With your Silhouette Cameo or Silhouette Portrait machine you get the standard Silhouette Studio software.
It's a great piece of design software, easy and intuitive to use and for the majority of users it has all the features required to get the most out of your Silhouette machine.
If you need additional features, eg importing a specific file type or controlling multiple Silhouette machines, then there are a range of upgrades available to increase the functionality.
Alternatively if you already design artwork in Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator then you don't even have to use Silhouette Studio, you can just get the Silhouette Connect plug-in.
Silhouette Studio
Silhouette Studio® is a robust, free design software that gives makers the freedom to imagine, design, and create unique craft projects. With dozens of design tools and easy integration with Silhouette cutting machines, Silhouette Studio® is the ultimate tool for crafters who want to make their own unique, personalized projects.
You have full creative control so you can customise designs, create projects that meet your needs, and use the perfect cut settings for your materials.
Silhouette Studio® gives beginners a smooth introduction to designing and offers all of the tools seasoned designers are familiar with. Easy navigation and quick integration with your Silhouette cutting machine makes the design process a breeze.
But the software options don't stop there as upgrades are available.
Silhouette Studio Upgrades
Unleash the true potential of your Silhouette Cameo or Silhouette Portrait and increase productivity with a software upgrade.
There are several different editions you can upgrade to, for a comparison chart showing all the available features click here.
Design Edition
In addition to all the features of Silhouette Studio Standard Edition you can
Using Your Cameo Or Portrait Without Silhouette Studio
If you like using Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator then the Sillhouette Connect plug-in is a great option. This allows you to output directly to the Cameo or Portrait so you don't have to learn a new piece of software.
Connect
Send projects to the Silhouette directly from your Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw* with Silhouette Connect.
Ability to send jobs to Silhouette directly
Control cut setting conditions
Define page and cutting mat conditions
Layers support (to cut various conditions by colour or layer)
Weeding features for cutting vinyl and film materials
Add registration ' + 'marks for “print & cut” jobs that work with the Silhouette machine’s registration mark sensor
PC and MAC compatible
* Is not compatable with Corel Draw Home or Student edition