I have a great tutorial for you today, showing you how to trace graphics in the Silhouette Studio. After you convert the image, cut it out of vinyl for a variety of uses.
I love using images from The Graphics Fairy. Did you see my printing on fabric post? I recently saw a project from my friend Katy, where she cut out a great image from The Graphics Fairy, so I wanted to give it a try.
How to trace an image in the Silhouette program:
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- Download the image to your computer
- Upload the image into the Silhouette program
- Add the image to a new project
- Click the trace icon in the tool bar ((the small blue butterfly)
- Select the trace area (it will turn blue, with yellow outlines)
- Click trace, voila! your new image will be done.
- Move the black image to reveal the red (new) Silhouette image
- Delete the original (black) image from your project
- Save the new (red) image to your library for future use
Tip: When you have a lot of words/images, draw boxes around your items to make weeding the vinyl easier.
I cut my image out of Premium Vinyl.
Because this image was detailed, it took quite a while to weed all the bits and pieces. After weeding some of the small stuff, I removed all of the larger brown pieces, leaving just the items that I wanted to transfer.
After weeding, I applied transfer paper that allowed me to move the vinyl onto a cupboard door.
Tip: use a hem guide to align your image, it’s the easiest way to get it even on all sides.
This cupboard door was unfinished before I painted it with a nice neutral color.
I remove the transfer paper by laying it flat and pulling it, not by pulling it upwards.
You may notice that some of the little pieces in the flourishes didn’t transfer, I removed them from both sides so they would match. I Love the way the brown vinyl looks on this creamy colored paint.
I love The Graphics Fairy images, and knowing that they can be traced in the Silhouette Studio can lead to lots of possibilities! For now, this is a wall hanging. I could easily change it into a tray by adding some handles and little feet.
Silhouette is having a great sale, head on over to check it out and enter to win your very own Portrait through December 29, 2013.
Have you used the trace function? If you have any tips for us, please leave them below in a comment.
gail
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! I’ve been struggling with this for 3 days. This helped me soooo much!
I know this may be a dumb question, but when you say “download the image to your computer”, do you mean save it as a pdf or jpeg or….?
Not a dumb question at all Marcie. Yes, you will need to click on the largest picture on the Graphics Fairy Site to get the best resolution. If you’re on the search page, be sure to open up the post so the picture is large, then you may even want to click again to open it in a new window, very large. Right click, save as. I save mine as a jpg– the trick for me is remembering WHERE I save these things! lol
have fun!
gail
Thanks for this great tutorial Gail. It’s a keeper and I’m definitely going to have to try this.
Gail – this is great! I love the graphics fairy too and have abrand new Silhouette waiting for me to figure out how to use it. Thank you for the tutorial. Pinned.
Adina @ Simply Country Life.
I am soooo regretting not taking advantage of the Black Friday Silohette deal! Great tips. Thank you!
So many things that you can do with a cameo.
Very cool! 🙂 I will have to try this sometime!
Very cool! 🙂
Wow, that works awesome! Can you believe I have never used transfer paper? I always peel each item off and place it…stupid me! Now I am going to stock up on transfer paper, that makes it so much easier and faster. Love the cupboard Gail, the brown is amazing on it.
Fantastic tutorial. Love your cabinet graphic project! I like the idea of turning it into a tray. Happy Holidays!
That is so cool. I did not know you could do that. Just another reason to retire my cricut and get a silhouette! Thank Gail fro sharing! 😉
I really need to get one of these machines–
Catherine
Thanks for the tutorial. Now if you can whisper to the giveaway fairies to look kindly on me…
I’ve been converting the images in my Sure Cuts a Lot program and cutting it in vinyl for years. I LOVE it.
However, I don’t apply the design all in one piece, since for me, there’s too much room for error.
I have a blog post on how to apply it by cutting it in sections. On the post, I’m using my own lettering designs, but you get the same idea. I find it to be a LOT easier and much less stressful!
thisandthatfromtami.blogspot.com/2011/10/subway-art-how-to.html
Fondly, Tami
Thanks for sharing your tips Tami! I really appreciate it.
gail
Oh my gosh! I never thought to trace the Graphic Fairy designs using the Silhouette software!! That is genius! I love her designs but I’m not patient enough to trace them, then paint them by hand as I’ve seen others do. Thank you, Gail!!
My tip for using the trace function:
After you’ve clicked the blue butterfly trace button you will see a box on the right side with options: High Pass Filter, Low Pass Filter, Threshold and Scale. I find that detailed images, especially words, come out cleaner if I unclick the button on High Pass Filter, which is always automatically selected. Play around with these options to get the trace version you prefer.
Ohhh, forgot about that function Angie. Thank you!
gail
Thank you for that Gail! I don’t really know how to use it and your tutorial is amazing! Have a very Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your family!
Susan
This is VERY cool…I need to use my Cameo more! I don’t use it to it’s full potential! I love the Graphics Fairy images, they would be perfect to use for the “trace” feature! Thanks for sharing the tutorial!
Thanks for the shout out!
Your sign turned out beautiful I haven’t seen that graphic, but I really like it. ! think I may have to challenge you to a Silhouette duel!