TABLE OF CONTENTS

Registration Mark Issues

Registration Mark Reading

Registration Mark reading failure occurs when you attempt to send a Print & Cut job to a Silhouette cutting machine, and the registration marks cannot be found by the machine, so it stops and does not attempt the job.

This can be caused by the following:

  • The latest version of Silhouette Studio is not in use
  • The cutting mat settings in the software do not match your actual setup
  • The mat or material is not being placed properly onto the cutting mat or is in the wrong orientation
  • The material in use has a dark color or a surface type that is not conducive to the optic scanner so registration marks cannot be read properly
  • The registration marks are no printed clearly or properly
  • The optic scanner is obstructed
  • There is not a good light source for the optic scanner to be able to see the registration marks

Cutting Misalignment

Cutting Misalignment is when the cut performed does not align with the expected cut line location as defined in the software. This can range from cuts that are just slightly off, to cuts that are dramatically off.

Information: Please be advised that Print & Cut jobs have a 1/16th inch margin of error for cutting alignment compared to the printed image. Small discrepancies between the printed image and the location of the cut may be expected. If this is the case with you job, you can improve contour cutting results, so that the cutting alignment can appear to be more exact, using the Print Bleed feature.
Cutting alignment concerns outside the margin of error can be caused by the following:
  • The material in use has a dark color or a surface type that is not conducive to the optic scanner so registration marks appear to be read properly but are actually not
  • A portion of the image falls into the has mark area near the registration marks (the "no print zone"), which causes the optic scanner to think part of the print information is a portion of the registration mark resulting in a cutting misalignment
  • The registration marks are not fully or properly printed
  • The registration mark settings have been adjusted to a customized setting that is not actually conducive to proper registration mark reading for the material size or setup being used
  • The printer page setting do not match the selected Page size settings selected in the Silhouette Studio Program

Fixing Print & Cut Issues

To resolve the issue you are encountering with either failure to read the marks or cutting alignment concerns, we strongly recommend reviewing the video below to walk through your job together step-by-step, even if you are an advanced user.


Print & Cut Calibration

Calibrating the Silhouette cutting machine should be quite rare and is only required for adjusting the cutting alignment as it relates to Print& Cut jobs.

If misalignment is not universally the same distance off around the entire image, then calibration is not the proper course of action. Information about setting up Print & Cut files can be reviewed here.

Minor Misalignments

Print & Cut jobs have a 1/16th inch margin of error for cutting alignment compared to the printed image. A smal border discrepancy between the printed image and the location of the cut may be expected.

For small variances within the expected margin of error, you can your the Print Bleed feature to correct these without needing to calibrate your machine.

Major Misalignments

If misalignment is universally the same distance off around the entire image and exceeds the expected margin of error, and all steps for proper set up of a Print & Cut file has been reviewed, then you may proceed with the process of calibrating the Silhouette machine as directed below.

Checking Calibration

  1. Ensure your machine is powered on
  2. Open Silhouette Studio
  3. Ensure it is the latest version (can be downloaded here)
  4. Go to the SEND panel
  5. Make sure the machine is connected to the software
  6. Right-click on the machine
  7. Select Calibration
  8. Click on the Print Test Page button to print the calibration page displayed on your screen (Print to a sheet of plain white copy paper)
  9. Load a blade into your Silhouette machine (if you have a sketch pen we recommend you use that instead. Using a sketch pen may make the resulting action easier to observe)
  10. Place the printed page onto your cutting mat exactly as displayed on screen
  11. Load your cutting mat into the Silhouette machine
  12. Use the blue position arrows on the screen next to the Calibrate button so that your blade/pen is hovering over the first printed cross mark in the area represented by green on your screen (The green area is not actually printed)
  13. Once in position, click the Calibrate button (The machine will attempt to read the cross mark and then cut/sketch on top of it)
  14. Remove the cutting mat from the machine and observe the resulting cut/sketch marks as they relate to the printed mark

Calibrating the Machine

If the resulting cut/sketch marks are aligned properly on top of the printed cross mark (both vertical and horizontal lines), then calibration is not necessary and you may stop.

If the resulting cut/sketch marks are either misaligned on the vertical or horizontal lines, continue to calibrate your machine as instructed below.

  1. Using a ruler with millimeter measurements, measure the distance between the performed cut/sketch line and the printed line
  2. If the HORIZONTAL LINE is off (above or below the printed line), adjust the vertical slider on your screen according to your measurement
    • If the cut/sketch line was performed ABOVE the printed line, drag the vertical slider UP to match with your measurement.
    • If the cut/sketch line was performed BELOW the printed line, drag the vertical slider DOWN to match with your measurement
  3. If the VERTICAL LINE is off (to the right or the left of the printed line), adjust the horizontal slider on your screen according to your measurement.
    • If the cut/sketch line was performed to the RIGHT of the printed line, drag the horizontal slider to the RIGHT to match with your measurement
    • If the cut/sketch line was performed to eh LEFT of the printed line, drag the horizontal slider to the LEFT to match with your measurement.

Checking Your Adjustments

After adjusting the measurements as needed, repeat steps 12-14 above under 'Checking Calibration'. make sure to move your blade/pen to the next unused cross mark in order to view fresh results. Continue to make adjustments as needed until the cut/sketch lines are aligned with the printed lines.

Printing Issues

Printing Issues from Silhouette Studio

Printing options displayed through the Silhouette Studio software ('Print' icon or File > Print Page Setup, etc.) are controlled by your computer's operating system and your printer driver.


Print options and Preferences for your printer that can be accessed through these options are not specific to nor controlled by Silhouette Studio. This may include options such as 'Printer Paper Size' and 'Print Quality'.

As options vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and printer model to printer model, we are unable to provide detailed troubleshooting on issues having to do with printer setup or printer settings. If the information below does not attend to your concern, you may need to contact your printer manufacturer for assistance.

Print Quality Issues


Silhouette Studio does not control the print quality or the tone of colors beyond what has been defined in the software.

 

The quality of the print may vary based on your printer. Generally, you can check your printer ink levels for most concerns having to do with print quality. You may also be able to find settings specific to your printer in order to adjust the print quality.


To review printer options:


  1. Open Silhouette Studio
  2. Click on the Print icon 
  3. Press the Print option from the Print Preview window.
    NOTE: This will open a print dialog window controlled by your computer operating system
  4. Click on your printer to select it
  5. Click on the Preferences button
    NOTE: Printer preferences are not controlled by Silhouette Studio. They are controlled by your printer driver.
  6. Though preference options vary from printer to printer, most printers have a 'Print Quality' option that can be found and adjusted

For continued assistance with printer preferences and printer quality, please refer to your printer manual, or contact your printer manufacturer.

Printing Wrong Colors


Incorrectly printed colors can indicate a conflict between Silhouette Studio and your printer model.


This can be due to software settings in the Silhouette Studio program that are conflicting with the printer or the level of attempted print quality from the printer that is not compatible with the Silhouette Studio program.


To resolve this concern: 

A. Adjust the DPI quality settings in the software


  1. Open Silhouette Studio
  2. Go to Edit > Preferences > General
  3. Adjust the 'Resolution of image sent to printer' to 300 DPI
  4. Select the Apply option
  5. Print again


B. Check the Print Quality settings for the printer


Confirm if there is any change when adjusting the 'Print Quality' for the printer options. For example, most printers will have an option for 'Best Print Quality' and have a scale that goes down from there.


  1. Open Silhouette Studio
  2. Go to File > Print
  3. Select Preferences for the printer
  4. Attempt to locate the options for 'Print Quality'
  5. Adjust this setting if present


C. Remove and re-install the printer driver


If you experience continued concerns, uninstall and reinstall the printer driver (the actual driver for the printer model). 


We recommend visiting the printer manufacturer's website in order to find and install the latest driver available. After doing so, restart your computer and try to print again.

Printing Blank Page


If your print job is a blank page or a blank page with only registration marks printed, this indicates that while you may have cut lines present in your job, you do not have any printable information present on your workspace. Cut lines and print information are handled differently. 

Silhouette Studio will only print:


To fill the design with a color or pattern:


  1. Select the design
  2. Go to the Fill panel (on the right-side toolbar)
  3. Select the desired color, gradient, or pattern fill
    NOTE: If you have filled your design, you should see the printed result as it is displayed on the screen

If you alternately only want to print the cut lines:


  1. Select the design
  2. Go to the Line Style panel on the right-side toolbar
  3. Check the box labeled 'Print Lines of Selected Shapes'
  4. If you want to print thicker lines, raise the Line Thickness to any number above 0.0pt
    NOTE: If you enable the cut lines to be printed, you should see just the lines of your design as it is displayed on the screen.

Print Action Does Nothing (No Page Printed)


If the action to send a print job from Silhouette Studio does not send the job to your printer, this typically indicates either:


  • The printer is connected wirelessly to the computer, and communication is not connecting or is being dropped
  • The USB cable connecting the printer to the computer is not sufficient for the data being sent


Printer connected wirelessly


To confirm if the wireless connection is the concern, connect the printer's USB cable to the computer and send the print job again via USB connection.


If the job can be printed via USB connection, contact your printer manufacturer for additional assistance.


If connected via WiFi, check your internet connection strength. If connected via Bluetooth, disable other Bluetooth devices temporarily, and ensure the printer is at a close distance to the computer to establish a stronger connection.


USB cable issue


We recommend a USB 3.0 cable for your printer connection. This may allow for easier sending of large or complex jobs from Silhouette Studio. Some printers will include a USB 2.0 cable but can easily be replaced with a 3.0 cable with similar specifications. Contact your printer manufacturer for additional assistance.