Read on to understand more about this little know, but so important setting!
Do you ever get a wild hair and start scrolling through your Preferences (or other settings)?
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Typically, I just leave the defaults because I'm worried that what I'm changing could mess up the performance of my software or machine. I don't claim to be an IT guru by any stretch of the imagination, so I leave that up to the professionals. But today, I'm here to show you one setting you can change that just may improve your machine's performance in a big way. It's called "Packet Size".
Based on Silhouette's User Manual, the packet size is "(the) Rate at which information is sent to the Silhouette". But what does that really mean? Well, in this case, a packet refers to the quantity of information that is transmitted between your software and your cutting machine, which would include your cutting data. It's every scrap of data that tells the machine the speed, thickness, design, etc. As you can imagine, too much data can overwhelm your machine.
Need a more practical example? Imagine that someone was sending you a packet of information. Imagine I wanted to show you all the tutorials I've ever written on Silhouette between my blog and Silhouette School. That would be quite a bit, right? If I took all that information, printed it out back-to-back and stuffed it in an envelope and handed it to you, what would you do? Trying to absorb all that information at once would be overload, right?
So now imagine that I break it down and send it to you in relevant tutorials for you to read individually, like you are doing now? That is what we are doing today, reducing the packet size between your computer and your Silhouette.
What are some signs that you need to reduce your packet size? Have you ever received the dreaded diagonal line across your material? Have you had parts of your design missing after Silhouette says it is complete? If your computer goes to sleep, does your machine stop cutting? These are all indications that your packet size may be too large for what you are trying to do.
So how do you change your packet size? I'm glad you asked! It's super easy and it's a once-time setting change that will be saved in your Silhouette Studio preferences.
First, find your Preferences menu. There is a shortcut icon that resembles a†little gear (usually in the top right or bottom right of your screen in Silhouette Studio).
You can also go to "EDIT" on your main Silhouette Studio toolbar.
Once the Preference Menu is open, click on Advanced.
When the Advanced options expand, scroll all the way to the bottom to see the Packet Size information. The default setting is 1000 bytes of information. To reduce the Packet Size, change the setting to 500 bytes. To save the setting, click Apply at the bottom of the menu.
Wasn't that easy? And that's one setting that you now know more about and don't have to worry about the danger behind changing it. While modifying this preference setting won't give you perfect cuts every time, you never know when it'll come in handy! You may not even notice any immediate changes in the way your machine cuts files, but if it saves you from one dreaded diagonal cut line, it's worth it in my book! There aren't any adverse issues with using a smaller packet size, so I'm giving it two thumbs up!
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Thank you for all these tips. I have been using my cameo for approximately 2 years but some things still eluded me until your tips. This one is terrific.
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you and thank you!!! Had a big order with Lily inspired paper and messed up the whole sheet. This is a life safer tip. You do a great job and we appreciate you. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteDone!... Thank you so much. I've only had my machine for a few weeks and it was discouraging to have my first project, a fancy edged card, ruined by the "diagonal line". I had assumed I hit the knife tool in error or made some other newbie error.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU so much for this! I usually fill up the whole page with designs so as to not waste any paper and have lost designs on more than one occasions due to these "diagonal lines". Most frustrating .... and of course no cutting when my laptop goes asleep :-(
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip! I have had some of those problems pop up a few times!
ReplyDeleteYAY!!!!! I don't get the diagonal line cut often but when I do it is always at the worst time! I thank you from the bottom of my heart <3
ReplyDeleteI was hoping this would work today but I do not have Packet in my advanced tool, would it be somewhere else. I do have Designer Edition
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy, I, too, have Designer Edition .... when you get to advanced section scroll down the side and the packet size will show up at the very bottom. Promise! :)
Delete~ Christina in FL
I did this and it worked for HTV, but not vinyl. Not sure why because this is a different file from the first one I had an issues with.
ReplyDelete