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How to Use (Game Changing) Silhouette CAMEO 4 Pen Holder

The Silhouette CAMEO 4 pen holder is now available and they're honestly a pretty big deal.

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The marker and pen holders for the CAMEO 4 open up the possibility to use products - like the Cricut Infusible Ink Markers, these American Craft cutting machine pens, gel pens, and fabric pens -  that otherwise can't be used with the CAMEO 4, but can be used with the older model Silhouette machines.
I was never a fan of the Silhouette pen holders for the other Silhouette machines, but that's really because given the quality we had better options like the Chomas Creations Pen and Marker holders. Those, however, won't fit in the CAMEO 4 because it's not compatible with the sketch pen adapter.

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Without the new Silhouette CAMEO 4 pen adapter the only drawing tools that can be used in the new Silhouette machine are the Silhouette sketch pens.

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The CAMEO 4 Pen Holder changes that opening up the possibilities for third party drawing tools to be used in the new Silhouette machine.

The Pen Holder Set includes three different size adapters allowing you to use markers, pens, and pencils of various sizes.

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To use the holder, find the threaded adapter (included) that fits to slide on your pen or marker...

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...then twist it into the larger pen holder base.

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The CAMEO 4 pen holder only fits in Carriage 1 (the left carriage) of the Silhouette CAMEO 4.  In other words, it can not be used in the right carriage or in any of the other Silhouette machines.

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The sensor on the back of the pen holder tells the tool carriage and software what tool is being used so make sure you lock the pen holder in.

Power on and connect the machine.

In the Send panel of Silhouette Studio select the Available machine from the machine list.

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Go to the Design area and open your design. I am using this adorable lamb design. It's created as a single line drawing design specifically for sketch pens or the Foil Quill.

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Any design will work, but remember, the Silhouette machines will sketch exactly where it would cut - meaning it will draw an outline if you are using a traditional cut file.

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If you want to fill your design so it's colored in with the pen, you'll need to use a sketch fill.

From the Page Setup panel select the machine as Auto CAMEO, the cutting mat as Auto CAMEO, and the media size as Auto 12x12.

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Return to the Send panel. 

As long as all the previous selections are correct and the pen holder is in the machine, the Action and Tool should be automatically selected as Sketch and Pen Holder.

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Place your paper on the cutting mat and load into the Silhouette CAMEO 4 by pressing the up arrow on the touch screen of the machine.

From the Send panel press Send and the sketching will begin.

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When the sketching is complete, the carriage will return to the starting position and you can remove your sketched design.

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That's it!

If you're interested in using other drawing tools besides just the Silhouette sketch pens in the CAMEO 4, get yourself a Pen Holder Set and a set of cutting machine pens.

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!


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12 comments

  1. Oh Gosh! I needed these too! It will be like Christmas once things start arriving!
    Thank you for all your information! Can't wait to get my pink 4!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Will the older pen holders work with Cameo 4?

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  3. I'm always curious about what the benefit of this is? Why would one do this instead of just printing out this design? I can understand it if you want to use the infusible ink pens, but if its just drawing a design, I don't get it. What am I missing?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's interesting if you want to cut out your design immediately afterwards: this avoids having to use the print-and-cut-feature. And you can also use glitter pens, gold pens, ...

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  4. thanks for the response about why to use pens! I hadn't thought of those ideas!

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  5. My regular printer is not interested in printing on heavy cardstock so this is a great solution

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  6. I've had trouble in the past (using my Cameo 3) with the threads of the Silhouette pen holders stripping, and these don't look much different. Chomas Creations makes an adapter for the Cameo 4 now, and it works like a charm without the issues of the plastic pen holders.

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  7. American craft cutting pens are discontinued any other brand i can use :)

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  8. Just switched from Cricut to Silhouette, and I'm SO excited! I realized I accidentally purchased the older pen holder meant for the previous Cameo machines. Can I use this in the pen adapter that came with the Cameo 4? Or would I be out of luck if I opened it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would probably just exchange it for the Cameo 4 holder.

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  9. My silhouette cameo 4 came with some plastic adapters that they say are for pens are these the same as what you show here cause they look diffrent

    ReplyDelete

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