenshot from v4.4.892

But this only needs to be done if files are missing and you cannot get them to sync up any other way.
If you do it and it’s not needed, you can end up with many duplicate files, which you’ll need to remove manually.

4. Install fonts on the new computer

Keep in mind that when you set up a new computer, you are starting from scratch. That means you will need to install any program or file that you were using on the old computer, if you want it on the new computer. This includes fonts. The new computer comes loaded with the default fonts only and these can vary by computer.

While I have heard of others being able to copy and paste the entire font file from their computer programs folders on the old computer and then pasting it into the new computer fonts folder, I have had mixed results with this. I had to right click on the font and choose “Install for All Users”.

Luckily, I had saved all my font files that I’ve collected onto a folder in my external hard drive, so I could access them direct from the external drive. While I still had to install over 500 fonts, I did get to also pick and choose which ones I really “needed” on the new computer.

I have had several new computers in the last few years and on one I had to install each font and on the other, some worked by copy and paste.

BIG TIP TO NOTE: If you created designs using certain fonts, when you open the design file, if that font is not installed on the computer you are using to open the file, the font will revert to the default font style on that computer.

5. Export User Designs from Silhouette Library

If you have downloaded the current version or a version higher than v4.4.552, there is also a new feature that allows you to export all User Designs from the library as individual files.

Click on your name in the top left corner of the library tab and choose Export User Created Designs.

For more details on this specific features, check out this post HERE

While I do NOT recommend storing your personal files in the Silhouette library, there are times that it is handy when you are accessing files on multiple computers or using Pattern Fills in the Silhouette software.

One big thing to note

when exporting these User Designs is that it will export the entire library folder structure. However, any designs from the Silhouette Design Store, the folders will be empty. Only the user created designs will be exported. This is due to the proprietary nature of the .studio files and to protect the designers of those files from theft.

I would HIGHLY recommend using this export feature when you update to the software of v4.4.552 or higher because it is a really nice feature.
However, as a general note, I do not recommend that all users update to this version or higher. There are many factors that I consider before advising a user on whether they should update. It really comes down to the user’s choice, however, before I make a recommendation I do ask for more information.
If you would like to know what I’d recommend for your situation, feel free to post on the
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae Facebook group and we can take a look at the factors.

Keep in mind that the Silhouette library is not designed as an all inclusive storage area but as a syncing device. This is one reason the Silhouette cloud storage is limited in size. All users get 1 GB of storage space, but if you are a Silhouette Club Member or a Silhouette Design Store Subscriber, you get 5 GB of storage.

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I hope this helps you start enjoying that new computer and your Silhouette software a little bit quicker!
The biggest tip I can say is to be patient! I am not the most patient person when it comes to setting up a new computer, but if I tell myself that in the beginning sometimes it helps.

We love seeing what you are creating with your Silhouette machines or software.
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 !

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is logo.jpg

THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee.
Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.

Or if you are looking for more in-depth, step-by-step classes, check out all of my online Silhouette classes on my Teachable site HERE.

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**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.