What’s better to do today than master The Replicate and Rotate Tools in Silhouette Studio? (LOL)
Today, I’m showing how I use the advanced replicate and rotate tools to make many of the Cutting Files that I share here at GetSilvered.
Don’t let that word “advanced” deter you though as it’s not hard at all and I’m sharing an easy rotate reference table to take the guesswork and (math) out.
First though, I’m showing how to make a basic doily shape by replicating and rotating a circle. If you’re new to the Advanced Rotate & Replicate features I suggest following along exactly with my measurements and instructions to see how it works to get a feel for it.
Step By Step Make a Doily
- The Centre of Rotation (COR), is the set of small cross lines in a circle found in the middle of each shape. If it’s not visible turn it on from the Settings menu. >Settings > Defaults > and Check “Show Centre of Rotation”.
- Draw a Circle. In my example I’m using a 1.5 inch circle.
- Select Circle and Internal offset it by .250 inch.
- Select Both > Right Click > Make Compound Path. It will look like a donut/washer shape.
- Drag down the COR to the bottom outside edge of the donut shape.
- Open Replicate Menu Window and Scroll down > Click on Advanced options
- Insert 7 for Number of copies (Figure 2) and set Degrees at 45 (figure 1)
- Scroll down a bit and Click >Replicate
- With all rotations still selected > Right Click >Weld.
- Done! – Admittedly, it’s a simple shape. Read on to see more options to designing with Replicating and Rotating and getting more variations 🙂
More details on the options when rotating and replicating….
- TLDR/Summary: In the replicate Window: The angle of degrees you set in Figure 1 must divide evenly into 360 degrees. Figure 2 equals the number of times it divides into 360 less 1. (see pic below)
- Remember our big plastic circular protractors back in Geometry class? A full circle is 360°. So if we have an object in Silhouette Studio we wish to rotate and replicate, and we set the angle of rotate to 30°, (#1 on pic below.) we’ll need 12 objects spaced at 30° intervals to create an even circular design. That’s because 360 divided by 30 equals 12. With me?
- But…in Advanced Replicate settings in Silhouette Studio we would set the number of copies (fig2) at 11, not 12. Why? Because you already have your original shape there, so you need only 11 more rotations at 30° intervals to make up the total 12 rotated shapes needed for a 360° full circle.
- If the geometry isn’t your forte, I’ve made a handy chart below, with other examples of settings that make up a perfect 360° design when using advanced rotate. Pin as a reference, or Click image for a bigger pic and right click to save the larger version.
- Another reminder: Move that Centre of Rotation. If you forget, all your duplicates will just spin around on top of one another!
Now have some fun!
Beware this is addictive! Now the Math class is done and dusted – make unique designs now by:
- Changing the starting shape, (try an oval or a rounded square),
- Change the size and thickness of your original shape (try a little thinner than before when offsetting )
- Change the position of the Center of Rotation (Drag it further down – it will make the final design larger)
- Change the Degrees of rotation settings see my handy chart above.
In the pic below I’m showing a few of the endless possibilities. I started with the same simple 1 1/2 inch donut shape I used to make the doily above, but in the top row the results varied depending on the angle and number of copies I selected. In the bottom row I used the exact same settings as the top row, the only difference was the COR was dragged down a further half inch. Small changes can make big differences!
Have fun! The related posts below are just four of the many designs I’ve made using the Advanced Replicate and Rotate tools.
Thank you for this great tutorial!! I love playing with my Silhouette Cameo and learning what it’s capable of doing.
I’ve only used the rotation and replicate tools for very basic operations so it was exciting to learn how much more they can do!!
I’m off to make some doilies 🙂
Cheers,
Kate
Oh, I’m pleased it makes sense to you Kate! I use the rotation tool all the time and as you’ll see it’s not so scary! Thanks for your kind words and have fun 🙂
Thank you once again Pam for such an excellent tutorial.
I have just tried this, following your instructions, and it worked perfectly!
Thanks Jan for letting me know. Always great to hear it’s working for others too 🙂
very very very nice ! great tutorial. I have just tried it and it’s magic 🙂 thank you so much
Mu pleasure Marie, So pleased it worked well for you too. I love playing with the rotate tools, so many different results!
Pam, Thank you so much for your wonderful tutorial & charts to help understanding the rotation much easier. I have already learnt why some of my rotations have not been working properly & that is just by opening my email this morning. Thank you again, Looking forward to getting to play & make more of my own designs.
Thanks for taking the time to comment Beryl and for your lovely feedback – I appreciate it 🙂 Enjoy the rotating!
Thank you Pam for opening a whole new door by learning to do rotations. I had only used it in rows & columns. Good tutorial & helpful charts. I also learned that if the default setting did not work, which mine did not, if you click on object & hit the lower case “o”, COR will come on.
Thanks Nelly, glad that you found the tute useful. And thanks so much for sharing that COR tip. Awesome!