convert picture to svg silhouette studio

How to Convert a Picture to an SVG Silhouette Studio

If you're looking for ways to use SVGs without upgrading your Silhouette Studio software, you've come to the right place. In this tutorial, we'll show you how to convert a picture into an SVG file that can be used in Silhouette Studio.

First things first, make sure you have the upgraded DE version of Silhouette Studio installed on your computer. Unfortunately, without the upgraded version, you won't be able to import SVG files directly into your software.

To get started, open your design in Silhouette Studio and go to 'File' > 'Save As'. Name your file and select 'Inkscape SVG' as the file type. Once you've done that, click 'Save'.

Next, drag your design back onto the project mat and delete the original design by selecting it and pressing the delete button on your keyboard.

Now, you'll need to use a free software called Inkscape to convert your picture into an SVG file. If you don't have Inkscape installed on your computer, download and install it now.

Once you've opened Inkscape, go to 'Path' > 'Trace Bitmap' from the menu at the top of the screen. You'll notice that arrows appear around your project.

Next, choose 'png input' as the file type and select 'Embed'. Then, click 'OK' to continue.

Now, it's time to use a PDF printer to virtually print your design onto your computer. This will allow you to convert your picture into an SVG file.

To do this, go to 'File' > 'Print' and select a PDF printer from the list of available printers. Then, click 'Print' to continue.

Once the printing process is complete, open up your PDF file in Inkscape and color your lines black. Make sure that the 'Print Lines of Selected Shapes' option is unchecked as shown below:

If you don't turn off the grid on your virtual mat, it may show up in your design. To fix this, simply go to 'View' > 'Grid' and uncheck the box next to 'Show Grid'.

Finally, group all pieces of your image together by selecting them all and right-clicking on one of them. Then, select 'Group' from the menu.

And that's it! You've now successfully converted a picture into an SVG file using Silhouette Studio and Inkscape. This process works best when you have a high-contrast image (black) and a solid background (white).

With this technique, you can open up your SVG files in any vector program, including Silhouette Studio Designer Edition or Cricut Design Space.

So, what is an SVG file? An SVG, or scalable vector graphic, is a type of file format that allows images to be resized without losing quality. In other words, an SVG file will never become grainy or blurry when you resize it.

Today, we've wrapped up our discussion on designing with a quick tutorial on saving as an SVG from Silhouette Studio. If you're interested in learning more about designing with text and creating your own designs, check out my previous posts.

Additionally, if you're working in Silhouette Studio and want to save as an SVG without using Inkscape, you can do so by upgrading to the Business Edition of the software.

I hope this tutorial has been helpful in showing you how to convert a picture into an SVG file. Remember, with SVG files, you have more control over your designs and can resize them without losing quality.

As always, happy crafting!

Convert picture to svg silhouette studio