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Post by AngieandSnoopy on Apr 22, 2020 17:21:02 GMT
If you use the Advanced Rhinestone Panel on Silhouette Studio Designer Edition Plus, is it true that you can CHANGE the rhinestone shape from round to hexagon or diamond and maybe other shapes? I have Designer Edition and glad I upgraded when I did since I'd just bought some Hotfix Rhinestones and went nuts making rhinestone templates. I went even MORE nuts when I realized I could cut holographic HTV for faux rhinestones. Much cheaper when using the scatter rhinestone designs. I love using rainbow holographic, that just can't really be duplicated using rhinestones.
I can't find much information on that particular feature, Silhouette has a short video on all the other features from Designer Edition to DE PLUS but not this particular one. I wanted to find out now so that next time there is a sale on upgrades, I'll be ready to jump IF I feel I need to go up to PLUS. My faux rhinestone shirts are popular and I think a different shape faux rhinestone would be that much more eye catching.
I just got my new desktop CPU (tower) yesterday and so happy to move up from 10 inch Windows 10 tablet and Windows 7 laptop to a 20 inch screen! A friend gave me her extra monitor when she moved a couple of years ago so when I found a great sale on the CPU, I grabbed it! 2 T of hard drive and 10 USB (including some 3.0), I'm loving it! Tired of the USB hub switchouts... I used a regular mouse and keyboard on the tablet AND laptop, and then the printer, external hard drive because not enough on either for my designs, then the Silhouette Curio (Cameo cousin), needed a port to download pictures from the camera, and I haven't been able to use my Epson V600 for years.
So, I'm ready to hit it hard making designs for my shirts, totes, wall hangings etc. so I'll be ready when we finally are able to do craft shows again. But at least the new computer will allow me to add pictures to my Facebook page in the meantime. For some reason, for over a year, every time I get on Facebook, if I don't scroll fast enough past all the little videos, it would crash the tablet.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,449 
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Post by scrapnnana on Apr 22, 2020 23:02:14 GMT
I don’t know about Designer Edition Plus.
However, in the Business Edition, I noticed that you can add custom shapes to the Rhinestone library in the Advanced Features of the Rhinestones Panel.
To test it, I added a square shape to my Rhinestone Library. To add it to the library, the shape has to be less than 0.472 x 0.472 or smaller. I made a square that was 0.3 inches, highlighted it, then clicked “Add Selected Shape to Rhinestone Library” (if it is too big, a warning window will pop up to tell you the maximum size it can be). The square now shows up in the Rhinestone library as a clear square with 33ss to the right of it.
I probably could have added color to it before saving it. It would show up better, but I have never used my software for rhinestones. I just played around with the features to see if the Business Edition had the option. Unfortunately, I have no idea if the Designer Edition Plus has it. I upgraded from Designer Edition to Business Edition.
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Post by AngieandSnoopy on Apr 23, 2020 0:05:28 GMT
I don’t know about Designer Edition Plus. However, in the Business Edition, I noticed that you can add custom shapes to the Rhinestone library in the Advanced Features of the Rhinestones Panel. To test it, I added a square shape to my Rhinestone Library. To add it to the library, the shape has to be less than 0.472 x 0.472 or smaller. I made a square that was 0.3 inches, highlighted it, then clicked “Add Selected Shape to Rhinestone Library” (if it is too big, a warning window will pop up to tell you the maximum size it can be). The square now shows up in the Rhinestone library as a clear square with 33ss to the right of it. I probably could have added color to it before saving it. It would show up better, but I have never used my software for rhinestones. I just played around with the features to see if the Business Edition had the option. Unfortunately, I have no idea if the Designer Edition Plus has it. I upgraded from Designer Edition to Business Edition. Thank you SO very much! That is what I needed to know. Advanced Rhinestone Features is one of the 5 Features that Designer Edition PLUS and Business Edition have in common that DE and Basic don't have so it should the same. As I said, I don't use it for rhinestone templates as much as making a pattern and cutting it out of holographic heat transfer vinyl. It looks amazing! And if you have a 863 rhinestone design, so much easier AND cheaper!
Last night after getting my new desktop set up, I downloaded Studio and went looking to find the Studio Key so I could finish the installation. Then started nosing around to see if there was any reason to upgrade to PLUS and did a lot of googling and didn't find much. I just thought it would be SO neat to have different shape faux rhinestones, I hope I can use heart shape but anything extra would be worth the upgrade. Thanks again! Now if they'll have a sale soon!
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,449
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Post by scrapnnana on Apr 23, 2020 0:21:42 GMT
I think they just had a sale recently, but they also often have sales for Mother’s Day. And I will try to see if I can add a heart shape later tonight.
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Post by sunny1016 on Apr 23, 2020 0:53:27 GMT
Its $16 on Swing Design right now for the upgrade from Designer to Designer+.
ETA- or $24 to go to Business.
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Post by AngieandSnoopy on Apr 23, 2020 1:12:56 GMT
I think they just had a sale recently, but they also often have sales for Mother’s Day. And I will try to see if I can add a heart shape later tonight. I thought they probably just had one since it was March of last year that I upgraded to DE. Thanks, I hope I can do hearts!
Its $16 on Swing Design right now for the upgrade from Designer to Designer+. ETA- or $24 to go to Business. Thanks, I'll go back and look. I was there and thought it said $35 to upgrade but maybe I clicked on the wrong thing.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,449
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Post by scrapnnana on Apr 23, 2020 1:59:20 GMT
I checked. You can add any shape, including a heart. And fill it with color first, so it is easier to see. The heart that is part of the shape tool is a bit more curvy than a typical rhinestone heart. I suggest that you scan in whatever specific rhinestone shapes you want to use, to get an exact trace so that the rhinestones fit perfectly once you cut the design.
If you can afford the Business Edition, I recommend it, even if you don’t expect to use all of the features at the moment.
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Post by AngieandSnoopy on Apr 23, 2020 4:19:19 GMT
I checked. You can add any shape, including a heart. And fill it with color first, so it is easier to see. The heart that is part of the shape tool is a bit more curvy than a typical rhinestone heart. I suggest that you scan in whatever specific rhinestone shapes you want to use, to get an exact trace so that the rhinestones fit perfectly once you cut the design. If you can afford the Business Edition, I recommend it, even if you don’t expect to use all of the features at the moment. Thank you so much for checking! Actually, instead of cutting a template for a heart to fit INTO, I'll be cutting in heat transfer vinyl holographic material and peel OFF what would normally be kept! I already had Designer Edition PLUS in my cart and thinking about it. Came back and you "twisted my arm into checking Business Edition. It is only $8 more, I watched the videos for the Features it had that Plus didn't and I think it will be worth it, several features I can use right now.
At some point, I'll probably get a Cameo in addition to my Silhouette Curio. Until last night, I had no way of RUNNING two machines at the same time but with my new desktop, I can. I got a very good deal on it and the price went up $28 after I bought it so I figure I saved enough to pay for Business Edition!  So, thanks for checking AND twisting my arm!
Its $16 on Swing Design right now for the upgrade from Designer to Designer+. ETA- or $24 to go to Business. Yes, reading comprehension problems! But then I was up late last night getting my new computer set up and downloading and looking for my Studio key to unlock Designer Edition. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! I thank you two for pushing me over the edge and getting it now and not waiting for Silhouette to have another sale! |
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GiantsFan
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Posts: 8,500
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Apr 23, 2020 14:25:01 GMT
Thanks! After reading this thread, I bought the Designer Edition via Swing Design for 1/2 off, or $25. I had been using the free Studio version which doesn't cut SVG's. I had to use my old Cricut and SCAL for those. And, well you know, the original Cricut Expressions is very temperamental. I only have the Silhouette Portrait 1, but it's working well. I think old Cricut's days are numbered at my house.
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Post by AngieandSnoopy on Apr 24, 2020 16:30:12 GMT
I checked. You can add any shape, including a heart. And fill it with color first, so it is easier to see. The heart that is part of the shape tool is a bit more curvy than a typical rhinestone heart. I suggest that you scan in whatever specific rhinestone shapes you want to use, to get an exact trace so that the rhinestones fit perfectly once you cut the design. If you can afford the Business Edition, I recommend it, even if you don’t expect to use all of the features at the moment. I played with it last night. Couldn't get the heart to replace the round rhinestones on a scattered design I already had. When I just made one up and went to the Send screen, wouldn't show as cut lines. Well, you have to make sure you bring in a line drawing, not a graphic with white background! After that, it worked well. Funny thing is I have to make SURE to change the media. Instead of iridescent (holographic), it reverted back to paper cardstock on previously made files on the other versions. I will for sure be doing test cuts every single time.
I learned to change the sizes in the Rhinestone Library. I drew a hexagon, square and diamond. It is SO nice to work on this with a much larger screen, this is 3 times the size of the tablet and at least twice the size of the laptop. AND many many times faster than the old laptop! Not only did I upgrade two versions, I UPDATED too! Even though I don't have the Curio hooked up yet, I'll do so in a little while, it has been easier to get it to switch from Cameo to Curio AND most of all, the other versions I've been using, I had to do CUSTOM to get it to use my larger 8.5 x 12 mat/base rather than the "normal" 8.5x6 that I rarely use unless I'm doing metal or acrylic etching, leather debossing and PixScan. I'm seeing a lot of good things in Business Edition that aren't in any of the others so I'm so happy I skipped Plus and went to the top! Thanks so much for the help!
Thanks! After reading this thread, I bought the Designer Edition via Swing Design for 1/2 off, or $25. I had been using the free Studio version which doesn't cut SVG's. I had to use my old Cricut and SCAL for those. And, well you know, the original Cricut Expressions is very temperamental. I only have the Silhouette Portrait 1, but it's working well. I think old Cricut's days are numbered at my house. Glad I could help push you to upgrade! I was so glad I did the sale March of last year and went to DE. I had a program that converted but let me tell you, sometimes, oh boy, NOT a good conversion. There are a lot more free SVGs out there for you to use now.
Someone gave me a Cricut Expression several years ago. I had to use it strictly with cartridges because my computer wasn't up to speed on using the online program. I'm glad I didn't because it wasn't long that the online program was GONE since Provocraft wants you to buy a new machine every year or so! Since I use the machines more for heat transfer vinyl and sticky vinyl and with the Curio, I etch on metal and vinyl too, rather than paper, the Expression was a little tricky learning to do vinyl and reverse cutting words for HTV. I'm glad I had it when I started doing vinyl. I could play with things until I bit the bullet and went Silhouette! I love the fact that Silhouette doesn't make your old machines obsolete by changing blades that you can't use, no more mats and no more software. Have fun with your Designer Edition!
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So, thanks for checking AND twisting my arm!