Anyway you slice it printable software#
Anyway you slice it printable free#

Whether you are a new user or an experienced user, I would love to see what you create with your Silhouette machines & software.įeel free to post photos or questions on my Facebook group at While I know that may not be the news you want to hear – that there is no “magic” button to cut all materials, I hope that it will help save you some frustration and headache in the long run. Many of the same factors go into the blade life as the cut settings, such as materials you are cutting or settings you are using. Learning how this work, learning how things cut, learning what works and what doesn’t.Īs you continue to cut things, you will find tips and tricks that work for you! Now the next question I see all the time is “ How long should a blade last?“Īgain, there is no “perfect” answer to this!Īs a beginner I do feel you will go through blades and cutting mats faster than an experienced user. While there are NO one size fits all “cut settings”, the more you cut, you will get familiar with what you are working with. But, if you think about it, it makes complete sense and it will save you time, materials, and headache in the long run! I was a Silhouette user for many years before I knew about the test cut feature. This was one of the habits that I found the hardest to get into. You can also either change the Line Colo r or the Fill Color of the B and then use the Cut by Line or Cut by Fill color options to turn the cut lines on or off.

Anyway you slice it printable software#

There are 2 ways you can do a test cut.ġ – Use the Test Cut feature in the Silhouette software on the Send tab. For instance, on the Cameo 4 models I find I have to increase the blade depth up 1 on almost all materials. If you change too many things at once, you don’t really know what worked.Īs you do this more and more, you will start to see patterns. I recommend only changing 1 thing at a time and doing a new test cut. If it doesn’t cut, adjust the cut settings and do another test cut. If I’m cutting Oracal 651, I start with the Vinyl – Glossy setting. I start with the preset in the software that is the closest material to what I’m using.įor instance, if I’m cutting a solid color Heat Transfer, I select Heat Transfer Smooth and do a test cut with the recommended settings. Test cuts are going to be your BEST FRIEND! Silhouette machine model? Yes, each machine can vary because they are different.Īll of these are factors that can affect the cut quality.Īffiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. can be a headache and it may not be that you are doing anything wrong, it’s just difficult to work with.

It is not advised.Ĭheap materials? Sometimes it’s a get what you pay for situation. It can cause the rollers to not function properly. Any nicks, dings, holes, slices in it can affect the cut.Īre you re-sticking your mats? Re-sticking mat can cause all kinds of cutting issues. Is the cutting strip damaged? This is a rubber strip under the blade housing that provides the pressure from the bottom of the mat/material.

It can affect not only the cut quality but also the lifespan of the machine’s rollers as well.

It is not recommended to use 3rd party mats for many reasons. This is one reason that fabric people & people who sew have separate scissors for cutting fabric vs paper scissors.Īlso keep in mind that thicker, denser materials are going to dull a blade faster than thin materials.Ĭutting with a 3rd party mat? Third party mats can be different sizes and thicknesses. Paper dulls a blade at a different rate than vinyl. Or another examples is cutting cardstock. If you’ve cut glitter and then go back to cutting vinyl, it may not cut well again. For instance, glitter eats a blade and can sometimes even take chunks out of it. This can increase the lifespan of the blades and get you better cuts. What else has the blade cut? I would recommend keeping dedicated blades for each material you do cut. After the blade installation other factors that play into a cut are:īlade life? How old is the blade? Or more importantly, how much as it been used.