How to upload and trace images with Silhouette Studio

A step-by-step guide on how to upload and trace image files with Silhouette Studio.

Uploading your own images to Silhouette Studio is one of its great features. All images in PNG or JPG format can be used for the  software. To use other file formats you need to upgrade to the paid edition.

Upload an image and convert it to a cuttable image

1) Upload a file either by clicking Open in the toolbar on the top, or from File > Open. Locate the file on your computer and click open.

2) Use the Trace feature to create the lines Silhouette recognizes as cut lines. The button can be found in the toolbar to the right.

4) Click Select Trace Area and mark the image with your mouse. This is the area in which you will create the cutting edge.

5) If desired, adjust any of the tracing filters. These are the filters you can choose between:\

• High Pass Filter – Allows the trace lines to be set. Avoid this filter if you don’t want to create a frame outline for your image.
• Low Pass Filter – Does the opposite of the High Pass Filter where tracing begins at the center points of your image parts and delete works towards the outside of the image as the filter setting is adjusted up.
• Threshold – Determines how broadly you wish to apply the trace filter to your image.
• Scale – This setting controls the smoothness of pixelated edges of your image. It is only necessary to use if the image in question is of a low quality and highly pixelated.

6) The trace filter will show a yellow area covering the image. This is a preview of where your cut lines would be created.

7) When the trace area has been drawn and you’ve selected your desired filter settings,  you can move along and select one of the tracing methods under Trace Style. 

You can choose between these trace methods:

• Trace – This option will trace all outer and inner lines. This is generally preferable if you are attempting to create a regular cut image with multiple parts and specific details to be cut.
• Trace Outer Edge –  This option will create a cut line only around the outer edge of your image. This is preferred if you are attempting to create a Print & Cut image.
• Trace and Detach – This option will punch out the image from the white background space. It is only used when you specifically remove the white background so you can have selected images overlap or be closer for Print & Cut jobs.

8) You now have created cut lines for the uploaded image and can start cutting!

How to open SVG files directly to Silhouette

If you wish to upload SVG files, which can be cut directly without tracing, you may consider upgrading to the Designer Edition of Silhouette Studio. This version provides the additional ability to import SVG files directly which you may have created in another vector imaging program (such as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw).

Importing images straight from vector imaging programs
Instead of going through Silhouette Studio, you can use an alternate plug-in called Silhouette Connect that allows you to send jobs directly from vector imaging programs such as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw to the Silhouette.

Do you have any further questions? Feel free to contact us at [email protected].