Silhouette?

[OCtoolguy]

I just downloaded a program by the name of Silhouette. It's for a machine similar to a Cricut, but I think it could be used for pattern making/altering or ??? Are there any users here and if so, what is your honest take on it? I haven't messed with it yet but am about to.

 

Edited March 21, 2021 by octoolguy

[meflick]

Ray, you are correct in that it is software. For a cutter line similar to the Cricut brand of cutters used by paper crafters. If you downloaded their “free” version you are not going to be able to do much with it other then use it to access. Their online store to download files for cutting which use a proprietary format for the most part. They have an upgraded version you can purchase that will let you work with and create SVG files that can be used outside of using with their cutter. I have had and used the electronic paper cutters and their programs many years now.  I have used most all of them. For scrollers, the silhouette program is really not a great option probably. There are other 3rd party software programs used with the cutters that are better, especially for scrollers. One is no longer updated or supported but was probably the best and what drove the usage and standardized use of .svg files with many cutters. The other is still available and could be used by scrollers (I have and use them both.) However, they do cost some money. For most of what you might want to do, you would probably be able to save money and just learn the basics of a Inkscape which as you know is free. If I can help in anyway with that or the cutter programs I am happy to try. I will confess that I haven’t looked at the Silhouette software it’s self in a long time as I found other programs were better and more suited to my needs and was not interested in buying paper cutting patterns from their store. I do however participate and review regularly groups and forums for paper crafters with the electronic cutters so I do feel that I still have a good base knowledge on most of those.

[OCtoolguy]

Thanks Melanie, I was just watching a group on FB and someone posted a picture that was primarily black background with some with areas that were the pattern that the person wanted. They asked if someone could tell them how to convert it to a line drawing so as not to use up so much black ink in trying to do what they wanted to do. Someone came on and had converted it to a great line drawing using a green cut line. When asked how they did it they said they used Silhouette but the business version. So, I decided to see if I could figure it out. If what you say is true, I'll just uninstall it. I am trying really hard to figure out an easier way than using Inkscape because for some reason, I just can't make it work. I need someone like you sitting along side of me and showing me the error of my ways. I know it's a whole lot easier than what I am making it but for me, it's a mental block. And I am usually good at figuring things out. 

 

[meflick]

Unfortunately the “upgrade” from their “free” basic program to the Business Edition is about $100 ($99.99 to be exact.) and for people like us who want to use it for something other then getting files purchased from their download store and cutting to their cutter, you need more then their free program.

I can try to help anytime you need help converting a pattern. I tend to be more of a “jack of all trades and master of none”  

[OCtoolguy]

3 hours ago, meflick said:

Unfortunately the “upgrade” from their “free” basic program to the Business Edition is about $100 ($99.99 to be exact.) and for people like us who want to use it for something other then getting files purchased from their download store and cutting to their cutter, you need more then their free program.

I can try to help anytime you need help converting a pattern. I tend to be more of a “jack of all trades and master of none”  

You're the best!

[Rockytime]

2 hours ago, octoolguy said:

You're the best!

How I appreciate all the helpful people here!

[OCtoolguy]

9 hours ago, meflick said:

Unfortunately the “upgrade” from their “free” basic program to the Business Edition is about $100 ($99.99 to be exact.) and for people like us who want to use it for something other then getting files purchased from their download store and cutting to their cutter, you need more then their free program.

I can try to help anytime you need help converting a pattern. I tend to be more of a “jack of all trades and master of none”  

Hey Melanie, after uninstalling and then reinstalling Silhouette, I have found that is is very useful for making lines drawings using the "trace" feature. After watching a video about it, I gave it a try and was successful. Then, using that tidbit of knowledge, I went to Inkscape and have been actually able to get it to work a bit. I still have a long way to go but at least it did something.

 

[meflick]

12 hours ago, octoolguy said:

Hey Melanie, after uninstalling and then reinstalling Silhouette, I have found that is is very useful for making lines drawings using the "trace" feature. After watching a video about it, I gave it a try and was successful. Then, using that tidbit of knowledge, I went to Inkscape and have been actually able to get it to work a bit. I still have a long way to go but at least it did something.

 

Yes, you can use it to trace - the problem is getting it out of their software.  You cannot save to anything but their proprietary file format in their free program so if you want it in another program, you need the ability to save it to an SVG file which requires the purchase of their "Business Edition" for the $100 to do that.  That said - if it works to help you learn the basics of tracing and such that you can incorporate that knowledge into figuring out how to use Inkscape then its a win for you that way. Many of the cutter programs and such work in similar ways but sometimes call them something slightly different.  You could also use a "screen capture" once you got something the way you wanted it and just wanted to "print" the image for cutting.  There are some other work arounds like that with many things.  Glad you found it useful for you. I will tell you that many of those who use the electronic paper cutters also use Inkscape and I know many of them have done tutorials/videos on how to use Inkscape.  Scrolling and cutting with a die cutter are very similar in the file images needed so using files designed for paper cutting can give you a lot of options.  I did the same as a paper cutter before I scrolled, I often found scrolling patterns and converted them for use with my electronic paper cutter.

[meflick]

Hey Ray, I was going to look for some of those paper cutters /Inkscape tutorials and info. and found this site that I had forgotten about that lets you convert Silhouette Studio files to SVG files  It limits you to making 10 conversions per day and it notes that there could be some errors in the file conversions but I know that many use it and it has been out and available (for free) for several years now so for the most part I think it is a fairly solid tool.

http://ideas-r-us-software.uk/FileConverters/SilhouetteStudioConverter.aspx

[OCtoolguy]

1 hour ago, meflick said:

 

Thanks Melanie. I didn't think about the saving of the file. Good to know. I'll keep plugging along.

 

On 3/22/2021 at 8:24 AM, meflick said: