Silhouette vs Cricut

Have you worked in a section or industry where cutting is one of their major tasks? Are you looking to explore and compare different cutting tools? If yes, you need to follow this article. Advancements in technology have brought about - the development of a wide range of cutting tools. These cutting tools are introduced to make your cutting tasks easier. As of today, the most popular cutting machines that are available to people are Cricut and Silhouette. The two cutting machines are designed to make cutting tasks simpler for experts and amateurs. Silhouette and Cricut are efficient cutting tools are manufactured with amazing features that have left their users in doubt when it comes to choosing the best. However, you can only choose the best among the two cutting tools based on their features. The features guides are based on what you want. That said, most users of the cutting machine do not know the difference between Cricut and Silhouette. Therefore today, I will be telling you the information you should know based on the comparison between Silhouette and Cricut.

Silhouette Cameo

Silhouette is a cutting machine manufacturing industry that introduces new models of cutting tools into the market intermittently. As of today, the Cameo is the latest brand of cutting machine released by Silhouette. This cutting tool was recently released. Since it was released, it has continuously offered an amazing experience to its users. You can cut a wide range of materials using the Silhouette Cameo. For instance, the tool is suitable for cutting vinyl, standard fabrics, and other crafting materials. Silhouette Cameo uses a 12 x 24 inches biggest size mat for cutting. However, you can cut materials that are 10 feet or lesser, using the cutting tool also without a mat.

Silhouette Cameo 3 offers its users the chance to use dual cartridges to facilitate the printing and cutting of materials without stopping the machine. When cutting, you don't need to change the pen or blades. The cutting machine has a feature whereby you can use a Bluetooth connection to start your cutting. This means you don't need wired connections in the operation of the machine. Also, the Silhouette Cameo 3 cutting machine comes with PixScan technology. The PixScan technology is incorporated to help you take pictures from your digital camera or smartphone to Cameo 3 for cutting.

Furthermore, the Silhouette Cameo 3 cutting machine has a scan and cut feature. With this feature, you can transmit the image directly to your printer. Immediately the image is ready, they are sent to the Cameo 3 so that they are cut to your desired settings. You can also upgrade the auto blade feature of the Cameo at any time you wish to change it. The auto blade accessory helps you to eliminate different varieties of setting adjustments. Hence, you can use regular blades as the cutter.

Additionally, Silhouette Cameo has studio designer software whereby you can create your design. You can also import and edit any existing design of your choice. The studio designer software is loaded with features that will require you to spend some time studying it before you can handle it effectively. You can also explore tutorial videos and materials that are available online to make the operation easier.

Cricut Explore Air

Cricut is a cutting tool manufacturing industry that specializes in the making and sales of cutting machines. The Cricut brand is known for releasing excellent cutting machines at the right time. In 2015, Cricut released the Explore Air brand which was aimed at competing directly with the Silhouette Cameo 3. The cutting machine has a cutting mat that is of the same size as that of the Silhouette brand. It also has a dual-blade setup that makes the cutting task easier and quicker. The Cricut Explore Air cutting machine has Bluetooth functionality that is compatible with different kinds of devices. With the Bluetooth feature, you can easily synchronize the device to your iPad for wireless cutting. The cutting device has an excellent print and cuts feature that is also found in the Silhouette Cameo 3 brand.

Furthermore, the Cricut Explore Air has a great advantage in that is dually located at the right side of the device. It has a knob through which you can select the deepness you want the cut to be. It also allows you to choose the pressure you want to apply when cutting the material. The cutting machine has custom settings whereby you can choose it for cutting special materials.

Additionally, the Cricut Explore Air cutting machine has a design space separated for its software. The cutting machine is simple to explore and friendly for beginners. It seems to be simple to handle than the Silhouette Cameo 3. The design space uses DRM. Hence, users of the machine need a strong internet connection to operate it. You can also import files into the Cricut Explore Air device. However, you cannot draft something from your blank slate.

Differences between Silhouette and Cricut Cutting Machines

1. Blade Strength

In terms of the blade strength, there is no clear comparison between the Silhouette and Cricut cutting machines. The Cricut cutting machine has a blade that is more powerful than that of Silhouette. For instance, the Cricut Explore Air is used for heavy-duty cutting. With Explore Air, you won't pass through the stress when cutting tougher materials.

The Cricut brand of cutting machine has a German carbide blade. Therefore, it can last longer than stock blades that are used in the Silhouette Cameo 3. With this blade, you can make a deep cut using both machines. However, the blade of Explore Air makes cutting easier than Cameo 3. The Explore Air cutting machine is suitable for cutting hard leathers, aluminum, cork, and other hard materials. If you are using Cameo 3 to cut these materials, you won't achieve good success.

2. Software

When it comes to the software available on cutting machines, the Silhouette and Cricut machine has efficient and well-designed software. The Silhouette design studio has robust and more diverse features that are suitable for cutting purposes. The software allows all categories of users to work on their favorite images using a blank sheet. For people that desire to purchase images, you can visit the Cricut store. The images look professional and are comparable to the basic clip art that is available online.

The Cricut software is easy to explore than that of Silhouette. You will need to spend some time learning the operation of the Silhouette software before having full mastery of its services. The basic version of your design studio software can be accessed at no cost. It uses.png,.jpg, and.bmp files. However, you can spend $50 to upgrade the software. Also, the professional version of the software has a feature whereby you can use files as.svg files.

Conversely, the design software of the Cricut cutting machine can be handled by anyone. You don't need to employ the service of a professional or go through extra learning processes to operate the software. With the software, you can handle simpler to complex designs without any hassle. However, the options available on Cricut are limited when compared with that of Silhouette. Also, you cannot use the software offline. Therefore, you need a good and active internet connection to operate the software.

The Cricut design space software can work perfectly with.dxf and.gif files. In contrast, the Silhouette design studio can work perfectly with different file formats.

The Best Machine to Purchase between Silhouette and Cricut

The class of user you belong - determines the best cutting machine you can choose. If you are a beginner, the Cricut cutting tool will be recommended to you to handle all your die-cutting tasks. This is because the Cricut tool is easier to set up and operate. With the tool, you won't be overwhelmed with unnecessary features.

The Cricut device offers deeper penetration when used for cutting materials. However, the Cricut tool does not work without an internet connection. This may be a barrier for new die-cutter users that need a simpler machine to handle different tasks.

If all you need is a die-cutter that does not offer deep cut to its users, you can purchase the Silhouette Cameo 3. The tool comes with software that is versatile in all areas. You don't need to purchase a professional version before your cutting tasks can be handled. However, you can choose Cricut if you want to cut difficult materials.

Finally, Cameo 3 has a major downside which is its software. The software is designed with a huge variety of features. However, you need to spend some dollars to unlock some file extensions like.svg.

Summary

The table below summarizes the differences between the Silhouette and Cricut die-cutter.

Conclusion

The die-cutting world has witnessed the introduction of a wide range of cutting tools. Today, I have compared Silhouette and Cricut die-cutter. Happy reading!