Silhouette ModelMaker: Design 3D Shapes and Export as SVG with New Software

After months of Beta testing, Silhouette America quietly released Silhouette Model Maker software late Wednesday.  As a beta tester I have been using the software for several months and I have to say - while it's heavily geared toward educational purposes in the (STEM) classroom, there's definitely a use for it in the home crafting space....if you can get over the initial intimidation factor that will likely leave you looking like a wide-eyed emoji.

Many Silhouette paper crafters would love an easier way to design 3D shapes - and Model Maker is it. While the one-time paid software is focused on engineering and model making and - I admit - overwhelming... if you stick to the basics for creating 3D shapes for your crafting needs - you will be fine!

The beauty of Model Maker over Silhouette Studio for 3D designs is that it allows you to easily draw shapes in 3D and then automatically converts them to flat design elements that can be cut on the Silhouette CAMEO or Portrait. That means the fold lines and tabs needed to put 3D pieces together are automatically added in the software. You can cut on your Silhouette CAMEO, Curio or Portrait directly from ModelMaker or you can export as an SVG file and then cut from Silhouette Studio (given you also have Designer Edition so you can import the SVG).

For instance, if you want to design a 3D box card to cut on your Silhouette CAMEO or Portrait..you could easily design the box part of the design in Model Maker and then design the remaining elements in Silhouette Studio.  Or you could add a pattern fill and print and cut the 3D shape on paper.

The same goes with cones, spheres, pyramids, and other 3D shapes that are difficult - if not impossible - for the hobby crafter and designer to create in Silhouette Studio. Not only does Model Maker make it a lot easier to make 3D shapes it's also a lot faster!

In just a few minutes, I was able to use Model Maker to create, print and cut a basic 3D box shape.

Tomorrow I'll be sharing an intro to Silhouette's ModelMaker software tutorial with you including how to install the one time paid software which retails for an individual ModelMaker license at $49.99.

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