Silhouette CAMEO5a - Black

The Silhouette CAMEO5a (Alpha) combines the familiar and proven features of the Cameo 5 with a range of new features, creating a tool that's even more comfortable and precise for everyday work. Intuitive operation remains, ensuring even beginners quickly find their way around. Compatibility with a variety of tools and the ability to cut a wide range of materials, including select materials without the use of a mat, have also been retained. This makes the cutter incredibly versatile and suitable for a wide range of creative applications. The Silhouette CAMEO5a retains the best features of the previous model while offering even greater comfort, improved precision, and a modern design. It's ideal for both professional use and the home studio, wherever reliability and creative freedom are key.

Plotter possibilities

The plotter cuts in many materials and works with the latest tools from the manufacturer. Thanks to this, you can do many projects with its help, such as:

• Cutting in papers up to about 300g and self-adhesive papers
  

• Cutting in self-adhesive and iron-on foils

• Sketching (after purchasing manufacturer's pens or a universal holder)

• Gilding and embossing (after purchasing tools)

• Cutting fabrics and felt up to 1mm thick (after purchasing a rotary blade)

• Cutting in soft materials such as creative foam up to 3mm (after purchasing a Kraft blade)

• Cutting in manufacturer's creative materials such as magnetic foils, tattoo foils, scratch sheets and many others

Cutting in paper up to 300g

With its ability to precisely cut papers up to approximately 300g, the CAMEO5a allows you to create eye-catching cards, place cards, boxes, toppers, ornaments, and many other creative projects. This makes it ideal for small studios and craft businesses, as well as for classes at schools, community centers, and hobby workshops. The Silhouette CAMEO5a is an excellent choice for those working with paper, whether they create occasionally or personalize products daily. With the optional mat, it allows you to work on a 30 x 60 cm area, allowing you to complete larger projects without having to divide them, facilitating consistency and accelerating the entire creative process.



Silhouette Studio software continues to be characterized by its ease of use and extensive capabilities, making designing and personalizing graphics accessible even for those new to cutting. The CAMEO5a is ideal for creating invitations, cards, decorations, scrapbook elements, and many other paper projects where aesthetics and precision are paramount.

Foil cutting

The Silhouette CAMEO5a cutter is perfect for cutting foils, whether in a home studio, creative workshops, or a small business specializing in product personalization. This model handles various types of foils, such as vinyl, heat transfer foils, stencils, and magnetic foils, offering a wide range of possibilities for creating unique designs. The CAMEO5a is perfect for creating personalized stickers, labels, wall decorations, advertising signs, balloon and wall elements. It's also suitable for creating iron-on transfers for clothing, bags, hats, and other textiles, making it an attractive option for individuals and businesses that need custom designs.

The Alpha version does not include a foil feeder. However, it can be purchased separately to further streamline foil handling. This allows each user to tailor the device to their needs and workflow. The plotter features an automatic cutter that can separate a section of fabric with a cut pattern from the roll. This ensures evenly cut fabric, which will be evenly guided by the rollers when fed back into the plotter. The repeat button allows for maximum automation of the cutting process, and thanks to its quiet operation, you can create undisturbed at home even late into the evening.

Cutting Prints

The Silhouette CAMEO5a is an excellent Print & Cut tool, designed for precise cutting of printed graphics. The new model features improved reading technology – previously, cutting prints was performed based on three markers. For even greater cutting precision, both vertically and horizontally, the device now uses four markers, allowing for even better detail reproduction. The CAMEO5a is ideal for creating stickers, labels, invitations, greeting cards, and decorative and advertising materials. It allows for easy creation of personalized projects such as product labels, candle stickers, toppers, garlands, and small event decorations that require precise cutting to match the printed image.

Print & Cut, combined with the intuitive Silhouette Studio software, makes file preparation quick and easy, even for beginners. Simply enable markers in the program, print your design, and then place the sheet on the mat. The plotter will automatically read the registration marks and cut out the designed shapes. An additional advantage is the ability to cut selected foils and self-adhesive papers without using the mat, making sticker creation easier. Another great feature is the repeat last job function, which makes batch production much faster and more convenient.

Sketch even faster

Silhouette plotters can sketch with markers, and the new CAMEO5a model sketches even faster! The sketching speed of this new generation plotter reaches 400mm/s, allowing you to create beautiful, unique designs even more efficiently without sacrificing high precision.

Intelligent Path Technology

IPT is a solution that enables precise cutting of thin paper, previously considered too delicate for plotter cutting, while maintaining high precision. This technology expands the plotter's capabilities to cut an even wider range of materials!

Software

Silhouette Studio Basic Edition software is an invaluable tool for projects with the Silhouette CAMEO5a. This free program, available in Polish, allows users to easily and efficiently create, edit, and prepare graphics for cutting.
Silhouette Studio offers a wide range of features that allow you to design a variety of projects, from simple stickers to more advanced projects such as invitations, labels, decorations, scrapbooking elements, and even fabric prints for apparel. The program allows you to use ready-made templates from the manufacturer's store or design your own using available tools, fonts saved on your computer, or edit any graphics downloaded from the internet.

The basic version of the program supports .png, .jpeg, .bmp, .gif, and .tiff files.
Thanks to its new, intuitive interface, Silhouette Studio Basic Edition is easy to use, even for those new to cutting. Silhouette Studio Basic Edition is the perfect software that empowers your creativity, allowing you to create a wide range of projects - from personalized stickers to advanced print and cut projects.

System requirements

Hardware requirements for Silhouette Studio to run:

• Operating system: PC (Windows 10 and higher) or Mac (OS X 11 and higher)
• The software supports devices with 64-bit processors.
• For Chromebook systems, plotter operation is possible using the new online application - Silhouette WEB - https://www.silhouette-web.com/
  
• Internet connection: Recommended (for updating and upgrading to Designer Edition)
• RAM: 4 GB RAM
• Processor: 2.5GHz (Intel Quad Core or AMD Quad Core) CPU memory speed: 186 MB program memory (does not include additional memory recommended for download)
• USB Port: USB 2.0 Port (or later)

It is also possible to use the Silhouette GO mobile application, available for both Android and iOS.

Due to periodic changes in operating systems, please check the current and applicable software requirements on the manufacturer's website:
https://silhouetteamerica.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/35000273905

Software Extensions

Silhouette Studio is a great tool for uploading and designing your own designs. It also allows you to conveniently use ready-to-cut designs purchased from the Silhouette Design Store. However, if you create in another vector graphics program or have your own designs, such as those in the popular .svg format, it's worth purchasing an upgrade to one of the two versions.

Additional plotter functions

Electrostatic Mat

The Silhouette CAMEO5a works with the innovative Silhouette electrostatic mat, one of the most advanced solutions available in hobby plotters. This special platform uses electrostatic charges to hold the material firmly, eliminating the need for traditional adhesive mats or additional tape. The material remains even and does not warp, which is especially important for projects requiring precision, such as invitations, cards, boxes, stickers, and scrapbooking elements. When used with the CAMEO5a model, the mat has increased holding power, allowing it to hold impervious materials up to 0.5 mm thick, including heavier papers. This significantly expands the range of possible applications, making working with thicker and stiffer sheets more stable and comfortable. The electrostatic mat is easy to use and designed for repeated use, making it both economical and more environmentally friendly. Its surface is not covered with glue, so it is also suitable for cutting wafer and sugar paper*, allowing you to create unique confectionery decorations.

*The electrostatic mat is not included with the plotter and must be purchased separately.
*The electrostatic mat and plotter are not certified for food contact.

Sketching

Instead of a standard blade, you can place your favorite marker in the universal holder and use the sketching function. This allows you to create even, repeatable lines and details that would be difficult to achieve with freehand drawing. You can also use the manufacturer's markers designed for Silhouette plotters. This is a practical accessory for those who enjoy creative and illustrative projects. They turn the plotter into a tool not only for cutting but also for creating elegant lettering, graphics, and embellishments in your chosen colors.

*pens and holder are available for purchase separately

Heat Pen Set

The CAMEO5a cutter offers a dedicated Silhouette gilding kit, which allows you to add an elegant, metallic touch to your projects. This is an excellent option for those looking to achieve a hot stamping-like effect without the need for specialized bookbinding equipment. The kit allows you to create gold and metallic embellishments on paper, eco-leather, and selected other surfaces. The foil application itself is simple and precise, making it easy to create luxurious invitations, greeting cards, labels, decorative elements, and personalized home accessories. High-quality materials ensure durability and a professional look for the finished work. The CAMEO5a cutter uses a dedicated power outlet built into the cutter's handle, requiring no additional external power supply. Unlike some competing solutions, the Silhouette tip is heated, allowing for a distinctive, long-lasting, and aesthetically pleasing effect.
*Tool sold separately.

Embossing

The Silhouette Embossing Set is a practical tool for those who want to enhance their projects with elegant, raised designs. It allows you to create eye-catching embossing on paper, foil, and other materials, giving your work a more professional and decorative touch. Embossing is perfect for invitations, cards, scrapbooks, labels, and home decor, and its simple operation allows even beginners to quickly master the technique. The embossing tip also allows for creasing, or creating fold lines, which further enhances the tool's functionality. By choosing the Silhouette Embossing Set, you gain the ability to create aesthetically pleasing, distinctive designs at a high level.

*Tool sold separately.

The Silhouette CAMEO5a is a device that's perfect for both beginners and more advanced artists looking for a versatile and precise tool. It's perfect for creative projects like scrapbooking, making cards, stickers, invitations, and various decorations, allowing you to realize even the most demanding ideas. Therefore, it's also a good choice for small businesses that personalize products, such as textiles, mugs, and accessories. The CAMEO5a is also valued by designers and crafters who need precise cutting of paper, foil, or selected fabrics. Its extensive cutting capabilities make it ideal for details and projects requiring high accuracy. It's also ideal for small advertising studios, allowing you to create labels, signs, and decorative elements. This model is also user-friendly for beginners. The intuitive, Polish-language Silhouette Studio software makes learning easier and allows you to quickly utilize the cutter's full capabilities. By choosing the Silhouette CAMEO5a, you get a device that will meet the expectations of both hobbyists and professionals, offering high quality and beautiful work results.