There have been mixed reviews about the new version of the Silhouette Studio software. I updated right away when it was released last week and haven't had too many issues, but many people have had problems and have reverted to the last edition of the program. There are a few things from Version 2 that I hope they will add back to the new version (such as dragging in digital papers to fill shapes) and there have been some glitches. I hope there will be a revised version or an update to the update soon.
One thing that was added that I really like is the ability to scan images directly into the program. This is the method I used to make a stamp background for a stamp that does not have a corresponding die or cut file.
This stamp was sent to me by my friend Joy. It is from Close to My Heart and it is called "Hope" (A1153). You can find this stamp on Joy's CTMH website HERE. I wanted to make a background for the image. The edges are very irregular and I know that I would not be able to cut this out nice and neatly - but I have digital tools and machines that cut things out!
I peeled the stamp off of the printed backing sheet and placed the backing sheet on my the glass of my scanner with a piece of white paper behind it. Then I chose "scan" from the File menu in Silhouette Studio.
The release notes say that the new scanning feature offers TWAIN support but I had to choose the WIA (Windows Image Acquisition) option to make this feature work. When I choose TWAIN, the program crashed (every time I tried that option, it crashed...).
You can choose either black and white or grayscale to get a nice dark image. I decided that the black and white option created the image that was the easiest to trace clearly.
On the printed clear backings sheet, there may be some extra information that isn't part of the actual stamp. In this example, the stamp number was in a spot that would change the trace of the outer edge. I used the eraser tool to eliminate this area (you could also make a shape and crop away the unwanted part of the printed image).
Next you do a trace of the image by checking the "Select Trace Area" option and drawing a box around the scanned image. You just need to trace the outer edge - in this case that is a fairly complicated trace since the stamp image is quite detailed and there is not a regular defined edge around the image.
When you select the image and offset, the default is for an offset .250 in width. I reduce that to .100 for a neat thin edge around the stamped image.
Once you have created the offset, you can delete the traced image since you won't need it for the final cutting.
Once you have deleted any extra inner lines, you will have the cut line for a mat for the scanned stamp image. You can make extra matting layers by doing an offset of the traced shape. I set up a group of the mat shapes to cut all at once and then chose the layer colors and cut the larger shapes after I was working on my project.
You can double or triple mat the stamped image. I made the second mat wider for this example.
Once you do this a few times, you can easily get a full set done in just ten minutes or so. Then whenever you want an image that you stamp to be cut out you can use this file to create the shapes instead of taking the time to do each one by hand every time you stamp the shape.
I hope this was helpful - please leave any questions in the comments. I would probably stay away from Version 3 for the time being if you haven't already installed the update. I have had the program freeze and crash multiple times (and I have never had any issues with the Silhouette software before this update). I think (and hope) that a new update will be coming out shortly.
I would love to see the direct scan feature added to the Design Space program for the Explore. We are patiently waiting on updates to that program as well...maybe it is time to step away from the computer and do some other sorts of projects...
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Fantastic tut Diane. I will gave to try this out when I update my software.
ReplyDeleteHi Helen - it is really easy to do and will save a lot of time when you want stamped images cut out. I find it a little more difficult to cut and then stamp - when you have a matching die you would stamp and then cut with the die - but it is a great savings not to have to buy so many dies and there are lots and lots of stamps that have no matching cut or die. You can make files for all of your favorite stamp sets and not have to worry about storage either!
DeleteThanks for the tutorial on the scan feature in the new update. This is something I will probably use frequently but I will wait until they get all the bugs out before updating my machine.
ReplyDeleteDonna K U
Hi Donna -it is a great feature. You could already do this by scanning with another program and then bringing in your scanned image to trace but there can be issues with sizing if you aren't careful when you do it that way. This seems pretty foolproof - I have done several sets already and will do more as time permits. I do hope they sort out the update issues soon!
DeleteI am a VERY new user of the Silhouette and already updated my software... I hope I won't be sorry! Anyway, thanks for this tutorial. Your photos and step by step instructions make it very clear on how to do this. As soon as I finish typing this comment, I am going to try it!
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy. Don't worry, I am sure they will sort out the issues soon. If you haven't done many files yet you could always revert to Version 2 - the link is on the Silhouette site. The problem is that the two version are not seamlessly compatible and I don't think you can open a Version 3 file in Version 2. You might also need to get a reset on your library to re-download it if you have recovered it three times already but they are good about fixing that - especially under these circumstances where the problems came from the update. Good luck - let me know if you have any questions as you learn to use your new machine.
DeleteOMG...... I need to do this tonight. I have not updated the software yet because of the bugs. I finally got my PNC to work perfectly in a prior version and was afraid to mess it up.
ReplyDeleteIsn't print and cut great! I don't know what to tell you about updating - there are still some bugs with Version 3 and the direct scan option is only in the new version. If you are worried about messing up your print and cuts maybe wait until they fix the bugs? I think it should be soon...but I am not a programmer so it may be more complicated than I realize...
DeleteThank you for the great insights into the new Silhouette program! I too really miss the feature that allowed you to drag in digital patterns to fill shapes. I actually used this feature to cut my photographs into the sizes I wanted for my layouts as well as cutting photographs into shapes. Thanks for another great tutorial!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Melitta
Hi Melitta, You can still drag in patterns and photos but they won't automatically fill the shape you have selected and usually come in at a very large size. So you will then have to take the extra step to place the shape you want on top of the photo or patterned paper and then choose "Crop" from the "Modify" menu. You can still use pan and scale so I don't really understand what they did that eliminated the autofill of a shape. But it may come back in an update - I hope!
DeleteAfter reading many comments, opinions and tutorials, I've decided not to update until they get some of the bugs worked out, but this is a great tutorial and will be very useful. I enjoy and always learn from your postings! Thanks so much!
ReplyDelete~Kris~
Hi Kris - that's a good idea - I plunged right in and I will probably just hang on with the new version and hope the update comes soon. There are some great new features but it seems like they really weren't quite ready to put this update out for general use. Thanks for your kind words - I am glad that you enjoy and learn from the things I post!
DeleteWe would still have to buy the stamp, CTMH has an Angel Policy, am I right about that?
ReplyDeleteI have called Silhoette 5 times and had to leave messages 2 days in a row. I'm planning selling my Cameo, if they will stop the subscription. Its already been over a year for the subscription and I have a $100 credit with them. I'll let you know how it turns out. DawnRI
Hi Dawn - Yes you should only do this with stamps that you own and only to make a mat to stamp on, not to copy the image. CTMH does have an angel policy which forbids scanning and printing the images on the stamps. The Silhouette subscription plan recently changed so you will need to talk to someone in customer support to find out about canceling. I think for new subscriptions you can pick varying lengths (3, 6, or 12 months). I hope you can get things sorted out - I am sure they are busy with calls about the software update issue.
DeleteHow do you get the previous version back. I hate this one. I need to be able to autofill my papers and I can't. Help.
ReplyDeleteHi - I answered your question just below but forgot to use the reply section to connect my answer to your comment- I hope this helps!
DeleteSorry you are having such a bad time with it. You can get the older version on the Silhouette site. Click "Support" at the top right and then click on "download the latest Silhouette Studio." If you scroll to the bottom of that page, you will find the "Legacy" program (version 2.9.45) download links.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure why you would be having a problem autofilling the page - that function is still there in the new version and it seems to work fine for me. Just go to the "object" menu and choose "Replicate" and then choose "fill page" (last item in the list before the replicate options...). If you click on the Replicate icon at the top of the page, you have to scroll down using the blue bar to find the "fill page" option but it is there.
If you are taking about dragging in a paper to autofill a shape, that is missing right now but you can fill your shapes using the menu functions. Just click on "merge" in the file menu and then browse to the location of your paper (be sure to select "all files" when you find the folder with your papers) then click "open." The paper will come in huge but you can quickly get it down to size by clicking on 33% (at the top of the scale window) a couple of times. Then just put your shape in front of the paper and crop (or intersect).
You will be able to scale and pan the pattern and change the transparency in the advanced pattern options.
I hope that helps!
Mine also crashes when I do the Twain I am also having trouble trying to change the sizes when I type it in it will not apply I have to use the slider and that is hard to get the exact size you want ... Thanks for this I had to go and order the stamps from Joy.. :O)
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