HTV: Hot Peel vs Cold Peel: Everything to Know About HTV Peeling

Besides using the correct amount of time, temperature and pressure when it comes to pressing HTV, knowing whether to peel off the carrier sheet hot or cold is an important component to getting a successful press. 

In this tutorial, we'll explain the difference between hot peel and cold peel HTV and how to know when to do which.

How to Outline an Image in Silhouette Studio

If you want to add an outline to an image in Silhouette Studio, it's easy to do with the Offset tool. 

Adding an outline in Silhouette Studio can help you create a base shape, thicken your design, or allow you to add layers to your design. Follow these simple steps for how to outline an image in Silhouette Studio.

Silhouette Cameo Beginners: 10 Tips for Getting Started with Your First Cut (Updated 2025)

If you want to avoid being one of those Silhouette CAMEO beginners who leaves their Silhouette cutting machine in the box for days or weeks or months or years (yes, years!) because they don't know where to start....allow me!

Having written now 13 Silhouette beginner guides (some have even called them the Silhouette Books for Dummies) I know the struggles that newbies face when they first get their cutting machine. It's overwhelming!

You don't know what 651 or 631 or weeding or compound path or Silhouette Studio or any of that lingo means.  You're fascinated by the possibilities, but they stall you at the same time because there are just.so.many. Heck, you don't even know what's considered a Silhouette CAMEO beginner project.

For that reason now 11 years after when I received my first Silhouette cutting machine,  I'm sharing 10 Silhouette CAMEO beginners tips for getting started whether you have a Silhouette CAMEO 5, CAMEO 4, Plus, Pro, Silhouette CAMEO 3, CAMEO 2, 1 or Silhouette Portrait.

8 Ways to Import or Open Designs into Silhouette Studio

Knowing how to open designs in Silhouette Studio is one of the first things you need to know when using the Silhouette software.

There are actually at least eight different ways to open and import designs in Silhouette Studio.

Install Silhouette Studio Designer Edition (DE+ or Business) for the First Time or on Second Computer (2024)

If you purchased a Silhouette Studio Designer Edition license key (or a license key for Designer Edition Plus or Business Edition) you can install them on up to three computers.

This comes in handy if you get a new computer or have more than one computer where you use Silhouette Studio. This tutorial will show you how to install Silhouette Studio license keys and also how to install on another computer.

Computer Requirements to Run Silhouette Studio: Will a Tablet, Chrome Book or Phone Work?

It's a pretty common question in my inbox: Can I run Silhouette Studio on ______ (fill in the blank with tablet, Chromebook, ipad, phone, such and such computer)?

It's important to keep in mind - Silhouette Studio is a powerful design program and it needs a powerful device to keep it running smoothly.

How to Move Your Silhouette Studio Library to a New Computer (2023)

If you have a new computer and you need to move your entire Silhouette Studio library to it - it can seem super scary. Will you lose all of your designs? Will everything transfer? Do you have to move every designs individually?  What about the Cloud designs and the ones you created yourself?

I recently had to move my entire Silhouette Studio library to a new computer when I got a new laptop.  I'm here to tell you - if you do even a little bit of planning ahead - you'll be fine.

Follow along and I'll help you move your Silhouette Studio library. 

How to Back Up, Save, and Export Your Silhouette Studio Library Files

If you've ever been on the losing end of a computer crash you know how upsetting and frustrating it can be to lose photos, files, and months or years of work. 

Or perhaps you are getting a new computer and don't want to have to manually move each and every file in your Silhouette Studio library.  Well lucky for you and me Silhouette America has created a really fast way to backup, save, move and/or export your entire Studio Library. 

And the best part is...you don't even have to be computer savvy to do it.  

Silhouette Studio Ruler Disappeared! How to Show Ruler in Silhouette Studio V4

Silhouette Studio Designer Edition opens up a bunch of extra features - and among them is a ruler along the top and sides of the work area.  Sometimes that ruler seems to disappear on its own.

No worries - it's easy to get back.

Contour Cut Stickers and Vinyl Stickers Explained: What is the Contour Cut Meaning Anyway?

If you have a Silhouette CAMEO, or any vinyl cutter or print and cut machine including a Roland BN-20A, you've no doubt heard the term "Contour Cut". But what is the meaning of contour cut? 

Contour cut describes how a sticker or vinyl sticker is cut around the edge of the image or shape. Read on get a better understanding of contour cutting and how to accomplish it with a Silhouette CAMEO. 

Best File Type for Silhouette When You Don't Have Designer Edition

If you're using the basic free version of Silhouette Studio you are somewhat limited in the file types you can use - specifically from outside sources.

That leaves a lot of users wondering what the best file type is to import when the .Studio3 file is not an option.

9 Ways to Replicate in Silhouette Studio (V4 Tutorial)

There are a lot of different ways to accomplish the same thing in Silhouette Studio - and that's especially true when it comes to replicating.

There are at least nine different ways to replicate or duplicate a design, shape, or text in Silhouette Studio. Check out these nine ways to duplicate in Silhouette Studio and then pick your favorite depending on what you're working on.

How to Add a Weeding Box in Silhouette Studio...and Why You Should

If you haven't used weeding boxes in Silhouette Studio - that's going to change today. 

Weeding boxes are extremely helpful when weeding vinyl and HTV for several different reasons. They help break up the negative space around the design or text which helps avoid problems while weeding specifically small pieces of your design pulling up.  This Silhouette tutorial will show you how to add a weeding box in Silhouette Studio and why you should.

Silhouette Studio Updates vs. Software Upgrades

Silhouette Studio upgrades are not the same as Silhouette Studio updates so let's get to the bottom of it today.

 

There are some key differences when it comes to Silhouette Studio Updates vs Silhouette Studio Upgrades - the biggest is updates are free and upgrades are a one time fee.  But that's not the only difference... so read on for a better understanding.

Silhouette Cutting Mat Cleaning: Easiest Way to Remove Lint, Dust & Paper

All Silhouette cutting mats need a good cleaning once in a while.  Dust, fibers and tiny pieces of paper get stuck to the mat's sticking area, which can make the mat lose its stickiness.  As we all know that can result in poor cutting.

Sometimes even the Silhouette spatula and can't remove all the tiny fibers and paper bits on the mat.  I have to admit, I'm a little embarrassed and ashamed to show you my 'before' mat....but it's all for the good of the blog, right?

Silhouette Studio Upgrade Features List: Designer Edition, Designer Edition Plus, Business Edition (Updated 2022)

I get asked all the time - is Silhouette Studio Designer Edition worth the upgrade? What features are included with Silhouette Studio Business Edition?  Does the highest upgrade include the features of the others?  Finally, I decided to put together an easy to read list of features, tutorials, and FAQs about all of the Silhouette Studio upgrades.

I can tell you - there's never been a better time or reason to upgrade straight to Silhouette Studio Business Edition.  With the release of Silhouette Studio V4.4 there are a lot of awesome features - many of them not available in the free basic Silhouette Studio version.

How to Add Cut Lines to JPEG in Silhouette Studio

You can add cut lines to a JPEG in Silhouette Studio by using the trace tool. 

The free version of Silhouette Studio allows you to import JPEG files making it a popular file type choice for some.  This tutorial will show you how to add a cut line to a JPEG image in the Silhouette software. 

10 Silhouette Terms Every Silhouette CAMEO Beginner Needs to Know

When you're new to Silhouette it can be challenging to even search for free Silhouette tutorials because you don't know the correct terms to search.

I thought it would be helpful to share and define 10 of the most common (and confusing) Silhouette terms so you can get a head start as a Silhouette CAMEO beginner.

Getting Started with Silhouette CAMEO: 10 Things No One Tells Beginners Before the First Cut (Updated 2021)

This time of year there are always a lot of beginners getting started with Silhouette CAMEO so I figured what better time to tell you what no one else will tell you before making your first cut with Silhouette!

After eight years of writing Silhouette CAMEO tutorials for beginners on up, I admit I sometimes think to myself "Is this information too basic?"  Turns out...when it comes to learning Silhouette...usually the answer is no.

So today I'm going to tell you 10 things no one will tell you when you're getting started with Silhouette Studio and your cutting machine.

How to Perfectly Center HTV on a Pillow (Easy First HTV Project)

If trying to center HTV designs constantly causes you to second guess, I have a few tricks to share today for how to center heat transfer vinyl quickly and easily! 

Stop guessing where the center is and instead align your HTV perfectly centered quickly, easily, and without measuring.