Wanting to learn Cricut Design Space for your Cricut Explore Air 2 or Cricut Maker? This post is for you! Cricut basics and tips and tricks. #Cricut #Cricutmade

If you accept been wondering about how to use Cricut Design Infinite with your Cricut then this post is for yous! This mail will explicate the basics of the plan forth with some tips which volition allow you lot to make crawly designs with your Cricut auto.

This post has been updated as of iii/2021.

This post contains affiliate links. This means, if you make a buy through my links, I'll receive a small portion of your buy at no actress toll to you.

First, let's open up Cricut Design Space. This tutorial uses the desktop calculator version of Design Space.

Yous should see a screen similar to the one beneath.

You lot will notice that the top row is "My Projects". You lot can click the green "View All" to see all your saved projects. If you would like to keep working on a project or edit a previous project, y'all can select it past clicking on the project.

Cricut Design Space Opening Screen Top Tricks and Tips Featured by Everyday Jenny, Utah Creative Blogger

If you keep scrolling down the page y'all tin can likewise browse whatsoever of the Ready to Brand projects in the "Cricut Access" department. Ready to Brand projects are projects that are already done for you and are super crawly! (You can read more almost Ready to Brand Projects on THIS post.) Brand sure to click "View All" to see all of them if you want.

If you scroll even further downwardly the page you will see projects from the Cricut Community. This are projects designed past Cricut users (like yous!) that are shared to the customs then you lot can make the project too. Again, click on "View All" if you want to see more of these projects. There are some pretty fun ones!

Cricut Design Space Cricut Community Top Tricks and Tips Featured by Everyday Jenny, Utah Creative Blogger

Let's offset a New Projection.  Scroll back up to the tiptop of our page.  You can select the "New Projection" button either past clicking on the "+" symbol under "My Projects" or by clicking on the green "New Projection" push button in the top right-hand corner.   A new blank sheet volition open up.

Cricut Design Space Opening a New Project Top Tricks and Tips Featured by Everyday Jenny, Utah Creative Blogger

If you have multiple Cricut machines, make sure the car type you will be using for your project is selected in the menu on the summit right of the window, every bit that volition change some of the options bachelor depending on your machine. If y'all only have ane machine, your motorcar blazon should appear in the pinnacle right hand corner.

Selecting your Machine type in Cricut Design Space

On the left hand side of your window you lot will meet seven unlike menu options:

NEW
TEMPLATES
PROJECTS
IMAGES
TEXT
SHAPES
UPLOAD

I volition explain what each of these options practise in the following screen shots.

NEW PROJECT Pick

Use this choice at any time to first a new projection and get a blank canvas. Later on you click on it yous will be prompted if you want to save your electric current project or supplant information technology with a blank sheet.

TEMPLATES TOOL

This is where y'all tin set a specific type of template to assistance you visualize how your design will look on a certain particular. It can exist helpful for spacing and sizing. The template is not cutting out. I usually but use a blank canvas, but that's simply my preference.

On some of the templates y'all tin can change the sizing in the drib down card to friction match what you are working on. In the example below the frock size can be changed from Adult to Kid.

PROJECTS

Employ this selection to see all the available Cricut Access (Fix to Make Projects) These are projects that are already completed for you and yous tin just make them! Some of the projects are customizable one time y'all open them.

Cricut Design Space Cricut Access Projects; Top Tricks and Tips Featured by Everyday Jenny, Utah Creative Blogger (1)

You lot can search specifically for projects included with Cricut Access by using the drop downwardly menu. At that place are as well other categories such as "Free" or "Costless for Cricut Joy" These free projects  are great to effort out if you are just learning to use your machine.

INSERT IMAGES TOOL

 When you lot click on the Images tool, you will see the Cricut library of images open. This is where you can select from thousands of images that can be inserted into your projection. You can search for a specific paradigm by using the search bar, or y'all can select from a category beneath the search bar.

Let'southward search for "heart" every bit an example.

Search Images Cricut Design Space

In one case, yous blazon in middle in the search bar, all of images associated with that search term will appear. You tin can encounter in that location are 10,337 results. On the left hand side you will notice Filters. You lot can use these Filters to narrow down your results and then you don't have to search through all ten m images!

Use Filters to Search Images Cricut Design Space

Click on the plus symbol next to each filter to open up your options.  Click the minus symbol to shut the options.

Open Filter Options to Search Images Cricut Design Space

To select a filter, check the box next to information technology.  For example, I clicked on "Cards" under Project type. Now the results will show cards with hearts, my original search term, and at that place are but 119 results. Much easier to look through.

Card Filter Option under Project Type Selected to Search Images Cricut Design Space

You tin can select multiple filters at once which will narrow your search even more.   There are options for Projection Type, Functioning Type, Paradigm Complexity, Layers, Ownership, Brand, Fabric, and even Language. As you are searching images, you may change your heed on a filter, simply uncheck any filters you don't want to use.

If you have Cricut Access and want to see just images that come with Cricut Access than make sure to cheque the box next to that filter at the very acme. The images with the green "a" in the left corner are ones that are included with your Cricut Access (Click Here to read more than about Cricut Access.)

If you are not a Cricut Admission member, a very helpful filter is the "gratis" one if yous scroll downwards the page.  Check this filter to see all the costless images available with your search term.

Free Filter Option under Project Type Selected to Search Images Cricut Design Space

Click on the epitome you would like to insert on to your canvas to select it. You can select multiple images at once. Selected images will be highlighted by a green box, and a small-scale version of the image will appear at the bottom of the screen to show yous what images you are going to insert. Click on the "Insert" button.

Selecting an image to Insert on your Canvas in Cricut Design Space

LINETYPE

Depending on which Cricut automobile yous accept, at that place are various numbers of linetypes. The Cricut Maker has the near tools and therefore the most linetypes. For the Maker there are 8 different kinds of Linetypes depending on which bract (or pen) you are using. Linetypes Menu in Cricut Design Space Cut: Usually the Fine Tip Blade (Cricut Maker, Explore Air ii and Cricut Joy), merely can as well exist Deep Cut (Cricut Maker, Cricut Explore Air 2), Knife Blade (Cricut Maker), Rotary Bract (Cricut Maker))
Draw: Pens (Cricut Joy, Cricut Explore Air 2, Cricut Maker)
Score: Scoring stylus (Cricut Explore Air two or Cricut Maker) or Scoring Bicycle (Cricut Maker)
Engrave: Engraving Tip (Cricut Maker)
Deboss: Debossing Tip (Cricut Maker)
Wave: Wavy Blade (Cricut Maker)
Perf: Perforation blade (Cricut Maker)
Foil: Foil transfer kit, (Purchased separately that works with the Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore Air 2)

If you have a Cricut Explore Air two, you lot will see the Cut, Describe, Score and Foil options.

Linetypes Menu in Cricut Design Space for the Cricut Explore Air 2

If you lot take a Cricut Joy motorcar, you volition meet but two types of Linetypes, Cut and Draw.

Linetypes Menu in Cricut Design Space for the Cricut Joy

Change your linetype to lucifer the type of blade you will be using. Depending on what y'all choose, your paradigm may alter slightly. For example, when y'all select Describe from the Linetype Bill of fare, the heart changes into a describe image and is no longer filled in. With Depict selected, you lot tin click on the box adjacent to the linetype to change the color.

How to make a change pen color in Cricut Design Space

You can likewise change the pen type past clicking on the drop downwardly box inside that menu. You'll find your line thickness of your paradigm changes depending on the pen type selected.

How to make a change pen type in Cricut Design Space

If you accept a cut image that you lot would similar to print instead, select your image, and click on the Fill drib down menu.  Select Print. Your cut epitome is at present a printable prototype. For Print then Cutting projects you volition transport your image to your printer and and so your Cricut will cut information technology out. (Note: Print then Cut merely works with the Cricut Maker and Cricut Explore Air two Machine, not the Cricut Joy.)

Make a cut image into a printable image in Cricut Design Space

If y'all would like to change your image color or fill it with a pattern, click on the little box to the right of the Make full pick. You can select a colour swatch to go far that exact color, or click on the advanced carte to select a different color.

How to make a pattern fill in a printable image in Cricut Design Space

To select a design, click on the design and a large check marking will appear. Yous can as well click on the Edit Pattern selection at the bottom to edit your blueprint.

How to select a pattern fill in a printable image in Cricut Design Space

Yous can change the scale (size) or your pattern by sliding the circumvolve to the right or left or by changing the number in the drop downward menu.

How to change the scale of a pattern fill in a printable image in Cricut Design Space

You tin too change the placement of the blueprint by irresolute the vertical and horizontal coordinates. Y'all can besides rotate or flip the pattern with the other options.

How to change the placement of a pattern fill in a printable image in Cricut Design Space

You lot can also change your textile colour for a cut image by selecting another color in the driblet down menu. The material color you choose is what mat the machine will cull to cut those layers that are that color. For instance if I make one circle pink and one circumvolve ruddy, they will cut on ii unlike mats. If I want them on the aforementioned mat, make sure the colour is the same.

When you insert a shape or design, you can click on the little lock bottom in the bottom left corner to unlock the shape. This allows yous to freely size the shape. If you wanted an exact size shape you can likewise select the shape and change the numbers in the carte du jour in a higher place. There are likewise options to rotate your shape or position information technology to an exact location.

TEXT TOOL

Side by side, let'southward talk about the text tool.

When you select this option a text box volition announced and you can type your desired text. The text you typed will then appear on your canvas.

To edit your text you volition apply the options in the tool bar across the top when your text is selected.

In the first drop down box you can change your Font. Y'all tin can select from All Fonts, System Fonts (meaning ones from your computer) or Cricut fonts to browse. You can as well use the search bar to wait for a specific font.

A great feature is to use the Filter option on the far right side of the text card. This allows you to filter your search. Yous can select either merely 1 filter or you can select multiple criteria such as "My Fonts" and "Writing". This will and so only show results that run across both of those criteria. Writing is a great one to filter if you are looking for fonts to use your Cricut pens.  In the example below I accept selected "My Fonts" and "Writing" equally my filters, and then the only ones that show upwards meet those two criteria. Only click the options again to deselect them on your filters.

Multi-layer fonts are ones that take a shadow. When you blazon your text the default is that the shadow layer is hidden. Yous can simply click on the heart icon to bear witness the shadow over again. I selected a multi-layer font below, but the shadow layer is subconscious until I click on the eye icon and have it shown again.

Yous will also notice some other text options such as Font Style, Font Size, Letter and Line Space, and Alignment. These are options yous are probably used to, but y'all can click effectually for a few minutes and familiarize yourself with them.

Letter Space is a great tool to use when yous have cursive letters and you want them to be closer together so they affect. Simply decrease the letter spacing by selecting the down arrow. You tin see that I decreased the letter space for the word below. The font I have selected beneath is a "Writing" style font, pregnant I can use pens to write when I make my project. Fonts that do not take a writing mode will be the outline of the text (the text is not filled in when you make a project).

If you would like to edit an individual letter in your text, select your text on the canvas, click on "Ungroup" in the right hand corner. I use this to be able to rotate my letters, place them where I would similar them or if I want a sure letter of the alphabet to exist larger and then the rest.  Once y'all are done editing the text, select it again, right click and click grouping and so all your text can be moved and edited together again.

In the image in a higher place, my letter are isolated so I tin select each 1 separately and rotate them.

Yous tin also use the Curve tool to curve  your text. Select the text you wish to bend and slide the bar right or left to either curve your text downwards or upwards.

Cricut Design Space Curve Text; Top Tricks and Tips Featured by Everyday Jenny, Utah Creative Blogger

Cricut Design Space Curve Text Tool ; Top Tricks and Tips Featured by Everyday Jenny, Utah Creative Blogger

SHAPES TOOL

Y'all can use this selection to insert basic shapes into your design like a circle, foursquare, heart, line etc. I will get into more detail on how y'all tin edit these shapes later on in this postal service.

UPLOAD TOOL

This is where y'all can upload your very own images and designs. When you click on it y'all will see this screen beneath. Y'all have the option to upload an image or a pattern fill up. You can either drag and driblet a file or selected a file past clicking on browse. Files must be .jpg, .gif, .png, .bmp, .svg, or .dxf.  At the bottom of your screen you will meet your recently uploaded images. *Patterns yous upload will appear on the principal canvas side by side to the fill menu, under print type, pattern.

This tool is actually useful if your file is already in the .svg format. Files purchased from Etsy, etc. should take that every bit an option and be ready to use and yous won't need to practice the following steps. Cleaning up other kinds of files tin be a little tricky and works best with simpler, clean images. However, if you lot are willing to put in the time, you can also clean upward harder images. For example, many people use this choice to upload a photograph of a loved ones handwriting to brand into a keepsake.

Upload Screen for Cricut Design Space Image and Pattern Fill

Click on Upload Paradigm and you will see the screen beneath. For case I selected a screen shot of my logo to upload.

Cricut Design Space How to Upload Images_ Drag and Drop File or Browse

Once you have selected a file, you will demand to choose an image type. Each type has a short description adjacent to it. Most oft I use the complex epitome selection. Click on continue.

* Note: if your paradigm is in .svg format already, information technology will be gear up to use and just inquire you to relieve the image you uploaded.

Selecting Image Type in Upload Tool in Cricut Design Space

On this screen you volition be able to utilise the tools on the left to erase the background and parts of your image you don't want. In that location is the Wand, Eraser and Ingather tool. You lot can also play effectually with the avant-garde options and reduce the number of colors in your image to effort and make it easier to make clean up. Please annotation, your terminal cut image will only exist equally expert as your original image.  If you have a grainy picture to get-go with, yous volition probably terminate up with a poor cut image.

In the example beneath, I used the Wand tool to erase the groundwork of my logo. Information technology now appears as a bluish checkerboard background.

Select and Erase in Upload Tool in Cricut Design Space

I used the Wand tool to also erase the mint flag behind my logo name.  Then I used apply the erase tool to remove the dots. You tin can click on the Preview push button to run across what your cut image will wait similar. This will allow you to erase any parts yous don't desire showing up in your final paradigm.

Erase Tool in Upload Tool in Cricut Design Space (1)

Once you are satisfied with your epitome, click on continue.  Now, you volition have two options to salvage your image: Salvage as Print then Cutting Epitome or Save as Cut Image.  I prefer to save my files virtually always equally a Print and then Cut image.  This allows me to be able to impress the image if I wanted to OR cut it. If you save as just a Cutting Epitome, yous cannot make it a printable image if you change your mind.

Save as Print then Cut Image in Upload Tool in Cricut Design Space

At present that we've discussed the left mitt side of the canvas, let's discuss the options that are the right hand side.

LAYERS MENU

When yous take the Layers Menu open on the right hand side of your screen, y'all will notice some unlike options on the very lesser- Slice, Weld, Adhere, Flatten and Contour. These will be important when y'all are making your designs.

Slice– Split two overlapping layers into parts
Weld– Join multiple layers into one shape
Adhere-Hold images into position for cutting, or adds writing to image layer
Flatten– Merge layers to a single printable paradigm (very of import when using Print then Cut)
Contour– Hibernate/Unhide lines on a layer

The Layers bill of fare will bear witness all of the dissimilar texts and images y'all have on your canvas. Each is it'due south own layer. If you click on a layer, you will discover the carte bar across the top of the screen modify.

COLOR SYNC TOOL

Another option on the left manus side of the screen is the Color Sync tool. It has a brief description right on the menu of what it does when you select information technology. You tin drag and driblet dissimilar layers to make them the same colour. This helps when yous are cutting out projects with multiple colors because it volition ensure you are cutting all the pieces that are the same color at the same time. This volition relieve y'all then much time of having to switch the materials you are cut back and forth because you volition cut even so color at the same fourth dimension!

HOW TO Utilise THE Piece, WELD, ATTACH, FLATTEN AND CONTOUR TOOLS

SLICE TOOL

The Piece tool is used to slice two overlapping layers. Y'all can simply slice ii layers at a fourth dimension.  This tool is useful if you want to cutting out a shape or text from another shape in order to create new shapes. It is besides very useful when you want a layered design simply don't desire overlapping parts on tiptop of each other.

Select your two layers to slice and click on the Piece tool.Select Slice tool in Cricut Design Space

This will slice your two layers into three new layers as in the picture show below. You can think of this process every bit using a cookie cutter and cutting cookie dough. When yous are done slicing an epitome you will have the "cookie cutter" piece, the "cookie" piece, and the remaining "dough" piece or pieces.

Sliced Layers in Cricut Design Space

You can delete whatsoever layers that y'all don't want in your final pattern either past selecting them on the layer menu and hitting delete on your keyboard, or by right clicking and selecting delete.

Sliced Design in Cricut Design Space

WELD TOOL

The Weld tool is used to join images and/or text to create a unmarried epitome. It removes whatever overlapping cut lines in the images or text. Weld is permanent. Once you have welded an image y'all cannot united nations-weld it!

TIP: If you call back you may need something un-welded after, make a copy of your images before welding. Make certain they are all selected then group them together using the Group tool on the Layers card. Use the little eye symbol on the right-hand side of your group on the Layers menu to hide the group.  Later in your projection if you need the un-welded images, simply click on the eye to un-hide them.  If you don't need them subsequently on you tin delete those layers.

Select Weld tool in Cricut Design Space

When you weld, the layers you have selected will become one layer and one image.

Welding Images in Cricut Design Space

Attach TOOL

The Attach tool is used for two unlike functions. One is to spike images in their place so that when y'all get to cut the images it shows upward exactly like you lot arranged it in the design screen. I know and then many people create their perfect design so go to cut it out and are confused that it'southward all mixed up on the mat preview. This is because the images are placed every bit close to together as possible on the mat to conserve textileunless you select the Attach tool.

If yous want the Cricut to cut out something exactly how you take it on your canvass you volition want to use the Attach option.The other role of the Adhere tool is to adhere a write or score line to a cut layer. For example, if yous have text you want to write on an paradigm, you will need to attach it.

FLATTEN TOOL

The Flatten tool is used with the Print then Cut feature in Blueprint Infinite. It takes a multiple-layered image and "flattens" it into a single layer.

For example, in the image below I have two layers: text and a center image. Discover that they are both cutting images. Click on the Flatten tool.

Using the Flatten Tool in Cricut Design Space

Now, the layers have go i layer that is both cutting and impress. Your Cricut machine will print the text, but cut out the centre.  You'll too detect you lot can unflatten an epitome, or make it multiple layers again, by clicking Unflatten.

Using the UnFlatten Tool in Cricut Design Space

One trouble I see a lot of people run into is having individual messages or images cut out when they don't want them to.  Notice in the screen shot beneath that I attached ii printable cut images. They each have their ain layer.

In this case, you would print out the heart with the words on information technology. But instead of just cut out the heart, the Cricut machine would as well cut out the letters in Love, which you don't want. And so make certain to flatten your images!

Using the attach tool on a printable image in Cricut Design Space

CONTOUR TOOL

The contour tool is probably ane of the about under-utilized tools in my opinion. To exist honest I didn't actually sympathise it at first. Merely now that I do, I find myself using it more than often.

The contour tool is used to remove or hide unwanted pieces of an paradigm or cutting lines. It will only piece of work with cut images and i layer.

For example, if you didn't want to cutting out all the pieces in the butterfly paradigm below, select information technology and click on contour.

Contour in Cricut Design Space

Yous can either click on pieces straight in the prototype or on the right-hand side menu which you which to remove. Images will announced calorie-free greyness in the image or be highlighted meaning they are removed.

Removing pieces using Contour in Cricut Design Space

Click on the X to close the contour window. Now, yous'll see your paradigm with the removed cuts.

Finished Contour in Cricut Design Space

Alternately, you could select the primary portion of the butterfly in the Contour window to remove. This would go out you lot with simply the butterfly markings to cut out. This could be useful if you lot planned to cut out a butterfly and then cut our vinyl butterfly markings.

Butterfly contour in Cricut Design Space

Another example, uses this Howdy I'm New Hither Image.  If you just wanted the "Hello" part of the image to cut out, click on Contour.

contour word example in Cricut Design Space

Select each piece of the "I'1000 New Here". Click on the X to shut the Contour window.

At present, simply the "Hello" volition be cut out.

contour word example hello in Cricut Design Space

OTHER Important TIPS

When y'all are ready to make your projection you will click on Make Information technology in the elevation right corner. .

This volition open up the mat preview screen where there are a lot of options y'all tin can change. Get-go of all, when you click on your image, three little dots will appear in the corner and an arrow will too appear. The three niggling dots give yous the options to move your image to another mat or hide information technology. (In this example there is only have 1 mat right at present, only later on in the example I volition utilize the motility selection.) If you didn't want the selected image to cut you lot would select the Hide pick.

The circular pointer on the correct of the image allows yous to rotate your paradigm how you would similar it cut. You tin too motion your epitome where you would like information technology on the mat.

MAKE MULTIPLE PROJECT COPIES

Another important selection is Project Copies in the summit left corner. Hither yous can select how many copies you want to cut out of your image

Select 8 copies by typing it in the box or using the drop down menu. Select Apply and 8copies will populate on the screen, and there are now ii mats.

To move one of the hearts to the outset mat, click on the image, use the three dot option to select "movement information technology" , so select which mat. Use the rotate tool to make the epitome fit on my first mat. You tin can run into on the left manus side that there are now 5 hearts on ane mat and three on the other.

CHANGE YOUR MAT SIZE

Design Space defaults to 12X12 textile size but you can besides change to your desired size right in the preview screen. Click on the drop down menu and option which size cloth you lot are using.

Below the  12X24 size is selected and now all the hearts fit on i mat. The adjacent step is to click keep and then cut out my images.

CHANGE THE Sail GRIDLINES

You can alter the gridlines that bear witness on your canvas. Merely click on the corner square by the nix mark, Clicking the square once will make the smaller filigree lines disappear.

Cricut Design Space Change Gridlines; Top Tricks and Tips Featured by Everyday Jenny, Utah Creative BloggerClicking it twice will make all gridlines disappear. And clicking a tertiary time will reset the gridlines as they were in the beginning.

Cricut Design Space NO Gridlines; Top Tricks and Tips Featured by Everyday Jenny, Utah Creative Blogger

FIND OUT WHAT FONT OR IMAGE You USED

If y'all want to discover out what prototype you used y'all tin right click on the image itself or right click on it in the Layers carte. This will bring upward a drop downwardly carte.

Clicking on Image Info in Layers Menu

Click on Paradigm Info and you will run across the exact number of the image you used.

Finding the Image info number in Cricut Design Space

You tin can search for that exact image using the unabridged number including the hashtag in the epitome search in Cricut Blueprint Space. This prototype number is #M3C305.

You can also utilise this feature to detect out a font that you used if you tin't remember. Once you lot weld fonts or otherwise dispense them, the font name disappears from the Layers menu. Again, right click on the font to see the image info. In the example beneath the image info tells usa the font proper name is Dream Catcher.

Finding the Font name in image info in Cricut Design Space

COMBINE MULTIPLE PROJECTS INTO ONE

You can combine multiple projects into i project on Cricut Design Space very easily.

Open up the project you want to copy. Open a new window in Cricut Design Space. Yous tin can select another project you lot wish to copy to in this window, or just choose a blank project.  Select the image or images you lot wish to copy and right click on them. Select Copy from the bill of fare. In your new window, right click and select Paste.  Now your images from your other projection will be in this window.

You lot can select images from multiple projects to re-create by opening them upwards and following the same steps.

Combining Projects in Cricut Design Space

Use PRINT And then Cut TO PREVIEW INFUSIBLE INK PATTERNS

Here's a fiddling tip I similar to use to see a mock-upward of how an Infusible Ink Blueprint volition look.

Find the Infusible Ink pattern yous are using on Cricut's website. Click on the swatch and accept a screen shot of the pattern.

Infusible Ink Pattern on Cricut's Website

Use the Upload tool in Cricut Design Space and select Design Make full. Make sure to proper name your pattern afterwards the Infusible Ink you used.

Upload Infusible Ink Pattern to Cricut Design Space

Select your prototype you wish to mock-up and alter it to a print image in the Make full menu. Select the foursquare side by side to Make full and select Pattern in the drop down menu.  You should see your design swatch.  Click on advanced to adjust the design scale.

Select your pattern of Infusible Ink Pattern in Cricut Design Space

You'll desire to make the scale every bit high as it can become to get the nigh accurate preview y'all can. For some patterns, the scale may still be a niggling pocket-size.

Now you lot accept a mock-up/ preview of what your Infusible Ink design volition await like! Retrieve this is just to be able to get an idea of what your pattern will look like and you'll need to switch back to a cut image to make your projection.

Preview your pattern of Infusible Ink Pattern in Cricut Design Space

Whew. I know that was a lot of information, but I hope yous constitute it helpful!

If you take any other questions, please let me know in the comments beneath!

* You can  too view my post about these tips on the official Cricut blog hither.

Top Tricks and Tips_ The Basics of Cricut Design Space Everything you need to know