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Update: The tutorial below gives you more control over your SVG. If you would simply like to convert a simple .studio3 file to SVG automatically, head to this post. Also, if you are working in Silhouette Studio, saving as an SVG has been added to Business Edition!
So far this week I’ve covered designing with text, creating your own designs, and saving as a .jpg, .png, or .pdf from Silhouette Studio. Today, let’s wrap up our discussion on designing with a quick tutorial on saving as an SVG from Silhouette Studio.
What is an SVG?
An SVG is a file format that stands for scalable vector graphic. Fancy words that just mean that the image can be resized without losing the quality (no grainy or blurry images). You can open SVG in any vector program, Silhouette Studio Designer Edition, or Cricut Design Space.
Tutorial to save as SVG in Silhouette Studio
- First, prep your design in Silhouette Studio.
- Color your image black and white. This tutorial works best when you have a high contrast image (black) and a solid background (white).
- Group all pieces of your image together.
- Turn off the grid on your virtual mat. Sometimes the grid lines will show if you don’t turn them off.
- Color your lines black and make sure that the “Print Lines of Selected Shapes” is unchecked as shown in the image below:
- Now, you’ll need to use a PDF Printer to virtually print your design to your computer in .png format. I covered gave a step by step tutorial to do this yesterday.
- Download and install Inkscape (it’s free).
- Open your image in Inkscape. If you get a window to select the .png input, choose “Embed” and click “OK”.
- Press “Control + A” to select all. You’ll notice that arrows appear around your project.
- From the menu at the top of Inkscape, go to “Path”, then “Trace Bitmap”. A pop up window will appear and you’ll will want to change the “Brightness cutoff” to .5 or higher. Then, click “Ok”. Close the “Trace Bitmap” box.
- Inkscape just worked it’s magic! It might not look different but you’ve now got two copies of your design. You’ll notice that the black arrows have moved and are now tightly around your design.
- Drag the top copy of the design over to reveal both designs. Delete the one in the back by selecting it and pressing your keyboard delete button. Drag your design back onto the project mat.
- Go to “File”, “Save As” to save your file. Be sure that “Inkscape SVG” is selected, name your file, and click “Save”.
That’s it, you are ready to go with your new SVG!
This was very helpful, thank you!
My pleasure!
This works great, but I lost the color.
Is there a tip for that?
Thanks
I’ve never had that issue, I’m sorry.
Hi,
Is there any way to convert the cutting outlines into .png or .svg files? I’m talking about the parts that the Silhouette Curio actually cuts in addition to the printing parts.
Thanks! 🙂
SVG’s have cut lines in them, just be sure to turn them on in Silhouette Studio.
I tried to do this, and it saved the svg on my computer, but then when I tried to upload it to facebook it said that the file had a virus in it??? Has anyone else had this problem with inkscape or svg files?
I haven’t experienced this.
Instead of printing to pdf try using the snipping tool in windows and save as a jpg or png. Then just open in illustrator or inkscape.
This method works but doesn’t allow you to save with a transparent background.
How does it work if you have a layered image?
Do you not group them together?
Correct, I place the layers next to each other.
Darn. I need to convert my Studio file to SVG so that I can cut in SCAL. When I open the file in Inkscape the arrows show, but not the image of my Studio file. Any ideas what I’m doing wrong?
No, there could be a number of things.
Thankyou so much for this tutorial. So useful. The only problem is that when I copy a card or shape that has dotted fold lines in it, when i eventually open that shape in Brother Canvas, all the fold lines have disappeared. Any ideas please?
I’m sorry, I have no experience with Brother Canvas.
When trying to open the svg file in my silhouette software , i get an error of this file is not supported.
Hello! You’d need Designer Edition or above to open an SVG design.
Thank You so much! This was just what i needed to know!
Awesome!
OMG this is everything!!!!!!!!!!!! i just had a major meltdown because i have been using the silhouette for 3 years and i finally have had enough with it’s terrible cut quality. You have literally saved me hours upon hours of aggrevation! Thank you so much!
Awesome! Happy to know I helped!
Another option would be, to cut the forms with silhouette, to take photo of each form and then to draw them in paint, and to vectorize in inskape, to record them in svg and to pass them to studio3, for later to cut them again.
That sounds like a lot of work, but thanks for sharing!