Frequently Asked Questions

The "Print and Cut" images (those that appear to have cut lines filled in with colorized images) as found on our Digital Design Portfolio CDs, are designed to be used in the following manner:

1. Create a new file.
2. Select "Letter" for Document Size and "Portrait" for the Orientation in the Document Settings window.
3. Check the box for "Use Registration Marks" and click the "OK" button.

You will note that there are photo-corner type marks on three corners of your printed paper. These are "Registration Marks" for the Silhouette’s optic scanner to find.

4. Place your "Print and Cut" image on your screen in the Silhouette software
5. You may select to go to the "Edit" menu and select "Registration Mark Settings". Here, we might suggest that you opt to "Print the media loading direction".
6. Once you have your image placed on the screen to your liking, print your job to your regular printer by going to the "File" menu and selecting "Print". You will note that when you print your project, the actual cut lines are not printed. This is because your printer only sees "print data" while your Silhouette only sees "cut data".
IMPORTANT: Use a full sheet of 8.5" x 11" paper because it will also print the registration marks that you need to properly cut out the design. Do not alter anything on your computer screen once your image has been sent to the printer.
7. Place your printed paper on the cutting mat and feed it into the Silhouette for cutting.
8. Pull up the Controller screen to cut as you would normally
9. When clicking on "Cut", the Silhouette will first find each of the Registration Marks so that it knows where you want your cut lines to be according to where the Registration Marks appear. If you encounter issues, please visit the trouble-shooting section here
10. After finding all Registration Marks, the Silhouette will be ready to cut

The Silhouette should then go through the normal cutting process and find all cutting data in order to trace and cut out the printed image according to where the cut lines were defined (usually traced against the printed image).

Tips for cutting out your printed design:
- Insert paper in the direction indicated by the arrows and the sentence "Feed this side first"
- Make sure the cutting mat stays straight
- Make sure your cutting mat is sticky
- Don't let the paper ripple
- Keep registration marks between pinch rollers


For a full tutorial click here