Frequently Asked Questions

Print & Cut projects are slightly more advanced jobs. If you are new to the Silhouette system, we recommend practicing with simple designs and inexpensive materials while learning how to perform Print & Cut jobs.

To perform a Print & Cut job, please perform the following steps:
⚠ IMPORTANT: Please follow these steps in the exact order listed in order to properly set up your job.

1. Click on the New File icon to start a new job
2. As you open a new file, the Page Setup panel will be opened on the right-hand side of your screen. Under the Design Area Setup options in this panel, select the following:
   • Adjust your Media Size to match your actual printed paper size. In most cases this will be 8.5" x 11".
   • Select the mat size in use. A cutting mat is recommended for a successful print and cut project, regardless of material type.
   • Check the boxes next to Show Print Border and Show Cut Border.
     NOTE: This will help you to see where you are able to place printed information (inside the grey border) and cut information (inside the red border). They borders are usually slightly different.
3. In the Page Setup panel, click on the Registration Marks icon. This is the third icon listed at the top of the panel.
4. Select to turn Registration Marks "On"
   NOTE: You should now see a series of Registration marks in the corners of your workspace. These marks will be printed as you send your job to the printer and will allow the Silhouette cutting machine to scan and find these marks so it knows where your cut lines should be cut around the printed image accordingly.
5. Click on the Restore Defaults option
   NOTE: While the registration marks can be adjusted and may work well for certain jobs, we recommend using the defaults if this is your first job in order to ensure results.
6. Place your Print & Cut design onto your workspace and size it as desired
   ⚠ IMPORTANT: Ensure your design is not overlapping the registration marks, hash mark areas, cut border, or print border.
7. Once ready, click on the Print icon to send your job to your printer
8. After your page is printed, load the printed page onto your cutting mat and proceed to load the cutting mat into the Silhouette cutting machine
9. Go to the SEND panel
10. Select your material settings
11. Proceed to click on the Send option when ready
    NOTE: The program will walk you through the process as it works to detect the registration marks
12. After finding all Registration Marks, the machine will proceed to cut

Click here for an an alternate written walk-through with images.

​The maximum sizing of the possible print area is defined by your printer. The Silhouette Studio program will technically allow you to define your media size and place registration marks on larger page sizes according to your printer's size restrictions.

The maximum cutting size is defined by your Silhouette cutting machine model.

If you have a Portrait model, then the maximum Print & Cut media size would be 8.5 x 11 inches.

If you have a Cameo (12") model, then the maximum Print & Cut material size would be 12 x 12 inches. Larger Cameo models can technically allow larger material sizes, but we recommend a maximum material size of 12 x 12 inches and to use a cutting mat in order to ensure proper Print & Cut registration alignment.

If you have a Curio model, then the maximum Print & Cut material size would depend on your machine base size. If using the default base included with the machine, then the maximum Print & Cut material size would be 8.5 x 6 inches. If using the large base (sold separately), then the maximum Print & Cut material size would be 8.5 x 11 inches.