what is the best type of file to import into silhouette

Ever wonder what all those lilliputian letters at the terminate of a filename mean? Or which file types can be used in Silhouette Studio? Whether information technology's a blueprint format, a font, an epitome file, or an embroidery file, your software level and version determine whether or non yous'll be able open a file in Studio, every bit well equally what tin exist washed once (or IF) the file is imported.

Design Formats: Studio3, GSD, GST, DXF, SVG

Users of the free version of Silhouette Studio (Basic Edition) and above tin open designs saved in Studio 3, GSD, GST, or DXF file formats. Each format includes cut lines and will non need to be traced (although the cut lines may need to exist activated in Studio by selecting "Cut" or "Cut Edge" in the Send panel).

Studio/Studio 3 – the native file format for designs created in Silhouette Studio. This is also the file format for all designs in the Silhouette Blueprint Shop.

GSD/GST – formats used for files created in ROBO Principal software; used with the older model Silhouette SD.

DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) – format designed for use with AutoCAD (Calculator Assisted Drafting) software.

I of the biggest benefits from upgrading your Silhouette Studio software is the ability to import SVG files. In Designer Edition and above, SVG files can be opened and cutting without whatsoever additional tracing. By default, most SVGs import with the cut lines turned off. The cut lines can be activated in the Send console.

SVG (Scaleable Vector Graphic) – file format used among a diversity of digital cutting machines. SVGs tin be increased in size without losing quality. This file format is widely found in designs bachelor for purchase from contained designers, the Silhouette Pattern Store, and free downloads.

Fonts: TTF vs. OTF

When downloading a font, you will often see two choices: TTF and OTF. Both are supported by all levels of Silhouette Studio, then how do you lot know which one to choose?

TTF (True Blazon Font) – the Truthful Blazon font standard was developed in the late 1980s as a joint venture between Apple tree and Microsoft and is nevertheless very popular today. Virtually calculator organisation fonts are True Type fonts, besides as many fonts available for buy or gratuitous download. True Type fonts work on both Mac and Windows operating systems and are compatible with all printers.

OTF (Open Type Font) – Open Type fonts work on both Mac and Windows operating systems and are uniform with all printers, simply like True Type fonts. However, with an Open Type font you have access to a larger grapheme set, including special characters known as "glyphs". For this reason, I recommend you lot choose the Open Type whenever possible. Silhouette Studio, Version four.1, Designer Edition and to a higher place, makes information technology very piece of cake to use these special characters. Hither's only one method:

1. Click on the Text tool (left side of your screen) and click on the design page to insert a text cursor.

2. Open the Text Style console (7th icon downwards in the column on the right of your screen).
3. Click on the second tab to open the Glyphs console.
4. Type the name of the font yous wish to view (or employ the ringlet bar). The instance shown is the Valentijn Romantic Font, bachelor from The Hungry JPEG.

5. All the characters included in the font will be displayed in the console. In lodge to view one more closely, simply hover over it. The size of the display can be increased/decreased using the slider bar at the lesser of the console.
6. To insert a special graphic symbol onto your design folio, merely click on the image in the console and the character volition appear on the virtual mat in the same location where you placed the cursor.

Image Files: JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIF, SVG, PDF, Ai, EPS, CDR

Epitome files can be used to create cut files in Silhouette Studio and are broken down into 2 categories – raster images and vector images. Both types can be imported into Silhouette Studio, depending on which level of software you ain. The main difference is how each image type behaves when resized, which affects both print quality and their use in Silhouette Studio.

Raster images are made up of many tiny footling squares (called pixels), each a different color.  The resulting image is measured in either dpi (dots per inch) or ppi (pixels per inch). The higher the number of dots/pixels per inch, the better the resolution of the paradigm.  As you increase the size of a raster epitome, information technology becomes blurry and the edges go jagged and rough. Raster images do non include cutting lines. In gild to create a cut file, the image must be traced. These image types,  all of which are raster images, can be imported into whatsoever level of Silhouette Studio:

JPG (JPEG) – a common graphic file format used by digital cameras, standardized by the J oint P hotographic Eastward xperts G roup in 1992.

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) – when y'all hear the word "GIF" (pronounced JIF, like the peanut butter), you probably call back of blithe images often sent via text or instant message, but the original GIF file format referred only to static images. It was introduced in 1987 equally a way of reducing file size without a loss of quality. This format is best for simple graphics with express colors and is oftentimes used for images displayed on the web.

PNG (Portable Networks Graphic) – the "ping" file format was introduced in 1996 as an improvement over GIFs. The biggest advantage of PNG files is their transparency. Almost PNG files consist of an paradigm placed on a transparent background, meaning that multiple images can be combined into i larger design. If you find that your PNG is NOT on a transparent background, the background tin can easily be removed by using the "Trace and Detach" function in Silhouette Studio.

BMP (Bitmap) – a commonly used format for saving image files. Because of their larger file size, bitmaps are most oftentimes used for printable images rather than web display.

TIF/TIFF (Tagged Epitome File Format) – this file format is used mostly in the printing and publishing area. The main purpose of a TIFF file is to maintain image quality, resulting in a larger file size.

Vector images are created from a combination of lines, curves, and points, rather than individual pixels. They can be resized without any loss of quality and exercise not demand to be traced in guild to cut. Designer Edition and above allows for the import of vector images in SVG and PDF format.

SVG (Scaleable Vector Graphic) – (see Pattern Formats above)

PDF (Portable Document Format) – PDFs are actually a combination of formatted text, raster images, and vector images. The advantage of a PDF is that it will look the aforementioned no matter what plan (Microsoft Word, Silhouette Studio, Adobe Acrobat, etc) is used to open it. When opening a PDF in Studio, you take the choice to import as grouped or ungrouped vector (cut lines included) or as an image (no cut lines). Resolution size can also be specified when importing a PDF every bit an image, by choosing an pick ranging from 72dpi to 1200dpi from the dropdown menu.

Business Edition expands the utilize of vector-based images even further to include file formats associate with other drawing programs:

• Ai, EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) – Adobe Illustrator
• CDR – CorelDRAW

In add-on to importing the various file types, users of Concern Edition tin can also consign files as SVGs, PDFs, or JPEGs in Version iv.1 and higher.

Embroidery Files: PES, DST, EXP, JEF, 30

Designer Edition Plus and above gives you the ability to import embroidery designs into Studio. The placement lines included in a blueprint can exist used to cut fabric for machine applique or portions of the design tin can be converted into sketch files. The following file types, used for both abode embroidery and commercial machines, can be used in Studio:

• Pes  – Babylock, Brother, Deco, Bernina domicile embroidery machines
• DST – Tajima
• EXP – Melco, Bravo, high-end Bernina
• JEF – Janome, Elna, Kenmore
• XXX – Vocalist, Compucon

If your embroidery machine uses a different format than one listed in a higher place, the file can be converted to an accepted format using an online conversion tool or embroidery software such equally Embrilliance.

I hope yous've found this information helpful and that you at present take a better understanding of the different file types that are compatible with Silhouette Studio. Is in that location anything you're however struggling with? Exit a comment below or message me on Facebook and I'll try to help!

Until side by side fourth dimension,

This mail service may incorporate affiliate ad. This means that if yous click on a link in the postal service, I may make a commission based on your purchase. The price y'all pay for the product or service is not higher, and the commissions I earn help proceed Caught by Design online. Thanks for your back up!

Lycia is a lifelong crafter whose goal is to assistance others find value, conviction, and joy in whatever they create.  She geeks out on using applied science to supercharge craft projects with Silhouette Studio, Pattern Space, Glowforge, sublimation, etc.! Lycia teaches these skills and more than through online tutorials and videos as well every bit in-person classes at both the local and national levels.

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Source: https://caughtbydesign.com/2019/01/24/silhouette-studio-file-type-extensions/

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