If you're using the upgraded Silhouette Studio software, such as Designer Edition (SSDE) or Business Edition (SSBE), there's a new problem surfacing in Version 4.1 with some SVG files from SVGCuts.
Version 4.0 is OK
Version 4.0 does not appear to be affected. (If you're using version 4.0.623ssde, for example, you won't have this problem.) You can find out what version yours is by going to "Silhouette Studio" in the Menu Bar, and then "About Silhouette Studio."
If you're using version 4.0, when you check for updates within the software by going to "Help" in the Menu Bar and then "Check For Updates," you'll see a message saying, "No updates are currently available." It seems that sometimes the latest version can instead be found on Silhouette's website at: https://www.silhouetteamerica.com/software.
If you're using version 4.0, SVG files from SVGCuts will open as-expected and display on your "normally-sized" on-screen mat in a "normal" location.
Version 4.1 Issue
However, if you're using version 4.1, something has changed on Silhouette's end, and some of our files are opening with a lot of empty space around them, causing them to be displayed very far away from the on-screen mat.
Basically, the reason is because some of our files were saved with empty space around them in the program they were created in. This has never mattered until now for any cutting machine software that I'm aware of, however it is now affecting the 4.1 versions of SSDE and SSBE, etc.
This is not happening with all of our SVG files. For example, if I open tree1a.svg from the Advent Calendar Trees SVG Kit in SSDE v4.1.479, it looks like this:
This SVG file, like many others, appears as-expected. It shows up "normally," whether my SVG Import settings are set to Open "Centered" or Open "As-is." (To see your SVG Import settings, go to Edit --> Preferences --> Import tab --> Use the drop-down menu next to "Open" under "SVG.")
It seems that it doesn't really matter whether the drop-down menu under SVG is set to "As-is" or "Centered."
However, one example of the problem happening is with the Mega Butterfly SVG Kit.
If I open wings_bottom.svg in SSDE v4.1.479 (with my SVG Import settings set to Open "Centered"), it looks like this:
"Blank."
If I zoom out, it looks like this:
Then, I can select the shape and move it onto my mat:
Which you shouldn't have to do, so... Until I figure out a good fix, I'm so sorry for the inconvenience. ? Some shapes are showing up on the on-screen mat area MUCH farther away than that.
If I import wings_bottom.svg again, but with my SVG Import settings set to "Open - As-is," the shape shows up a little closer to my on-screen mat:
However, this will vary. 🙁
What to Do (For Now)
In a nutshell, if this is happening for you, please zoom out to see your shape. And if you wouldn't mind letting me know (via our Contact Us form) which project it's happening for you on, I'll update them as I can and send you the updated version. (See the bottom of this post for an updated list of affected/updated SVG Kits.) Thanks for your help!!
Frequently-Asked User Questions Regarding this Issue
Here are some of the questions I've been getting that are related to this, which I will paste here in case they're helpful in recognizing this issue:
"Not sure if this is an new issue with your files or silhouette design software. But when I import your files the mat is huge! I have to change to cameo, zoom way out to file the images that are normal size. And move them to the mat. Then zoom back in. Do you know how to fix this? Is there something in the settings I need to change?"
"When I try to open these files in Silhouette Cameo it changes my mat size to Custom 70.997 x 142.439. I have never had this problem with your files. Please let me know how I can correct this."
"I purchased several files last week, and opened one for the first time today, to make the Ice Cream Come Box Card for my brother-in-law's birthday. When I click on the file to open it in Silhouette Studio BE, it opens in the middle of a grid that is approximately 155x175 inches square. I can drag the files up onto the mat, which appears as a tiny red square in the upper left corner of the grid, and then resize the page to "Automatic Cameo" to get the normal 12x12 mat view back, and the appropriately-sized pieces into view. The proportions of the pieces are correct, they're just lost in a giant grid that appears as thousands of tiny squares on my screen... This is happening with the other files from that order as well, including the Geo Lantern and the Mega Butterfly. I tried opening a few other files I've purchased from you in the past, and they either seem to open on the large grid or they open on a very zoomed-in grid, where the visible width is approximately 1x1 or 2x2. I don't think they used to do this. I'm not sure what has changed. I just updated Silhouette Studio BE to version 4.1.468... In short, your files are usable, but the way these new ones are opening, off the mat in the middle of a giant grid, is strange."
"I re-downloaded the files for the Father’s Day box cards... I cannot get them to drag and drop into Silhouette as I usually can."
"When I go File and open, Silhouette does not recognize the .svg files, so it appears there is nothing there, but I can see the files when Look in the file folder from Microsoft’s File Explorer. I assumed your files were compatible with Silhouette. Am I wrong about that or am I doing something incorrectly?"
"The Halloween box cards set opens fine in Cricut, Sure Cuts A Lot, but in the Silhouette Design Space it opens as a tiny spot. I have version 4.1.468 of the Silhouette program. I don't want to have to reload all the designs from another program into my Silhouette program. All the other files I have from your site open fine in the Silhouette program."
"I just purchased the file called Fall Weekend and I can't get it to work in my Silhouette Cameo 2. The files open in a really small format and I really don't know how to fix this."
"I have used your files for years. Just bought three more and went to use then and all my files now go on the Silhoutte Designer edition mat and turn my mat to a 50x50 instead of 12 x 12. I use the svg file when adding them. All my old ones that i purchased in past are doing the same thing and I do not know how to fix it."
"hi mary - just purchased the darling flannel shirt. when i opened the files - each was in a different view format - none in the 12x12 grid. i couldn't figure out how to change them back, but did an good 'ole copy/paste but i'm glad that the design only had the 3 files. how do i fix this? i have a silhouette cameo 3 designer edition operating on windows 10. never had this happen before, please, please help me."
"Is there anything I need to do to your files to make them come into Silhouette Studio Designer Edition? I just purchased the newest Halloween box cards and they just don't "open" correctly. If you need a photo of what it looks like, I can send that. They come into version 3 perfect, but not version 4."
"I thought all your cut files were sized. Have you quit doing that? The ones I got on the Halloween Box Cards are so small you can hardly see them. Did I get the right ones? Do you have a video to show the way to fix them?"
"...this has been very frustrating. I am using silhouette studio and when I try and open some of the files the appear very tiny on the screen."
I'm Sorry!
I'm sorry for the delay on some sort of an update on this problem. I haven't been able to replicate it myself until today when I finally figured out how to update my SSDE to version 4.1 on the Silhouette America website instead of from within the software. Thanks for your patience! I'll update this page as I figure more out and I'll keep a running list below of updated SVG Kits that will be available for re-download. Thanks so much! ~Mary
Affected SVG Kits
- Mega Butterfly SVG Kit - to be updated
- Boardwalk Box Cards SVG Kit - to be updated
- Halloween Box Cards SVG Kit - to be updated
- Fall Weekend SVG Kit - to be updated
- Luxury Handbags SVG Kit - updated 11/19/2018
- 3D Flowers SVG Kit Part II - updated 11/7/2018
- Father's Day Box Cards SVG Kit - to be updated
- Haunted Forest SVG Kit - to be updated
- Fall Harvest SVG Kit - to be updated