What Is the Cricut Design Space Menu?
First, open up the Cricut account by signing in with your Cricut ID or make a new account by clicking the sign-up.
The design space menu will open up; it is the screen where anyone can manage their set up. You can browse the menu. Clicking on the home button will bring the Home page up. By clicking, the current project is not lost.
- By clicking on Canvas, the site takes you to the Canvas window. Hereyou can design a new project. If you are working on a design, it will directly open to it.
- There is an option for print in cut calibration for accurate cutting of images.
- A new machine can be set up by clicking on the new machine setupbutton.
- If the machine needs an update on its Firmware, you can click UpdateFirmware.
- Account Details can be seen by clicking on its link
- There is an option for Link Cartridges; you can install a cartridge usingthis window
- If you buy a Cricut Access subscription, you can access it through theCricut Access link.
- The setting option is for adjusting keyboard shortcuts, measurements, andturning the grid on and off.
- The Legal option is to inform you about the policies and Terms of use etc.of the device
- The help button is for whenever you are stuck. You can watch helpfulvideos and read guidelines to help you.
- Country Select link helps in managing the purchase and setting the correct currency.
- The sign out link is for signing out of your account.
How to Create and Customize a Ready-To-Make Project?
Select a project of your choice, which is in the project tab of the home screen. Once you open the project, its details will be shown. The photo, difficulty level, the time required, materials required, finished size, and instructions are all given.
If you want the project to be the same, then click on the green Make it button. If you want to customize the image, you click customize. You will be taken to Canvas. Once the changes are done, click on the preview. When satisfied, click on the ‘Make it an icon.’
How to Start a New Project?
From the home screen, click on the New Project button. You will be directed to an empty Canvas page. You can also access through Design Space Home Screen by clicking on the new project tile. Editing and adding photos, images, and text are all done here.
- You can browse from different projects in the Projects tab
- You can browse and insert from Cricut’s image library or uploads by clicking Images.
- You can basically shape like circles and squares by the Shape option.
- You can upload your image by clicking on the Upload option● My projects link allows you to open prior
- The Save option is for saving the current project.
- When done, cut your project by clicking on the ‘Make it an ’
- On the Edit bar, there are many functions to choose from Undo, Redo,select all/deselect, edit which has cut, copy, paste options, align, arrange, flip, size, rotate and position.
- On the Text Edit Bar, there are many features. Fonts, when clicked, willdisplay a large variety of its types, and you can browse it by search too. There is also Style, Letter space, Line space, Alignment, and Advance options. The advance option enables you to group different texts.
- On the right, there will be a Layers Panels. Image features are given inthis area like Contour, Slice, etc. Besides, layers are controlled from here.
You can Duplicate, Delete, Group/Ungroup, define line layer, or color.
How to Use the Cricut Image Library?
A most important aspect of Designing is the use of the proper image that you have in mind. Cricut Design Space provides thousands and thousands of beautiful and fresh images to choose from its library. The number grows every day as new images are added. The design space allows the use of the image before purchasing it so that when you purchase it, you don’t have any regrets.
Some images may not be available based on your residency.
How to insert the necessary images?
- First, open the Images which are on the left side of the Canvas in theDesign Panel. A new window will pop up, showing all the images in the library and also the uploaded ones.
- On top of the screen, three links are showing, Images, Categories,Cartridges. By default, the images will open, showing all the images in the library. You can click on the Categories tab and search in the 50 + categories provided. In the Cartridges tab, in alphabetical order, different cartridges images will be shown. Cartridges are sets of images.
- You can also search an image typing the name or tag in the search box,and also filter your search by ownership, layer, and type.
- Image information can be seen by clicking the icon lower right corner ofthe image. Its name, number, cartridge set name (if any), level of access (purchased, owned, free) are all displayed.
- Images with intricate designs and have an option for print and cut. Thereis a printer icon for them in the bottom right of the preview image.
- Image Tray is where all of the selected images are temporarily stored foruse. When in canvas, click the insert images button to insert the image on the canvas.
- The cancel button text you back to the Canvas without any images selected.
- Insert images option will insert all the selected images into Canvas
How to Upload an Image?
There are many images to choose from in the library, but it also encourages the use of your images. Images are categorized into two types. The first type of image and the second is the Pattern.
About Images:
Images also have two types, Basic and the other one is Vector.
Necessary images like JPG, GIF, PNG, are uploaded as one layer. Uploading the image will require a few steps that the software will guide through. There are two ways to use the image.
- First, by print and cut features, print the image and then calibrate theCricut to cut around it.
- Second, is to cut only the outer edges of the image directly on themachine.
Vector files come in SVG Def. files, which are not uploaded as a single layer but multiple layers. Other imported images from different software can also be uploaded. You can search the uploaded image by searching its name/tag. Moreover all uploaded images can be seen by applying the filter uploaded.
About Pattern:
Uploaded patterns can be seen in the Layers Attributes Panel under the Pattern option. Files that can be uploaded are .jpg. pang .gif .bmp. When uploading, choose appropriate tags and name for easy searching. You can also access this by clicking uploaded in Patterns filter.
How to upload an image from Photoshop?
Cricut Design Space does not allow you to make changes to the images that you want to use. If changes are to be made to the design, then another software like Adobe Photoshop should be used first. Adobe Photoshop does not save vector files, so if the picture has multiple layers, it will be compressed into one. Images best work in jpg. Files, but others can also be used.
Firstly, make the required changes in the image using Photoshop. Then save the file in jpg. Format and name, it.
How to upload an image from Adobe Illustrator?
Adobe Illustrator is mainly a vector software that can save files in SVG. and
Def. formats. It can also save in JPG, and other formats as well. Cricut Design Space can compress the multilayer image into one. In addition to using print and cut, cutting the outline, you can cut different shapes.
For SVG. Files: After completing the design, click ‘Save As’ under the File menu. Now name the file and select AutoCAD interchange file.
For Def. and others: After completing the design, click ‘Export,’ then ‘Export As’ under the file menu. Now name the file and select ‘AutoCAD interchange file.’
How to upload from an image from CorelDraw?
CorelDraw is mainly a vector software that can save files in SVG. and Def., formats. It can also save in JPG. and other formats also.
To create vector files, after making suitable changes to the image, select Save As under the File Menu. After giving it a name, select Def.-AutoCAD for SVG-AutoCAD. Accept any default settings if prompted.
To create essential files, after making suitable changes to the image select Export. Then select Export As under the file menu. After giving the name, select JPG, GIF, PNG, or BMP. Use JPG for maximum results. Accept any default settings if prompted.
How to select an image?
It is easy to select an image onto the Canvas. There are four methods for this task:
- First, select an image from inside the Canvas. When an image is selected,it will be shown in the Layers Panel in the highlighted form, and a bounding box will appear around the image.
- Either, select an image from the Layers Panel. This will also select theimage on your Canvas screen.
- Another option is to select an image from drawing a box. Then draw a boxaround the image that it is entirely inside it. The box will turn blue, and the image will be selected.
- If there is one image, select the ‘Select All’ option. If there is more thanone image, then all of it will be selected.
Working with uploaded photos
It is easy to upload your images. There are two methods: First is to upload as images and second by patterns.
- Select the option for upload images under the upload page● Browse your photo by name and select it.
- If it is a photo, then select the option ‘Complex Image’ under the uploadscreen. Then click ‘Continue.’
- For the photo to retain its details, it should be used in print and cut. It isdone by default, and it is saved as print and cut image. Now click save.
- Back on your upload screen, click on the photo and then click insert. Thephoto is now ready to use.
- This photo can be manipulated using different tools such as slip tool, orflatten tool. The slip tool can be used to cut the photo or cut images out of the photo. The flatten tool can insert different images on the photo.
Patterns
- Select the option for upload pattern under the upload screen.
- Browse the photo using its name and selected.
- Name and add appropriate tags to your photo to make searching easy.
- Now click Save, a new blue page will pop up telling that the photo is uploaded.
- A shape can be used to cut the image to make a pattern. First, insert a shapein the Canvas. Open the ‘Layers Attributes Panel’ under the ‘Image Layers’ option. Now select ‘Line Types’ and then ‘Patterns.’ Different patterns will open along with the photo. Select the desired photo and fill the shape.
Use different editing tools to your likings, like rotate, scale, pan, and mirror.