To start this project, I looked at clip art of those infamous Conversation Hearts.
The basic shape is pretty easy – it’s a heart with a slight offset second heart in a darker color to give a 3-D look.
For artwork viewed far away, like a hanging garland, go with big bold shapes. Small details get lost in the distance.
Once I had the artwork set up (I made two versions) I saved them as high resolution PNG files. Then I also set up a file that had just the outlines of the hearts with the loops I use for hanging. That was exported as a DXF file.
It is crucial that both sets of the files be EXACTLY the same size in EXACTLY the same position or the Print and Cut won’t work.
Set up Silhouette Studio to Print and Cut
I like to set up the Silhouette Studio Software with the correct paper size and mat size before I get to far into the project to avoid trouble when I send to cut. Here I’m going to use 8.5 x 11 paper with a standard 12 x 12 mat.
I then opened the DXF file with my cutlines, and then merged in the PNG file with the artwork. Center both of them to each other. If you do all your work in Silhouette Studio you don’t have to fuss with this. I have 25 years of Adobe Illustrator experience so I prefer to create in that space and just use the Silhouette software for the cutting details.
To actually enable the Print and Cut feature, you need to go to the Registration Mark window and turn the registration marks on.
And then send the file to print. Not cut – you print the file to your printer first.
To print, click the icon on the left of the screen.
Use your printer menu to print as if you were working in any normal software. Be double, triple sure to not reduce the page when printing. Everything has to line up exactly for the Print and Cut to work.
When the file finishes printing, you put the printout on your cut mat so that it looks just like the picture on the screen – the square mark needs to be in the upper left of the mat. Load the mat into the Silhouette Cameo.
Back in Silhouette Studio, in the Cut Settings window the cutlines should turn red.
Change the paper stock and other settings, and then send to Silhouette to cut. The machine will make a pass at the sheet, and the laser (located between the two blade holders on a Cameo 3) will detect the registration marks. As long as it can see them, it will then start to cut. If it gives an error, you’ll need to try some troubleshooting.
Two problems I’ve had getting Print and Cut to work:
- Registration detection fails. The laser needs to be able to read the registration marks, so make sure there is enough light on the printed sheet. I’ve read you also need to print on light colored stock. When I Print and Cut I’m always working with white stock so I have never had that be a problem.
- Cutting is off or misaligned from the artwork. If the cut doesn’t match up to the printing, double check that the paper isn’t crooked on the mat. Another big item to check is the print settings. More often than I care to admit, I have “Reduce to Print” in my printer settings which causes the printout to not match the Silhouette Studio file.
To complete the garland, I weeded each sheet. I printed two copies of two versions of the artwork. Next I threaded yarn through the loops and hung them in my window.
