Talk to me about electric die cutting machines

I have a Silhouette Cameo (version 1). I've had it for probably 5 or 6 years. For me, it's the right machine. I used to work at a craft store, so I'd get asked all the time whether the Cricut or Silhouette was better. Here are some of the main pros/cons.

Cricut's main advantage is that it has a greater cutting force, so it can cut through thicker materials. If that is something you think you'll be doing, I would go with the Cricut. The main downside to the Cricut is the software. It is widely known to be very frustrating to work with. It can ONLY be used online, so you have to have an internet connection to use it. (Also, if it's a busy time of year, like Christmas, if there are too many people using the software, it can slow it down for everyone). It is also hard to make and manipulate your own designs. If you plan to mainly use the Cricut designs without a lot of changes, the program won't be as frustrating, but if you plan to make your own designs, the Silhouette software is much easier to work with.

The Silhouette, as mentioned above, has superior software. It can still cut all the normal materials like vinyl, paper, iron on and more, just not super thick materials. It also does a better job of print and cut than Cricut does because you can print at a higher DPI on a larger surface.

I personally have a Silhouette Cameo and love it. You are correct that most people entering the die-cutting world get a Cricut, but the Silhouette is more talked about online. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. What I would suggest doing is downloading the software for the Silhouette and playing around with it (it is free) and also trying to use the Cricut design program. This will give you a feel for how the software works. Also, look at the designs offered by each company. Cricut designs are proprietary to Cricut and Silhouette to Silhouette, so if one design aesthetic appeals to you more, go with that one. (There are third party companies that sell generic cut files that can work with either machine too.) Also, watch YouTube videos on the machines. You can watch Ken's Kreations on YouTube. He actually prefers the Cricut but I still think he has very detailed reviews of both machines.

(I will also say that with whichever machine you get, your best friend is going to be YouTube. If you can't figure out how to do something, search for it on YouTube and usually there is a solution.)

Within the Silhouette family, the Cameo (now on version 3) is the machine that can use 12x12 paper. The Portrait machine is just like the Cameo except it takes 8.5x11 paper and smaller. The Curio is a companion machine to the Cameo/Portrait and does a lot of specialized functions like embossing and stippling and will cut thicker materials. I would personally not recommend the Curio as a standalone machine unless all you want is its special features. If you want a cutting machine from Silhouette, go with the Cameo or Portrait.

There are also a lot of ladies here who are more knowledgeable than me on this topic so hopefully they'll chime in. I don't have any firsthand Cricut knowledge, just what I know from researching the machine, so they may have more to add.

You don't have to move layers off the mat.  Every line can be made to cut or not-cut.  You ungroup your image, highlight the layer/image you don't want cut, go to Cut Settings and choose "no cut".   

Silhouette software does have layer functionality, but only in the paid for upgrades to Designer and Business Editions. I upgraed to Designer, then eventually Business because I want all the options. There's a comparison chart that's useful for seeing what each version does.

I have a two-year old Silhouette Portrait that has been used maybe 3x. I have discovered I do not like electronic machines at all. I am a manual machine girl. I need to get rid of mine because it is just a dust collector in my room.

I had the silhouette portrait. My dh upgraded me a few Christmas back to the cameo. I used it all the time. I could barely make a page without it. I do have designer edition.

Then I started having issues with it. I wondered if my upgrade to windows 10 had any relevance. I couldn't get the issues fixed even with silhouette's help. I decided to upgrade to the Cameo3, thinking it was my machine that had the issue. I thought/think that fixed the issues. But I've had lots of issues with this new edition. I currently have to go calibrate it for print and cut, because all of my print and cuts were off by 1/4". It's not hard, just a pain. After upgrading I learned of lots of others with issues after upgrading to windows 10, and it doesn't sound like they've worked the bugs for the windows10 interface out yet either.

I find that I'm using it less and less due to my issues. Here are a few of my issues:
- The print and cut feature is not calibrated correctly.
- I find that it takes me much longer to get the right cut settings set up on this machine.
- If I had my cut settings set up from a previous session and come back, the first cut never seems to work.
- The machine gets "off track" frequently. You turn off the power and move the blade housing back and forth between 3-6 full times to get it back on track. It's not hard, but again, it's a PIA when you're trying to cut and I've had to do this at least every other cutting session.

Those are the ones I can think of right off the top of my head.

I have both a Silhouette Cameo and a Cricut Explore Air 2. I also have a Cricut Expression, which can use cartrdiges and does not require the internet. Mostly I kept it as a back up because I have over 100 cartrdiges. I also have thousands of Silhouette designs.

Both are very capable machines.

I use the Silhouette 95% of the time, mainly because I prefer the software, and I rarely need to cut any heavier materials. I use it for scrapbooking, print and cut, stamped images that I cut with the PixScan mat, and vinyl. I use the Cricut when I want to cut leather, which is the main reason I bought it. I also use it if I want to cut proprietary designs such as Disney. The Cricut software is pathetic compared to the Silhouette software, but it can do most things. I found it easier to figure out how to create or alter things in the Silhouette software on my own than with the Cricut Design Space software. The Cricut software is not like other graphic software I have used. I had to research online recently to figure out how to avoid cutting shapes that would NOT ungroup for deletion, or hiding. I wasted some heat transfer vinyl just to cut a small part of the group that needed to be cut. I did eventually find info so I know how to hide unwanted parts from cutting next time, but I am pretty adept at using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, and I could not figure out how to do what I wanted with Cricut software. Silhouette software has been easy for me to figure out most things without having to hunt up tutorials because it is similar to other softwares I've used. If you have never used other graphics software, then Cricut Design Space would probably be easier to learn with a few YouTube tutorials. I just find it clunky and frustrating. It may be just what I am used to.

However, the Cricut Explore is an excellent machine. My only gripe is the software.

I love the Cameo. It is also an excellent machine. If I could have cut leather with it, I would not have bought the Explore. I would have been content with just the Cameo.

If the Explore had software that is as good as the Silhouette's software, I would never need anything but the Explore.

Another factor is the designs. If you have the ability and desire to create your own, I definitely recommend the Cameo, because the software is so much more capable for creating and cutting your own designs. I also have liked many of the designs they offer for purchase. I can find nice designs on the Cricut site, too, but overall, I prefer Silhouette designs. Lately, though, I have been less pleased with what I am seeing in the way of new designs from Silhouette designers. If you check out their store, check out categories, not just designs that have been uploaded recently.

You can get free designs online, but if you want to use SVG designs, you need the Designer Edition of Silhouette software (a one time purchase). Cricut Design Space will import and cut them without costing you extra, no upgrade or subscription required.

I don't know if any of this has helped, or just made it more confusing.

Both machines are very capable. Cricut focuses more in getting you to buy their designs. Their software is clunkly, online, often slow when lots of users are all online using it, and not very intuitive IMO. The machine itself is excellent and capable of more than the Cameo, so it depends on what think you will want to cut.

Silhouette appeals to both those who want to design their own cutting files and those who prefer to buy designs. It cuts most things that scrapbookers want to cut, as well as a lot of materials crafters use, but it will not cut thicker materials. Their support is very good, better than Cricut's IMO.

I have Windows 10, but I am currently using version 3.6.57 of the Silhouette software. I have had no problems with the software until recently. It seems to crash often lately if I try to browse designs too quickly. I will be updating it after Christmas, because I bought the Business edition of the software. I am hoping that I do not have problems with it after updating. I have no trouble with print and cut, or with cutting stamped images. I do NOT have to keep recalibrating it as another user mentioned. I am wondering if the issues reported are with the newest version of the software. I don't update till they get the bugs worked out, and I drag my feet even longer.

Both are good machines. Think about what you want to do most with it. Check out the designs from both Silhouette and Cricut/Provo Craft. Check them out thoroughly by doing a category search. And since both softwares are free, definitely play around with both of them to see how you like the software. Just use the Cricut software at a busy time, so you can see if the online issues drive you nuts.

HTH

@amayalylac how lovely it would have been to have you at my side when I was struggling to get that software to play nicely. I couldn't understand what was going on with that print and cut thing - I've forgotten the details now, but at the time, it was so weird. I sent screenshots and stuff to Silhouette via their tech chat and they had the same issue...so frustrating all round! You chaps that figure out all those software issues are amazing. How you have the patience, the tenacity and the sheer brainpower to work it all out is amazing and I salute you!! We take so much for granted when we turn on our machines, yet without your skills and expertise, we'd be lost. Thanks! (and yes, I'll keep your details close to hand when my Cameo misbehaves!, thank you <g>)

I have a never used original Silhouette Cameo Bundle for sale on the FSOT board if you are interested

I have a Mac lemonella and have had no issues with print and cut.

I am frugal but I will say that if my Cameo died, I'd be in my car in a hot second off to buy another without a second thought.