Silhouette - digital cutter

[Pure Novice]

Hi everyone, I'm new here so looking forward to meeting you all. I have just received my digital cutter but am at a loss as to whether I need to use the cutting mat each time, no matter what I am cutting. Also I followed instructions but when I tried to cut some card using the yellow cap it hadn't made any impression whatsoever - please can anyone help me with these problems. Margaret.

[sugarplum]

I have a craft robo but they are basically the same machine. I always use a carrier mat for everything. Most card stock I use the pink cap and just adjust the settings in the screen that comes up after you press to cut. The thicker the card the more the pressure and the slower the speed. I also keep the speedlow if it is an intricate design. On of your best sources of advise, info and templates is the craft robo section on ukscrappers there are lots of tutorials to follow that you may find of help
It is a steep learning curve especially when it comes to designing your own stuff (I'm still pants at it!) but there are loads of templates available and ou can always buy downloads from qk. I use mine mainly for welded words and pre made templates but for the access to so many fonts alone its worth it I love my robo :)

Edided to add I find the test cut option a big help if you are unsure about cutting This allows you to cut a tiny square in the top corner Is this come away cleanly you have the settings right If now adjust them slightly

[celfyddydau]

I haven't got a cutting machine but would love one, so if you want to send me yours I could learn all about it then teach you :D

Good luck with it. As sugarplum says and I've heard from a lot of people, it's a lot to learn. It doesn't seem to be as simple as plugging it in and off you go.

[Pure Novice]

I haven't got a cutting machine but would love one, so if you want to send me yours I could learn all about it then teach you :D

Good luck with it. As sugarplum says and I've heard from a lot of people, it's a lot to learn. It doesn't seem to be as simple as plugging it in and off you go.


Hehehe, God loves a tryer! I might send it back if I can't master it soon, it's a lot of money to waste on a novice like me. Margaret

[Pure Novice]

I have a craft robo but they are basically the same machine. I always use a carrier mat for everything. Most card stock I use the pink cap and just adjust the settings in the screen that comes up after you press to cut. The thicker the card the more the pressure and the slower the speed. I also keep the speedlow if it is an intricate design. On of your best sources of advise, info and templates is the craft robo section on ukscrappers there are lots of tutorials to follow that you may find of help
It is a steep learning curve especially when it comes to designing your own stuff (I'm still pants at it!) but there are loads of templates available and ou can always buy downloads from qk. I use mine mainly for welded words and pre made templates but for the access to so many fonts alone its worth it I love my robo :)

Edided to add I find the test cut option a big help if you are unsure about cutting This allows you to cut a tiny square in the top corner Is this come away cleanly you have the settings right If now adjust them slightly

Thanks for all your advice Sugarplum. I will have another go and check out the site you mentkioned. Margaret.

[sugarplum]

I'm sure you will get the hang of it, the important thing is to learn to walk before you can run. Start with something simple like one of your preloaded shapes and get use to adjusting your cutting settings to get the right setting for a clean cut Remember different card types may need differing speed and pressure but you will get to know the types you use regularly. Once you are ok with that perhaps try cutting out some words using the fonts you have on your pc. Once you have the hang of the basics you can then think about creating your own designs. It is a wonderful machine and worth the effort it takes to learn so hang in there.

[sandy317]

also try looking under nige's thread on here as he has been giving some advice to others

[mandijane55]

No cutting machine here either...well I did try a Xyron pcs and it didnt like me and I didnt like it so it went away....keep mentioning the robo to hubby but he's not acknowledging me.......ah well....keep us informed how you get on....

[Pure Novice]

It's no good, I'm getting a headache now with all the stress. No matter what I do I cannot get it to cut. It appears to be going through the motions but the paper isn't even marked, never mind cut. I have tried changing the cap to pink, changed the cutting speed to slower and changed the thickness etc. I understood from the little bit of demo I saw that it was simple to use - perhaps it's just me! Need to get away from it now and do some housework. Margaret.

[mandijane55]

sometimes it helps to go away and come back to it..... x

[celfyddydau]

Silly question but it there a blade in or is the blade covered?

[Pure Novice]

The blade is in and I can feel the tip when the cap is screwed on. I've given up on it for the timebeing. Margaret

[BetteK]

Try cutting something thinner just to prove it will cut and then mess around with your settings.

I have a Wishblade (which is the same machine I believe) and have pulled my hair out trying to get results so I understand your frustration totally Margaret.

I still feel like throwing it through the window sometimes but "found" this place about a week ago and have already picked up loads of tips and feel that there should be someone here who can help with my endless queries.

Maybe we can struggle through together and one day look back on these postings and be Wishblading/Silhouetting with our eyes closed!

Good luck!

Debbie xXx

[Bagpuss]

I have a robo and whilst I don't like sending you away from here go to the Craft Robo Forum on UK Scrappers and there is lots of help there as well as tutorials that you can follow.

I agree do just cut simple things to start out with and walk before you run as I know a lot of very talented people can do things out there and you might be wanting to do this but we have to start somewhere!

TBH most of the time I just leave the pink (0.3mm) cap on and use this but then again I do mainly cut card stock!

[Pure Novice]

Wheyhey, I've got it!!! The problem was I had locked the blade in with the little notch pointing to 9oclock when it should have been at 6. Thankyou all so much for your time - I feel very stupid now. Margaret

[Horsewoman]

I have a craft robo but they are basically the same machine. I always use a carrier mat for everything. Most card stock I use the pink cap and just adjust the settings in the screen that comes up after you press to cut. The thicker the card the more the pressure and the slower the speed. I also keep the speedlow if it is an intricate design. On of your best sources of advise, info and templates is the craft robo section on ukscrappers there are lots of tutorials to follow that you may find of help
It is a steep learning curve especially when it comes to designing your own stuff (I'm still pants at it!) but there are loads of templates available and ou can always buy downloads from qk. I use mine mainly for welded words and pre made templates but for the access to so many fonts alone its worth it I love my robo :)

Edided to add I find the test cut option a big help if you are unsure about cutting This allows you to cut a tiny square in the top corner Is this come away cleanly you have the settings right If now adjust them slightly
I'm a bit confused with mine. I understod from the blurb on QVC that you could down load any image you want from your own files or from the internet (assuming the image isn't copyright) but now it's come it appears from the instructions that it only cuts things that you've bought from the makers.

(Wanders off, scratching head)

[sugarplum]

Wheyhey, I've got it!!! The problem was I had locked the blade in with the little notch pointing to 9oclock when it should have been at 6. Thankyou all so much for your time - I feel very stupid now. Margaret

No you're not stupid just human like the rest of us lol I set my robo up the other day to cut out an A4 sheet full of a very intricate butterfly design It look about half an hour but when I look the carrier sheet out there wasn't a mark to be seen never mind a cut. I had not fully slotted the blade into place so it had never touched the paper and I have had my Robo for over 2 years
Keep going you will learn to love it though it can be a love hate thing at times
I just bought the design master software and DH has had a nightmare time trying to get it installed (and he knows what he is doing with computers) However he has finally managed it so now I am off to have aplay

[Bagpuss]

I'm a bit confused with mine. I understod from the blurb on QVC that you could down load any image you want from your own files or from the internet (assuming the image isn't copyright) but now it's come it appears from the instructions that it only cuts things that you've bought from the makers.

(Wanders off, scratching head)


This is how I interpretted it from QVC - thought that maybe they had altered it from when I looked a year or so ago and was weighing up the options of the Silhouette v the Robo. What weighed the Robo in favour then was the fact I did not have to buy files but then when I watched QVC thought I had it wrong when then mentioned cutting out other things - mind you thinking about it they might just have meant the Truetype fonts!

[BetteK]

Not sure if this will help at all but I have a Wishblade which I purchased from QVC but I do believe it is the same machine as the Robo and the Silhouette.

The tag-line for the Wishblade was "if you can wish it, you can cut it" and we had the options of choosing "free" patterns from the Xyron website plus the option of "purchasing" more but this facility is no longer available.

I can import clip-art, print it out and then cut it on the Wishblade and I have scanned in designs, printed them out and then cut them (I did some holly leaves at Christmas and was very pleased with the results).

So, if the Robo/Silhouette is EXACTLY the same as the Wishblade then I think you SHOULD be able to cut out anything you can download or scan or draw yourself and even stuff other people have designed (I believe they are saved as .gsd files and you can open them up and even alter them to suit).

Am sure someone with more knowledge than me can help you further.

Debbie xXx

[sugarplum]

I know from the ukscrappers craft robo forum that the design master software is suitable for the silhouette,wishblade and craft robo So you can use that to design with You can also use other software such as Inkscape that you can down load free to design in an then import the files to your machine to cut them

[Bagpuss]

I am not a designer but I have used the Tutorials on Uk scrappers to weld letters together if anyone wants to do this - the tutorials on there are great with pics too and so easy to follow I highly recommend!

[SHARICA]

I got my Silhouette from QVC Too and truly love it.. there is still lots to master but within the first week or so i had designed and uploaded a template to UKS.. Since then i have tried a few more.. cant get the hang of cutting something i have scanned yet and dont know how to weld words with the sil yet but keep looking at sites.. Its amazing how many gsd file templates there are out there to use for personal use.

Shaz...xxx

[Horsewoman]

I got my Silhouette from QVC Too and truly love it.. there is still lots to master but within the first week or so i had designed and uploaded a template to UKS.. Since then i have tried a few more.. cant get the hang of cutting something i have scanned yet and dont know how to weld words with the sil yet but keep looking at sites.. Its amazing how many gsd file templates there are out there to use for personal use.

Shaz...xxx
I've been a bit pre-occupied since the Silhouette arrived and only got round to loading the CD yesterday. Arrggghhhh! It had a virus in it. My security wotsit picked it up fortunately and QVC are sending me a replacement CD but I think I may abandon ship on this one.

[SHARICA]

Well i found a great tut on another site on how to weld words in inkscape and have now sucessfully done this and uploaded the gsd file and pik to uks..
Just need to figure out the scan and cut thing... :)

[BetteK]

Just need to figure out the scan and cut thing... :)

Not sure if this will help as I have a Wishblade but I have been reliably informed that they are the same as a Silhouette ...

I scanned in some holly leaves and "tweaked" the design to get rid of the hundreds and hundreds of tracking points that the scan picked up - the cutting blade will track along each and every dot as it picks up a very detailed scanned image and you do not need this many points to get a successful cut.

When you come to print it out make sure you select the "use registration marks" option ... this will print black marks on your paper so that when you then put the paper into the Silhouette it knows where to start cutting.

It really is amazing and I was everso pleased with the results I got at Christmas.

Good luck!

Debbie xXx

[SHARICA]

Wow.. I have a lot to learn but loving it.. Thanks.. :)

[jakjak]

Hi

just found this and have posted elsewhere but can you cut shadow images with the silhoutte as when I try to make the image slightly larger it doesn't work

[BetteK]

Hi

just found this and have posted elsewhere but can you cut shadow images with the silhoutte as when I try to make the image slightly larger it doesn't work

Do you mean you want to cut multiple layers so you can mat & layer your image?

For instance I like to personalise my cards with the person's name and have recently been cutting their name in a patterned paper and then another layer slightly larger in a plain paper and then another layer in mirri or satin card ... is that what you want to do?

If so you need to use the "outline" option and not make a "shadow" ... also as you seem to have found out it doesn't quite work out by cutting out your first layer or image and then clicking & dragging to make it a bit bigger ... try using the OUTLINE icon and you will be fine.

Debbie xXx

[jakjak]

Thank you very much this is exactly what I was talking about now I just have to work out which setting I use for card as can't seem to get it to cut through at the moment, paper is fine but can't seem to do anything any thicker am not sure what is meant by 50Lb etc

[jakjak]

Do you mean you want to cut multiple layers so you can mat & layer your image?

For instance I like to personalise my cards with the person's name and have recently been cutting their name in a patterned paper and then another layer slightly larger in a plain paper and then another layer in mirri or satin card ... is that what you want to do?

If so you need to use the "outline" option and not make a "shadow" ... also as you seem to have found out it doesn't quite work out by cutting out your first layer or image and then clicking & dragging to make it a bit bigger ... try using the OUTLINE icon and you will be fine.

Debbie xXx

Have tried to use the outline but am not sure what I am doing is there any chance you could run through the procedure, sorry if I am being a pain but would be very grateful, as when I press get out line all I get is a grey box and I really don't know what I should be doing

Thank you in advance

[BetteK]

Have tried to use the outline but am not sure what I am doing is there any chance you could run through the procedure, sorry if I am being a pain but would be very grateful, as when I press get out line all I get is a grey box and I really don't know what I should be doing

Thank you in advance

Not ignoring you ... been chaotic here and couldn't get to post. Will do the above tomorrow and write down exactly what I do and get back to you!

Debbie xXx

[jakjak]

Not ignoring you ... been chaotic here and couldn't get to post. Will do the above tomorrow and write down exactly what I do and get back to you!

Debbie xXx


Hi Debbie

Thank you for taking the time will appreciate it whenever you can do it

Thank you

[jakjak]

Hi Debbie

Hope you don't think I am pestering but did you get chance to write down how you layer letters.

Thanks

[Horsewoman]

Hehehe, God loves a tryer! I might send it back if I can't master it soon, it's a lot of money to waste on a novice like me. Margaret
I sent mine back - I decided life was too short!