Before moving on to how to use Silhouette Cameo 4, let’s know a little bit about the machine. Cameo 4 is a DIY machine that assists you in making different crafts by cutting over 100 materials. This DIY machine allows you to cut numerous materials, like paper, fabric, leather, chipboard, and many more.
You may create your custom print at home and use Silhouette to cut them exactly as you want. You could make custom stickers, temporary tattoos, printed heat transfer decals, and more.
Silhouette Cameo would be the best companion if you’re a crafter and want to prepare a new design or project. You would be thinking, how do I start if I’m new to this? Well, no worries at all. We all start from the basics, so let’s get started with how to use it.
What Is A Silhouette Machine, And What Can It Make?
A simple DIY cutting machine with Bluetooth enabled prevents you from randomly plugging in your machine wherever you put it. No more relying on the power switches with Silhouette cameo 4. It’s a leading desktop cutting machine that provides unlimited cutting possibilities. It’s now more enhanced than its predecessor.
The machine uses Silhouette Studio software that helps to cut various materials such as vinyl, cardstock, balsa wood, leather, etc. However, you need to install the software to enable the machine to cut.
How Do I Install Silhouette Studio Software?
You will find the Silhouette Studio on the Silhouette America website. The software has three versions available- Basic, Designer, and Business. Download the version you like, and you can further upgrade it for a higher version if required. One great thing about using Silhouette Cameo 4 is it’s not web-based like a Cricut Design Space. The software can be easily downloaded into your computer and used even if there is no internet connection. Since it has one extra advantage, it would be better to choose SC over Cricut.
How To Use Silhouette Cameo 4 With Or Without Mat?
A Silhouette machine is so exciting to use once you have your design ready and it’s time to cut it down. But it’s intimidating, as the settings might ruin your design. However, we will give you proper guidance, like how long you have to cut, which settings you need to touch, and more. You can cut in three ways with Silhouette Cameo: Regular cut with mat, cutting with no mat, and pop-out cutting with no mat.
Change The Cut Settings
- First, start adjusting the mat settings by clicking the Cutting mat dropdown in the page setup window.
- Then, select a size from the list to cut with a mat and select none without a mat.
- Then, select the type of matless cutting from the further pop-up list.
- Ensure your materials fit well between the rollers on the machine.
- Now, adjust the cut settings. For this, click the Send tab.
- Then select your material to cut.
- Now, select “Action and the Tool.” The Action and the Tool setting should be auto-detected. But if it’s not, you can easily change them from the dropdown list.
- The cut settings will change according to the selected material, Action, and tool.
- If you’re using a blade that needs to be adjusted manually, change it to the required size and put it into the machine.
Cut By Line Or Fill
This step is useful when your design consists of more than one color or type of material. Apply the following steps:
- Click the Line or Fill tab in the send section.
- It will display each line or fill colors in the list.
- Then, check the materials and actions for each color twice.
- Now, in order to cut each color individually, add a pause after each color. It will make it easy to remove the material.
- The machine will automatically pause once it does the cutting with the first loaded color.
- Once you change the color and load it to the machine, click Resume. Then repeat with each color you select.
Load Machine
The rollers of Cameo 4 come for the 12 inches mat. However, you can change them according to the width of your project. Make sure that the machine will perfectly grip the material through rollers. Adjust the roller by releasing the lock lever on the right-hand side and then lock the lever again.
While using a cutting mat, place the material on the top of the mat, so it matches the grid in Silhouette Studio. Now, load your cutting mat or material. Align your load material with the load line indicator on the left and place. Ensure you place the mat or material against the roller. Then, press the load arrow.
Allow The Cut Job
We recommend you take a test cut before you send a cut job to your machine. This method will cross-check your settings. Hence, click on the test button. The machine will display the cutting shapes at the left top corner. If it needs further adjustments, unload your material. Then, again load the machine. Finally, click the send button to start the cut job. Once you are done, tap the down/unload arrow. Congrats, you have successfully cut your design.
Conclusion
Cutting with Silhouette Cameo 4 is not complicated at all. You just need to have a good hand in deciding the settings. Once you master it, you can create unmatchable crafts. Above, we have learned how to use Silhouette Cameo 4 with a mat. Follow all the steps carefully and as mentioned. I can’t believe a simple DIY machine could make such amazing crafts. Why don’t you try it now and see how good you can make it? At last, don’t forget to do a print cut to ensure the settings are correct, or you will waste your material.
