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fablabnbg
inkscape-silhouette
Python2021–2026
fablabnbg / inkscape-silhouette
inkscape-silhouette
An extension to drive Silhouette vinyl cutters (e.g. Cameo, Portrait, Curio series) from within inkscape.
4Distinct people
5Mentions
0Explicit recommenders
699GitHub stars
What to know before exploring
What it is
An extension to drive Silhouette vinyl cutters (e.g. Cameo, Portrait, Curio series) from within inkscape.
GitHub
Where it is used
No documented product use was verified in the last source check.
What people are saying
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Also in these discussions
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This week on Hacker News
Nov 7–Nov 14 UTC · Direct repository links and separately labeled related project stories. Indexed through 11/14/2026, 5:04:57 PM UTC.
Mentions over time
HN mentions by year5 dated mentions
Observed mentions: 2021-03-16 17:50:49 UTC to 2026-08-20 17:02:25 UTC.
* An incomplete calendar period is marked with an outlined bar. Its count is not directly comparable with a full period.
Counts come from the repository’s dated source evidence. Index cutoff: 2026-11-02 08:16:59 UTC.
View mention counts and date ranges
| Period | Start (UTC) | End (exclusive, UTC) | Mentions | Submissions | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2021-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2022-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2022-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2023-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2023-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2024-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2024-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2025-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2025-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2026-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2026 (partial) | 2026-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2027-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 3 | 0 | 3 |
What Hacker News says
5 sourcesRAramses0·Aug 20, 2026
Cameo -> inkscape plugin => https://github.com/fablabnbg/inkscape-silhouette
"""Run sendto_silhouette.py --help for information on CLI usage."""
I've used it before (from the inkscape-plugin gui, not tried the CLI version). Typical open-source "slighly janky" (at least ~5 years ago...), but very serviceable and convenient to work with, hopefully only getting better over time!
In Unlocking a locked/deactivated e-waste Cricut MakerIf anyone has an old Silhouette vinyl cutter sitting around gathering dust, there's an actively maintained open source Inkscape plugin that lets you "print" your design straight to the cutter: https://github.com/fablabnbg/inkscape-silhouette
I wrote about it a couple years ago: https://blog.bityard.net/articles/2022/June/diy-vinyl-cut-mo...
In Unlocking a locked/deactivated e-waste Cricut MakerYes! I use an Inkscape extension to send my own designs to a vinyl cutter that works perfectly well but has LONG since stopped being supported by its manufacturer or any other closed-source tools.
The extension is inkscape-silhouette (https://github.com/fablabnbg/inkscape-silhouette) and is apparently being maintained by a makerspace in Germany.
In Inkscape 1.4.4The silhouette software is proprietary but I am using Linux + inkscape + https://github.com/fablabnbg/inkscape-silhouette which works perfectly (except I can't get the Bluetooth to work but that's probably a me issue). It's less user-friendly (but more power-user friendly) than the official software and doesn't have all the templates and ready-made designs but that isn't a problem for me.
I would like to get a laser cutter at some point but that's a completely different beast. Don't get a cheap ali-express one that is not enclosed if you value your eyes. You will also need ventilation for a lot of materials if you value your lungs. In comparison, my silhouette is a simple thing I can move around easily. It's also able to plotting, engraving, embossing and foiling with the right add-ons
In Building road signs at home using a Cricut MachineFor those looking for an alternative, Silhouette machines are affordable and can be driven completely offline using an open-source Inkscape plugin. (So you can cut any file type that Inkscape can convert to a path, which is pretty much anything. SVG, DXF, PDF, raster image tracing...)
https://github.com/fablabnbg/inkscape-silhouette
Silhouette's proprietary software comes with a "store" like Cricut for buying designs, but it's a resource hog and you have to pay for an SVG cutting feature. Inkscape is a little hassle to setup but once you get it working it's great.
In Cricut Wants Users to Pay for Unlimited Use of Cutting Machines They Already Own