The Silhouette SD Review (part 2): Print-and-Cut

The one thing that I noticed when I was researching the Silhouette SD was the large number of reviews that mentioned how well it can do Print-and-Cut through the Silhouette Studio software. I was intrigued. Amongst the three cutters that I bought to review, the Silhouette SD is the cheapest ($189 at Overstock.com, and $199 on Amazon.com) but it also has the most positive reviews for Print-and-Cut. That was a major factor that made me decide to buy this cutter.

Even before the machine was delivered, I knew that the first thing that I will have to cut it is a print-and-cut piece. Once taken out of the box, I hooked up all the necessary cables, popped in the Silhouette Studio CD into the CD drive of my laptop and followed the instructions to install the program and register the machine.

That part was easy.

As soon as the program launched and the virtual mat appeared before me, I realized that I missed MTC. :-( All the icons looked so unfamiliar! I took a moment to shake that thought off and forged forward.

Silhouette Studio

  

(Note that the machine can only cut to a width of 8", which means that if you need to cut wider widths, this machine might not be for you.)

I clicked on a few buttons to figure out what they were for and most of the tools were pretty easy to figure out. There are a few tools that I was particularly excited about including a Line tool which I can use to cut a line which at this time, MTC is still unable to do (it cuts a skinny rectangle instead of a line).

After a few minutes of mindless clicking, I headed to youtube and found this video tutorial on print-and-cut. It was very helpful but I found that it had left out some useful tips which would have helped a newbie like me even more.

So here is my video tutorial for the new Silhouette Studio user. Let me show you how I did my print-and-cut with the Silhouette SD:

The doll image that I used is from Lettering Delights' Let's Play graphic set. I printed it on Georgia-Pacific white cardstock (110lb, 150 sheets, available at Walmart for $6.xx) and cut at 3.5" using the YELLOW blade cap. I couldn't have been more impressed with how precised the cut was.

Next, I cut a second doll a half-inch shorter at 3" tall.

I decided to go one step further, I got the machine to cut the inside smaller pieces for layering.

Look at the eyes! They are miniscule! And ROUND! Like circles are supposed to be. ;)

Print and cut with the Silhouette Studio was so straightforward I almost cried at the simplicity of it. I did not spend $500 dollars for a machine that takes up a lot of room and limits what I print to what is available on cartridges. I did not have to do a trial and error placement of paper and no funky adjustments of anything or whatsoever.. This was a FIRST cut on my FIRST try. Print-and Cut with this machine was so easy I felt ridiculous. 

Here is the finished card that I made by printing and cutting through the Silhouette Studio software. The graphics are from Lettering Delights' Let's Play graphic set, the background papers are from the Let's Play Background Paper Pack, and the font used is SNF Playground.

This may only be the first card that I've made with this cutter but I already know that this one's a keeper. I love the compact size and the light-weight. I love how little room it takes compared to the Cricut Expression. I love that there are very few buttons and no cartridges or overlays and most of all I love how it prints and cut. Unless the Gazelle, or the Lynx can do a better print-and-cut job, at this point I'm pretty sure this baby is staying.

(Note that the machine can only cut to a width of 8", which means that if you need to cut wider widths, this machine might not be for you.)

I am still testing the cuts made by this machine and tomorrow I will show you some non-print-and-cut cutouts made by the Silhouette SD.