Jin's Silhouette Studio version 3 Review

Not long after Silhouette Studio® Version 3.0.293 (for the sake of simplicity, I will refer to it as "v3") was released, I began to hear a lot of complaints. It started when folks (myself included) were not able to get the download because there was too much traffic on the Silhouette site. This always seem to happen with every release (or sale) so I wasn't really surprised. I was excited when I finally managed to download v3 and hurried to install it on my brand spanking new laptop. Hubby had installed Silhouette Studio on it and I thought it was a perfect time to test the update.

The installation was quick and at first sight, the new software environment (interface) looked promising. I poked around a little bit and shared some screenshots in my post HERE. In my opinion, the best way to learn and get familiar with the program was to make something with it. It didn't take me long at all to decide to make something simple like the print-and-cut shaped card that I had showed in a previous tutorial.

Instead of a graphic, I chose to use an SVG. The steps to making a shaped card are simple and straightforward but it will utilize many of the tools and features that I use often.

This is a screenshot of version 2.8.16d and it explains how I usually make a shaped card:

This is how I usually set the cutting lines (i.e. BEFORE version 3):

With v2.8.16d, it took me less than 5 minutes to make the card from start to finish but when I attempted to make the same card in version 3, I took at least 20-30 minutes, mostly because I wasted a lot of time trying to make the Offsets, defining the Layers and generally just trying to figure the software out.

The Cut Style window has also been removed from the program in version 3. Instead, I had to either set the cut lines By Layers or By Line Color. I didn't like this at all because it made the task so much more complicated than it should be. I don't see why setting a different Line Color to a shape was considered an improvement. It felt more like a step backwards because it was so much easier to use the Cut Style to set the cutting lines. By the way, instead of setting cut lines by Line Color, I could have set the lines By Layers but the Layers keep getting messed up so I decided not to use them.

Another noticeable change in version 3 is that you can no longer drag-and-drop a pattern into a shape. When I tried to do so, the paper filled up the whole workspace instead of staying inside the shape:

To use a custom pattern like the paper packs from LD, I had to add it to my Library and fill the shape by clicking on the pattern from my Library or from the Fill Pattern window.

One of the reasons why I liked Silhouette Studio was that it was easy to use. Some folks complained of a lack of designing tools but personally, I was happy with what was already there. Sure, it has its flaws and could definitely use some refining- it would be fabulous if the program was able to handle more graphics before crashing. It would be even better if it would shut down properly so that I don't have to open Task Manager to manually shut it down. Having a properly-working Layers feature would be nice too but if I had to choose between the Cut Style window and a Layers feature, I would opt for the former without question.

Silhouette Studio® Version 3.0.293 comes with a few new features but I am really disappointed that some of its best tools are now gone and some others are not working properly (e.g. Offset). Sadly, Silhouette Studio® Version 3.0.293 is a fail in my book and I will not be using it for my projects until Silhouette America fixes the bugs or reinstate the Cut Style feature.

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While I was making my card in version 3, I posted screenshots of my work process on my Facebook page. The caption that precedes each picture documents my thoughts and the issues that I faced while using version 3. You can find the actual Facebook posts HERE. Just click on the left arrow key on your keyboard to scroll through the screenshots.

(Please click on the screenshots for an enlarged view.)

START:

1.

"After playing with v3 last night, I closed my laptop without saving my file. This morning I opened my laptop again to continue my v3 tests only to see that the program has crashed. I restarted it and was pleasantly surprised to find that the Auto-Save had kicked in and my file was easily recovered. Thumbs up to v3 for that. "

2.

"Yes! Figured out how to add a pattern to my library in v3!"

3.

"v3's Layers is a mess! By default, all the different parts of an image are put together and defined as a single layer. I had to manually place each part on their own layer. Also, the layers are reversed. I had to put the base on top and the topmost shape on the lowest level/layer for the image to look right. There are some obvious bugs in this feature but if fixed, this could be great. Sadly, until a fix is in place, I have to give a thumbs down for v3's Layers feature. :( "

4.

"It's not looking good for v3. :( I just had the hardest time trying to make an offset. The offset distance starts at 0.25" and no matter what numbers I input in the distance box, the resulting offset is 0.25" (yes, I did hit the Apply button each time). The slider works better but the smallest offset I can get from it is 0.122". After A LOT of tinkering, I finally managed to get my 0.085" offset and a 0.125" offset of that offset by using the slider and adjusting the distance by clicking on the up/down arrows next to the distance box. The Offset Tool is definitely buggy and a huge thumbs down. :( "

5.
"{testing version3} Okay, we're almost there. Now let's cut this hedgie out!"

6.

"So before v3, selecting multiple shapes was quick and easy. We just had drag the cursor to touch any part of the shapes. With v3, you have to drag the cursor to enclose all the shapes within a bounding box before they will be selected. So for example, when I tried to select the two offsets of the hedgie, I had to drag my cursor so that the bounding box encloses the entire thing. It's the same way as you would select multiple shapes in MTC. Not sure if I like this change yet. (Btw, holding down the SHIFT key to select multiple shapes still works the same way)."

7.

"Look! I found a tiny Test Cut button (and accidentally clicked on it. Oops! lol. )"

8.

"The accidental Test Cut looks terrible! I wonder what Thickness setting was used. (Edit to add: This was Georgia Pacific cardstock that I use often.)"

9.

"I spent all that time arranging and renaming my Layers but then I did some offsets and welding to make this shaped card. Now my Layers are all messed up again. Thumbs down to v3 for time wasted.  :( "

10.

"I found something promising! Cut Line Patterns! We may be able to cut perforated lines after all. Also, I think my terrible Test Cut was the result of the default cut settings: Cardstock, Blade 4, Speed 3, Thickness 33. No wonder the cut looked so bad!"

11.

"Previously in v2, when you click on the Send To Silhouette button, if you have reg marks turned on, the program will ask if it should send it to print first. Now with v3, it just starts cutting as soon as you click on the START button located inside the Send to Silhouette window. In the screenshot, the registration failed because there was no paper or mat loaded into the machine. I was expecting the send-to-print prompt to show up but it didn't."

12.

"Here goes nothing!"

13.

"Whoa. Be warned that in version 3, once you click on the Start button in the Send-to-Silhouette window, the cutter will start scanning for reg marks and automatically continue on to cut the image(s). Unlike v2 and v1, you must adjust the cut settings BEFORE clicking Start."

14.

"Ta-da!!!"

15.

"There! It's done. I usually only pnc the card base and cut/layer/paper-piece the main image but for the sake of testing v3, I decided to pnc the hedgie too. Thanks for watching my v3 tests and I'm sorry for clogging up your newsfeed. If you missed any of the screenshots that I posted while I worked in SSDE version 3 to make this card, you can look back at the photos on this FB page or you can check my blog later. I will share my review and put up all the screenshots over there with it. "