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My last post 7 Things Every Silhouette Newbie Should Know covered what you should know, but what should you buy to go along with your new Silhouette? I know it was one of my first question, and I found the #1 thing you should invest in is the Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition.
Having the software absolutely changed my Silhouette experience, and what I can accomplish. Some of its wonderful features include:
- Ability to open, manipulate, and cut .svg files
- Rhinestone tools to convert designs into rhinestone templates and create your own rhinestone designs
- Sketch tools to convert designs into several styles of sketchable art
- Creative knife tools to allow you to clip designs using different patterns
- Enhanced eraser set to modify designs with more precision
- Built-in ruler and guide lines for precise alignment and drawing
I have used all of these features and LOVED them. I just recently played around with converting a design into sketched artwork for a handmade card. Of course, I used all of the other tools along the way like the enhanced eraser and the creative knife tool. I was very pleased with the results, and the creativeness I was able to express.
This software is the most powerful design software out there, and a must have for any Silhouette crafter. If you have been debating making the upgrade, now is your time. The Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition and Silhouette Connect™ is currently 35% off from March 11th – March 19th!!
What is the Silhouette Connect™? It’s a plugin that gives you the ability to send projects you’ve designed in Adobe Illustrator® or CorelDRAW® straight to your Silhouette without having to convert them to a compatible format.
I just got mine today, and can’t wait to try it out. I know I’m going to love having one less step to do when working designs!
Hezzi-D
Sounds like a great piece of software! Anything that makes it easier to use it right up my ally!
Michelle
Would you recommend getting the Design edition over the connect if that is all you are getting and then add in the connect at a later point? If I understand Design is the actual software and connect is just a plug in to reduce the step of converting an illustrator file to a SVG file? Sorry this is a few months old, but I just got my Cameo today 🙂
brenna
I would definitely recommend the Designer Edition before the Connect! I think the Designer Edition should be the first purchase for every Silhouette user. It benefits all users, while only a certain people will benefit from the Connects functions.
Marelize
I have Corel Draw and I am an experienced designer, but new to the Silhouette Cameo world. Would you still recommend that I buy the designer software before I buy connect?
brenna
In your case I’m really not sure. You would probably use the Connect most. There might be some features on the Designer software you might still like to have.
Sonja M
I am disabled and my brother bought me a silhouette cameo originally helping me cut fabric but since it needs to be cutting more applique style fabric that’s ok to. He bought it for me probably 4 years ago now and I have yet to get the courage up to use it. I did add the design update to the designer addition right away about 3 months ago. Now I have been collecting svg’s and projects I would really like to make with vinyl. I look forward to being able to use it vinyl cutting real soon and have many projects picked out!!!!! Now to take the time to figure it out!!!!!
subielover666
so the connect will work without the designer software upgrade? and is it possible to download cut files from various sites and manipulate them in adobe and then send them tkthe connect? im running into the issue of all the files downloading as zip files and then having to figure out how to convert them to .svg.