If you encounter errors while using the PixScan feature, review the information below for your specific issue.

Image Recognition Error

If you encounter an image recognition error, this is most commonly caused by the image itself that is being imported into the software. 

Re-take a photo of your PixScan mat as follows:

  • Ensure the PixScan mat is on a flat surface, and the mat is not curled (flat with no curled edges)
  • Do not use any zoom feature with your camera
  • Ensure that lighting is even
  • Ensure the entire mat is clearly visible in the image
  • Ensure the PixScan mat covers at least 30% of the photo area (you'll want to fill the camera frame as much as possible while still being able to see the full mat in the picture)
  • Ensure the printed image on the PixScan mat is placed within the black cut border (avoid any overlapping onto the black border)

Calibrating Silhouette Studio to Camera

Silhouette Studio includes a number of pre-calibrated settings for common smart phone cameras. If a calibration profile is not found for your device, you may need to calibrate Silhouette Studio to your smart phone or digital camera model.

If you receive a prompt to calibrate your camera:

Printing the Calibration Image

  1. Click on the PixScan Icon 
  2. Select the Import From File > Calibration section
  3. Select the correct paper size from the list
  4. Click ‘Load Calibration Test Card’
  5. Print the calibration image on white card

The most common issues with calibration come from the photograph that has been taken. When photographing the calibration image:

  • Ensure the calibration image is resting on a flat surface
  • Do not use any zoom feature with your camera
  • Ensure that lighting is even
  • Ensure the photo is clear/crisp
  • Ensure the camera is parallel and in line with the calibration image (direct bird's eye view of the mat straight down from above)
  • Ensure (as best as possible) that only the calibration dots are showing in the photo

Setting up a Calibration Profile

Each smart phone or digital camera model has its own calibration profile that can be selected (either pre-created in Silhouette Studio, or user created as instructed above). 

Once a calibration image is ready, a new profile can be created as follows:

  1. Click on the PixScan Icon 
  2. Select the Calibration section
  3. Click on the plus icon
  4. Load the saved calibration image

Once you have the image loaded, the software will attempt to detect the device name or allow you to give the Calibration profile a name. 

Once a Calibration profile is created, it can be selected again whenever that particular device is used to take PixScan photos.

Registration Mark Reading Failure


If the registration mark reading process on the PixScan mat is failing, the most common cause is with the PixScan mat aligment.

Re-align the mat with the left edge of the mat touching the loading guide mark, but not covering it. The edge of the mat must be just to the right of the mark, rather than covering the mark or loaded slightly too far to the left.


You can review additional information on Registration Mark Reading Failure for other potential concerns, as needed.

Scanning Issue


Silhouette Studio requires a scanner with TWAIN support. Without this, you may encounter scanner errors, or the Silhouette Studio may crash.

If your scanner does not have TWAIN support and is not compatible, you will need to use a smart phone or digital camera to capture your PixScan images instead.