Etching Metal with the Curio
Creating an etch file:
 Confirm that your Curio is connected to access the embossing tool
in the software. You will also need to select the appropriate Curio
base and mat in the Design Page Settings window. Be sure to
adjust the size of the metal that you will be placing on the mat to
help you accurately place your design.
 Create your design/cut file. If your design has inner and outer
edges, be sure to convert your entire design to a compound path by
selecting the entire image and then right click. Select Make
Compound Path, or convert to path in the window that appears.
 Test your completed design with the Fill Color tool. The filled in
areas will show where the etching will take place.
 Within the Embossing window, select the Deboss tab and then
select the Emboss/Deboss option. With your design selected,
choose the type of fill effect (Concentric, Spiral, Parallel, or Cross
Hatch) you would like to use.
 You will see the etching lines appear in your design. Adjust the
spacing and angle to get the desired effect. The closer your
spacing, the brighter the etching will appear and the longer your
design will take to etch.
Etching your design:
 With your finished design selected, open the Cut Settings window.
In the Material Type (tool 1) window, select Metal Etching Sheets.
 The Studio Software will give you some recommended settings for
Silhouette’s metal etching sheets. Make sure that you have the
correct number of platforms snapped into the base along with the
mat, and that the etching tool is secured in the #1 tool carriage.
 Confirm that the metal sheet is placed on the mat and aligned with
the grid. If using the embossing mat, make sure that the plate lines
up with the two alignment arrows at the top left corner. Double
check your design in the software for placement and any last
adjustments.
 Hit Send to Silhouette and watch your design take shape!
Etching Tips and Tricks
 Take measurements! Knowing the measurements of your media,
especially custom or 3rd party media, will help you set up your
machine.
 When in doubt, always start light. Light pressure ( by adjusting the
pressures in your software or by removing or adding platforms)
Will save both your metal blanks and your tips as you determine
what settings work best with your chosen metal.
 The spacing on your etch lines can be adjusted to .020 of an inch
on the spacing slide bar. However, by clicking the down arrow to
the left of the spacing slide, you can adjust your spacing all the
way down to .004 of an inch!
 Position your design on your mat and make all of your size
adjustments before filling in the etching lines. The more etching
line there are, the more complex the design becomes, this will
cause the software will bog down tremendously if you try to move
or alter a design once it has been filled with etch lines.
 Silhouette Chipboard makes a perfect template media for etching
jewelry blanks and smaller or odd shaped metal. Some blanks
come with the measurements in the package. If not, measure the
blank yourself and allow about .005 to .008 of an inch larger when
you create the shape in the software. Once you have cut this shape
out of your chipboard sheet, you can drop the blank into the hole
that you have cut! Now the mat will hold your blank down, the
chipboard will keep the blank from shifting side to side, and
because you cut the shape out on your software, you can now place
your design in the circle in Silhouette Studio for a perfectly placed
etch on your blank!