This beginner’s tutorial will walk you through all of the steps of using the Silhouette PixScan Mat. This video tutorial will show you the basics of PixScan crafting, plus teach you how to calibrate your camera to work with PixScan, and give you lots of ideas for crafting with the PixScan mat! This post may contain affiliate links, which help to support this site at no extra cost to you.
Hey hey! It’s time for another awesome Silhouette tutorial! I am really excited to share this one with you guys today. This is a tool that I have admittedly not used enough: The Silhouette PixScan Mat. As I was playing around with PixScan for this video tutorial, I realized that I have been missing out! This little mat can really help you get create some awesome things!
So, What is the PixScan Mat?
First things first, what is the PixScan mat? Basically, it is a cutting mat with registration marks built right into the mat. This means you can cut around pre-printed materials (Hello, cute patterned paper and vinyl!), hand drawn art, your favorite stamps, and more.
If you have used Silhouette’s Print and Cut feature (like how I used with my printable vinyl decals), then you know how this basically works. The only difference is, instead of your printer adding the registration marks, they are already printed on the mat.
How to Use the PixScan Mat
I have created a detailed video tutorial to walk you through the steps of crafting with the PixScan mat, including how to calibrate your camera and how to get the best trace lines for your PixScan projects. I have also shared some ideas for projects to create with PixScan.
You can watch the video tutorial below. (If you don’t see the video below, it may be because of an ad blocker. You can also watch the video on my youtube channel HERE.)
I created this video with my friend Colleen of Lemon Thistle as part of our Silhouette vs. Cricut Challenge series. In Colleen’s video, she is talking about Cricut’s similar feature, SnapMat. If you are a Cricut user or just curious about how the Cricut version works, you can check out here video HERE.
If you have any questions about the PixScan mat, drop them in the comments, and I will do my best to help!
Until next time, Happy Making!
Cindy Shipley says
It would be fabulous if you did a photo using PixScan like Colleen did with Snapmat so we can compare apples to apples, so to speak. I’m trying to decide between the Silhouette Cameo 4 and the Cricut Maker, so I really appreciate these videos!
Also, can you use an iPad to do the software end of the process for a Silhouette Cameo 4 like you can for the Cricut Maker?
Thanks so much for all your hard work!
Cindy
Abbi says
How do you get the PixScan Mat to cut where you actually tell it to cut. I spent 3 hours in chat with Silhouette this morning and all they left me with was an appointment in a few days with a specialist. I’ve done calibration of the camera and of the Cameo 4. I did learn about having to use a flashlight during registration to make sure registration succeeds but then it cuts off from where it should cut.
Alexis says
I’m sorry! That is frustrating. I haven’t ever had a problem with it cutting where I want it to cut. I hope they were able to help you resolve the problem.
Ashley says
Help! My cuts are off and cuts off part of the image. What am I doing wrong?
Thank you!