Adding the Knockout technique to you arsenal of crafting with Silhouette will take you to the next level. It looks like it would be hard, but really it’s not! Here, in my next installment of Silhouette Basics, I will show you how easy it is to do a Knockout design in Silhouette!
Knockout Basics
I love making personalized signs and one of my popular requests includes making Knockout designs in my Silhouette program.
I use the couples last name as the “base name” and the couples first names “on top”, or I will have the first names outlined and use this outline to knockout the image from my “base name”. Sounds difficult, it’s not, just remember the “undo” button is your friend.
First Step
Is to figure out what your “base” will be and what your “top” will be. Get your design laid out and sized the way you want it. Then I center the base and the top design with the center tool. See below, I have a video showing you how I do this step-by-step.
Second Step
With your top layer highlighted, go to the right navigation bar and scroll on the icon that looks like a double star. When you hover over it, it will say “Open the offset panel”. Click on it and click on the “offset” area in the pop up box. This will outline the design you highlighted in the beginning of this step.
This is where I usually zoom in the design with the magnifying glass. I will click on the outline we just made. With this highlighted you will then also highlight the base design. Once these are both highlighted, go to the very top and open the “Object”, scroll down to “modify” then click on “subtract” or “subtract all”.
Depending on the font you used, if you using fonts for this technique, you may have to repeat this process several times to completely knockout the image in the base design. Once you have the base image all “Knocked out”, your ready for the final step!
Final Step
Your final step is using your Knockout design! If you’re using your new design to make a stencil, you can click here to see how I use contact paper for this process!
I use the Knockout design with my Silhouette program to make stencils for personalized requests. Just remember, you are not limited to using this technique on words only. You can do this with shapes also. Wherever your imagination will take you!
Here is my video tutorial where I show you step by step how to make a Knockout Design
Although I don’t offer free knockout designs in my MPD library, I do offer other SVG and some DFX and PNG designs for you to craft with if you join my tribe! If you’re interested sign up below and I’ll send you the password to the MPD library!
Also be sure to check out two of my other post on how to curve and warp text. Click here and here to see how!
Happy crafting and if you have any questions send them my way!
xoxo
Melissa
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