Silhouette America released version 3 of Silhouette Studio and Silhouette Studio Designer Edition this afternoon and I managed to get it downloaded and installed before the now traditional server crash. The feature list is indeed impressive, headlined by the edition of layers to the Designer Edition (really? this is a DE feature? Even free Cricut software has layers, but I digress.) Users of the Silhouette Connect plug in for Illustrator and Corel Draw will find this new version familiar as it shares a new (but still kinda ugly) interface design and many features as well. But the new features come at a high cost, namely backward compatibility. And stunningly, SA did not create a new file extension so watch for tons of confusion in the days ahead.
This page is being frequently update so please check here and in the comments section for additional information.
Warnings for those who have updated
If you create a file in SS3 and someone with V1 or V2 tries to open it, they will get a message that an update is required before the file can be opened. You can only open V3 files in V3. Please consider marking the files you create in SS3 as such.
Note: At this point I do not anticipate problems with files in the Silhouette Online Store because those are not created in any version of Silhouette Studio.
If you use V3 to open a file that you or someone else created in V1 or V2, there are some significant issues as well:
-*the cut setting will be set to Card Stock, regardless of what it was before
-*there is no more Cut, Cut Edge, Perforate or Perforate Edge or No Cut so any of these you set will need to be re-set using a new method. Some combinations are no longer possible.
-*registration marks will be switched off and any adjustments will be lost.
-*dashed lines that were set under Line Styles will cut as solid lines.
What I really like
Nesting in the DE version – this is brilliant!
Select by color – yes!!
Adjustable pivot point in DE is now off by default, but can be activated when you need it. This is a change I asked for, then had to ask to back it out, so I am very happy about this change.
The arc tool is pretty sweet, but an option to draw a sector would have made it perfect.
SVGs are generally easier to use, especially layered ones. No more ungrouping and setting cut lines, before you can even get started.
Pasting text from the clipboard into a text box (what a novel idea!)
The foggy area outside the page is gone, making it easier to visualize designs off the mat, create tutorials, etc. Not as good as just letting us toggle the red line off, but nice.
Ability to pause between layers.
What they did not fix
*The eraser still freezes just as bad, major fail here. But the good news is at least you won’t lose your work since there is auto-save now.
*You still can not add or change keywords or descriptions of files in the library.
~*You still can not turn off the cutting red line or adjust it for a machine you do not have connected.
~*Goofy defaults like High Pass filter on under trace and offset to a quarter inch are still there.
The manual – that’s right, the same one that’s been outdated since 2012 has made its way into V3.
And of course, you still can not save as SVG (not only that but the v1.9/2.0 workaround has been greatly diminished since v3 files can’t be opened in these versions)
What were they thinking?
*Cut by color is by line color, not by fill color. This is just craziness. The work required to cut a Silh Store file or an SVG (that isn’t pre-layered) either by color or by layer is ridiculously and artificially high as you have to either manually place each piece on a separate layer or change the line color of each piece. Feature fail.
Layers are upside down. That’s right, in the layer window the top layer is on the bottom and vice versa. I wish I had a witty comment, but seriously. I am speechless.
Two freehand drawing tools – too smooth and not smooth enough. Give us something adjustable, please, our Wacoms are waiting!
Shadow tool – as in flat shadows only … the 1980s called, they want their design element back.
*PDF Import – This imports all PDFs as bitmaps that have to be traced, even if they were perfectly good vector files to begin with. Far cry from PDF import in MTC and SCAL.
Page and mat settings became even more confusing and inconvenient… not to mention buggy. Mine gets confused between Portrait and Landscape orientation sometimes (can you blame it, since Portrait is also the name of a machine?)
*Cut margins (the red line) only shows correctly in the Cut Preview, but you can not move the pieces from there. So you have to keep toggling back and forth between views to get your pieces in bounds. Why have the red line in the way on the normal view, if its not correct anyway?
“Vertical text” was added, but umm, its not what is generally meant by vertical text, it’s simply normal text rotated 90 degrees. In other software, “vertical text” means horizontal letters stacked on top of each other.
Major changes to how basic functions have to be done and not one single tutorial to be found from SA (or anyone else since no one had advance copies and authorization apparently).
What ticks me off
SA has once again removed features that we already paid for (or bought a machine with the understanding that these features were in place). Here are things we lost in V3
-*Ability to set individual objects to No Cut, Cut, Cut Edge, Perforate or Perforate Edge (you have to assign them a line color or move them to separate layers first)
-*Ability to share files with users of earlier versions
-Ability to drag a pattern into a shape (already removed from standard in v 2.7, now removed from DE)
-*Ability to set work space larger than cutting area
-*Ability to move and node edit in Cut Preview mode
-*Live Preview of file dragged over mat
-*Cut Preview no longer shows which lines will cut as dashed
-Blade advance arrows. This is a problem for Portrait users who do not have arrow buttons on their machines and so, can not reset the origin or cut multiple test cuts.
-Ability to manually detect registration marks.
-*Ability to mix Cut and Cut Edge, or Perforate and Perforate Edge, in a single document
-*Ability to select a block of text and cycle through font changes to it using the arrow keys
-*Ability to jump down in the font list using the first letter of the font
-*Dashed lines set under Line Styles no longer cut as dashed lines. (Dashed cut lines have to be selected under Cut Settings for each layer/color)
-*Inverted registration marks
-*Tool tips on modify panel (Y’all think I’m an expert, but the truth is I am lost without these)
-*Visibility of printable area
-*Hashmarks to indicate safe zones for print and cut
-Ability to open AI files in Mac version
-Number of color theme choices reduced from 8 to just 3
-*The offset button at the bottom of the screen now only makes 1/4 inch offsets instead of being adjustable as before.
Hopefully some of the above are bugs and not intentional omissions. But if not, please join me in holding SA accountable for this. I mean, what if you bought a car and a week later they came and ripped out your stereo? Update: *Asterisks above indicate items that SA representatives tell me they are aware of and working to fix.
My recommendation
For now I recommend that the newbies give us pros a little time to get ahead of you so we can answer your questions. For the adventurous, update but keep the old version loaded somewhere if you possibly can. You are not going to want to be learning this and adjusting your files on a deadline.
Important note: I am getting a lot of questions about how to rollback to the previous version, how to install multiple versions, how to restore your DE license, etc and I do not have the answers to these kinds of questions. Please check with the relevant forums, Facebook groups, blogs or Silhouette support for this kind of information.
Here are a couple of good videos that show SSV3 in action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vxTNEzOyzI
Wow! Thanks for the thorough review, Kay! Although I am not a newbie (I got the original Sil when it first came out and upgraded to the Cameo as soon as it came out) I am definitely not a pro and not willing to give up some of the features I like. Sally
THank you ever so much for this low down. I am finding my way with the Sil but I still struggle. This info is great!
Thanks Kay
I’ll keep my version and be quite happy.
I’m still getting the lay of the land so to speak so I’m in no hurry
Thanks for honest opinion and I will wait for your videos before
I download the new version.
Ditto that.
Thanks!!!
Thank you kate for this informative and thoughtful critique. I had already decided to wait to upgrade.
Sorry, AutoCorrect Kay!
Thanks for sharing your insights and expertise. I’ll wait to download the new version.
Kay, thank you for doing the “dirty work” for us and figuring out the ins and outs this afternoon so you could share your impressions. I have great respect for you! As I said on FB, I’ll be waiting to upgrade my software until I finish a project I need to get done by the weekend…and possibly until they have their first update to work out the bugs. 😉
Now, as for someone like me who has a slew of free Silhouette files I share with my readers, do you recommend I go in and update those files eventually so they are compatible with the new software? Or just offer a V3 version in addition to the V1/V2? Or is it not worth the hassle and folk can re-set the cut lines and material on their own? (I’m guessing the answer is option C….)
Good question. Maybe wait a bit and see if SA fixes some of the compatibility issues before doing any major overhaul. For now, I just hope folks will mark their V3 files as such.
Thanks Kay, I will wait to download the new versions.
Thanks for the review. What exactly does “ability to set workspace larger than cutting area” mean? I definitely will be waiting to upgrade.
Suzie,
Let me give you an example. If I am designing wall art that is 24 x 48 inches then before I would set my page to that, then when done, separate into cuttable segments. Now I can only set the page to a max of 12 inches wide, so 12 x 48.
Thanks. I will definitely not be updating then as I regularly do large projects. I can’t understand why they would do this, that is awful!!
I downloaded the new version…and have been playing around with it. I am able to set the work space area to whatever I want. I just now set it to 60″x94″….and that is what is showing and I can work on it.
Yes, this was fixed in the update.
Great review Kay and I must agree…while the list looked great there are some definite flaws. While these COULD be just bugs I think we should all let SIL know how we feel. Why wait and see? Specially since eventually EVERYONE will have to upgrade to use new files. Doesn’t need to be rude but they need to know how we feel.
Thanks for the information! I downloaded the upgrade not thinking it would be use a MASSIVE overhaul and now i am trying to figure out the new cut feature…I just got the machine in Dec so hopefully I can pick up on the changes quickly. I am also hoping the tutorials the silhouette blog says they are releasing will answer the basics.
Thank you Kay!! I have been waiting for this allllll day! Glad I waited and havent jumped on the bandwagon yet and glad you are there to test the waters for us!! Great big THANK YOU!
I always can depend on your insights! I’m challenged with computers and rely heavily on your knowledge. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I’ll wait until the bugs have time to be exterminated! lol 🙂
Thank you for your insightful observations. I think I will just wait awhile to download this free update. It seems that more problems were created, by what they removed, or adjusted. Perhaps after hearing all the screaming from paid users, they will do another update, to fix problems you have mentioned.
Nothing I like more than an honest opinion. You certainly have been very honest. Thank you.
Denise
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Hi, I upgraded today and one thing I noticed that you said the upgrade can’t do is group by fill color. I played around with the new features tonight and there is a box you click to either select all by line color or select all by fill color. You just have to choose which one you want to do. 🙂
Deanna,
You can *select* by fill color, but you can not *cut* by fill color. The ability to select by fill color will be helpful for changing each set of line colors, but really, that should not be necessary.
Ah, I see it says cut by color! Sorry about that! 🙂
Kay I appreciate the time you took to let us know the info on the update. All of it sounds confusing to me considering I’m not only new but i don’t play with my silhouette that much. So, I think I’m understanding we have a choice to update or not. After reading this an update is not something I want cause I am still learning the designer edition since i just got it and I had yet to learn the free edition. Please keep us updated as to what they are doing. Thank you so kindly for sharing your knowledge with us
Yikes I downloaded the new version before I got your newsletter.
I hope some of these things get fixed 🙁
OF course I did not save the old version.
Plus the new version took 1 hour and 20 minutes to down load and I have Road Runner. I shudder to guess how long it would take with a dial up –
wow – that was a long time Barbara! In the UK, I downloaded while all you guys in the states would have been in bed – it took about 5 minutes as far as I remember. I never had any problems downloading -however, I wished I’d have waited until I read some of the feedback – but seriously, didn’t even know an update was due, so when I got an email saying it had just been released, I (foolishly?) downloaded it without thinking. I never for one minute realised it would have all of the issues Kay has pointed out! I was trying to get the scan feature to work personally – but with little success. Great feature in principal – doesn’t make the brother scan n cut so unique anymore huh? Although there was always a way round that anyway. 1 hour, 20 mins. I’m stunned!
Paulax
I am in Australia ,I have fast internet not dial up and it took me nearly three hours to download V.3. Contacted my internet provider who told me it was the programme not the server.. I didn’t save the previous version unfortunately ,I was still learning how to use that one as the instruction manual is not very helpful! Sylvan
I hope the people from Silhouette read this. I’m so glad I did.
They need to listen to some people like you who really understand what needs to be done to fix up the software. Why are they taking features away and making things harder????? Thanks for letting us know. I’m already frustrated with the tree structure of the library not showing the child folders.
Thanks again. I am so glad I read this before I saw the upgrade!
Thank you, Kay, for doing the footwork for us! I did download v3 but did not install. I am working on a few deadlines and can’t afford a setback. Perhaps next week, when I have completed my projects, I will take the plunge and test drive v3….maybe! lol
What did you mean by, “Ability to open AI files in Mac version?”
Previous Mac versions of SS could open Adobe Illustrator files. The V3 Mac version can not.
Oh poo! That needs to be fixed —
Thank You, I cant say it enough. This is a pretty huge update that concerns me. You always give good advice, not all blogs are created equal, one must be choosy when following. No doubt, I do READ and learn here.
And I hear the non responsive freezing is NOT resolved, total fail. Ben in support assured me it will be resolved on this update. It really maybe time for this old dog to learn new tricks. Sure cuts alot or Making the cut? That shall be my next research project.
Quick question, you mentioned not being able to drag a pattern into a shape. Does that mean we can’t fill a shape with a pattern any more?
You can still fill a shape with a pattern using the pattern palette, clicking an image in your library or by cropping, but you can no longer drag and drop the pattern from your desktop or a folder into your shape.
Do you mean we can only fill with patterns we bought from the Silhouette store not any others we may have from other sources ? -Barbara
No, I just mean you can not use the drag and drop method.
Thanks Kay! After reading your review, I realize that I’m new enough that I better wait! Thanks so much!
What I’m confused about is do I need to buy the DE upgrade again?
No, just download the update and your DE should show automatically. At worst, you might have to enter your code again.
Snooping around I found one thing that I will like if it works as intended.
Now we should be able to scan an image from our scanners directly into the Silhouette program. That will be nice when making a cut file for a stamped image. I didn’t try doing it , I only read it on the Q&A from Silhouette -Barbara
I wanted to try that and see if it keeps the sizing as it does when you save to jpg but I couldn’t because mine is not a TWAIN scanner 🙁 If it keeps the size then this will save a couple of steps in the process, for sure.
How can I check to see if my scanner ( Canon CanoScan LIDE 70) is a TWAIN scanner?
Thanks Barbara
Good question. Try googling the specs. If you are able to access the scanner from within other programs (PSE, Word, etc.) it is probably using a TWAIN driver.
I am going to wait until you pros work out the bugs. I am still trying to learn all the capabilities of the version I have so new “bugs” are not for me. thanks for the quick recap before I tried to download it and became frustrated.