Today the mom and daughter duo are sharing their tips on converting .studio files to SVGs. First things first and I can't stress this enough this method is strictly for converting files for your own personal use.
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The .studio extension is exclusive to Silhouette Studio which means other programs can't open Studio files and the newer versions of Silhouette Studio DE have taken away the ability to save as an SVG. SVG files are "Scalable Vector Graphics" and are editable, readable and useable in far more platforms without losing resolution. Read more here if you want to get all technical. At some point in your Silhouette crafting adventure you may run across a project in which you need to convert a .studio file you've designed into an SVG to use in another application - such as for applique, a printable or web image, or to share with a friend (or yourself) who uses a different type of die cutter. I know some of you out there have larger cutters like the ZING or have both the Sil and the Cricut...so this useful.
So the thing to converting a studio file to an SVG file is to have an intermediary software that can save as SVG. We use Inkscape (available for download). Once you have this done, the tutorial is quite easy.
STEP 1
Set up your file in the Silhouette Studio. This can be any design you choose, including an existing design if you have one (just open that baby up in Silhouette Studio). Just keep in mind that the colors and outlines you use will transfer into the SVG file.
For example, I chose to set up my design as one solid color so that when I convert it to SVG, only the outline will cut.
If I were to set up the design with a thick black outline, the (future) cut lines would pick up on that and set up a separate cut line for the outline, which is not usually what you want to do.
STEP 2
Once you have a full screen shot of your design, take a screen shot by tapping the "PRT SC" or "Print Screen" button on your computer (Melissa chiming in here...I use the free MAC program 'Grab' to screen grab since I don't have a print screen button). This will copy your screen to your clipboard.
Open the standard PAINT program that comes with Microsoft Windows (sorry MAC users, I'm sure you have something similar). Now paste your screen shot into Paint (shortcut is Ctrl+V). Crop your design down in Paint so that just your design shows.
(Melissa here again...can you tell I'm a MAC user?! On a MAC > Open the screen grab in iPhoto > Export as a PNG)
(Melissa here again...can you tell I'm a MAC user?! On a MAC > Open the screen grab in iPhoto > Export as a PNG)
STEP 3
Save your screen shot design as a PNG file. Be sure to save it with a file name and location you will remember in just a few minutes!
STEP 4
From your computer, open the Inkscape program you downloaded and installed earlier. Open the PNG file you just saved in the prior step by using "File" and "Open" on the main menu.
STEP 5
Now just save your file as an SVG by using "File" and "Save As". Be sure to choose SVG extension when you save the file.
Now you're ready to share that SVG file with all your crafting buddies or use with those "other" machines (you know which ones I'm talking about)! Just to prove it, we'll share our Chevron Shamrock Monogram design in both formats, Studio and SVG. Just don't forget to add your own monogram or initial in the center for a cute, personalized design! I'm using mine to create a St. Patrick's Day t-shirt for my little one with green glitter HTV!
Maybe you're on the other side and need help opening an SVG in Silhouette Studio? Check out this Silhouette School post: Opening SVGs in Silhouette Studio for Free (without Designer Edition)
As always, a huge shout out and thank you to Melissa for having us today! We hope to bring you more tutorials and projects in the future, so stay tuned!
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links, I receive a small commission. That's what helps fund Silhouette School so I can keep buying new Silhouette-related products to show you how to get the most out of your machine!
Thanks for coming to class today at Silhouette School. If you like what you see, I'd love for you to pin it!
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Melissa, if you have CorelDraw would you follow these same steps and still use Inkscape or is there another way using Corel? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy! I found some information that suggested that CorelDraw allows you to export an image straight to SVG. Is this an option you are familiar with? If you can export straight from CorelDraw, you won't need Inkscape!
DeleteBecky, I can export svg files from Corel but I don't know how to get the file from Silhouette Studio into Corel...any help with be greatly appreciated...thanks!
DeleteBecky...I have tried all your steps as above using Inkscape and I can't get it to work. After bringing the file into Inkscape and saving as an svg...when I import into Corel (which I can normally do with svg files) I get the outline but it still needs to be traced before it would become a cut line (wireframe)...I would really like to figure this out if you can help me...thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy, I think with this type of SVG you will always have to trace. I suppose it would depend on what you want to use the file for, but this tutorial might not be the best method for you if you are trying to import into Corel. I see another commenter has posted another tutorial that may be what you are looking for.
DeleteWendy, I used the "trace bitmap" method that Liz posted below in Inkscape and it was perfect!
DeleteJust opening the file in Inkscape and then saving as an SVG, DOES NOT make it a vector svg file. You need to use the Trace Bitmap option in Inkscape to make it vector, there is a tutorial here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wikihow.com/Trace-an-Image-Using-Inkscape
Once you have done that, and then saved as SVG, you will truly have a file that can be imported as vector shapes into most cutting software programs.
Hope that helps you all!
Liz
I was looking for something else and found this tutorial. This is so wonderful thanks so much. I used my snipping tool and saved the image as a PNG then opened up Inkscape.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the comments I followed the link above to make it a vector svg
http://www.wikihow.com/Trace-an-Image-Using-Inkscape
I have the Silhouette Cameo and I do not use SVG but, sometimes people ask if a file can be made into an SVG now I know how thanks so much!
Hey Melissa - I'm another Melissa who is also a Mac user. :-) Just wanted to let you know you can do a screenshot on your Mac without the use of a third party app by pressing the Command+Shift+4 keys simultaneously. This will turn your cursor into a little cross-hair icon that you can use to select whatever portion of the screen you are wanting to capture. If you want a screenshot of the entire screen, you can do that by pressing the Command+Shift+3 keys simultaneously.
ReplyDeleteHi all. Instead of using the print screen option, I use a little free program called Bullzip. It acts like a printer when you install it. Bring up the image you want to use in Silhouette and go to your printer button. Click it and choose the Bullzip printer. It will give you the option to save your image (it doesn't print it at all) as a PNG or PDF file. And that's it. Name the file and hit save to your folder. The quality of the image is amazing and so much better than the print screen option. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for this helpful tutorial.
ReplyDelete*whispers* but that is not a shamrock. It is a four leafed clover, a totally different plant, and nothing to do with St Patrick
Hi Melissa, just thought I would let you know that you can also do command shift 3 to take a complete shot of your screen. It will save it to your desktop for easy locating. Hope this helps and thanks so much for all you do.
ReplyDeleteHello! I found a quick and easy way to make the conversion , I invite you to visit my blog (http://bgartstencil.blogspot.com/2016/02/convertir-archivo-studio3-svg-y.html), only is necessary to change the the extension file and ready , we've got to .studio to .svg
ReplyDeleteThis does not work, it makes the file invalid
DeleteI concur. Does not work.
Deleteyou kinda left out the Inkscape step of tracing the bitmap image to create the vector lines ...
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Another great way of 'extracting' from Silhouette is using a 'printer' called Bullzip. Install it. Open up you file and click print. Select Bullzip as your printer and instead of printing, you can save it as a PNG or PDF file. xxx
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHello. I am a cricut user and tried these steps and these are the 2 things that happen. If I don't trace bitmap in inkscape it says it's an unsupported file type. If I do trace bitmap in inkscape it will upload to circut, but then it's the entire image in each color (does that make since? The way it looks in inkscape when you trace bitmap and ungroup.) Am I just screwed here? I had to use studio to create a cut from an online image because cricut design space will no longer allow you to upload those types of images to make a layered cut. It will only cut the outline. I realize provocraft has become really unreliable and their products are sub par. I will no longer buy provocraft in the future, but this is what I'm working with at the moment and wanted to see if there is something else I can try or something I am doing wrong. Thanks in advance you any help anyone has to offer!
ReplyDeleteI'm a cricut user as well and I cannot get it to work :-(
DeleteI've been doing this for a little while and never felt like my shapes turned out great. It's been so frustrating! The other day I stumbled onto another article that had a much easier solution - there's an online converter that will convert studio files to svg for you. You can only do 10 a day, which is more than I've ever needed, and it works awesome. The only thing that bugs me, is that if you put the svgs into cricut design space, you see the red line around them that studio generates, but all you have to do is double click on the layer and select the color it should be, and it gets rid of the red line. So if anyone is interested, here's the link. http://ideas-r-us-software.uk/FileConverters/SilhouetteStudioConverter.aspx
ReplyDeleteHere is the link for Convert PDF to SVG . Hope this gives you a start for you pdf program on rasteredge page http://www.rasteredge.com/how-to/csharp-imaging/pdf-convert-svg/
ReplyDeleteAny pointers on converting .studio to .svg if you DON'T have the silhouette studio to start with??? Cricut user here....THANKS
ReplyDelete