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 setup. 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. Here you can design a new project. If you are working on a design, it will directly open to it.

There is an option for Print Then Cut calibration for accurate cutting of images.
A new machine can be set up by clicking on the New Machine Setup button.
If the machine needs an update on its firmware, you can click Update Firmware.
Account Details can be seen by clicking on its link.
There is an option for Link Cartridges; you can install a cartridge using this window.
If you buy a Cricut Access subscription, you can access it through the Cricut Access link.
The Settings option is for adjusting keyboard shortcuts, measurements, and turning 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 helpful videos 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, click Customize. You will be taken to Canvas.
Once the changes are done, click on the Preview.
When satisfied, click on the Make it 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 projects.
The Save option is for saving the current project.
When done, cut your project by clicking on the Make it icon.

Edit Bar Options

On the Edit bar, there are many functions to choose from:
Undo, Redo, Select All/Deselect, Edit (Cut, Copy, Paste), Align, Arrange, Flip, Size, Rotate, and Position.

Text Edit Bar Features

On the Text Edit Bar:

Fonts displays a large variety of types, and you can browse it by search too.
Also includes: Style, Letter Space, Line Space, Alignment, and Advanced options.
The Advanced option enables you to group different texts.

Layers Panel

On the right, there will be a Layers Panel. Image features are given in this area like Contour, Slice, etc. 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 Images which are on the left side of the Canvas in the Design Panel. A new window will pop up, showing all the images in the library and also the uploaded ones.

At the top of the screen, three links appear:

Images (default view)
Categories – Search through 50+ categories.
Cartridges – In alphabetical order, different cartridge images are shown.

You can also search an image by typing the name or tag in the search box and filter your search by Ownership, Layer, and Type.

Image information can be seen by clicking the icon at the lower right corner of the image (name, number, cartridge set, access level).
Images with intricate designs and an option for Print and Cut have a printer icon in the bottom right of the preview image.
Image Tray temporarily stores selected images.
Click Insert Images to place the image on the Canvas.
Cancel button takes you back to the Canvas without any images selected.

How to Upload an Image?

There are many images to choose from in the library, but it also encourages the use of your own images.

Images are categorized into two types:

Image
Pattern

About Images

Images also have two types:

Basic
Vector

Common image types like JPG, GIF, PNG are uploaded as one layer. The software guides through the uploading steps.

There are two ways to use the image:

Print and Cut – Print the image and calibrate Cricut to cut around it.
Cut only – Cuts the outer edges directly.

Vector files (e.g., SVG) are not uploaded as a single layer but as multiple layers.

Uploaded images can be searched by name/tag or filtered by “Uploaded”.

About Pattern

Uploaded patterns can be seen in the Layers Attributes Panel under the Pattern option. File types supported include: .jpg, .png, .gif, .bmp.

When uploading, choose appropriate tags and name for easy searching. You can also access this by clicking Uploaded in the Patterns filter.

How to Upload an Image from Photoshop?

Cricut Design Space does not allow you to make changes to the images you want to use. Use external software like Adobe Photoshop first.

Photoshop does not save vector files, so multi-layered images will be compressed into one. JPG is the recommended format.

Steps:

Make required changes using Photoshop.
Save the file in JPG format and name it.

How to Upload an Image from Adobe Illustrator?

Adobe Illustrator is mainly vector software that can save files in SVG and DXF formats. It can also save in JPG and others.

For SVG files:

After design completion, click Save As → select AutoCAD Interchange File.

For DXF/other files:

Click Export → Export As → select AutoCAD Interchange File.

How to Upload an Image from CorelDraw?

CorelDraw also supports SVG and DXF, as well as JPG and other formats.

For Vector Files:

After making changes, click Save As → select AutoCAD Interchange File.

For Essential Files:

Click Export → Export As → choose JPG, GIF, PNG, or BMP.
Use JPG for best results.

How to Select an Image?

There are four methods:

Select inside Canvas – The image appears in the Layers Panel with a bounding box.
Select from Layers Panel – Highlights the image on Canvas.
Draw a Box – Draw around the image; it turns blue to indicate selection.
Select All – Selects all images (useful for multiple selections).

Working with Uploaded Photos

Uploading is simple. Two options:

Upload as Image
Upload as Pattern

Steps for Uploading Image:

Go to Upload Image
Browse and select the photo.
Choose Complex Image if needed.
Use Print and Cut (default) and click Save.
Back on the upload screen, click the photo, then Insert.

Editing Tools:

Use Slice tool to cut sections out.
Use Flatten to insert images onto photos.

Patterns

Steps for Uploading Patterns:

Go to Upload Pattern
Browse and select the photo.
Add a name and tags.
Click Save – a confirmation screen appears.

To use as a pattern:

Insert a shape into the Canvas.
Open Layers Attributes Panel → Image Layers → Line Types → Patterns.
Select the desired photo.

Edit using tools: Rotate, Scale, Pan, Mirror.

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HOW TO USE DESIGN SPACE?