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How to Auto Trace a PNG Image in Silhouette Studio

No more tracing PNG images in Silhouette Studio...you can use auto trace option! 

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Using the AutoTrace feature in Silhouette Studio for PNG is also the answer for how to eliminate that red square box in Silhouette Studio! 

The free version of Silhouette Studio can open JPEG and PNG designs, but with Designer Edition or higher you don't need to trace PNGs if you use the auto trace feature. 

What is a PNG Image? 

PNG images are images, including clipart, that have a transparent background. The negative space is transparent instead of white or some other color.  You can see in this hope mandala PNG the background is transparent.

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Why Is Silhouette Studio Making a Red Square Cut Line Around My Image? 

When a PNG or JPEG is imported into Silhouette Studio the cut line is put around the border of the image...

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...that's the square you see when the cut lines are turned on in the Send panel. 

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 BUT if you use the AutoTrace feature, you can have Silhouette Studio trace a PNG image for you. 

How to Use Auto Trace in Silhouette Studio to Trace a PNG Image

The way the Silhouette Studio AutoTrace feature works is by placing a cut line at the border of any color and transparent area. Since PNG images have transparent backgrounds this means you can set Silhouette Studio to import PNG images so they come into the software with cut lines on avoiding the need to trace. 

This is also the reason this won't work for JPEG images - JPEG images are not transparent. 

To have Silhouette Studio trace PNG images automatically for you on import go into the Preferences panel by clicking the gear in the bottom right corner of the software. 

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On the Import tab check the box for Autotrace.  Save your selection and close out of Preferences. 

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When you open or import a PNG in Silhouette Studio you will no longer need to trace it to create the cut lines, the software will do it for you automatically.  It's easiest to see when the cut lines are turned on in the Send panel. 

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12 comments

  1. I followed your exact directions but there is no PNG or autobox to check. I have business edition. I tried opening up a PNG file to see if that would show up in the settings box but it did not. What are the next steps? Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had the same issue, but was not updated to the latest version. Once I updated to 4.4, the png box was there.

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  2. Will this work on a Cricut maker too?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there, the Cricut software has its own version of auto trace. Unfortunately the directions will not be exact.

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  3. Hi Melissa,
    I did have to update my studio version and now I have the .png box. Checked it, but my .png files still come in with a box around them and the cut lines are on the box, not the actual item. I'm using windows 10 and google chrome if that makes any difference.

    Any suggestions on what I should try?

    Thanks,
    Terri McNeil
    Beans827@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there! What version did you update to? You may need to restart your computer and software.

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  4. Basic edition also has this

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  5. Saw one of your previous video's which states Version 4.4 has some glitches & is being pulled but still available.. when will they be updating a new Version without glitches with the auto trace as this is a game changer .. thanx

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  6. I have a drawing that has thicker lines so it is tracing around the edges of the line so it is making double lines instead of one line - it there a way to collapse the line? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey there, depending on the design, you should be able to select both lines and then right click to weld them together.

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  7. Thanks for this ツ however it's not working for me. I changed the setting but still have white backgrounds on my PNG's. I'm running business edition 4.5
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you! Great help as always.

    ReplyDelete

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