TABLE OF CONTENTS

Exported File Missing Lines OR Includes Unintended Dashed Lines

If you have exported a file from Silhouette Studio, but there are missing lines or some of the lines are unintended dashed lines, please note the following.

Missing Lines


Files created in an upgraded edition of Silhouette Studio can be opened in the Basic Edition.

 

However, any designs that include features not available in the Basic Edition will be removed from the file (e.g. Rhinestone or Sketch features using the Designer edition tools).

Unintended Dashed Lines


This issue indicates that protected Silhouette Design Store content has been included in an exported SVG file.

Please note that while the Silhouette Studio Business Edition does allow the export of SVG file types, there is a restriction regarding content obtained from the Silhouette Design Store. Any content from the Silhouette Design Store will display in the exported file as dotted line segments. 


If you wish to export this content to view it outside of Silhouette Studio, you will need to export it as a JPG, PDF, or STUDIO file type. However, please note that a JPG or PDF will not include cut lines.



SVG File Opening Outside Design Area

Silhouette Studio can open SVG files when using the Designer Edition or above. Some files may encounter strange design placement in the Silhouette Studio software when opened.

Design Placement


Silhouette Studio will place the designs from the SVG file according to the original placement found within the SVG file. Some SVG files have designs placed in odd locations. This is based on how the file was originally created and saved. This behavior is not a fault of the Silhouette Studio program.

Placement Workaround

You can override the original design placement from the SVG file and force it to be centered in the cutting area as follows:

  1. Open Silhouette Studio
  2. Go to the Edit > Preferences > Import
  3. Under the SVG section, select 'Centered' as the preferred 'Document Position'
  4. Click OK

Scanning Issues with Silhouette Studio

Scanning Crashes Software

If the action to Scan (File > Scan) crashes the software:

  1. Update Silhouette Studio to the most current version available
    NOTE: If updating resolves the concern, you do not need to perform additional steps below
  2. Visit your scanner manufacturer's website to download and install the latest driver for your scanner model
    NOTE: You will need to obtain a fully featured driver that includes TWAIN support
  3. Download and install any software updates for your scanner available from the manufacturer 
    IMPORTANT: Obtain the driver and software directly from the manufacturer's website, rather than from a CD that may have come with your scanner device or from another website. Installation CDs included with scanner devices often do not include drivers that offer full TWAIN support. 
  4. Re-start your computer after the updated driver and software are installed

No Scanner Found


If Silhouette Studio is unable to detect your scanner, close Silhouette Studio and check the following points:

  • Ensure your scanner is powered on
  • Ensure your scanner is connected to the computer via USB cord
  • Ensure your scanner has been properly installed by visiting the scanner manufacturer's website and installing/updating the device driver
  • Install or update any recommended software for your scanner from the manufacturer's website

If you are still encountering a "No Scanner Found" message:

  1. Use the 32-bit version of Silhouette Studio instead for scanning directly into the software
  2. Scan images through the scanner's software (i.e. Canon ScanGear, HP Scan, etc.) instead of through Silhouette Studio. After scanning your images through the scanner software, simply open/import the scanned images into Silhouette Studio.

32-Bit Scanner Drivers


If you are on a 64-bit operating system, your scanner will require a 64-bit driver in order to properly communicate.

Visit your scanner manufacturer's website to download and install the latest 64-bit driver for your scanner.

DXF File Issues

Issues with being able to properly open and use DXF files most commonly indicate a need to update the software.

Update Silhouette Studio

Close Silhouette and update to the latest available version. 

DXF Support Limitations

If continued concerns are met, please note that while DXF files can be imported into Silhouette Studio program, there is a limit on features for DXF files that are supported. 

Namely only the following features are supported for DXF files:

  • Arc
  • Circle
  • Ellipse
  • Line
  • DWPolyline
  • Spline
  • Text

Checking Export Options

If only the above components are included and the file was exported from Adobe Illustrator, please note the following information on proper export practices for this file type:

  • The DXF file type should be R13/LT95
  • There can be no groups or compound paths when exporting. You will need to re-group and/or make compound paths in the Silhouette Studio program once the DXF image is successfully opened.

Imported in the Wrong Size

Unfortunately, DXF files are not formatted such that they retain size information when they are imported into other programs. 

Silhouette Studio does have an import option to center the image or fit it into the page size being used as it is initially opened for easier initial viewing. To enable this:

  1. Open Silhouette Studio
  2. Go to Edit > Preferences > Import


NOTE: This option does not provide the size from the original software used to make the image. It would just make the imported design easier to see initially when opened in Silhouette Studio.

You can re-size the image to your exact desired specification after opening it in Silhouette Studio. 

If you need to export an image in a file format that retains exact sizing, the only such file types would be PNG (for raster images; require tracing to create your cut lines), or SVG files (for vector line images; requires Silhouette Studio Designer Edition). SVG files need to be at the default rate of 72 DPI to retain their size. 

There is currently no other workaround to ensure that the expected size from the original file is how the image would be opened. This is a limitation of the DXF file type itself.  

Continued Issues

If continued issues are encountered, you are welcome to send the file to support@silhouetteamerica.com for review.  

While we cannot provide support for or potentially "fix" the DXF file, we can review the file to consider making future DXF support improvements.

SVG Export Issue - Design Parts Disappear When Saved

We can confirm that there is a bug in the current software version that is causing some designs to disappear from view when saved as an SVG file from Silhouette Studio. This specifically pertains to files that contain designs that are red cut lines with no fill.

Temporary Workaround


As a workaround while this bug is being addressed, you can do the following:

  1. Open the SVG file
  2. Press CTRL + A on your keyboard
    NOTE: This will select everything in the file, including any "invisible" design elements
  3. Open to the 'Line Style' panel (on the right-hand toolbar)
  4. Go to the 'Line Color' tab and select black
    NOTE: This will update the line color on the "invisible" design elements and reveal them

Downgrade Software Version


If desired, you can downgrade your software version to a previous version that was working properly for you.


PixScan Issues

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
    NOTE: 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
    NOTE: Avoid any overlapping onto the black border

Calibrating Silhouette Studio to Camera


Silhouette Studio includes a number of pre-calibrated settings for common smartphone cameras. If a calibration profile is not found for your device, you may need to calibrate Silhouette Studio to your smartphone 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 a white sheet


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
    NOTE: This means a 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 smartphone 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 loaded the image, the software will attempt to detect the device name or allow you to give the Calibration profile a name. After 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 alignment. 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.


Click here for troubleshooting if continued Registration Mark Reading failure is being encountered.

Scanning Issue


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

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


SVG FILE SHOWN as Microsoft edge Document instead of an SVG

How to change the default program for SVG files:

  • Right-click on an SVG file: Right-click on an SVG file in your file explorer.
  • Select "Open with": Choose "Open with" from the context menu.
  • Choose your preferred program: Select the program you want to use to open SVG files, like your Silhouette Studio software.
  • Set as default (optional): Check the box to "Always use this app to open .svg files" to ensure future SVGs open with your chosen program.

PNG Saved to Library Not Opening Properly

We are aware of a bug where some PNG files, primarily on Mac computers, may display oddly when saved to the library and then opened from the library. This typically appears as a thumbnail with a partial display of the design's name.


As the bug is being corrected, you can bypass this concern as follows:


  1. Open Silhouette Studio
  2. Go to the library
  3. Locate and open your PNG file from inside the library
    NOTE: At this point, you will see the "bad" PNG file view
  4. Zoom in or out
    NOTE: The zoom action will reset the display and show the design properly
  5. Zoom back to your desired view