Silhouette portait4 User manual

Silhouette Cutting Machine
User's Manual
MANUAL NO. PORTRAIT4-UM-151

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Preface
Thank you for choosing Silhouette Portrait4.
Silhouette Portrait4is an electronic cutting machine suitable for cutting the following sizes (width): 5.5in., A4,
Letter, 9in., and 8.5-in. mat.
In addition to cutting films, craft papers, and iron-print sheets, the machine can easily cut various materials.
To ensure safe and correct use, be sure to read this User's Manual thoroughly prior to use.
After reading, please keep it in a safe place where you can find it at any time.
Notes on this Manual
(1) No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by
any means, without the prior written permission of Silhouette Japan Corporation.
(2) The product specifications and other information in this manual are subject to change without notice.
(3) While every effort has been made to provide complete and accurate information, please contact us through
the company website if you find any unclear or erroneous information or wish to make other comments or
suggestions.
(4) Notwithstanding the stipulations in the preceding paragraph, Silhouette Japan Corporation assumes no
liability for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein or the use of the product.
Registered Trademarks
All names of companies, brands, logotypes, and products appearing in this manual are the trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Copyright
This User's Manual is copyrighted by Silhouette Japan Corporation.
About the display screen
• The Silhouette Studio screen uses the display screen that appears when Silhouette Portrait4is connected to
a Windows 10 environment. The displayed content varies depending on the connected PC environment. In
addition, some of the display screens may be subject to change with a software upgrade.

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Before using this machine, please read this manual
Handling Precautions
To use the product correctly, as well as to establish an excellent cut, be sure to read the following points
thoroughly before use.
Note
•To avoid bodily injury, handle blades with care.
•Physical damage to a new machine caused by customers will not be covered by the warranty, so
unfortunately, we cannot offer you a product replacement.
Always make a test cut before cutting
If cutting conditions such as blade depth, force, and speed are not appropriate, the blade tip may break, or the
machine may be damaged.
Furthermore, the expected cutting results may not be obtained, and the media may be wasted.
Optimal cutting conditions vary depending on the thickness and quality of the media used and the degree of
wear of the blade.
Make a test cut every time you change the media.
Guideline for blade depth
Appropriate blade depth = Film
thickness + α
Release paper thickness
Film thickness
Does not cut through the film
The most important setting in cutting is to adjust the blade depth.
Adjust so that the blade protrudes slightly more than the thickness of
the media to be cut.
When cutting the cutting film, extend the cutter blade more than the
film, but not so much that it penetrates the release paper.
Use the cutting mat for the following circumstances
Be sure to use the cutting mat when cutting the following media.
Failure to use the cutting mat may damage the machine.
• When cutting media that do not have release papers
• When cutting out media (die cut)
Cut through to the release paper

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Intelligent Path Technology
The Intelligent Path Technology function offers specialized cutting options, such as controlling the cutting order
automatically.
This allows users to prevent the media from shifting when cutting.
There is tension in the material when cutting media (mainly paper) using the blade.
If the media to be cut is not fixed firmly, depending on the cutting order, this tension may cause the media to
shift or rip thin papers.
* This can be used to select the Silhouette Studio check box.
More
Intelligent Path
Technology
Since paper shift is less likely to occur, users can stack and cut multiple sheets of paper or cut thin papers more
beautifully than normal.
For example, this function is effective for cutting multiple sheets for the following design.
Note
The Intelligent Path Technology function is not guaranteed in all cases.
Additional information
This is an effective function in the following cases.
•When cutting complicated designs
•When cutting sharp angles
•When the adhesive comes off easily, such as sealing materials

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Optional items
This section describes the optional items that can be used with this product.
Silhouette Auto Sheet Feeder (ASF)
Set the ASF connecting plate and attach the ASF on top of it. There are two sizes available: letter and A3plus.
For details, refer to "https://www.silhouetteamerica.com/shop/auto-sheet-feeders".
Portrait Electrostatic Mat
A portrait electrostatic mat can be attached. For details, refer to the "Electrostatic Mat" supplies manual.
* To use the Portrait Electrostatic Mat, a separately sold Electrostatic Protection Sheet - 8.5in. x 12 in. is needed. Please
purchase it together with the product.
Heat Pen Set
This tool is used to transfer foil to the media. For details, refer to the "Heat Pen" supplies manual.
Roll Feeder
Use the Roll Feeder to cut roll media stably.

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For the latest information on this product, supplies, and consumables, please refer to our website.
Please use it together with this manual.
https://www.silhouetteamerica.com

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Contents
Preface...............................................................................2
Notes on this Manual ..........................................................2
Registered Trademarks .........................................................2
Copyright .....................................................................2
About the display screen...............................................................2
Before using this machine, please read this manual .......................................3
Handling Precautions...........................................................3
Always make a test cut before cutting .........................................3
Guideline for blade depth ..................................................3
Use the cutting mat for the following circumstances ............................3
Intelligent Path Technology.............................................................4
Optional items ........................................................................5
Silhouette Auto Sheet Feeder (ASF) .............................................5
Portrait Electrostatic Mat .......................................................5
Heat Pen Set ..................................................................5
Roll Feeder ....................................................................5
01 About Silhouette Portrait4.....................10
1-1Checking the contents of the package .............................................10
1-2Removing packaging materials from the machine ....................................
11
1-3Name and functions of each component...........................................12
Silhouette Portrait4...........................................................12
Operations ...................................................................13
1-4Setting up the machine ..........................................................14
Create your Silhouette account .................................................14
Register the Machine..........................................................16
Install the software (Silhouette Studio) ..........................................
20
Supported OS ..............................................................
20
For Windows ..............................................................
20
For Mac ...................................................................21
Check the connection with Silhouette Portrait4..................................22
Connect with Bluetooth .....................................................22

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Connect with a USB cable ...................................................23
Obtain free contents ..........................................................25
Check the free contents .....................................................25
Use trial subscription in Silhouette Design Store ...............................26
Confirm activation ..........................................................
30
1-5Available functions ..............................................................31
Size of the media that can be loaded ............................................31
Cut images ...................................................................32
02 Easy Operation Guide .........................33
2-1Cutting with an Auto Blade .......................................................33
Load a media .................................................................33
Setting the Auto Blade.........................................................35
2-2Workflow from simple designing to cutting ........................................37
Step 1. Creating cutting data using figures and texts ..............................37
Step 2. Cutting created data....................................................38
2-3Basic workflow of printing and cutting .............................................39
Pattern 1. Using the Drawing Tool to create cut line...............................39
Pattern 2. Using the auto-trace function.........................................
40
Pattern 3. Loading and tracing an image file .....................................41
03 About the Silhouette Studio Screen .............43
3-1Starting the software (Silhouette Studio)...........................................43
For Windows .................................................................43
For Mac......................................................................43
3-2Name and functions of each component...........................................43
3-3About the STORE tab (Silhouette Design Store) ....................................45
3-4Configuring the cutting conditions ................................................47
Descriptions of each setting item ...............................................47
Guideline for blade depth and media materials...................................
48
Auto Blade indicator scale ...................................................
48
About the Intelligent Path Technology ..........................................49
Auto cross-cutting ............................................................
50

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04 Troubleshooting ..............................52
4-1Unable to load the media properly ................................................52
Unable to insert media, or it bends and folds up..................................52
If you are using a rolled media, does the edge tend to curl down?................52
4-2Unable to feed the media properly ................................................53
The media move obliquely in the machine during cutting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Is the media or the left side of the cutting mat aligned with the Guiding Line?.....53
Is the Pinch Roller Unit aligned with the media and set to the appropriate printing
position?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Are the edges of the media cut at a right angle? ...............................53
The media slip out of the Pinch Roller ...........................................
54
Is the tip of the media placed against the Pinch Rollers on both sides and loaded
straight? ...................................................................
54
4-3Unable to cut properly ...........................................................55
The film peels off during cutting ................................................55
Are the tools set correctly? ..................................................55
Is the blade tip cap of the Auto Blade loose?...................................56
Is the blade worn, or is the cutting tip broken? .................................56
Is the blade depth too small, or is the force set too low? ........................56
Is the cutter blade sticking out too much, or is the force too high? Is the speed
(cutting speed) too fast? ....................................................57
Are the width of characters or figures to be cut too thin or too small?............57
The start and end of the cutting operation are misaligned.........................57
Is the inside of the Auto Blade dirty?..........................................57
Is the set media floating or bent?.............................................58
Are you selecting a pen even though you are using an Auto Blade, or vice versa? .58
Is the cutter blade sticking out too much, or is the force too high? ...............58
When the media is stuck ......................................................58
Are you loading the media in Silhouette Portrait4using the cutting mat?.........58
Is the media you are using too thick? .........................................59
The media is cut too much.....................................................59
Is the cutter blade sticking out too much, or is the force too high? ...............59
4-4Firmware update ................................................................
60
When in trouble .....................................................................61

01 About Silhouette Portrait4
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01 About Silhouette Portrait4
1-1Checking the contents of the package
The Silhouette Portrait4comes with accessories shown in the following list.
Make sure all the accessories are included when unpacking.
If any item is missing, promptly contact the distributor where you purchased it or Silhouette America Customer
Center.
Silhouette Portrait4AC adapter and power cable set
Cutting mat (8.5x 12 inches) Auto Blade
Hand-held blade adjuster Power terminal
* In addition, various documents may be attached.