Many Silhouette users like to create their own SVG files for their own projects. So here are the basics steps for creating an SVG cut file in Adobe Illustrator^R. These SVG files may work with other cutting machines, but I don't have any way to test the results.

When drawing cut lines for the Silhouette^R, the paths need to be set to .1 pts and #000001 color. This combination tells the Silhouette not to print the line but to cut along the path. Any lines of another color or width will be printed as an image from your printer and ignored by the cutting machine. When creating a print and cut file, put the cut path on a layer above the graphic.

Ok, now we are ready to export.

1. From the Menubar, click File - Save as. I like to save the image in the native Illustrator .ai format, just in case I need to make revisions.
   
   
2. Next click File - Save as again to save as the SVG file. When the dialog box opens, change the Format from the default Adobe Illustrator .ai to SVG (svg). Click Save.
   
   When the SVG Options dialog box opens, choose an option for the Image Location. If you are making a print and cut SVG file, the graphic needs to be saved in the SVG file. The Link option will save a copy of the graphic as a separate file, which is not very helpful. We want to embed the artwork into the SVG.
   
   
3. Set the Image Location Option to Embed and click OK.
   
   

That's it. You can open your Silhouette Cameo or Portrait and use your very own SVG file. You must have the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition software to open SVG files.

To open your SVG in Silhouette you have two options.

1. To open one SVG, click File - Open and choose the SVG file.
   
   
2. If you wish to open another SVG file into the same workspace, click File - Merge.
   
   

Hope this helps all the newbies and have fun with your Silhouette.

Note: If you don't have Adobe Illustrator, there is a free software called Inkscape^R that will create SVG files. You can find many tutorials on the web for Inkscape.

https://inkscape.org/en/

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