Comments on: Single Stroke Paths for Sketch Pens Using Illustrator

By: Kristy gd

Mon, 14 Apr 2014 21:08:50 +0000

If you do your drawing in Illustrator and save it as an .svg, the designer edition of Studio will be able to use it. Depending on how you do your drawing, you may not even need to live trace it. You just need to have the stroke information, since Live Trace is just converting a bitmap image to a stroke path.

There’s also the Connect plugin that Silhouette makes, which allows you to control your machine straight from illustrator. (CS4 and above)

If you don’t want to purchase another piece of software from Silhouette, I think that the regular edition of Studio will accept .dxf imports

As for version of Illustrator, I have CS5. Since the connect plugin is compatible with CS4 and above, I imagine it would have the features you want it to have, but definitely double check before you buy. The newest versions of the software (Illustrator CC – Creative Cloud) is cloud based and requires a monthly payment. I don’t really care for that, so personally I would suggest getting CS5 or CS6 from a retailer who still carries it.

And what a cool idea to transfer your drawings onto fabric to do hand embroidery!! I’d love to see one of your projects when it’s done!

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By: Lynda

Sat, 12 Apr 2014 22:23:28 +0000

This was great. I have an older version of Illustrator and think I need to upgrade. Since I do all my drawing in illustrator can I live trace an ai file then use it in the Silhoutte?
I have tried everything to get rid of the double lines and this post was the best.
I wouldl like to be able to take my designs that i do in ai and convert it so i can use the sketch pens on fabric to hand embroider the design.
Any input would help as far as what version I need to purchase.
Thank you

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By: Dawn Marie

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 21:33:25 +0000

uhh…never mind.
It shows up when I ‘save’ but not when I ‘export’

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By: Dawn Marie

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 20:40:22 +0000

SVG wasn’t even an option for me….

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By: Dawn Marie

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 20:39:19 +0000

Thanks for this Kristy! I used it for a picture instead of a font and it worked great!
Much quicker than me trying to figure it out on my own

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By: Kristy gd

Mon, 17 Feb 2014 23:52:46 +0000

That’s a great question Laura! For some reason, when I was writing this tutorial I couldn’t get the .svg to work. I have no idea why. Since then, I’ve been able to. Maybe I was just having a bad day? It’s my understanding that you can import .dxf into regular Studio as well, if you don’t happen to have Designer Studio. (Though I haven’t checked that).

I also had problems if I didn’t ungroup originally, but am no longer having those problems. There was a recent update to Studio that *might* be what fixed that problem, but I don’t remember when that happened.

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By: Laura @ The Experimental Home

Mon, 17 Feb 2014 23:45:59 +0000

You are a wealth of information, my dear. I am a illustrator-lover, and as you know, a silhouette newbie. Here is my question… why a .dxf file not a .svg file? Just curious.

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By: Kristy gd

Sun, 02 Feb 2014 16:22:09 +0000

The double line trace was one of the most annoying things for me. I’m so glad I was tenacious and fought to figure out a way around it. Sadly, it looks like I was wrong and Inkscape doesn’t offer a center line trace option (though may people have asked for it!); however, I’ve found a few other freeware tricks that will help. I’m so glad we’re friends too!

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By: Kristy gd

Sun, 02 Feb 2014 16:20:36 +0000

Thanks Karen! I’m honored that my tutorials make it into your folder. I actually use a PC, maybe I should state that above! Sometimes the location of the buttons is slightly different, but usually the logic is the same.

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By: Dee

Sun, 02 Feb 2014 14:47:06 +0000

I find that I don’t use my sketch pens nearly as much as I would like because of that double line feature. This tutorial is awesome and makes me want to get illustrator (or at least Inkscape). Nice job!! I’m so glad we are friends

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