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Connecting Edit Points/Closing a Shape in Silhouette Studio

Silhouette Studio, closing broken edit points, closing a shape

If you've ever had a shape that's not completely closed you know how frustrating it can be to work with it in Silhouette Studio.  A broken path - no matter how small - prevents you from filling in the shape with a color or pattern. If cut, the shape obviously won't be completely closed so the material is likely to tear in that spot when you go to weed.


But how do you find the break and how do you fix it in Silhouette Studio?  The key is edit points (here's everything you need to know about them).  They're the little red, gray or white dots you see when you double click a shape or select it and then hit the edit points icon on the left side.   The bright red dots will indicate the end of a line. Two next to each other means that's where the break is.

Let's use this silhouette as an example.  Right now if I double click on it to get the edit points, they're all gray. That indicates the shape is completely closed.  That's how we want it.

Silhouette Studio, closing broken edit points, closing a shape

If the shape had a break in it, you would get something like this. The two red dots indicate where the break is.

Silhouette Studio, closing broken edit points, closing a shape

The break is pretty obvious in that example, even without the edit points. But sometimes it's very difficult to see where the break is so accessing the edit points is a great way to figure out where the problem is.

The two images below are the exact same...you can see that it would be tough to see where the break is without viewing the edit points.  On the right, though, you can tell there's a break at the red dot (the break's so small the two dots are pretty much on top of each other).

Silhouette Studio, closing broken edit points, closing a shape

To fix the break, zoom in pretty close so you can see the two ends clearly (the below image is a close zoom of the above image).   Then click on one of the red dots and when your mouse turns from a hand to the small black arrow, drag the red edit point toward the other red point.  It's almost like they're magnets, they'll find each other and link back up closing the break.

Silhouette Studio, closing broken edit points, closing a shape

Now when you double click to see the edit points, the two red dots should have joined and turned to a single gray point.

Silhouette Studio, closing broken edit points, closing a shape

And now you can go fill the shape with a color or a pattern and you can cut knowing there is no break in your design.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links, I receive a small commission. That's what helps fund Silhouette School so I can keep buying new Silhouette-related products to show you how to get the most out of your machine! 

Thanks for coming to class today at Silhouette School.  If you like what you see, I'd love for you to pin it!

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20 comments

  1. How do you connect points from two different shapes to make them one? An example would be I was make an tessellation template for my daughter using all straight lines. How can you connect all of the end points to make one continuous line/shape? Thanks

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    1. I posted a comment that might solve your problem if you haven't already figured it out!

      Delete
  2. I would like to know the same thing as Danell! I have a word that I traced and it overlapped another word. I need to separate the words and cut them in two different colors. How can I connect the points?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I posted a comment that might solve your problem if you haven't already figured it out!

      Delete
  3. I would also like to know how to snap 2 different shape's points together to make one shape. Purdy please!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I posted a comment that might solve your problem if you haven't already figured it out!

      Delete
  4. I'm the fourth one with this question about snapping/joining 2 different shape's points together .. any chance you know the answer Melissa? or know someone who does? pretty pretty please? thanks so much in advance!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I posted a comment that might solve your problem if you haven't already figured it out!

      Delete
  5. I think I can help! First, select both of your shapes and right click-->Make compound path. Then when you go into edit points, you will have access to the points for both shapes.

    If the shapes you want to connect already have end points (red dots), you can drag them together as describe above. If they do not already have end points, you can create them by selecting a point where you want the end to be and clicking "Break Path." Once you have the end points on the two shapes, you can join them.

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    1. tiffany I love you!!! thank you!!!!

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    2. Thank you!!!!!!! This worked!!!!!

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    3. This is what I have always wondered about, thank you for the info!!

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    4. I can't seem to select the two lines I've created; it's either one or the other.. any suggestions?

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    5. Amen! You're my new best friend! Been struggling with how to combine two open shapes for a looooong time!

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  6. Thank you Tiffany!!! I've been using SSDE for years and I had no idea how to do that!

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  7. Thank you Melissa and Tiffany! Both of these issues were driving me crazy and I was trying to add extra points and making a mess of things. I love this blog!

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  8. thank youuuuuuuuuuu Tifanny for solution.. can't tell you how many problems this caused me before esp when using welding options ..I'm home free now xxx

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  9. How do you join together three or more lines? Is it possible? Thanks in advance!

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