Slicing is one of my favorite features in Cricut Design Space! I love cutting out fonts and images in other designs. But sometimes it won’t work. If you are finding this to be a problem, here are a few ideas: –Make sure the image/font you are cutting out of (so that’s on top of another image) is completely inside the other image. Hi – I just purchased my Cricut Air 2 – used but it is in great condition, I am planning to purchase the Bluetooth flash drive so I can use my iPad, however, I was looking at your Article and you did say that the Software for Designing on a Windows Laptop was free and I am also hoping it is free also for the iPad. If you have the Cricut Maker, you will need the cartridge adapter that is coming soon! Easy -Medium – Using files from other sources. Downloading Freebies and Purchases – Cricut Design Space makes it easy to upload SVG and font files you get from other sources. Here are my favorite resources for images. I purchased this black and white makeup bag and wanted to make it a little more fun. I decided to make my own graphic for it that says Wake Up and Make Up! I have a full video tutorial at the bottom of this post to walk you through it all step by step. Let me show you how to upload and cut custom images in Cricut Design Space.
- Programs That Work With Cricut
- Cricut Images To Buy
- Cricut Image Library Free Access
- Where Are My Purchased Cricut Images Of
Naomi from How To Heat Press is back with the last in a series of guest posts to help you explore your Cricut! Today, she’ll share a great tip for locking designs in place in Cricut Design Space. You can use the skills from this tutorial to make your own customized projects.
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Photos in this post are © How To Heat Press and are used with permission.
About How To Heat Press
How To Heat Press was started by Naomi and Dan in 2016. They’ve been using heat press and cutting machines for years, and they love all the wonderful projects you can create with these machines. How To Heat Press provides information about heat press and cutting machines (with a focus on Cricut machines), heat press and Cricut tips and tutorials, and t-shirt business tutorials.
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Cricut Basics: How To Lock Image Positions in Design Space
Tutorial by How To Heat Press
How do you lock the image position on the mat in Cricut Design Space?
That’s what we will take a look at in this really easy Cricut Design Space tutorial for you.
First I’ll explain how to use the attach feature in Design Space to keep the placement of a design. I’ll also explain how to change the position of your design on the cutting mat, and show you a couple of different ways to do this.
How To Use Cricut Attach
The attach tool in Design Space is like a glue that sticks multiple components of a design or text together. This allows them to be cut in the exact same configuration as shown on the canvas.
Here is an example of how you would use the attach feature in Cricut Design Space (and it works the same for both Cricut Maker and Cricut Explore Air 2 machines).
I’ve uploaded this image into Design Space. You can see on the right hand side in the layers panel, that there are 4 pieces included in this design.
The following screenshot is the mat preview when I go to cut out this design.
You can see that the placement of the design has changed. By default, Design Space has rearranged the parts of the design to save space on the cutting mat.
Unless you use the attach tool to hold the placement of your design, Design Space will always rearrange your designs.
So, in order to keep the placement of my design as it is shown on the canvas, I will need to select all the parts/layers in my design and click ‘attach’.
The attach tool is located at the bottom right of the canvas, alongside the Cricut slice, flatten, contour, and weld tools.
By attaching the design, this will hold the placement of the design, and then it will be cut exactly as displayed on the canvas.
Now, when viewing the mat preview again, my design has stayed in the same configuration as was shown on the canvas!
Although the design placement is the locked into position, Design Space still puts the design in the top left corner of the cutting mat by default.
This will be fine most of the time, but sometimes you want to be able to lock something in a specific position on a mat.
How can you change the position of the design on the cutting mat?
How to Lock The Position On The Mat
To change the position of your design on the cutting mat, all you need to do is select your design and manually drag it to change its position.
Wherever you drag the design on the mat, the position will be locked in and your Cricut will cut it out in that exact position on your mat.
You also have the option to rotate your design. Your Cricut will cut out your design exactly as is shown in the mat preview.
If your design is selected, you will notice there are three dots in the top left corner of the box. This gives you more options:
- You can hide your design completely, so that it will not be cut out (this is if you are cutting multiple designs at once and want to delete something without going all the way back to the canvas)
- You can move a design to another mat, so that it will be cut out in a different color (this is if cutting multiple designs in different colors)
- You can create a new mat to add your design to (this is if you would like to cut it out in a new color than the mats you already have)
In the mat preview you are not able to resize your image, you are only able to change its position on the mat.
How To Edit the Cutting Position of a Design on the Mat
If you click ‘continue’ after the mat preview, you will be brought to this screen below where you a ready to connect your machine and cut out your design. However, you once again have the option to edit your mat and manually change the position of your design.
Just like before, you can click to select your design, and manually drag it anywhere around the mat.
Wherever you move the design, its position will be locked into place and your Cricut will cut it out in the exact position as shown in the preview below.
When editing your mat, you are once again not able to resize your image, only change the position in which it will be cut on the mat.
And that’s all there is to it!
It’s very simple indeed, but another one of those things we all need to know when using Cricut Design Space.
Here are some other Cricut related posts on Underground Crafter:
Thank you for stopping by!
Disclosure: I have listed links in this post for your convenience so you know exactly where to find things. These links may be affiliate links and when you purchase through these links, I will get a small percentage (and it doesn’t cost you a thing). Thank you!
I absolutely love my Cricut Maker machine. I essentially use it for everything I craft lately. It’s easy to use and the possibilities are really endless. Here are a few projects I’ve created just in the last month. If you don’t have one yet, be sure to read to the bottom where I am sharing all the current specials!
Programs That Work With Cricut
Finding images to use with the Cricut is easy to do. Here are the types of files that Cricut can process – .png, .jpg, .gif, .svg, .dxf, .bmp.
There are two different types of uploaded images: Basic and Vector.
- Basic images – include .jpg, .gif, .png, and .bmp file types. These files are uploaded as a single layer, and you have the ability to edit the image during the upload process in Cricut Design Space.
- Vector images – include .svg and .dxf file types. These files are uploaded as previously designed and will automatically be separated into layers after uploading and saving.
I use a variety of resources to make my creations with my Cricut. Some I purchase, some I use from Cricut’s store while some I use from free sources. While I like creating projects myself, sometimes it’s easier (and quicker) to purchase from someone who has already created the image for a project I want to create. Plus, I don’t mind supporting designers! SVG files are typically only a few dollars. Let’s go through the difficulty levels of starting to use Cricut Design Space.
Easy – Using Cricut Products
Cricut Access
I love Cricut Access and use it quite often. You pay one fee monthly or annually and you are provided access to thousands of images you can use for your projects. It’s that easy!
Use this link to sign up and get 10% off purchases if you sign up for the Standard Access or get 50% off digital purchases when you sign up for Premiere Access.
Cricut Cartridges –
You can use Cricut Cartridges with all machines! You can easily find them at stores like Joann’s or Michaels but also check your local sales groups on FB as often times people are selling theirs.
If you have the Cricut Maker, you will need the cartridge adapter that is coming soon!
Easy -Medium – Using files from other sources
Downloading Freebies and Purchases –
Cricut Design Space makes it easy to upload SVG and font files you get from other sources. Here are my favorite resources for images and fonts! Be sure to bookmark each of these links! By checking these links every week, you can definitely build up your SVG library! If you are looking to expand into doing this as a business, please be sure to check the license usage for the SVGs you download.
Font Bundles and Design Bundles –
Find fonts at FontBundles.net and .svg files at DesignBundles.net. I pay $7.99 for a subscription that offers hundreds of images and fonts that are included. You can also download the weekly freebies here!
The Hungry JPEG –
I often download the freebies weekly offered at the HungryJpeg.com.
Craft Bundles –
Craftbundles.com is another site that offers free and $1 SVGs!
Fresh Cut SVGs
FreshCutSVGs is a site that offers bundles at a great price!
Free Pik –
FreePik is a site allows you to download a limited number of a variety of vector files for both personal and commercial use for free and they also have a subscription service that offers a lot more downloads.
CreativeFabrica –
There are freebies for both fonts and svgs on CreativeFabrica.com as well as great deals starting at $1.
Freebies from Designers –
CaluyaDesign.com (I love this designer’s freebies) http://caluyadesign.com/freebie-gallery.html
Love SVG (Free fonts and SVGs) https://lovesvg.com/free-svg-cut-files
Etsy –
Many of the images I use I’ll buy individually from artists on Etsy.com. These usually start at $.99, if you are looking for something specific, I sugest starting here!
Facebook Groups –
Believe it or not, this is a big hobby and there are tons of FB groups out there where you can not only talk to other Cricut users but also you can join SVG groups! Simply search “Cricut” and “SVG” under groups.
Uploading Images –
You can search the internet and upload images into Design Space. It’s important to note that you can only do this on PC, Mac and ios platforms and it is not an option currently on Android.
Cricut Images To Buy
Here are ideas on what to search for and how to do it –
- Free SVG – try to find an already created vector file. You’ll need to download these from the source to make sure you are getting the actual vector file.
OR
- Upload an image – try to find a transparent background image if you can. Or, try to find an image that is not complex if you want to cut it out with vinyl. Remember that images can pixelate when enlarged so try to find larger file images. For this example, I searched for a Mickey Mouse head with a transparent background.
To upload non-vector files, simply click on “upload”.
Cricut Image Library Free Access
Select the complexity, the guide will help you.
After uploading it, you’ll need to click on the unwanted spaces in the image to erase it.
Because I already selected a transparent background, this was easy. However, if there was white in the background of Mickey, all I would need to do is “click” the backspace and it would automatically delete the white space.
When you save your image, you need to make sure you select the correct option, either print then cut or simply cut.
If you still need guidance on this, read the Cricut tutorial here – http://learn.cricut.com/uploading-images-jpg-gif-png-bmp-svg-dxf-files.
Where Are My Purchased Cricut Images Of
Uploading Fonts To Use in Design Space-
There are many free font sites online. My favorite is DaFont.com. You can also purchase them from many sites like the ones listed above.
To upload a font you downloaded:
- Unzip the file
- Open the .ttf or .otf file and click “install font”
- To find the font, you’ll need to click on “system” or search. If you do not see it, you’ll need to close Design Space and reopen it.
Font Tips –
What is that font?
Curious about what a font is? Try the app “what the font” where you can upload an image of a font and it will help you identify it!
How Do I Tell Fonts Apart?
Do you have a certain phrase you would like to see written out in fonts without switching between fonts 1 by 1? Check out WordMark.it! Type a word or phrase and it pulls the fonts from YOUR computer!
How Do I Monogram?
There are apps that you can monogram but a site I found that will make it a jpg, you just have to clean it up in Design Space is MarkandGraham.com.
How Do I Curve Font in Design Space?
You will need to rotate each letter one by one. Here’s a great tutorial on how to do it – https://designbundles.net/design-school/how-to-curve-text-in-cricut-design-space
Advanced – Creating Your Own
For the very advanced user, you can create your own vector files in software like Adobe Illustrator and Inkspace. I do not have tutorials for these but Youtube is full of them!
Looking to get a Cricut? I have the Maker and love it! This machine cuts many materials including vinyl and fabric with ease. I also have a Cricut Explore and if you aren’t ready to commit to the Maker’s price, you can purchase an Explore for only $134.99 or the bundle shown above for only $169.99!