If you are searching for an excellent electronic cutting tool that can handle a vast array of materials, you’ve come to the right place. This article reviews one of the best electronic cutting tools – the Silhouette Portrait 3 Electronic Cutting Tool, one of the top models from the Silhouette brand.
Silhouette Portrait 3 Electronic Cutting Tool
While the Portrait 3 Electronic Cutting Tool may not be the most advanced model from Silhouette, it has plenty of features. This unit can handle a wide variety of materials, and they can be pretty thick.
It’s a highly compact and user-friendly device that artists and hobbyists will appreciate. Considering the reasonable price, it has more features and functions than you’d expected. Let’s take a closer look at the Silhouette Portrait 3 Electronic Cutting Tool.
Who Is This For?
The Silhouette Portrait 3 Electronic Cutting Tool is for artists, hobbyists, and those who like to make their own crafts. A machine like this can cut many different fabrics, paper, and materials that can be used for many purposes. It can make greeting cards, iron-ons, magnets, fabric decals, and so much more. If you need a compact and portable digital cutting machine, this is an excellent model to consider.
What’s Included?
When you purchase the Silhouette Portrait 3 Electronic Cutting Tool, a few things are included. Besides the machine itself, you get a power cable and AC adaptor, a USB cable, an 8-inch cutting mat, 50 designs, a download card, and a software CD. There is also a basic instruction guide included.
Overview of Features
The Silhouette Portrait 3 is loaded with features. One of the standout features is how compact this unit is. It is designed for people who are on the go a lot. However, it’s also designed for people who have limited space to spare. Its very smart and compact design means that it saves space and is portable.
In terms of connectivity, this unit can connect to your devices via both Bluetooth and USB. However, keep in mind that the Silhouette Portrait 3 is designed for either MAC or PC. It will not function with tablets or smartphones – just so you are aware. You might appreciate that you don’t need an internet connection to use this cutting machine.
That said, the Silhouette Portrait 3 comes with a good blade. The unit has a clearance of 2 mm, which is compatible with the deep-cut blade. This means that it can cut pretty thick stock without issue.
The autoblade adjusts itself based on your needs; it easily adjusts for any project. Keep in mind that this unit has a cutting force of 210 GF. This means that it can easily cut through thick and tough materials, including paper, vellum, adhesive vinyl, magnet paper, heat transfer material, cardstock, many types of fabric, etc.
How to Use It
What’s nice about the Silhouette Portrait 3 Electronic Cutting Tool is that it is so easy to use. Simply connect it to your device via USB or Bluetooth. With the software installed, you can then use the cutting tool to create various designs – make your own or use pre-made designs. If you need help setting this unit up, check out the tutorial video that we have linked to here.
Pros
- Very easy to use
- Small and portable
- Can handle many materials
- Autoblade self-adjusts
- Excellent clearance for a deep cut blade
- USB & Bluetooth connectivity
- High-quality software included
Cons
- It might be too small for some people
Alternatives
Suppose the Silhouette Portrait 3 Electronic Cutting Tool is not quite up to your standards. In that case, there are other options. For instance, the Cricut Explore 3 Machine can do a lot more than just cut materials. It can also engrave, emboss, and more, depending on the tools you use. If you are looking for a Silhouette but want a more advanced version, check out the Silhouette Cameo 4.
Conclusion
All in all, we think that the Silhouette Portrait 3 Electronic Cutting Tool is a fantastic model. It has more than enough features for most purposes yet also comes at a fair price. In terms of the cost, this model brings more to the table than you might expect.