Silhouette (Cameo) Chatter

[Joan B]

Post here with questions, links, and ideas and perhaps when it gets long enough it can become a sticky.:p

Here's mine. I have the original Silhouette SD and love it.

But, I do not have a lot of luck cutting duplex paper made by memory box (same paper as A Muse Studio, Hero Arts, etc). I love this cardstock because it is white on one side. However, when I cut it with the Sihouette, pieces of the colored ink chip off. Any luck or suggestions on what I might be doing wrong.

I don't know my blade/speed settings because at the moment my Silhouette is in storage. :-( (but it is getting rescued soon....)

Thanks!

[Cinnistew]

Nice to see you back Joan!

[XcessStamps]

Can't answer your question yet, just got my Cameo out of the box yesterday. It's up and running but haven't had time to play with it yet. I did have time yesterday to stare at the screen and think "Now what?".
Subbing to this thread for, I'm sure, the help I will need!

[jessicak]

I have the cameo silhouette, and my cameo likes the settings 5 and 33 for most cardstock. Stamping Up card stock is my big problem, does anybody know what setting works best for this paper??

[Joan B]

I used to cut stampin up paper perfectly all the time! go figure

[RiverIsis]

At least you are cutting with your Silhouettes - I'm still staring mine down and I have a Silhouette (craftrobo era).... Guess I should at least power it up and send something through! LOL!

[craftykarla]

A sticky would be great! I've had my cameo for a month now - what a learning curve. All tips, tricks and explanations would be great for all of us who got these machine for Christmas.

[shazsilverwolf]

Understandblue is going to organise one for us- I asked the question in the Community support forum earlier.

[craftykarla]

Shazsilverwolf, Thank you!!!

Here is some info from the Yahoo Silhouette Users group concerning the High Pass filters and tracing.


Open Silhouette Studio
Go to the File > Open option to locate and open your image
NOTE: If you are on a PC, you will need to select “All Files” from the file type selection in the “Open” window
Go to the Trace icon
Click on the Select Trace Area option
Draw a box around your image that you want to trace
Adjust any of the tracing filters as desired. Filters include the following:


High Pass Filter - Allows the trace lines to be set beginning from the outside of your image and then works toward the inside of the image as the filter setting is adjusted up. This is a nice option if you are trying to create a basic cutting frame for a more detailed image. If you do not wish to create a frame outline for your image, you may wish to turn this option off.
Low Pass Filter - Does the opposite of the High Pass Filter where tracing begins at the center points of your image parts and then works toward the outside of the image as the filter setting is adjusted up.
Threshold - Determines how broadly you wish to apply the trace filter to your image beginning with the darkest colors for low settings and applies lighter color parts as well as you move to larger settings.
Scale - This setting controls the smoothness of pixelated edges of your image. It is only necessary to use if the image in question is of a low quality and highly pixilated.
NOTE: The trace filter will show a yellow area covering the image. This yellow area is a preview for where your cut lines would be created.


Once you have drawn your trace area and are happy with the filter settings, select one the tracing methods underApply Trace Method. The available trace options are as follows:


Trace - This option will trace all outer and inner lines. This is generally preferable if you are attempting to create a regular cut image with multiple parts and specific details to be cut.
Trace Outer Edge - This option will create a cut line only around the outer edges of your image. This is generally preferable if you are attempting to create a Print & Cut image.
Trace and Detach - This option will punch out the image from the white background space. It is only used when you specifically removing the white background so that you can have select images overlap or be closer for Print & Cut jobs.

[ceramicat1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverIsis

At least you are cutting with your Silhouettes - I'm still staring mine down and I have a Silhouette (craftrobo era).... Guess I should at least power it up and send something through! LOL!

I still have my original Silhouette. I can't seem to part with it even though I have a Cameo.

[shazsilverwolf]

I've always posted this when people have been asking for advice, tutorials etc, so I'll put it up here: UKScrappers is a forum that covers all the CraftRobo/Wishblade/ Silhouette machines. There are loads of tutorials on there, and a lot of very knowledgeable & helpful people too. The forum is completely free to join, and once you have been a member for a month, you then get access to all the free cutting files that members post.

[craftykarla]

Yeah, our own sticky! Thank you everyone who made this possible.

[Joan B]

I agree, thanks for the sticky!

[Cinnistew]

Thank you!

[Barbara Jay]

Thanks from me too!
I asked a while ago if there was enough interest in asking for a sticky for the Silhouette cutters and the response was low. That was Before Christmas when so many got them as gifts.

I think the Electronic cutters and Digi images are a trend of the future. A lot of us don't have the means to build a 40' by 40' warehouse for all this stuff LOL
Here are a few links to start this thread off.

The link for the Silhouette user Manual -more detailed than what you get in the box

http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/sup...nualV1.0.0.pdf

Gina K's video on how to "take it out of the box" and set it up . Great video
SIlhouette Cameo - Getting Started - stampTV


And the list of Shortcuts for a PC or a Mac
http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/support/shortcuts.pdf

This woman has some very helpful videos

Silhouette Fanantics - YouTube

[XcessStamps]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessicak

I have the cameo silhouette, and my cameo likes the settings 5 and 33 for most cardstock. Stamping Up card stock is my big problem, does anybody know what setting works best for this paper??

After doing some searching I found that blade 3, speed 3, thickness 33 seems to be the preferred settings.
They worked for me too.

[cat_woman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joan B

...But, I do not have a lot of luck cutting duplex paper made by memory box (same paper as A Muse Studio, Hero Arts, etc). I love this cardstock because it is white on one side. However, when I cut it with the Sihouette, pieces of the colored ink chip off. Any luck or suggestions on what I might be doing wrong.

I don't know my blade/speed settings because at the moment my Silhouette is in storage. :-( (but it is getting rescued soon....)

Thanks!

There are two things I think that may be affecting your cuts and it could be one or the other or a combination of both. I tried cutting paint chips on my CraftRobo and I had the problem. So I changed out my blade and it really seemed to help having a sharp blade. I then also slowed the cutting speed right down and that virtually eliminated the chips around the edges.

HTH...

[Paper Junky]

I got a Cameo for Christmas. Have been playing with it a little bit on my own but getting a little frustrated. But, NOW, after watching several of the videos on Gina K's site (posted by Barbara Jay in Post #15 above----thank you, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!), I've learned how to do so much more. I am SO EXCITED!!

[Englishrose]

My DH who is the main user of our silhouette has successfully sharpened the little blades using leather and some abrasive paste. Works like a dream.

[gailjj]

Hi. i hope someone can help me with this. i have been having problems with the lines on basic shapes being distorted, eg: broken, not straight or smooth.
this started about a week ago when resizing and mirror imaging an "album page" that i had downloaded from the Silhoutte library. Now it is happening with shapes that i load onto my mat without making any modifications, and the cameo cuts these jagged lines.
Hope this make sense and i hope someone out there can give me some idea of what is going on!:confused:

[uncbballfan]

Barbara Jay, thanks for the link to the support manual. How did you find it? I've been looking on the SilhouetteAmerica site to no avail!

[shazsilverwolf]

Just browsing around Pinterest (as you do), and came across this board, which is filled with links to video tutorials and free files.
All Things Silhouette

[Barbara Jay]

WOW Thanks!! That is the mother lode of tutorials

[Barbara Jay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncbballfan

Barbara Jay, thanks for the link to the support manual. How did you find it? I've been looking on the SilhouetteAmerica site to no avail!

I went to Silhouette America and then the FAQ.
There is a blue box on the right with a link to " Silhouette Studio �". I click on that and under the Mac & Windows icons is a link to the manual


HTH

[Barbara Jay]

I downloaded a jpg file from a site on the Net of a shaped card that has a few other components with it . I opened it and changed the extension to a GSD file.
It opened fine in Silhouette Studio.

My problem is I can't ungroup the parts . The ungroup icon on the lower left is greyed out. (I tried a file I got from the Silhouette store and the " ungroup icon works" )

When I click on one piece to select it all of the pieces are selected in a 7" by 11" space. I can't ungroup them and select a couple of the components to move them off the cutting mat area. I need to cut a couple of the pieces in a different color

What did I do wrong here??

[cat_woman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbara Jay

I downloaded a jpg file from a site on the Net of a shaped card that has a few other components with it . I opened it and changed the extension to a GSD file.
It opened fine in Silhouette Studio.

My problem is I can't ungroup the parts . The ungroup icon on the lower left is greyed out. (I tried a file I got from the Silhouette store and the " ungroup icon works" )

When I click on one piece to select it all of the pieces are selected in a 7" by 11" space. I can't ungroup them and select a couple of the components to move them off the cutting mat area. I need to cut a couple of the pieces in a different color

What did I do wrong here??

What program did you use to change the file extention type? That might be your problem if the program doesn't use that file type. Another thing you could also try is selecting the object and then right click and select "release compound path" if the option is available.

[Barbara Jay]

I downloaded it to my desktop and just removed the .jpg and replaced it with .gsd. I retyped it. I didn't know I needed a program to change it. It immediately opened in Silhouette Studio and I saved it to my Silhouette Library.

I will try the release compound path. If that works to ungroup them do I need to put compound path back after I move the pieces off the mat to cut later?
Thanks!
Barbara

[XcessStamps]

Anyone that is interested in upgrading to the Studio Designer Edition this is the best price I've been able to find.

Silhouette Studio Designer Edition (Digital Download): SVGTools.co - Sizzix eclips, Silhouette Cameo, Sure Cuts A Lot, Silhouette Studio Designer Edition and more!

I don't work for them or have even heard of them before, just found them while looking for the best price!

[Barbara Jay]

I tried release compound path and the ungroup icon was still grayed out

I did get the solution from Suzanne Dean's Silhouette group
I needed to use the trace method.
Open Silhouette
Get file onto the mat
Click the "Open Trace Window" icon at the top of the Silhouette menu bar
Click Select "Trace area". It will give you a crosshairs to highlight the area
Go down to "Apply Trace Method" and choose " Trace and Detach"

It worked and all the individual pieces are moveable so I can move the elements off the mat that need to be cut later

During this entire process the ungroup icon was still grayed out.

My only problem was when I moved the elements off the mat they left a very faint outline where they had been. I wonder if I should have made the trace line a tad wider or just ignore those faint lines .

I can't cut it yet as I made a total mess of my mat by cutting some very fibrous black paper. The mat was covered in black fibers and I scraped so much that I took the adhesive off the mat. I ordered the Crafter's Companion mat cleaner and re-adhesive spray, but it has been so cold here ( close to zero or below zero) I have not been able to take it outside to spray it. It is supposed to warm up tomorrow to at least 20 degrees so I can do it them

[Barbara Jay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XcessStamps

Anyone that is interested in upgrading to the Studio Designer Edition this is the best price I've been able to find.

Silhouette Studio Designer Edition (Digital Download): SVGTools.co - Sizzix eclips, Silhouette Cameo, Sure Cuts A Lot, Silhouette Studio Designer Edition and more!

I don't work for them or have even heard of them before, just found them while looking for the best price!

Does SCAL have a feature where you can reload it again without charge if you have a computer crash ?

[smriti]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbara Jay

Does SCAL have a feature where you can reload it again without charge if you have a computer crash ?

Yes it does. I forget the exact steps but I had it installed on one computer and got a new laptop and installed it on that.

[craftykarla]

Here's a you tube video for us newbies about tracing - got it from the yahoo silhouette group.

I'm taking a little bit different approach to teaching tracing in
Silhouette Studio. Hope you'll check it out and help me get the word
out to newbies and old-bies who still find tracing intimidated.
Tracing without Tears in Silhouette Studio Part 1 - YouTube

-Kay
CleverSomeday
Geeky Ideas for Desktop Crafting
Clever Someday

[Joan B]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cat_woman

There are two things I think that may be affecting your cuts and it could be one or the other or a combination of both. I tried cutting paint chips on my CraftRobo and I had the problem. So I changed out my blade and it really seemed to help having a sharp blade. I then also slowed the cutting speed right down and that virtually eliminated the chips around the edges.

HTH...

thanks; I should have my silhouette back (in storage) after we move next week and will try this out.

[Joan B]

Quote:

Originally Posted by craftykarla

Here's a you tube video for us newbies about tracing - got it from the yahoo silhouette group.

I'm taking a little bit different approach to teaching tracing in
Silhouette Studio. Hope you'll check it out and help me get the word
out to newbies and old-bies who still find tracing intimidated.
Tracing without Tears in Silhouette Studio Part 1 - YouTube

-Kay
CleverSomeday
Geeky Ideas for Desktop Crafting
Clever Someday

thank you !!!! great video. so easy to follow. I wish you lived near me and could just come over and teach me.

[craftykarla]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joan B

thank you !!!! great video. so easy to follow. I wish you lived near me and could just come over and teach me.

Hee, hee. I would love to come and play with you and everyone! But what I could teach you is VERY LIMITED. I'm learning from all of you, but what an event it would be if we newbies could learn together! Oh, the giggles and fun we could have.

[lisa808]

Here's a link to a video for converting PDFs to Cut Files. My husband made the video and helped me a lot when he got me the Silhouette Portrait.

Silhouette Portrait Cut with PDF files V2 - YouTube

[Barbara Jay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisa808

Here's a link to a video for converting PDFs to Cut Files. My husband made the video and helped me a lot when he got me the Silhouette Portrait.

Silhouette Portrait Cut with PDF files V2 - YouTube

Thanks! I have a Mac so some of this information was not applicable to me , but I watched the video and he offered a tip that helped me solve a problem I had.

I bought a file for a shaped card that was not from the Silhouette store. It came as a .jpg and I changed it to .gds and then it opened just fine in Silhouette. It has a main shape and several other components that need to be cut from different color paper. My "ungroup" icon was grayed out and I needed to ungroup the pieces.

I have been fiddling with this file for days and letting myself get crazy. I finally figured out . Yay!!
It is sort of a complicated work around, so I took detailed notes on how I did it in case I run into this situation again . Some one with more knowledge may have a simpler method, but at least my work around works

If anyone wants my notes just let me know.

I may try using the same file and convert it to a PDF and then figure out how to do what he did on a PC with my Mac

This is my first electronic cutter and I am not a computer techie :confused:

[Athina]

Hi ladies! Subbing, as I ordered mine just last night. It should be here by the end of the week. So excited!

[cat_woman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbara Jay

I downloaded it to my desktop and just removed the .jpg and replaced it with .gsd. I retyped it. I didn't know I needed a program to change it. It immediately opened in Silhouette Studio and I saved it to my Silhouette Library.

I will try the release compound path. If that works to ungroup them do I need to put compound path back after I move the pieces off the mat to cut later?
Thanks!
Barbara

Ok, now I see. Changing the extention doesn't actually change the file type (and doing this can actually corrupt your file). Silhouette Studio will open up jpg files, so that is why it opened without any problems. I don't understand though how you got cut lines showing up without first tracing the object if it was a jpeg file (are your certain it was a jpeg & not a svg file?).
At any rate, you won't need to put compound path back on for each piece as they will have cutting lines. If you plan on resizing the design, it will be a good idea to group them back together or put them back as a compound path so that you can maintain proportions when resizing.

[Joan7356]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazsilverwolf

Just browsing around Pinterest (as you do), and came across this board, which is filled with links to video tutorials and free files.
All Things Silhouette

TX... new to the Silhouette Cameo so am watching lots of videos