So I always get asked where I got my files, where did I buy them, or how did I make them. Well hold on to your socks, because they are about to be knocked off!
You can make or convert them yourselves! There are three different ways that I know of (there could be 100′s of ways), Inkscape, Adobe Illustrator, or even the Cameo program itself. The good thing about learning how to make or convert your own files is the simplicity of it, and the fact that it is FREE (if you use free programs). When I say you can make files, I mean you can get onto any of these programs and draw out images, or wording. When I say “convert” your files, I mean you can take a certain files (SVG files), and change it into a cuttable file. Which I think is amazing!
Inkscape is a free vector program that is available here.
You want to use Inkscape if you are new to the computer situation, as it is a FREE program. You can use Inkscape to change those .SVG files into .DXF siles that can be cut on your cameo. Why would you want to change them to .DXF files? Well, if you are using the base Silhouette program, then you do not have the ability to cut .SVG files which are readily available for FREE. Which means if you don’t learn how to convert files, you could be losing out of MILLIONS of adorably free files.
So, if there are SVGs out there you would like to use with your Silhouette Studio software and you don’t have the Designer Edition, here is how you can convert them to DXF and open in Studio.
- Download and install Inkscape if you do not already have it. You can download the most recent version for free here.
- Launch Inkscape.
- Open the SVG file you want to convert. (under the file menu, select “Open,” and open up your SVG.)
- Under the file menu select “Save As” and under the “save as file type” pull down menu, select “Desktop Cutting Plotter” (it is about half-way down.) When it asks you what type output you would like select “Use ROBO-Master type of spline output” and hit OK.
- Launch your Studio software.
- Go to “Open”under the file menu. Select “All files” from the file type drop down menu. Find and select the DXF file you just saved out of Inkscape.
- BAM! you can now cut it with your Silhouette out of your studio software or save it as a .studio file to cut later.
Here is video explaining how to convert your files in Inkscape:)
Illustrator is not a free program but it does allow you to do so much more, in the sense of editing files to cut on the Cameo. With illustrator you are able to change .JPEG file that have strong black outlines into .DXF files with ease once you get a hang of it.
To use Illustrator to Convert your .JPEG files is simple, the following are instructions on how to do just an outline of the image you need.
- Open Illustrator
- File> Place Image > Find the image on your desktop
- Illustrator will open the file and place it on your document.
- Select the image, and select Object> Live Trace > Make and Expand
- Keep the images selected and select Object > Ungroup (You want to do this to make sure you get the files needed for the Cameo, IF you do not do this file, the Cameo will not be able to read the file.
- Deselect the image, and click on any white part of the image, you will then go to Select> Same> Fill Color — Then Press Delete.
- Once you just have the black outlined image, you will double check that it is ungrouped, then go to File>Export> .DXF > Save it to your Desktop.
- Open Cameo program and select File> Import to my Library > Change the drop down to .DXF > Then find your file on the desktop.
- Open your Library, and find your image > Double Click on it, and you will see on your “mat”
- BAM! you can now cut it with your Silhouette out of your studio software or save it as a .studio file to cut later.
So a lot of the things we just covered here can be daunting, and extremely frustrating if you are new to this. But, the Cameo software does have a way to complete the tracings of SIMPLE items. When I simple, I mean solid black images that have no interior to them. You can trace and cut complex items, but the simplicity factor, let’s not do that. There is no real simple way to explain this so I will just go straight into the video, as it will be easier to understand.
Here is video explaining how to trace your files in Silhouette Studio
That is it, that is all there is, there is no more! Don’t be afraid to use your Cameo, it will not hurt you. I know so many people who bought them like a year ago and they are still in their boxes. They are easy to use, and once you figure it out, you will never use anything else. IF you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask, I will do my best to answer them. If I cannot answer your question, I will find someone who can.
THANK YOU!!