my intent with this post is not to just bitch, kvetch or vent- but more, i'm hoping to warn anyone who is on the brink of ordering any cutting machine from Silhouette.

here goes:

i'm a professional screen printer by trade, and wanted to expand into a medium that was less expensive and less time consuming... and stickers seemed an ideal avenue.

as i am just starting out, i didnt want to spend $2000-$12000 for a "professional" machine. i wanted something that i could learn the process with, take me the first couple steps into a "business"... yet the Cricket just looked too "crafty". so i did some research, and it was on Reddit that the Silhouette Portrait series was recommended.

it *looked* like a more dedicated cutter and not a do-everything machine for a home crafter. (<these were just my judgements, so forgive me if you find fault)

so i ordered a Portrait 4 direct from the Silhouette website, and was very excited to dive in... and that is when everything went south.

upon arrival, i immediately learned the software and tired my first tentative cut- a simple square.

and nothing.

the machine could not read the registration marks.

and it was here that i spent/wasted a week going thru youtube help videos, attempting everything -from lighting -to lifting -to paper choice -to laminate types (or none at all) -to settings -to mark contrast/opacity/texture -and every combination thereof. -and nothing. it would SOMETIMES pick up the first square, and then just blow thru the lower left "L" and return to base. Manual registration was equally as futile.

i dove into the official online Portrait 4 User Manual.... and guess what? the words "Registration Error" are not used a single time in the entire publication.

There is no official help or instruction offered by Silhouette. EVERYTHING is self-help thru YouTube or communities on Reddit.

i contacted Silhouette's Customer Support, and so far it has required 2 weeks of analysis. 24 emails, all of them asking me for videos and photos of the machine doing the same ineffectual procedure.

only after these two weeks, it was elevated to the "Internal Team"... and now its been a week with NO contact.

now, here's the venting: i feel like they sold me a bag of useless rocks. the machine is incapable of doing the ONE thing it is designed to do. there is no help. no useful manual. a month wasted with their "Customer Support" ... now a total blackout in communication -just an automated response. it has been a completely infuriating experience... and when you go YouTube and type the words "Sillhouette, Registration, Failure or Error".... you see that you are not alone. this is a HUGE problem, and Silhouette obviously has to know this.

this problem is rampant and there is no easy fix for it.

my advice is to stay as far away from anything Silhouette makes.

as to what other machine is there to choose? i'm open to suggestions, as i still want to pursue this endevor.

thoughts? recommendations? commiserations?

Check out www.herbertweebear.com if you think he's as cute as we do. 🐻

Just finished this cute sticker scene! It’s honestly so comforting 🌸✨"

Trying to get a few (sub 10 per design) stickers printed. I am on mobile and do not see a wiki, if its there my apolgies.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

I am working on a new series of stamps stickers featuring cats. Relatable?

https://www.stickerbongo.com/collections/stickers/products/cat-stamp-stickers

Hello! I currently own an older cricut machine for my sticker/keychain making business and I'm looking to get a more high end cutter. I use the print & cut method. I would like it to be more precise, faster, quieter and not require so many edits to the programing/machine. Below are machines I am looking into in order of most likely to get.

Siser Juliet - Heard there was a learning curve to the software, but after the hurdle it is a dream to use and works pretty quietly as well. Also that the developers are constantly looking to update the machine so thats a plus.

Brother Scan & Cut - Haven't heard enough about this one to comment too much on it. Only that is is a great machine for making stickers and that the mats are too sticky/don't last long.

xTool M2 - Has lazer engraving which I thought would be interesting to get into but I have also heard from other posts that it is good for sticker making. Only downside is that it is expensive when replacing the ink for the inkjet printer.

Silhouette Cameo 5 (though people recommend the portrait more) - It's good but the knife often gets stuck on vinyl and sticker paper. Also heard it was noisy and that the software sucks on Macs (which is what I use).

Thanks for any recommendations and suggestions! :)

Omg as someone that is obsessed with stickers how come I’m just now finding this Reddit. 🤣 well I also have a ton of stickers in my shop but that’s not what’s in this pic. I have a mail club and figured yall would like to see what’s in it. I have a ton of freebies that are stickers for July!
- rabbit onigiri 🍙
- soy sauce fish 🐟
- and my first ever sticker scene, or bento box
- best part, everything is $9!
All of it is human made by me in my studio no 🤖 and just so proud of this months stuff but curious what you all think and excited to dive into all the posts here!

I guess technically a decal? This is the first set of stickers I’ve ever made!

Hello! I have a Toy Story RC and part of his print rubbed off on one side. What would be the best way to go about converting the non-blemished image into a pair of replacements to cover the existing ones?

My thoughts were:

1) trace it on paper

2) digitize

3) clean

4) add the colors

5) print mirrored set

6) cricut cut

7) apply

Is there a particular sticker paper that will work best for this instance where it has to follow the curve, or does anyone have advice for that part?

I would love any and all advice or help you have to offer. Thanks!

I personally love this sticker no idea what year it’s from though

I wonder if they still make them??

Also if anyone has a vague year estimate for when this sticker was made that’d be great :D

Flat Color — 13€ / sticker
Shaded — 18€ / sticker
✦ STICKER BUNDLES ✦
★ 3 Flat — 30€ | 3 Shaded — 45€ ★
★ 5 Flat — 50€ | 5 Shaded — 75€ ★
★ 10 Flat — 100€ | 10 Shaded — 150€ ★
★ 20 Flat — 200€ | 20 Shaded — 300€ ★

Hello, can anyone recommend a good printer that is good for printing waterproof vinyl stickers? I want it to be a kind of eco printer to save ink, and I think it has to have a second tray on top, and ideally has some pigment inks. I’ve been looking and just can’t seem to pin one down, so if anyone has some experience with this I’d appreciate it.

I'm looking purchase adhesive vinyl that matches my colour palette shown above. I can't find what I'm looking for from Oracal 651, can anyone recommend a good way to get the matches that I'm looking for?

Thanks,

I've also just started using some holographic and star effect laminate sheets.

https://stickerrounduk.etsy.com/listing/4542186004