Silhouette Studio versions and editions explained

Silhouette Studio is the same across all editions -- basic, designer and business. It's just that the codes you enter for the designer and business editions unlock additional features. 

To confuse you a little bit more, they also talk about a "full version" and an "upgrade version" for the Business Edition. All this means is that you can simply purchase the Business Edition and unlock more features than you currently have in the Basic Edition or, if you already have the Designer Edition, you can purchase the "upgrade version" and unlock more features than what you now have in the Designer Edition.

Updates are defined as NOT being full version upgrades. Updates have changes in the last part of the version number (i.e. 3.3.451, 3.3.632 or 3.3.638 -- only the last three digits changed). These are also known in the software community as builds or releases.

Programmers work on software all the time. When they have a version that is ready for their customers, they compile a build and issue a release to their customers (in case you wonder what those words mean).

Upgrades are defined as full version upgrades. There have been 3 full version upgrades to Silhouette Studio -- from 1 to 2 and from 2 to 3. The first digit in a build or release number is what changes in a full version upgrade (i.e. 1.90, 2.31 or 3.638).

Silhouette Studio has 3 editions -- basic, designer and business. 

If you want to be able to open and cut SVG files, you must purchase the Designer Edition. Note that none of the editions of Silhouette Studio will let you save in SVG format.

So again, the software is actually exactly the same across all editions. The Designer Edition (DE) was available for version 1 and 2 and is now available for version 3. The Business Edition did not exist for versions 1 and 2 because it was only introduced with version 3. 

NOTE: Do not rely on that "update" info in the software. Many people have told me that their software reported that no updates are available when in fact, there have been 3 or 4 updates. Always check Silhouette's web site for updates.

People are always asking whether an update applies to the Designer Edition or just the basic edition. Since the software is the same underlying software, all updates and upgrades apply to all editions of Silhouette Studio, regardless of whether you have the basic, designer or business edition.

If you need to know how to enter the code for an edition upgrade or if you want to deactivate your edition, the video below explains how to do this. 

Common abbreviations:

SS - Silhouette Studio
DE - Designer Edition
BE - Business Edition