Can't use my Vinyl Cutter with Affinity

[pontiac1960]

Hello, I use affinity designer. I also have a vinyl cutter. Silhouette Cameo 3.
How can I create a file that the cutter also recognizes?
I did not make it.
Silhouette Software does not recognize anything.
Is there a trick? Can I cut directly from Affinity? or in which format do I have to convert the file to be able to cut? Thanks in advance.

Sorry for my poor English

Hope u understand my Problem
Greetings Christine

[Sara72]

Hi Christine,

No, not possible to cut straight from the program, you’ll need to export from Affinity Designer as an SVG for the Silhouette program to recognise it and I believe only the Designer version lets you import the SVG format, if your images are png they will need to be converted to vector first or bring the images straight into the Silhouette software and trace them.

[pontiac1960]

Hi and Thanks.

Cant import anything. SVG,PDF, nothing . only jpg .......

I create a simple Vector Image in AFD and can't cut it :-(

[MickRose]

The cutter software seems to have very limited import options unless you have the business version.

[Sara72]

What version of the Silhouette software do you have? As I mentioned if it’s not the designer version or business it won’t allow the import of the SVG and it needs to be an SVG for the cutter to regonise the design to cut, if you do have the designer version it should just be simple process of dragging and dropping the SVG into the work space.

[Dan C]

Hi pontiac1960

Unfortunately Affinity can't currently export directly to the DXF format that most cutters use, but it's something we may add in the future.

For the time being, you can export as SVG (or any other vector format) then use conversion software to convert the file to the DXF format. The other option is to use a rasterised image and the auto trace function mentioned in @MickRose's response, but in silhouette's own words this is not a guaranteed method.

[pontiac1960]

My Version is Silhouette Studio 4.1.479ss

I think it isn't the Designer Version 

[Sara72]

As also mentioned you can always utilise the trace feature in the program if you only have a png image to work with and don’t have the designer software, I bought the designer version myself as I was using Serif’s old CraftArtist2 program to use with my Silhouette.

[MickRose]

If you are just cutting (not print & cutting) you could probably buy cutting software that will connect to the cutter and then you would import eps or pdf or whatever vector you were to export from Designer. But even the cheapest isn't that cheap.

[Gnobelix]

To convert from SVG to DXF , I would try the free program Inkscape

would be worth a try,

Cheers

[pontiac1960]

Thanks a lot , I can't find Auto Tracer on silhouette Studio.... I will look for the Designer Version. 

Think it is the best option for me , because want to cut often sticker.

I don't like the Silhouette Software hope the designer Edition is better!

Thanks a lot 

[romeno]

Interesting topic. I too have an old Graphtec craft robo vinyl cutter and it work with affinity designer and publisher just fine.  It annoys me a bit that driver for windows 10 is not the best and windows sometimes doesn't detect the cutter. Well it is a 9 years old and it need a replacement.

So I have a question for all Silhouette cutter user. Can you cut with an affinity software? Does the software offer silhouette cameo as an option to print? If it does the probably can be used. with the affinity software just need to be tweaked a bit

[dutchshader]

@romeno

I use the cameo silhoutte to cut designs made with designer, but i can not print directly from designer.

I export the design as svg (at 72 dpi and "set viewbox" unchecked) and import in the silhoutte software this works ok.

[romeno]

What was the problem?

Can you print screen me the options Setup for silhouette cameo in affinity designer?

 

I have a lot of labels created in Affinity designer and i cut in designer using  old craft robo.

[dutchshader]

Afaik there is no cut plug-in for designer, only illustrator an coreldraw.

[romeno]

So you are saying that you can't select a silhouette cameo as a printer in affinity designer?

[dutchshader]

That's right, for direct cutting you would need to buy the connect pluging from cameo, and this plugin does not support designer.

[romeno]

Oh crap. Is there any other vinyl cutter in similar price range that works with affinity designer? I won't switch to illustrator.

[Fixx]

There seems to be a difference if cutter works only with plugin export (which does not work in Designer) or with simple printer driver (which may work with Designer).

[walt.farrell]

On 12/6/2019 at 7:55 AM, romeno said:

Oh crap. Is there any other vinyl cutter in similar price range that works with affinity designer? I won't switch to illustrator.

Note that dutchshader did not say they couldn't work with the cutter; just that they can't print directly to it. Export to SVG and then import the SVG into the Silhouette software.

[firstdefence]

Silhouette Studio Basic (Free) cannot import SVG/PDF: Silhouette Studio Comparison Chart You have to buy Silhouette Designer or greater to get the SVG/PDF import privilege.