There are several software applications that allow you to cut using your digital cutter. One of the best is Make the Cut , which has the option to import .svg files and can cut directly to the Silhouette machine from the program. But we have to give the Silhouette Studio a special place too.
Studio is free to download; if you want to download the latest version, you can click here. This is the latest 1.7.0 version of the program. Even if you don’t have your Silhouette or Wishblade yet, you can download the program and play with it.
Now, let’s see what are some of the new or improved features from Studio version 1.7.0:
- The Dashed line option added to the Line Style menu options: Oh! This is so cool! Now you can use a pen (normal, glitter, Silhouette–whichever you have) and instead of cutting, you can sketch the lines on your paper.
- Square endcaps option added in the Line Style menu options for thicker lines: This is useful when you want to actually print and not cut a design with thick lines. The ends of the lines are going to look more square or rounded depending on what you choose.
- “Fill Page” option added to the Replicate menu options: If you choose the Replicate icon, now you will see also, at the bottom of the pane, the option to Fill Page. This means that once you click on the image to select it and then choose the Fill Page option, Silhouette will make enough copies of the original to fill the entire page.
- In My Library, you will find another category called “Pattern”. That will help you to organize the patterns that you can buy from the Silhouette Online Store.
- If you have a design with a pattern applied, you can clear that pattern from the design using the “No Fill” option. This option is the first icon under the Pattern Fill menu.
- In the Fill Color and Line Colors menu, you can find a color picker syringe, this is the second icon in the palette. This works just like many other programs, such as Photoshop. Now you can choose a color from another picture or design and apply that color to another shape. The color picker is very helpful when making print and cut designs and you want to keep uniformity with the colors.
- If you are in a normal mode and double-click your design, the design will change to “Edit Point Mode”. This doesn’t take effect if the design has been grouped. The program won’t allow you to change a grouped design.
- When you choose the Eraser tool, you will see your cursor change to a gray circle that you can move around the areas to be erased. Now you can see the eraser work while you press and keep pressing the mouse in order to remove lines or even color or pattern filling.
- If you have lines or shapes that are not closed, you can click on the last node and drag it towards the first node. They will snap together to create a closed shape. But if you don’t want this to happen, press the Shift key while dragging the node.
- Click on a node to select it and use the arrow keys from your keyboard to move that node to the left, right, up or down.
- This version has improved the handling of DXF and GSD files.
- You can also see more options when you choose the Open “Files of Type” drop-down selection.
- There are other fixes that will allow you to have a better experience using the software. Some you will not see or use, but they are important for the general use of the software.
- Also remember if you create something with the new version and want to share with others, they must have the new version also in order to open and see the contents of the file. All the other designs created before the update will be perfectly usable with the new Studio version.
I recommend that you play with the software and create something nice that you can cut and share.
Happy cutting!
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