Silhouette & Mac Tutorial

it's a beautiful combination because I love my Mac.
But for now, it's a little different than a PC use with the Silhouette.

I promised some help to you fellow Mac lovers. So, here we go:
**NOTE: For now, in order to use your Silhouette with a Mac, you have to use it with a plug-in through Adobe Illustrator.

1. Get your Silhouette hooked up.
a. take the tape off of the inside, on outside, etc.
b. put the tip on the blade (see instruction guide on that.)
c. plug in the USB connection.
d. install this link for the Adobe Illustrator free plug in. It's called CM2 Craft Robo V1. 1.6_Mac.

2. Get your paper ready. (vellum, cardstock, vinyl, etc.)
a. take the middle protector page off the middle of the cutting mat so the tacky part is showing.
b. stick your paper on the left side corner guidelines. make sure there are no bubbles, etc.

3. Put in machine.
a. Push power button. It'll say: load w/ carrier
b. line it up on the left guidelines & hit ENTER. it will feed it in.

4. Open up Illustrator to cut out fonts or dingbats.
a. Open up a new file by going to: FILE>NEW & select an 8x5 x 11 canvas.

b. Select your Type Tool. ('T') And type in your dingbat image or letters. You can adjust the size by just changing the Point Size.

Here, I've used a 300 pt. House of 3 Dingbat font. If you aren't familiar with Dingbat fonts, it's super easy. Each letter is associated with an image rather than a letter.

So, with our House of 3 Dingbat font, The bird is 'a', flourish is 'f', swirl is 'h', flower is 'i' & fabulous is 'T'.
The great thing about this is: you just type in each letter & move it around to make it so your 8.5x11 canvas has these fab designs to cut. (this is quick. but you can even go in & do smaller ones to fill up all the space so you don't waste any paper, vinyl, etc.)

c. Go to: FILE>CUTTING MASTER 2> CUT/PLOT

This window will pop up & you'll see the design.
This is where you will select the General settings. See the Job Size? This is where you control the size...you can adjust the arrows up & down & see the preview in the image.

Also, note the 'Position'. The is where you can actually position the images on the cutting space. Love this!

d. Now, for adjusting the paper & cutting. Go to Layering.

You'll notice this is where you can select the medium you are cutting on. This will take some getting used to...finding what setting is best for what medium. Trust me..I've gone through a lot of paper, so just experiment & have fun!

One tip Kerri gave us: She always selects 2 passes. This means it cuts twice & it works like a dream!

e. hit SEND. & it will cut it.

so....hope this helps all my Mac friends! For now, the Online store can't be accessed through our lovely Macs, either...but with all of the FAB House of 3 art in the Dingbat fonts...you've got a TON of images to work with!

If you have Illo, and Silhouette, and Mac & are still frustrated...I'm here to help. We Mac*ies gotta stick togethah. *wink*

I had TONS of people ask me at CHA if I really use it & love it THAT much....the answer is YES.
I do.
I don't talk about products I don't use & love myself. end of story.
I believe in this product. I use it. I create with it.
I love it!

Let's get creating...show me the fab stuff you have done with it...are doing with it & want to do with it! let's share...

& speaking of sharing...be watching our blogs in the House this week...we are gearing up for Valentines AND, as we mentioned in the Live Webshow last night....Feb. 1st marks our 1 Year Birthday...you can only imagine that we will be throwing a PARTAY!
woohoo!