Silhouette Portrait 2
Last updated: October 1, 2019
The Silhouette Portrait 2 can cut a variety of materials, including cardstock, fabric, heat transfer material, transparencies, paper, velium and adhesive vinyl and magnet paper. It comes with PC- and Mac-compatible software, as well as 50 exclusive digital designs.
We looked at the top Die Cutting Machines and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Die Cutting Machine you should buy.
Product Details
Key Takeaway: A versatile machine that can tackle an array of materials without breaking the bank.
In our analysis of 40 expert reviews, the Silhouette Portrait 2 placed 0th when we looked at the top 13 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.Expert Reviews
What reviewers liked
If you don’t mind the smaller size, or you don’t want to invest quite as much money, the Portrait is a good choice.
Small and light, this can easily fit into hand luggage or even your handbag — and this is even more true for the Portrait 2.
Drawing is just like cutting except it draws instead of cuts. The blade is replaced with a pen. This feature is great for making things like drawings or wedding invitations with a personal touche.
Bluetooth lets you connect wirelessly to your computer, iPad, iPhone, or Android device. It has a range of 100 feet, so you can set up your Portrait anywhere you want, without being tethered to a computer.
This machine’s remarkable ability to handle over 100 materials is definitely impressive!
What reviewers didn't like
The cutting area maxes out at 8 inches wide (versus 12 inches for our other picks), so it won’t work for signs or iron-on decals for tote bags and tees, but in our tests it cut many of the same projects that the bigger machines could.
One area where we think Silhouette missed an opportunity was not including a dual carriage on the Portrait 2, allowing you to write and cut, write and score or score and cut at the same time.
The cutting force is also on the weaker side at 210 grams, which means it won’t be able to cut heavier items like balsa wood.
The first drawback of the Portrait 2 is that it has the same weak cutting force endemic to all the other Silhouette models. It cuts with 210 grams of force, which is pretty weak in the cutting world.
The cutting force is 210 grams, which means it won’t be able to cut heavier items like balsawood.
View our Die Cutting Machine buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.