Digital die cutters have become a popular tool for graphic designers. You can make patterned paper, vinyl or fabric using die cutting and it can be a crucial tool for design. Today we will compare two digital die cutters: Cricut Explore Air and Silhouette Cameo 3. Let’s see what they have to offer and then you can make your choice.

Silhouette Studio Designer : Software

Die cutter software

Machines depend on their software and it can be the most important thing about them.

When it comes to the Silhouette Cameo 3, the die cutter has a software named Silhouette Studio Designer. The software is very powerful and it is ideal for expert designers that know how to use technology. However, Silhouette Studio Designer may be a bit too complex for you if you are not an experienced user.

People have also noted that the Silhouette Studio Designer is more advanced than the software of the Cricut Explore Air. Therefore, if you want to work with a powerful software we recommend this one.

Silhouette Studio Designer is a sophisticated software that offers you the freedom to create complex designs.

The Silhouette Cameo 3 does not require an Internet connection so you can use it offline as well.

The Cricut Explore Air has its own software named Design Space. It is simple and easy to use so many users appreciate the fact that is accessible for everyone. If you are still a beginner and you want a software that allows you to learn the basic things, this one is what you want. Design Space is very user friendly so  it is perfect if you do not want something complex. However, its ease of use does not mean that this is a weak die cutter. Quite the opposite actually, the Cricut Explore Air is one of the strongest machines on the market.

This die cutter is only available online, you will need to be connected to the Internet in order to use it.

Hardware Affordances

We can also see some differences when we look at the hardware of Cricut Explore Air and Silhouette Cameo 3. For example, the Silhouette Cameo 3 has a Scan and Cut feature. This lets you cut material from printed designs and it is similar to a Cricut Explore Air feature named Print and Cut that allows you to cut designs printed directly from your computer. The Silhouette Cameo 3 does have an feature called Autoblade, a blade that adjusts to the material that is being cut.

The Cricut Explore Air comes with a strong blade that will allow you to cut a wide range of materials, because it is a German Carbide metal blade. The blade can also be adjusted with the Smart Set Dial in order to change the pressure or depth until it matches the type of material that is being cut.

These two die cutters also have something in common: both the Silhouette Cameo 3 and the Cricut Explore Air come with dual carriages. For those who do not know, this means that you do not have to stop cutting in order to switch a pen or a blade.

Final Thought

Now that you can pick a die cutter, perhaps you want to enhance the process of designing even more. If that is the case, you can try out some Script Fonts for your next design.

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