- Cuts a variety of material including vinyl, paper, cardstock,...
- Use the powerful Silhouette Studio design software to create your...
- Features a dual-carriage for multi-tool use and a higher 2 mm...
- Is the only Silhouette compatible with the self-adjusting...
- Includes Silhouette CAMEO cutting machine, Silhouette Studio...
The Cameo 3 is the most recent update of Silhouette’s flagship crafting machine, and one of the most popular cutting machines on the market. If you’re a crafter or maker, this machine is likely on the list of tools you’re considering for personal or business use -- or you may be deciding whether it would be worth the investment to upgrade from an older Cameo version or other cutting machine. This Silhouette Cameo 3 review will highlight what to expect with this versatile tool, as well as identify its advantages and disadvantages as a tool for creation.
Silhouette Cameo 3 Overview
Mainly designed for standby and programming cutting, Cameo 3 has cutting versatility that accommodates material like cardstock, vinyl and fabric, up to 12 inch in width. Print and Cut can be used to cut out designs which are printed in the Silhouette Studio using registration marks, and PixScan is also possible. This same caravan carries two tools so that time is saved since one sends information for the Autoblade (for example) and the sketch pen at once.
Pros
It is flexible and versatile; one of the advantages the Silhouette Cameo 3 has over those of a similar design. Where similar cutting tools are almost entirely dependent on templates and purchasable designs, the Cameo offers this kind of designs as well as the extra option of coming up with a personal design with the Silhouette software or any other design software.
Along with the wider range of project possibilities, the Cameo 3 has the possibility to cut twice as thick as Cutters Cameo 2, and AutoBlade provides much greater speed in defining the correct settings for cutting materials. It can also trim rolls of of material for designs up to 10 feet long ideal for use in banners and any very large vinyl works. Finally, the stylish appearance of Cameo 3 incorporates an easy to read touch screen, combined with addition of more storages for your much-loved cutting tools and other accessories.
Cons
Despite the fact, that Silhouette’s Cameo 3 is an incredibly universal cutter for all your design and crafting purposes, there are few disadvantages which should be mentioned. Most obviously, the Cameo’s third iteration is larger and denser than the prior model, making it less portable. A little inferior in cutting capability to PLC based models in the market but also relatively slower and noisier than other smart machines such as printers of the current generation.
Compared to more industrial cutting machines, the Silhouette Cameo 3’s functionality is also limited, as it cannot cut anything wider than 12” and won’t be able to dependably cut through anything much thicker than cardstock. The Bluetooth functionality of the machine promises a cord-free connection to your computer, but in reality that connection is unreliable enough to warrant using the USB option instead. Finally, while the Cameo 3 offers more project flexibility, the powerful software brings with it a steeper learning curve than systems that rely on pre-formatted designs.
Conclusion
Overall, the Silhouette Cameo 3 is a very useful tool for creating anything using cutting and scoring a vast range of surfaces for personal or professional purposes. From a functional point of view there are slight limitations compared to other machines; however the Cameo 3 is a step up from previous Silhouette models in terms of both coverage and easiness. For paper-crafting beginners, kiss-cut stickers, and even fabric designs, this device is extremely useful for makers and designers of all skills.
