Knife Tool Overview in Silhouette Studio

Splitting or slicing an image in Silhouette Studio is done by using the Knife Tool.Applied to cut lines or images, projects such as creating Split Monograms are easily achieved. Once your image is selected click the Knife Tool on the left side panel, click and drag across your design to cut. The image will be broken up into individual objects.

The Knife Tool in Silhouette Design Studio separates the parts of an image wherever the tool is applied.

A reminder that while the Knife Tool is available in all versions of Silhouette Studio, the free version does have limitations. We will work in the free version of Silhouette Studio.

Where is the Knife Tool Located?

The Knife tool is located on the left side panel and looks like a knife symbol. The options available for the Knife Tool are found at the top of the screen including Solid and Outline.

How to use the Knife Tool?

The Knife tool allows you to make use of the Solid and Outline Cut. Where Solid Cut is applied the image/object will be separated into two individual complete shapes. For Outline Cut, once applied,the image will be separated but with open paths which means you can't use a fill.

The default setting is Solid Cut to avoid confusion for beginners. If you do change to Outline Cut this will be set as the default each time you open Silhouette Studio and use the Knife Tool.

Step 1 - Draw out a simple shape

In Silhouette Studio, on the left side panel, place your mouse over the Drawing Tools icon and select the Draw a Regular Polygon.

On your workspace click and drag your mouse to draw out the polygon shape.

Step 2 - Activate the Knife Tool

On the left side panel click on the Knife Tool, which should be the last icon in Silhouette Studio Free Edition. By default Solid Cut should be selected at the top of the screen, if it isn't highlighted in blue click on Solid Cut.

Step 3 - Use the Knife Tool to cut the shape

With the Knife Tool selected, place your mouse over the shape.The mouse will turn into a small knife and the cut line will be red. Click the left mouse button and drag from one end of the shape to the other then release your mouse button.

To create a straight cut Shift + Click the left mouse button while dragging the cut line out.

The shape is now cut into two individual complete shapes.

Cut options for the Knife Tool

In the free edition of Silhouette Studio you have four cut options available. These options give you creative ways of creating cut lines through objects

Straight -

The straight cut optioncuts with a straight line

Poly -

The poly cut option creates nodes where you click with sharp points

Curve -

The curve option creates nodes where you click that are rounded

Freehand -

Draw the cut line freehand as if using a pencil

Slicing an image in Silhouette Studio

An image can have multiple elements but with no way of separating them. This is particularly true for clip art and watercolorillustrations. Using the Knife Tool you are able to separate design elements as individual objects.For this example we will use adreamcatcher watercolor.

Step 1 - Open the image in Silhouette Studio

Once you have opened Silhouette Studio, click on File, Open and click on the image you want to use.

Step 2 - Use the Knife Tool to cut out the elements

We would like to use the feathers as additional elements for another project. So we will cut them out using the Knife Tool. On the left side panel click on the Knife Tool and make sure the CurveCut option is selected at the top.

Choose the element you want to cut out, click to lay the first point down, move the mouse and click to lay the second point.Keep clicking and laying points around the element until you come back to the first point.Like a magnet the last point will attach to the first point. Release your mouse button.

Step 3 - Select and move the cut out

After applying the Curve Cut line the feather will be cut out from the watercolor.You can now move it around on the canvas and use in other projects.

The Knife Tool is a great option for utilizing your illustrations invarious projects.Learn more about the tools in Silhouette Studiowith our other tutorials including making and editing shapes, importing patterns into Libraryand using the Autotrace feature.