Silhouette Cameo

General Information

The Silhouette Cameo is a desktop cutting machine that is able to cut, score, and sketch on materials 12" wide. The Cameo can be used independently, by appointment or in Library programs. If you have questions please contact Digital Services.

We recommend you view our MakerLab Essentials: Silhouette Cameo tutorials before you begin your project.

Design software: Silhouette Studio

Accepted File Formats: .studio is the file type that works best with the software. Other files types accepted by the free version of Silhouette Studio are .gsd, AutoCAD Interchange Files, .png, .jpeg, .bmp, .gif, .tif.

Templates

When you click on the template, your browser will download a .zip file with all of the template files listed below. The individual files can be opened in the Silhouette Studio software and have the extension .studio3. 
 

MakerLab Essentials

Design at home or make an appointment, then come into the Library to run your project! Templates can be found in the section above. For questions, please e-mail digitalservices@balibrary.org.

 

Cameo Settings

Your materials do not need to be from Silhouette America, but many of these products are pre-programmed into the Silhouette Studio software. If you are using another brand, please check to see if they have cut settings suggested for force, speed, and passes. Regardless, running a test cut is recommended for each new material to test blade sharpness and expected results.

Third-party recommended settings

Expressions Vinyl: https://expressionsvinyl.com/machine-settings/

Siser HTV: https://www.siserna.com/files/htv-cutter-settings.pdf

Setup and Use

After your design is complete in Silhouette Studio, follow these instructions to send your file to the Cameo 4.

Cutting with a mat

A mat is necessary for any material you will be cutting all the way through. The option to select cut on a mat or cut without a mat is located in the page layout icon of the design tab. 

  1. Load your material onto the cutting mat. Press down all across your material to make sure there is sufficient adhesion and there are no air bubbles. 
  2. Align the cutting mat to the vertical registration mark along the left side of the Cameo.
  3. Apply forward pressure so the plastic mat is evenly touching the white rollers. If needed, the rollers can be adjusted to either 8.5" or 12". To adjust the white rollers, press down on the lever on the right side of the Cameo. This will unlock the roller bar. Next, press the grey padlock button on the white roller and push the roller to the desired position. When positioned correctly, pull up the white lever on the right side of the Cameo to lock the bar in place.
  4. Press the up arrow on the Cameo to load the cutting mat and material.
  5. Go to the computer and click on Send in the upper right corner of Silhouette Studio
  6. Choose your material, action, and tool
  7. If any adjustments need to be made to the blade depth, speed, force, passes, or line segment overcut, make them here. Line segment overcut is needed for vinyl and HTV and can be helpful for cardstock and other materials. This feature enables the blade to pass past the cut line at corners so it will be clean, and easier to weed. 
  8. Running a test is always recommended, even with known materials. This takes into consideration any dulling of the blade, and can be helpful to pre-determine and potential issues with cutting or layout of your design.
  9. After a successful test cut, reload the material and click Send to Cameo.   
  10. When the cut is complete, press the down arrow to unload the material.

Cutting without a mat

If you are cutting only the top layer of a material that has a backing, a cutting mat is not required. The option to remove cut on a mat is located in the page layout icon of the design tab.

One common material that does not require a mat is heat transfer vinyl. If using heat transfer vinyl, REMEMBER TO MIRROR YOUR DESIGN. You mirror your design because you will be cutting on the back side (matte side) of the heat transfer vinyl. Silhouette Studio will remind you and you have the option to mirror it, or if your design is already mirrored, you can leave it as designed.  

  1. Align the material to the vertical registration mark along the left side of the Cameo.
  2. Apply forward pressure so the material is evenly touching the white rollers. If needed, the rollers can be adjusted to either 8.5" or 12". To adjust the white rollers, press down on the lever on the right side of the Cameo. This will unlock the roller bar. Next, press the grey padlock button on the white roller and push the roller to the desired position. When positioned correctly, pull up the white lever on the right side of the Cameo to lock the bar in place.
  3. Press the up arrow on the Cameo to load the cutting mat and material.
  4. Go to the computer and click on Send in the upper right corner of Silhouette Studio
  5. Choose your material, action, and tool
  6. If any adjustments need to be made to the blade depth, speed, force, passes, or line segment overcut, make them here. Line segment overcut is needed for vinyl and HTV and can be helpful for cardstock and other materials. This feature enables the blade to pass past the cut line at corners so it will be clean, and easier to weed. 
  7. Running a test is always recommended, even with known materials. This takes into consideration any dulling of the blade, and can be helpful to pre-determine and potential issues with cutting or layout of your design.
  8. After a successful test cut, reload the material and click Send to Cameo.   
  9. When the job is complete, press the down arrow on the Silhouette Cameo to unload the material.  

Weeding and Transfer

Weeding refers to the process of removing the unneeded waste material. The best action you can take to get a clean removal is to use a sharp blade and the correct settings when cutting, but a few extra tips to make the weeding process easier:

  • Use tools! We have tools specifically designed for weeding your projects. These tools are very sharp, so please use caution.
  • Go slow, especially around tight corners.
  • If you notice a piece that is meant to stay down is coming up, push the piece back down, hold it, and pull up again. Usually, the adhesive and downward pressure will be sufficient to get a a clean end product.

Transfer

If you are using vinyl and transfer paper to adhere your design to another item:

  1. Weed the unwanted material. It may be helpful to work in small sections and cut away the excess material so it doesn't stick back onto your design.
  2. Peel the backing from the transfer paper.
  3. Align the transfer paper over your vinyl.
  4. Press down and smooth out any air bubbles.
  5. Peel up the transfer paper and align it to your

Approved Materials

There are many materials that will work with our Silhouette Cameo desktop cutter. If you would like to bring in your own materials and have any questions, please reach out to us. The Library keeps a supply of these materials:

  • Cardstock
  • Heat Transfer Vinyl (Black and White)
  • Vinyl (Black and White)

Potential Vendors