The Ultimate Cutting Hack: Ditch the Mat with Cameo 5

[@Dragonflydrifting]

Been looking everywhere for this kind of video, make more! They’re great.

[@silhouettesuccess]

Welcome to the crew, and thanks for watching!

[@lorik2565]

Thank you for your Silhouette tutorials. I’m glad KZbin pointed me your way. I find card stock cut settings to be very glitchy. Glad to know it’s a real issue. Will you be doing an overview/demo on the electrostatic mat? Very curious to see how it works with card stock. Thanks again for your videos. So easy follow, the sound is great and the camera angles are good and steady.

[@silhouettesuccess]

At this point, I don't plan on buying the electrostatic mat for the Cameo 5, but that might change. I seem to have a slight shopping problem. LOL. I did cover the ES technology for the Curio 2. I know it's a bit different, but the concept should be similar.

[@KickzQueenCustoms]

Thank you so much for this tutorial, I’ve been searching for one that breaks it all down in easy to understand steps

[@tracydonaldson1290]

Love your videos so much, thank you!

[@985Mindy]

I always have problems with cardstock too

[@MiCraftStoree]

Thank you so much for the video, I needed it. You don't need smarty vinyl right? Normal vinyl works just fine?

[@silhouettesuccess]

No need for smart vinyl! Just make sure that the rollers are lined up right.

[@MiCraftStoree]

@@silhouettesuccess You're a star. Thank you

[@susans2991]

I very much appreciate all your videos on the 5. Even with the mat I am struggling to cut cardstock on the 5, along with stickers and vinyl! In fact, I’m totally disappointed in the machine. So far it hasn’t lived up to the hype. My Cameo 3 works fine, but I felt this would be a vast improvement, as I never bought a 4. Not so. I ended up cutting stickers on my old one because I hate wasting material with several test cuts as you demonstrated. I tried to return the 5 but the restocking fee makes it not practical. I can only hope they make improvements soon. I should have waited for them to be used for a while or waited for my 3 to die.

[@edwardholmes91]

I've just got the Cameo 5 and been very impressed with it. It's all very new to me, as it's my first cutting machine, so I don't have anything to compare it to though. A couple of things I've noted... the 'standard tack' mat that came with the Cameo is way too sticky, I got a pack of deTAPE mats at the same time and found the 'light tack' works great with all the materials I've tried so far. The second thing I've noted, is that most defaults seem to work as is, paper, vinyl etc. When I did cardstock (230gsm brown kraft) I created a custom material, based from one of the defaults, I think the settings for the autoblade ended up being: depth 8, force 20, speed 3 and passes 2. The two passes seemed to really help, as it is a very fibre heavy cardstock. I was surprised the depth was so much, but it is quite thick material, and the cutting mat only has a very slight mark on it (similar to that left by all the other default cuts). I'm excited about the ES mat, but it's not available in the UK just yet, and I'm not sure I can justify the additional cost of it.

[@silhouettesuccess]

You might need to do some troubleshooting, or maybe there's something wrong with the machine. My 5 cuts way better than my 4, but I have heard many times that the 3 was their best machine.

[@susans2991]

Thanks for the reply. Since I guess I’m keeping it I may try using the premium blade and the standard settings. My suspicion is the auto blade may be the issue. Worth a try.

[@silhouettesuccess]

@susans2991 inspect the blade. Look carefully for cracks in the housing, make sure that the little white cap is on tight, then see if the red line moves when it taps to adjust the depth. If the blade seems to be OK, try a carriage reset. Turn the machine off, slide the carriage all the way to the right, then to the left. Do this 3 times. Turn the cameo back on and test. Start with copy paper until it's running as it should.

[@susans2991]

Great tip! I will try this. I really appreciate your quick and thorough responses!

[@peem8709]

Try to use te overcut for the narrow corners

[@silhouettesuccess]

Thanks for the advice! I always forget to check that little box.

[@arleneaugustahair8393]

Do you recommend upgrading the Software?

[@silhouettesuccess]

I love all of the upgrades that come with Business Edition! I do recommend upgrading if it's in your budget. But keep an eye out. You can find it on sale for half price a lot of the time. Check Silhouette and Swing Design.

[@tksbutterfly]

Can you do sticker vinyl without a mat? Thank you so much for this video. Miss having a book but having tutorial videos is amazing

[@silhouettesuccess]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think you have to have a mat for print and cut. I do have a book for the software, if you're interested. silhouettesuccess.podia.com/design-studio-made-easy-handbook

[@KarenHope-s7w]

Thanks for the video. I have only had my cameo 5 for a couple of days so still playing. It cut the vinyl lettering exactly as expected leaving the backing paper untouched. However, the automatic cross cut only cut the vinyl and not the backing paper, I expected the automatic cross cut to cut through the backing paper as per your video. any thoughts.?

[@silhouettesuccess]

Did the blade adjust to a 10 after the project cut out?

[@KarenHope-s7w]

Will have a check thanks.

[@Maggie-fv2tq]

Thanks for this so much!! Do I turn the HTV Vinyl upside down? Was that vinyl you used a the HTV?

[@mschivuzprintz]

Can you cut htv without a mat?

[@TracyB55]

I haven't used the pop out feature yet, but would enabling overcut help with cutting cardstock without a mat?

[@silhouettesuccess]

Maybe, but that might totally cancel out the pop out cut. It is supposed to leave small areas uncut so that the shapes don't fall into the machine, but I was experiencing the blade dragging and catching, and ultimately tearing the paper.

[@georgeevans7232]

How is your vinyl clear? Did I miss something?

[@silhouettesuccess]

The adhesive vinyl is HTVRont brand. They have a clear plastic backing instead of a paper backing. There are pros and cons to it. You are less likely to cut through the backing if you bump your settings up, but the vinyl doesn't stick as well to the backing making it a bit more difficult to weed.

[@aburles2901]

great video!

[@audreychase2906]

Brenda. Firstly, love your videos so much. Please may I ask what kind of vinyl you’re using for this mug? Will it be dishwasher proof?

[@silhouettesuccess]

The vinyl is HTVRont permanent black matte. I always run my mugs through the dishwasher and the decals typically stay put for a year or so. Keep in mind that I have 2 mugs like this and I won't use any others, so basically, it goes through around 150 wash cycles. 😂

[@ELENMULTIART]

I closely follow all the news related to Cameo 5 with great attention. Could you please tell me if it's possible to apply an automatic paper feeder to Cameo 5? And if so, could you show me a tutorial on how to do it? Thank you.

[@silhouettesuccess]

I do believe the Silhouette website says that you can use the auto feeder with the cameo 5, but I have not purchased one yet. I'm trying to replenish my piggy bank. Lol.

[@sabonaudi]

the user manual says that if you dont have an adhesive layer in your product you have to use the mat.

[@silhouettesuccess]

silhouetteamerica.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/35000206181-matless-cutting Here is some info from Silhouette's website. You can do a pop out cut on cardstock or other material without a backing. This is available on Cameo 4 and 5, and Portrait 3 and 4. It is newer technology, so that information may not be updated in the manual?

[@KarenLeanneCreates2024]

Brenda, I hope you have a chance to answer a trouble solving question. I have some leftover vynil known as " insignia cloth". It is from the days of our advertising balloon business. If you aren't familiar with it, it is a vynil with a finely woven smooth fabric surface layered, or embedded into the adhesive vynil. I need to make a banner measuring 10" x 7 feet. So, I managed to successfully create my text, and tried the roll feeder for the first time. The material slid all over the place. Of course, it created a jam. SO...do you know which material on the list is equivalent for adjusting the roller pressure? Is that what the pressure setting controls, or does it only control the cutting blade? How can I get the feed to not slip around?

[@silhouettesuccess]

Did you slide the right roller over so that it is on top of the material?

[@KarenLeanneCreates2024]

@@silhouettesuccess I did. But perhaps I should stick it down to the mat to get the feed started? I wonder if there's a way to get the rollers tighter?

[@silhouettesuccess]

@KarenLeanneCreates2024 there's not. Are you on FB? If you join the group, you can post a quick video of what's going on, and it will be easier to troubleshoot.

[@KarenLeanneCreates2024]

@silhouettesuccess I'll do it later. I found a work around!😃

[@BrightSolCreations]

How do i cut up to 16' on a roll?

[@silhouettesuccess]

You'll want to use the roll feeder. In the page setup panel, choose custom media size and enter the size of your vinyl. The width would be 12. Length 192.

[@jobichan1429]

the purpose of pop out is to hold the cardstock if you cut all through out the cardstock without a mat it will fall and will jammed on the machine, no mat to catch all those die cuts. This is why the es mat is really a good option for cardstocks no need to take it out of sticky mat one by one.

[@silhouettesuccess]

Yes. I just thought I would get less tearing. My blade kept getting caught and tearing/crinkling the top layer of the cardstock.

[@neldasturgill8080]

Please show how to get that thin little piece of vinyl out of the machine after it was cut off. You cut the clip of showing that it was back into the machine.

[@silhouettesuccess]

I just pressed the mat eject button again. I'm sorry!!

[@TheSlimHim]

Why are you lowering the force?

[@rayaneredhead3374]

because it was tearing out the paper. the force 2 is enough to cut

[@BAHCESEHIRDIGITAL]

Doesn't it washes out the foıl when washing it?

[@silhouettesuccess]

Are you talking about the vinyl on the mug? I run it through the dishwasher about every other day, and it's still on there. Mine usually last about a year, but they would last much longer if I washed them by hand.

[@babygirl36695]

I enjoyed this. I just wished it was slowed down to be able to follow and understand it better.

[@silhouettesuccess]

You can slow it down in the settings on the video and pause when you need to. I went a lot slower when I started making videos, but I lose a lot of viewers a few minutes in. Then nobody sees the videos because KZbin only pushes out what people are interested in. It's like walking a tight rope. Lol

[@NazrullahKawi]

Adjustable roller already a good new feature.. but sadly they still using hard roller and spring roller. Cameo please use rubber roller like other plotter machine manufacturer!

[@roslynjoy]

My Cricut Maker is three years old and the rubber rollers are now failing and not replaceable without taking the whole thing apart, so I’m wondering if hard rollers are more durable?

[@lojajc7673]

🇧🇷

[@KarenRobinson-k2v]

Bought a Cameo 5 because of the ES mat. Mat is great Cameo has never cut anything. Scores it yes, cut no. Because I am in the UK there is no one to help, fix or service. BEWARE!

[@silhouettesuccess]

Have you tried a new blade? Sometimes the blades are just bad from the beginning. I could help troubleshoot more if you want to join the Silhouette Success FB group. You can post pics there and it's easier to respond.

[@WaschyNumber1]

The software should be free and all options in it the cutter is anyway very expensive.

[@silhouettesuccess]

The Cameo 5 is $70 cheaper than a Cricut Maker 3. To get full access to Design Space, you have to pay $10 every month. You can get Business Edition for $50 if you catch it on sale. Anyway you look at it, Silhouette is more affordable. Plus, you're getting a better machine and better software.

[@rd-gi6jw]

I don't live in the US. I live in Europe. We foreign users get envy when we see the US prices. I bought Cameo 5 Plus in August. It cost me about $700. The US price is $430 or so. And then I had to pay all extras (mats, blades etc.) since this was my first Silhouette cutter. I paid $50 for Studio Business without a blink of eye. It gives me access to all my SVG files I created over a more than six years span for my Cricut Maker. I understand that many Silhouette users are on the budget but I myself do not live in a developed western country and the standard of living here is much lower than in those countries. Still, even according to my local standards both price of equipment in the US and the software upgrade are pretty affordable. People often pay more for their smart phones.

[@WaschyNumber1]

@@rd-gi6jw than look the prices we have in the uk it's almost double the $ prices and almost every thing gets 1 to 1 calculate, beside the $ is less worth than the £ in the moment 1€=0.77£ and the GOV politics make everything with and more horrible on this planet.