A step-by-step tutorial for Pixscan
Oct 16, 2014 7:00:41 GMT
clarita, chrispeas, and 9 more like this
Post by DinCA on Oct 16, 2014 7:00:41 GMT
I posted this in another thread but thought I would share it in its own thread for future reference.
A PIXSCAN PSA
After many hours of frustration, I have finally mastered it and I thought I'd share what I learned.
1) You have to update the software. And you have to do it from the Silhouette America website.
www.silhouetteamerica.com/software/silhouette-studio
If you try to do it from the Version 3 software, it will tell you there are no updates. Also, you have to use Version 3.
2) Open the software. The PixScan icon is the third icon from the left in the upper left-hand corner. Click on the icon.
3) On the right-hand side of the screen, you will see the Import From File tab. Click on it. Included in that tab is a tab for your camera calibration. Click on it. Then click on the Calibration Test Card. You will need to print this from the software. It prints on an 8 1/2x11 sheet of paper.
4) Now you will take a photo of the test card with your phone or camera. Turn your camera horizontally. Place the test card horizontally, too. Make sure the image completely fills your viewfinder, from edge to edge. It doesn't even matter if a little is cut off. You will take the photo from a bird's eye view but it doesn't have to be perfect. Just make sure there aren't any shadows. I took mine at night and it worked with the flash. Upload the photo to your computer.
5) Return to Silhouette Studio. At the bottom of the calibration tab is a "+" sign. Click on the "+" sign and it will prompt you to upload your photo of the dots. It will take 30 seconds or less. The software will then tell you whether the photo has been accepted and calibrated. If not, it will tell you why.
6) After your successful calibration, and before you leave the tab, make sure your camera is highlighted.
7) Now it's time to take a photo of the image you wish to cut. Make sure the camera and mat are horizontal. Make sure the mat fills your screen but it doesn't have to be edge to edge like the dots. Again, take the photo from a bird's eye view and avoid any shadows. Upload the photo to your computer.
8) Return to Silhouette Studio. When you open the PixScan window, you'll see the Import PixScan Image from File tab on the right-hand side of the screen. Click on the tab and upload your photo.
9) You will now see the image or images you wish to cut. You can cut one or all at one time. It's up to you. Apply the cut lines to the images you wish to cut. I also applied an internal offset of .25 to my image so that there wouldn't be any white showing. This works really well for cutting labels.
10) Cut as you would normally. FYI, the Cameo has to read the marks on the mat so the mat rolls back and forth a couple of times before it cuts. That's normal. I have to admit it freaked me out a little at first.
For some reason, NONE of this was included with the directions. I have no idea why. Having said that, the most important thing I learned is that the images you are photographing need to fill the viewfinder so that the aspect ratios don't change. If I had known that from the beginning, it would have saved me a lot of time.
I also want to say that even though it sounds intimidating, it's really not after you've done it once. In fact, there are only two steps to follow from now on.
Most importantly, my first cut was perfect! And I couldn't be happier.
A PIXSCAN PSA
After many hours of frustration, I have finally mastered it and I thought I'd share what I learned.
1) You have to update the software. And you have to do it from the Silhouette America website.
www.silhouetteamerica.com/software/silhouette-studio
If you try to do it from the Version 3 software, it will tell you there are no updates. Also, you have to use Version 3.
2) Open the software. The PixScan icon is the third icon from the left in the upper left-hand corner. Click on the icon.
3) On the right-hand side of the screen, you will see the Import From File tab. Click on it. Included in that tab is a tab for your camera calibration. Click on it. Then click on the Calibration Test Card. You will need to print this from the software. It prints on an 8 1/2x11 sheet of paper.
4) Now you will take a photo of the test card with your phone or camera. Turn your camera horizontally. Place the test card horizontally, too. Make sure the image completely fills your viewfinder, from edge to edge. It doesn't even matter if a little is cut off. You will take the photo from a bird's eye view but it doesn't have to be perfect. Just make sure there aren't any shadows. I took mine at night and it worked with the flash. Upload the photo to your computer.
5) Return to Silhouette Studio. At the bottom of the calibration tab is a "+" sign. Click on the "+" sign and it will prompt you to upload your photo of the dots. It will take 30 seconds or less. The software will then tell you whether the photo has been accepted and calibrated. If not, it will tell you why.
6) After your successful calibration, and before you leave the tab, make sure your camera is highlighted.
7) Now it's time to take a photo of the image you wish to cut. Make sure the camera and mat are horizontal. Make sure the mat fills your screen but it doesn't have to be edge to edge like the dots. Again, take the photo from a bird's eye view and avoid any shadows. Upload the photo to your computer.
8) Return to Silhouette Studio. When you open the PixScan window, you'll see the Import PixScan Image from File tab on the right-hand side of the screen. Click on the tab and upload your photo.
9) You will now see the image or images you wish to cut. You can cut one or all at one time. It's up to you. Apply the cut lines to the images you wish to cut. I also applied an internal offset of .25 to my image so that there wouldn't be any white showing. This works really well for cutting labels.
10) Cut as you would normally. FYI, the Cameo has to read the marks on the mat so the mat rolls back and forth a couple of times before it cuts. That's normal. I have to admit it freaked me out a little at first.
For some reason, NONE of this was included with the directions. I have no idea why. Having said that, the most important thing I learned is that the images you are photographing need to fill the viewfinder so that the aspect ratios don't change. If I had known that from the beginning, it would have saved me a lot of time.
I also want to say that even though it sounds intimidating, it's really not after you've done it once. In fact, there are only two steps to follow from now on.
Most importantly, my first cut was perfect! And I couldn't be happier.
