Just a quick word to let you know that version 4.2 is out as the regular current version of the Silhouette Studio software as of this morning. Specifically, it’s 4.2.279 and you can find it on the Silhouette America website here. You can find release notes here that tell you what features have been added.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click the link and purchase something, I may receive a small commission. You pay the same price. This helps me to be able to keep my business going and provide more tutorials.
Here’s a quick synopsis:
All software levels
- Ability to use color fonts.
- Automated print bleeds for Print and Cut projects.
- Library updates including–
- ability to make the pictures of the designs bigger.
- more ways to filter searches, ability to designate a design as a favorite.
- return of the split view to see the library and design page at the same time.
- new way to import your library from a different computer.
- ability to keep local user folders and account (cloud) folders in a single area or export local user to your hard drive.
- ability to take a snapshot of your current library so you can revert to it if anything happens to your library.
- option to work offline so the library isn’t constantly syncing with the design store.
Designer Edition and up
- Lasso selection tool.
- Warp templates built in.
Designer Edition Plus and up
- Flexishapes to add and edit more shapes than the standard circle, rectangle, rounded rectangle and regular polygon.
- Puzzle generator to turn photos into puzzles.
- Font creation tool to make your own fonts from either your handwriting or the drawing tools.
- Edition toggling to switch between different levels of the software (great for those of us who teach).
If you need to know how to update, check this post.
New Silhouette Design Store interface
Silhouette America didn’t list this on the release notes, but it’s something you need to know about. From here on out, when you click on the Store tab in the software it will open up your internet browser with the Silhouette Design Store instead of opening it within the software. It’s just been too problematic and slow to continue doing it through the software.
Not yet 64-bit for Macs
I know that some of you have Macs and are aware that Apple is discontinuing support for 32-bit applications. Silhouette Studio is currently a 32-bit program. Mojave is the current OSx version (10.14) and it runs 32-bit programs, but it is the last one that will. All future Mac OSx versions will run 64-bit programs only. So, many are asking if Silhouette Studio version 4.2 has a 64-bit option. Unfortunately, not yet. Word is that that’s the next focus for a Beta version.
Do I recommend version 4.2?
It has worked fine for me and has been Beta tested much more thoroughly than any earlier versions. But as with all new releases there are some kinks still to be worked out. Are you…
- …on a deadline to get a project done? Don’t update until you are past it. Some things may take a bit of getting used to and you never know when you might run into a problem updating. This is always my #1 recommendation about updates.
- …someone who doesn’t like change? You are perfectly fine to stay on your current version for quite a while.
- …someone who likes being the first to use new features? Seeing some features you’d like to try? Go for it!
- …want to see the new features in action before you decide? In the coming weeks I’ll be adding posts about the new features. So you can take a “wait and see” approach if you like.
- …using an older operating system on your computer (Windows XP or Vista)? The highest version you can use in 3.6.057. You can find that under Legacy Versions on the software updates page listed above.
- …having problems in your current version? Updates often fix bugs, so it’s worth a try. On the release notes page I linked above, you’ll find a list of bug fixes. In the left hand column of the page, you can look at each stable version of the software for notes on that release. If yours isn’t listed, it’s because that version isn’t considered stable and you definitely need to update to one that is. It doesn’t have to be 4.2, but you shouldn’t sit on a version that has too many known bugs. Don’t know how to find your current version? Check the post about updates linked above.
What if I try it and don’t like it?
You can always go back to an earlier stable version if you like, because those are available as Legacy Versions. Downgrading is a bit different that updating. Your computer will always assume that you want the latest version. So if you try to install a lower version, it’s going to get confused. The way to do it is to first uninstall 4.2, then install the earlier version you like.
Doing this should NOT touch your library or license key for upgrades such as Designer Edition, as those are installed in a different area on your computer. HOWEVER, it’s always a good idea to play it safe. I highly recommend you take the time to back up your library. I’m not talking about the Cloud back up, but a manual one. You can find info here on how to do it. If something weird happens and you need to reinstall a license key after you change versions, you can find the number on your account in either the Silhouette Design Store or on the Silhouette America website.
So, on to how to uninstall any current version.
On a Windows computer
- Go to your Control Panel (if you don’t know how, type “Control Panel” in the search bar at lower left and then click on it).
- Under the Programs section, click on Uninstall a program.
- Find Silhouette Studio in the list and click on it. Then in the gray bar at the top of the list you’ll see the option Uninstall. Click on that. The computer will ask you if you’re sure and you say yes. Wait until it’s done.
On a Mac computer
- Close all your programs, including Silhouette Studio.
- Open your Applications folder.
- Find the icon for the Silhouette Studio program, click on it and drag it to the trash.
- Empty the trash.
You can then go through the normal procedure to download and install the version you want.
Just as a side note, Mac users don’t have to “upgrade” their version of Silhouette Studio to try the newest version. I have often downloaded the new one, installed it and had two fully functioning versions of Silhouette Studio on my MacBook at the same time. Once I see the new one is going to work, I delete the old one.
Great point! There’s a workaround for Windows users to do that as well, but it’s not as reliable so I have not included instructions for that one.
my cameo version 4.2 keeps telling me its not connected and it is
There are multiple possibilities for this. But don’t worry — it’s not your machine. Which model of the Cameo do you have (1, 2, 3 or 4)? Is your computer Mac or Windows? The best place to start troubleshooting is to follow the steps here — https://www.silhouetteamerica.com/faq/solution/could-not-connect-pc/?lang=en&product=SSBE&version=4.4.90WD
Is anyone having any issues with the Basic Silhouette Studio program not opening up after updating their operating system to Mojave 10.14.5? I went to open Silhouette after updating my Mac and it will not open. The only way I can open the program is installing a really old version of Silhouette Studio. I worked with customer service and they really don’t have a fix except to go to the older version; not acceptable. I placed a call to Apple for an hour and a half last evening trying to get it to work, but never could fix the issue.
Hi Deborah. I’m a Windows user, but checked around with some of my Mac friends. They don’t seem to be having an issue with Mojave. Maybe other Mac users can comment here. One thing to watch out for is that the Silhouette Studio program currently only runs in 32-bit. The 64-bit version is expected to come out soon — but I have no further info than that on timing. Please keep us updated here if you have any further info to report.
I have updated to the new version however my library will not open under my user name it just continues to spin with and error! Anyone else have this issie
Heather — try clicking on your user name at the top left of the library, selecting “Work Offline,” closing and restarting the software, then clicking “Work Online.” Mine did that just yesterday morning — got stuck in a loop — and that solved it.
I’m so disappointed. I use to be able to design large banners and cut them out. Now im stuck at 12″ widths. Taking away that ability is upsetting. I’ve invested a lot of money in these machines and libraries. Very disappointing.
Hi Charlene,
I’m not quite sure what you’re seeing in your software, but the cutting sizes have not changed. The limit of width for cutting on a Cameo has always been 12″ with the mat, appx. 11.5″ without the mat. The length has always been 12″ with the mat, officially 10 feet without (although I’ve stretched that longer at times). You can set up a page size larger than that and then break it down into chunks to actually cut. I’ve started a series here on the site about how to due super large projects like that, using a wall I did at the children’s area at my church as an example. It’s 45 feet long and 10 feet high. I was able to set up a page at 45″ x 10″, design my pieces, then change each to feet instead of inches. I then broke it down into chunks at the max cutting width and as long as I needed. If you can describe more of what you’re seeing perhaps I can clear up the confusion.
I too was cutting up to 16.5 feet by 12 high before this update, I also set my height to 13 and adjusted my design into my cut field, reason: My machine did not cut correctly when set at 12 for some reason, by setting it to 13 and placing design into the cutting field made it cut more accurately. I did like to cut all my designs at once instead of stopping and going, which is what I will have to do with this update. NOT GOOD for me 🙁 This helped me stay ahead with my porch sign paint parties.
Let me explain a bit, then give you some good news.
When cutting without a mat (which is what you’d need to do when cutting that long), you have to leave a bit of margin on the sides. If you notice on the mat, there’s a non-sticky area at the sides, which is where the machine grips. When you cut without the mat, it still needs to hang on to something. That’s why you move the right roller in. Because it needs about 1/4″ on each side, your max cutting width is about 11.5″. It could be that that’s why yours wasn’t cutting correctly. No matter what size you set for the width, the machine cannot cut wider than 11.5″ when cutting longer or at any time without the mat. To see the useable area, make sure to have “Show Cut Border” checked in the page setup.
Also, you have to watch out for the direction arrow in the software. When you have larger page sizes, the arrow that’s at the top of the screen — the one that indicates which edge goes into the machine — may rotate to the side. It happens especially at certain combinations of height and width. I’m guessing that wasn’t the issue with yours, as if you had a length of 16.5 feet then even though it may have moved to the side you would have easily noticed.
The reason Silhouette says “up to 10 feet” in cutting length is that after that it’s much more likely that the material will come out from under the rollers. When that happens, your project is ruined. With some tricks (which I mention in my series Cutting Without the Mat Without Losing Your Mind), you can cut longer. I’m sure you’ve figured some out since you have cut longer pieces.
Here’s the good news — in 4.3, you CAN make the page larger. To do that, you just choose “None” on the machine type and on the cutting mat type. That allows you to make the page much larger. That way you can design a bigger project and then break it down into chunks the width that the machine can handle. Regardless — you will still be limited to cutting at the width mentioned. To cut longer than the mat, you’ll set the machine to Cameo but then leave the mat off and have your length set to whatever you like.
The other bit of good news is this — Silhouette is coming out with new Cameo 4 models that DO cut wider — the 15″ wide Plus, which is on pre-order now and should ship soon, and the 24″ Pro which comes out later this year. You can still cut longer, but now wider as well.
I have so many upgrades of silhouette on my computer. Do I need to delete all that I don’t need or is it ok to keep them
Hi Rae–
If you have earlier downloads of the Silhouette Studio software, you can safely delete those from your Downloads folder. You can even delete the current one from that folder, as once it’s installed you don’t need it there. I usually keep that one though so that if I ever need it again I don’t have to go back to the website to download it. If for any reason you don’t want to continue using a specific updated version, there are earlier stable versions on the website. They are on the same page as the regular software updates in the category called Legacy Versions.
I have a new laptop on Win10, and the new install will not work as I’m running 64bit and now I can not even use the program without installing update. How do I fix this, as it’s a bit hard to work without the program.
Hi Steve,
The current version of the Silhouette Studio software — version 4.3.356 — has options for both 32-bit and 64-bit on Windows. The Mac is 64-bit only, as Apple is no longer supporting 32-bit programs. This post was written before that latest release. I hope this clears up the confusion. You can find the latest updates here — https://www.silhouetteamerica.com/software.
hi, i would like to ask, did you have any link or Silhouette Studio 32 bit, that support my MAC 10.7.5. i’am using old MAC pro.
Hi Cali — Silhouette America does keep legacy (older) versions on their website, but the one they have there probably does not go back far enough for you. That Mac version is about 10 years old and Apple stops supporting versions after a time. Your best bet is to contact Silhouette America’s Customer Support to ask their advice. Their email address is support@silhouetteamerica.com.