TABLE OF CONTENTS

Effects Feature Not Displayed

In some instances, you may not be able to see or use the Effects icon in Silhouette Studio (located on the right-hand side toolbar):

Can't See Effects Icon


The Effects feature requires V3.3 or higher. If you are running a lower software version: 

  1. Close Silhouette Studio 
  2. Download the latest software version availble
  3. Run the installation program

Error Message When Selecting Effects


If you are runnning the latest software version and can see the feature icon, but encounter an error message that the feature is not available, this would indicate a limitation with your computer's graphics card.

The Effects feature is a way to change the visual display of raster images (PNG, JPG, BMP, GIF) by applying graphic effects like Color Inversion, Brightness, Contrast, Gray Shade, and others. 


The Effects feature in Silhouette Studio relies on your computer’s graphics card in order to provide the functionality for the ability to use these effects. In other words, Silhouette Studio is "borrowing" the ability to change the color scheme of the images you see from your computer. If your computer doesn’t have the capability to provide these effects, then you will see an error message instead of the different Effects options.


If you are being directed to this page from Silhouette Studio, it means that your computer doesn’t have the physical hardware needed to utilize the Effects feature. 


In order to use the Effects feature you would need to install a new graphics card for your computer, or use an alternate computer that has a graphics card to support the feature.



Can't Fill Design in Silhouette Studio

If you are unable to fill a selected design in Silhouette Studio, this typically indicates the image is not a fully closed path. 

In other words, part of the selected design is not fully closed so that the image does not have a continuously unbroken line. 


In this case, the design cannot be filled.

Closing the Design


To close the design so it can be filled:

  1. Open Silhouette Studio
  2. Open and right-click on the design
  3. Select Ungroup or Release Compound Path (depending on what option may be available)
  4. Double-click on the image to enter Point Edit Mode
  5. Inspect the edit points to locate the line break
    NOTE: The break in the line will be indicated by a red edit point
  6. Close the path by connecting the red edit points either by clicking on the red dot, or zooming in to drag the red end points together
    NOTE: In many cases, you will not be able to see both red edit points unless you are zoomed in very closely
  7. Once there are no more red points and the path is closed, you should be able to fill your design

Reporting Design Store Content


If the design is from the Silhouette Design Store, please report the design ID number to support@silhouetteamerica.com so we can have the original image corrected.

Actual Text Height Smaller than Selected Size

If you have selected your text and set it to a specific size, the actual cut-out result may not be at the exact same height as expected.

How Text is Measured


Text is measured in the Silhouette Studio program as a point size. 

While the point sizes listed generally correspond with a specific actual size, the point sizes for fonts are actually just guidelines. Fonts, even those obtained from the same source, may be varied in their actual sizing based on the individual artist who designed the font. While there is a loose standard, there is no rule that all people who create fonts follow with respect the sizing. This is why the measurement box for text is not always necessarily the same measurement as the actual cut size. 

The measuring bounding box is measuring the actual point size (rather than the top of the highest letter to the bottom of the lowest letter).

Cutting Text at Exact Size

To adjust text to an exact height:

  1. Create your text with the Text cursor tool (on left-hand toolbar)
  2. Adjust the 'Text Style' to the desired font
  3. Size the text to the approximate desired size
  4. Right-click on the text and select Weld
  5. Right-click immediately and select Group
  6. Open the Transform panel (on right-hand toolbar)
  7. Go to the Scale tab
  8. Make sure the lock aspect ration icon is in the 'locked' position
  9. Specify your exact desired 'Height' OR 'Width' for your letters, depending on which measurement is more critical

    NOTE: You can only select 'Height' or 'Width'. If you want to specify both measurements, you will need to click on the aspect ratio icon to toggle it off. Results when adjusting both measurements may cause undesired visual results.
  10. Click Apply

Wrong Font Style Displayed for Text in File

If you have saved a Studio file containing text created with the Text tool in Silhouette Studio and opened the file on another computer to find the font style is not displayed correctly, this indicates that the original font used is not yet installed on the computer trying to open the file.


As the file is opened, the software will locate and display the text in the originally defined font style. If the defined font style is not found installed on the computer in use, the software will resort to displaying the text in the first font style it finds on that computer, which is usually Arial or another basic system font.



EXAMPLE: Person A has 'Specific' font installed on their computer. They create a Studio document with text saying "Thank You" in 'Specific' font. Person B does not have 'Specific' font installed on their computer. If Person A sends a saved copy of the created Studio file to Person B, the text style in the document would revert to 'Arial' or another standard system font that the software can find on Person B's computer.

Installing Fonts


The best resolution for this issue is to install the font onto the target computer where the file is being accessed. 
You can find instructions on how to install fonts below:


Once your font style is installed on the target computer, you should be able to open the file with the expected font style displayed properly.

Converting Text to Image


If the original font style cannot be installed on the target computer, you can convert the text in the original file into an image so that it is displayed in the desired font style.


To convert text to image:

  1. Select your text that is in the desired font style
  2. Right-click
  3. Select 'Convert to Path'


NOTE: Once the text is converted into an image, it can no longer be edited with the Text tools.


Trying to Use Two Fonts With the Same Name

Unfortunately, having two fonts with the same internal name that is installed at the same time on your computer will not work.


Work Arounds


The following are work-around options to address this concern.


  1. Switch back and forth

    You can store both versions of the font (TTF or OTF files) somewhere on your computer where they are easy to locate. You can then uninstall the font name and install the alternate version you are using, as needed.

  2. Update one of the font names

    You can change the internal name of one of the fonts if you have access to special font-editing software. Silhouette does not offer any software program for this purpose.