The release notes for Silhouette Studio V4.4.819, now in Open Beta, are extensive so I wanted to highlight nine of the most important/best fixes and new features that will improve designing, printing, and the overall user experience.
Added Retina Support for macOS
Mac users have long complained about the Silhouette Studio software looking "blurry" - but that's been fixed with this release. As a Mac user myself, as soon as I downloaded this version of the software I felt like I put on glasses.
Ability to Change Design Page Background Color
Users now have the ability to change the background color of the work area where they are working - a long requested feature. This is helpful if you are wondering what your design will look like when applied to a certain color surface - but it's a much easier visual than creating an entire mockup.
To access the media page color swatches open the Page Setup panel.
If you want to set a default page color to open every time you open a new work area you can do this as well. Open the Preferences panel by clicking the gear icon in the lower right. Select the Defaults tab. In the Page Color option select your color choice.
Expanded Fill and Line Panels
Ever wish you could extend, expand or pull down the Fill panel? Now you can! By default, the Fill Color, Fill Gradient, Fill Pattern and Line Color panels now show the expanded panels. This means you don't need to click the Advanced options arrow to expand these panels to see all of the options.
Customize Your Default Font and Font Size
Lucida Grande 72 not your thing? Arial 72 overdone? You can now select and set the default font style and size of your choice.
To set your new default font style and size open the Preferences panel and make and save your selections from the Defaults panel next to the "Default Text Style" setting.
Offset Tool Now Gives Sharp Corners on External Offsets
There's a new control on the Offset tool that fixes the long-standing issue of flat corners on external "sharp" offsets. In prior versions external offsets around sharp corners would be flat...but in V4.4.XX the Corner Limit bar resolves this issue! Ya for pointed corners on stars and hearts!
Download More Design Store Purchases into Library Simultaneously
- Added a slider to the Library to set the amount of designs Studio can download at once (Default has been set to 1)
Machine Connection Fix
This software version also fixes an issue where users could not connect to other cutters while a Silhouette CAMEO 4 was connected by Bluetooth.
Send Panel Machine List
Active Connections in the Machine list are now more obvious thanks to a change in the color of their icon.
To view the full list of fixes, improvements, and updates in Silhouette Studio V4.4.XXX you can checkout the release notes list below:
Standard Edition Changes
- Added Retina Support for macOS
- WIA scanning now working on Windows
- Optimized the Apply and OK buttons in Preferences
- About box now supports dark theme
- Removed the border that would appear around windows in the dark theme
- Fixed truncation in multiple locations for all languages
- Added missing translations
- Fixed an issue where some translations would not update after switching languages
- Resolved a display issue that would occur if Windows scaling was set higher than 125%
No More Jagged Print Lines
One of the biggest quality issues impacting versions of V4.4 as long as I can remember has been the poor quality line prints. V4.4.XX includes a fix to optimize print quality which reduces the jagged lines seen on prints for many users!Design
- Added the option to change the media color to the Page Setup Panel
- The Eraser can now go down to 1mm in size
- The scale value in the QAT now shows a "-" when multiple shapes are selected
- Updates to print optimizations to reduce the jagged lines being seen on prints for some users
- The middle grab handle for objects is now displayed in smaller sizes
- Panel buttons are now able to use 2 lines for text
- The Offset panel now remembers the previously used distance
- Updates to panel alignments for all panels
- Selecting a design in the Project Wizard now updates the machine selection on the Page Setup Panel
- Fill Color dropdown button now has the same background color as the subheading
- Fill Color, Fill Gradient, Fill Pattern and Line Color panels now show the expanded panel by default
- Removed "and Etching" text from the Line Effects panel
- Emboss template in Project wizard now selects the Curio in the Page Setup Panel
- Pressing the "x" on a deselected trace area now closes it instead of selecting it
- "Corner Limit" has been added to the Offset Panel, adjusting this can assure sharp corners when offsetting
- Added an icon on Sticky Notes to indicate they can be resized
- Added a preference to restrict Smart Snapping to objects on the Media
- Trace previews now update immediately when selected
- Selecting Curio in the Page Setup panel now enables the Emboss/Deboss panel
- "Add new material type" button now adds a material and the text box is already in an editable state
- New projects that are closed right after they are opened now show the correct name in the "Are you sure" dialog
- Expanded icons no longer remain highlighted
- Tooltip for "Add new Color Palette" has been updated
- PixScan calibration sheets no longer appear in the "Open Recent" list
- Font Creation templates no longer appear in the "Open Recent" list
- Document templates are no longer appearing in "Open Recent"
- Files with the name "Untitled-x" now show the number rather than incrementing it
- Users are now able to set their default font style and size in preferences
- Preferences and Theme icon now update with the theme
- Tooltip for Flexishapes has been updated
- Font subheadings are now visible in the dark theme
- Simplified the Popup Panel
- Updated Cameo PixScan mat to add missing photoscan mark
Library
- Large .studio files in the Library now load correctly, including paid designs that have no account assigned to them.
- Added a slider to the Library to set the amount of designs Studio can download at once (Default has been set to 1)
- "Syncing..." when signing into the library no longer displays in red
- Free designs from Machines are now added to the active Library account rather than a removed account
- Folder count in the library now shows below the folder name
- Added an arrow in the library to invert the sort order
- Updated font styling in the library to match rest of the software
- Updated the "Maximum Devices Reached" message for library accounts
- No longer possible to send a job on the Alta print bed to a cutter
- Fixed an issue where you could not connect to other cutters whilst a Cameo 4 was connected via Bluetooth
- Resolved an issue where Tool Detection would choose "Pop-Out cut" for a Pen tool
- The Line Segment Overcut icon is now in line with its label
- Fixed an issue where the Cameo 4 would not update
- Resolved an issue where the "Cut Lines Overlapping Cut Border" dialog would display incorrectly
- Prevented a way for the Portrait 3 to bypass the firmware update
- Silhouette Devices list now has a limited size and a scrollbar
- Icons in the Silhouette Devices list now change colour when the connection is available
- The following materials have been added:
- Sticker Paper, Iridescent
- Sticker Paper, Holographic
- Sticker Paper, Holographic Dot
- Sticker Paper, Brushed Metal
- Heat Transfer, Printable Fabric Sheets
- Studio now uses the status "Paused" when a machine has been paused manually on the machine
- Setup Guide button has been disabled when the CE Lite-50 is connected
- Updated wording in the library context menu to say "Synced" instead of "Shared"
- Library designs are now unable to have duplicate keywords
- Library folders now show their size in list view
- The Knife and Eraser tool now remembers previously used settings
- The Rhinestone panel now updates for the selected shape
- Added information to the Magnet Trace panel to explain how it works
- Magnet Trace panel will now open when single-clicking a Magnet Trace line
- Updated the control scheme for Magnet Trace so clicking creates a trace line, and click and dragging creates straight lines between points
- Changed the checkboxes for Line Pattern "Repeats" and "Length of Pattern" to radio buttons
- Removed the upper limit for Line Effect Spacing
- Removed the expand circles in the layers panel on objects
- Designer Edition and above panels now close when going back to Standard Edition
- Puzzling a large shape no longer goes over the Rows and Columns cap of 25.
- Conical Warp no longer produces duplicate cut lines
- Media Layout Split Screen view now keeps focus on the media when adjusting the cut border
- In Media Layout Split Screen view, the Cut border is now constrained to the media
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!
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Tried downloading this, but it says it can't be verified by Apple. Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteRight click the icon in the dock and open it from there. You can also force it to open in your System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General.
DeleteWish list for future update; Would love to have a progress bar when cutting or (especially) etching. Would be SO great to know how long it's estimated to take as well as how much is done and/or left to go.
ReplyDeleteThank you for another great post! I have learned so much about my machines through the years of reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteI downloaded the latest version 4.4.552 and the offset still does not have the updated feature. I still get flat edges when offsetting a star shape. I do not get points. Just wondering if there is still a glitch in the system!!
Hi there! You need to download the beta version: V4.4.819
Deletequick question! is there a way to make the fill pattern icons bigger when you are in the fill tab? so you can see the designs better?
ReplyDeleteYou can find them in your library under patterns to see the bigger versions.
DeleteHi. I'm running BE 4.4.552 and in my preferences panel, defaults tab, I don't have anything that says "default text style". Am I missing something?
ReplyDeleteHi there! You need to download the beta version: V4.4.819
DeleteAre these update just for Cameo 4
ReplyDeleteThese are updates for Silhouette Studio which is for all Silhouette Machines.
Deletei just downloaded the 4.4.554 and there are no options for any of the new things listed, everything looks exactly the same, there are no options for mat colour or offset lines being sharper, ect. are you talking about a beta version?
ReplyDeleteHi there, yes, these are the release notes for the beta version.
DeleteI just updated to 4.4.554 and all files downloaded on my computer no longer show a preview. They have reverted back to a silhouette icon.
ReplyDeleteWill there ever be an option to work in CMYK color space?
ReplyDelete