Silhouette Print and Cut: A How to for Beginners
If you’re new to Silhouette Print and Cut (or Print then Cut), you might feel a little overwhelmed at first—but don’t worry! This guide will walk you through the entire process step by step, covering all Silhouette models, including the Silhouette Cameo and Silhouette Portrait.
The Silhouette Print then Cut feature allows you to print your design with a home printer and then cut it with a Silhouette machine. This is perfect for making:
- Planner stickers
- Cake Toppers
- Handmade Cards
- Patterned decals
I’ll cover everything you need to know, from setting up your design in Silhouette Studio software to troubleshooting cutting issues and registration mark errors. Let’s dive in!
What is Silhouette Print and Cut?
Unlike a standard cut project, where your Silhouette machine simply cuts out a shape from vinyl or cardstock, a Print and Cut project first prints the design and then cuts around it.
Your Silhouette machine reads registration marks on the printed page, ensuring precise cutting around your cut designs. This is useful for sticker paper, printable vinyl, and custom-cut images like photo booth props.
*This blog may contain affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.
- Before we begin, make sure you have:
- A Silhouette Cameo or Silhouette Portrait machine
- A home printer or wide format printer (for larger prints)
- Sticker paper or printable vinyl or cardstock printer paper. Truly anything you want to print on!
- Silhouette Software (Basic Edition, Design Edition, or Business Edition)
Step 1: Setting Up Your Design in Silhouette Studio
1. Open Silhouette Studio and Adjust Your Page Setup
- Open Silhouette Studio and go to the Page Setup Panel (top right).
- Set the media size to match your printer’s paper size (Letter – 8.5” x 11” is standard).
- Optionally: Enable Show Print Border and Show Cut Border to keep your design inside printable and cuttable areas. I have never done this and have never had print then cut issues.
2. Enable Registration Marks
- Click on the Registration Marks Menu in the Page Setup Panel.
- Adjust registration mark settings if needed. Whats great about Silhouette print then cut is you can adjust in real time. They give you the ability to change the size of the paper quickly and then also adjust how far set in the registration lines are as well as how long/thick they are! This gives you the crafter the ability to easily max out your page size for any print then cut project! No hacks needed!
3. Import or Create Your Sticker Design
- Open the Silhouette Library to access pre-made designs, or import an SVG file, Studio file, or PDF file. I like to use Creative Fabrica for a lot of my sticker designs.
- If using your own design, ensure it fits inside the printable area.
- Add a white border around your stickers for a professional look using the offset feature.
4. Set Up Cut Lines
- Click on your design and go to the Cut Settings.
- Select Cut Edge so only the outer edge is cut, preventing accidental cuts through your design.
Step 2: Printing Your Stickers
1. Use Print Preview Before Printing
Always check the Print Preview in the Printer Menu to ensure your design and registration marks are properly aligned.
2. Print on Sticker Paper or Printable Vinyl
- Load sticker paper or printable vinyl into your home printer.
- Select the correct paper size in the print settings.
- Print using high quality settings for the best results.
Let the ink dry completely before placing it in your Silhouette machine to avoid smudging.
Step 3: Cutting Your Stickers with Silhouette
1. Load the Printed Sheet Into Your Silhouette Machine
- Place your printed sticker paper on the Silhouette cutting mat, aligning it with the cut border.
- Load it into your Silhouette cutter.
2. Adjust Cut Settings
- Open the Send Panel in Silhouette Studio software.
- Select the correct material type: Sticker Paper, Printable Vinyl, or Card Base.
- Adjust the cut settings as needed (blade depth, force, and speed). I almost always have to manually adjust my settings compared to what they set as default!
3. Perform a Test Cut
Always do a test cut before cutting your entire sheet. If the cut area isn’t correct:
- Increase blade depth slightly.
- Adjust default settings if needed.
Troubleshooting Common Print and Cut Issues
1. Silhouette Registration Marks Not Detected
If your Silhouette machine isn’t reading the registration marks, try these solutions:
- Ensure Good Lighting: Poor lighting can make it hard for the Silhouette cutter to detect marks. I have worked in the dark many times to get my Cricuts to print then cut!
- Darken the Registration Marks: Use Print Border settings to increase contrast.
- Manual Registration: Go to the Registration Marks Tab and align them manually.
- Matte vs Shiny Materials: I haven’t had too many issues with my Silhouettes compared to my Cricut machines in terms of this but if you run into your registration lines not being cut on shiny paper like sticker paper you may need to help matte that out. Place Scotch tape over the lines or use a white crayon and rub over them because this makes the paper less shiny and easier to read.
2. Stickers Not Cutting Properly
If your cut file isn’t cutting correctly
- Confirm Cut Lines Are Enabled: In Cut Settings, ensure cut lines are set to Cut Edge.
- Use a Sharp Blade: A dull blade may cause tearing. Replace if necessary. Silhouette blades are not like Cricut blades. You will replace the whole housing. If you are having issues with blades you can also open the blade and clean inside.
- Adjust Blade Depth & Cut Settings: If cuts are too light or too deep, modify the cut settings accordingly. Find even more information about Silhouette settings in this blog.
Advanced Print and Cut Techniques
1. Using Different Colors for Cut Lines
Assign different colors to your cut designs to create multi-layered stickers or decals.
2. Creating Custom Cut Borders
Use Trace Outer Edge in Silhouette Studio software to make custom white borders around your stickers.
3. Saving and Exporting Your Designs
- Save your work as a Studio file or SVG file for future use.
- Upload your designs to the Silhouette Design Store to share or sell them.
Calibrating Your Silhouette Machine for Accurate Cuts
If your Silhouette machine is cutting slightly off from your printed design, even though the registration marks are detected correctly, you may need to calibrate your machine. This issue is common when working with sticker paper, printable vinyl, or any detailed cut project, and can cause your cuts to be misaligned with your print.
Why Calibration is Important
Calibration ensures that your Silhouette cutter knows exactly where to cut based on the printed design. If you notice that your machine is cutting slightly outside of the intended cut lines, even though the registration marks are being read correctly, calibration is the best way to fix it.
How to Calibrate Your Silhouette Machine
Before starting, make sure your Silhouette Cameo, Portrait, or other model is powered on and connected to Silhouette Studio software. It’s also a good idea to check that you’re running the latest version of the software, as updates can sometimes improve performance.
- Open Silhouette Studio and navigate to the SEND panel to check that your machine is properly connected.
- Right-click on your machine’s name in the SEND panel and select Calibration from the dropdown menu.
- Follow the prompts to print a calibration test page on plain white paper using your home printer.
- Once printed, carefully place the test page onto your Silhouette cutting mat, aligning it as shown in the software.
- Load the mat into your Silhouette machine and follow the on-screen instructions to position the blade or sketch pen over the calibration marks.
- Once positioned correctly, begin the calibration process, allowing the machine to read the marks and make test cuts or sketches.
- When finished, remove the cutting mat and check if the cut lines align properly with the printed calibration marks.
If the cuts are still misaligned, you may need to repeat the calibration process for better accuracy. Additionally, checking your paper size, print settings, and registration mark settings can help prevent future misalignment.
Taking the time to properly calibrate your Silhouette cutter will ensure clean, precise cuts every time, making your sticker projects, planner stickers, printable vinyl, and paper projects look professional and polished!
Bonus Project Ideas for Silhouette Print and Cut
Once you’re comfortable with Silhouette Print and Cut, you can try these fun projects:
- Planner Stickers – Create custom stickers for journals or planners.
- Gift Tags – Design festive tags for birthdays or holidays.
- Photo Booth Props – Print and cut fun props for parties.
- Printable Vinyl Decals – Create removable wall or laptop stickers.
- Custom Greeting Cards – Use Silhouette cutting mats to cut folded card bases.
Final Thoughts & Next Steps
Congratulations! You’ve now learned how to create your first Silhouette Print and Cut project using Silhouette Studio software.
Next Time, Try:
- Printing on different sticker papers for varying textures. Silhouette makes a ton of varieties including gold and silver, scratch off, and clear!
- Using a Silhouette Cameo Pro and a wide format printer for bigger projects.
- Designing cut images with Inkscape, Creative Fabrica Studio, Canva, or Adobe Illustrator for more advanced control.
