How to Upload Your Own Design to Design Space

It'south that time (I'd put the dancing girl emoji here but can't figure out how to do that on my keyboard)… Alexis from Persia Lou and I are back with another Silhouette VS Cricut challenge! Today we wanted to go basic and take on something that we practise all the time as bloggers who make our ain designs. We're talking through how to cut any prototype by uploading your own files! I'g team Cricut and then I'm walking you through how to do that in Cricut Design Space and Alexis is going to walk through the process for Silhouette. Merely nosotros're not merely talking basic uploads.

I'm chatting virtually the 3 different file types (.svg .png and .jpg) that I use on the regular (what are the differences!? what works best for what!?), how to modify colours of designs, how to add together patterns (2 ways) for print then cut, and how to go your picture from paper to vinyl using just your camera phone and the Cricut Design Space software.

If yous're looking for how to get your lettering ready for cut using PHOTOSHOP instead of design infinite… you tin discover that in this tutorial hither. Merely you don't NEED photoshop if you'd rather salvage those bucks.

Earlier I get into the pace by steps of uploading each file type, I wanted to point out the 3 different ways yous tin can get designs onto your mat in Blueprint Space. In that location are a TON of screen shots in this post because I'm doing several tutorials in one SO what I've done is fabricated them small-scale for ease of reading and if you would like to see it bigger, just click and it volition take you to the full prototype size. Sound skilful? Skilful ;) And before nosotros do that… how nearly the video?

The three dissimilar places you can insert designs onto your mat is the 'Images' tab, 'Shapes, and 'Upload'. Images is where you'll detect everything that is offered by Cricut. In that location are costless images, there are paid images, and at that place are images that are included in Cricut Access (a subscription service). I use this most for basic images for party themes (like the train for this political party). Shapes is handy, but at that place'due south not a ton to choose from. And upload? That'south what we're going to concentrate on for this tutorial.

When yous click on 'Upload', there are 2 different options. There's Upload [a cut paradigm] or Design Fill. I ever adopt to use the upload option… even when I'm going to use whatever that image is for a fill up (not a cut outline). I accept an example of that in this post/video as well.

IMPORT SVG IMAGES TO DESIGN SPACE

SVG Images are the easiest blazon of images to upload into Pattern Space. If you purchase a 'Cut' file, this is typically what you would exist buying (like our Fresh Cut SVG Bundles). SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphic and that means that you can size it up or down without losing quality. These images as well have the most options for customization within the Design Space Software and that is because it imports each cut as a separate piece. For an example on this one, I used this uncomplicated floral graphic that Erin made for the Bound Fresh Cut Bundle (no longer bachelor). I chose this 1 considering it is simply 3 pieces, but if yous import a larger file go along in mind that it will look much more overwhelming in the layers tab because there is a layer for each cut made.

To upload whatever file type, hitting that trivial cloud symbol with the upwardly arrow. Click upload [cutting file] and select your file. That volition open a screen where you can name your file and add keywords. So you lot can hit Insert Image and information technology volition be inserted onto your canvas. When you click on that blueprint and drag information technology around, it will seem like one piece. It sticks together after all. But notice in the layers tab on the right at present each piece is a different layer? You can change the colour of each piece and cutting them off of different maps. When you have sized it to your preference, hit Make Information technology (top right) and see how the pieces lay out on the mat.

They're on separate mats! Of course they are, because they're dissimilar colours and you need ii dissimilar colours of vinyl. If you're anything like me, you'll probably go back and make all the pieces one colour and try once more. But you'll notice the design is all jumbled. Here'southward why. Cricut Design Space tries to make the best utilize of each piece of vinyl by arranging all the different pieces on your mat for you. This might conserve vinyl but information technology might be a pain in the butt if y'all're trying to get everything lined upward by mitt. SO go dorsum to your sheet and select all the pieces of your design. Yous can do this by holding downwardly CTRL on your keyboard and selecting all the layers on the layer console OR yous can just click and drag your mouse over the design to select it all. So click that niggling Attach (paperclip) push at the lesser of the layers panel (highlighted in bluish). This will agree all the slice together without permanently losing the data of them being dissever. When y'all click 'make it' y'all will meet that the pattern holds together this way. And since they're but fastened, you can detach them at anytime and change the size of one pieces or decide to cut the rose out of imperial and the leaves out of greenish. Here'south the shirt I made my daughter using this design:

I fabricated this shirt by keeping the rose on a separate mat (I left it majestic in Design Infinite) and selecting the leaves and attaching those 2 before cutting them. The leaves are made with Cricut Glitter Fe On and the flower is made with Cricut Foil Iron On.

IMPORT PNG IMAGES TO DESIGN Infinite

PNG files are my most used with Cricut. PNG stands for Portable Network Graphic which is a lossless image compression file type. That means that information technology has a lot more information than a JPG (for example) and the *biggest* matter to me is that it can take a transparent background which makes importing and using them for cut really like shooting fish in a barrel. This is the type of file I apply the Nigh oftentimes with Cricut. The images upload equally ONE layer and that means that it will stick together and cut exactly as it is imported. What does that hateful? Yous can't hands alter the colour of one slice of the pattern or rearrange messages of a design once imported. Just most of the fourth dimension… we want information technology to look like how we imported it, correct? So that works all-time for me.

I create my PNG images in Photoshop after scanning in lettering or straight off my iPad Pro (Procreate exports in PNG format which is crazy handy) but earlier I had either of those, I used PicMonkey.com to create my PNG graphics with transparent backgrounds. This 'Bright Ideas' example I fabricated on my iPad Pro and exported with the transparent background. To upload a PNG with a transparent background, you again click that niggling 'Upload' with the cloud and yous will accept a few more steps than you did with the PNG. After you select your file, you will be prompted with choosing if information technology'due south a Uncomplicated, Moderately Complex, or Complex image. For this simple blackness/transparent blueprint I choose 'Simple'. Then, you'll be brought to a page where you can erase whatsoever parts you lot don't want. For a file that already has a transparent background and no pieces y'all do not want… you lot can skip over this stride. Then, you'll be prompted to choose either print then cut for your upload or simply a cut just image. Choose cutting merely and your design volition be loaded into your uploaded images gallery and can exist inserted onto your canvas.

Once information technology's on the canvas, y'all can come across that it has a transparent background, you can motility information technology effectually and resize it just similar the SVG just you'll notice in that location'south only one layer in the layer panel. This means you can't select just the lightbulb and make it a different colour to impress on a different mat (although you could duplicate it and contour the lines to have the parts dissever… simply I'yard non going to go over that here). When you striking 'Make It', you lot'll meet that because information technology'due south all on i layer, the pieces don't jump around- easy peasy! This way it will cutting all in the exact layout you uploaded it in, making it piece of cake to apply your transfer tape and popular it onto your surface. Here'southward the 'bright ideas' decal on my dayplanner.

I fabricated it using. Expressions Vinyl Smooth Gold Glitter Vinyl and in the video, yous'll encounter I'm using their paper transfer tape as well.

IMPORT JPG IMAGES TO DESIGN Space

JPG is a photographic file blazon which is named later the group that named the file type (from what I understand). It'due south perfect for photos every bit information technology handles all the colours beautifully BUT it cannot have a transparent groundwork. This means that you need to make changes when yous are uploading the paradigm through the Design Space software. Let's take a await!

This instance I lettered/illustrated on my iPad Pro again. You'll see that it has some colour and is not just black and transparent (considering it's a JPG). I made the background a solid grey to make it easy to erase. This is what yous will want to do to make it easiest to accept a unproblematic selection for a print and then cutting paradigm. Yous tin also do a PNG with that white background and export without the grey background if you are working in Procreate. SO when you go to upload it in, it's the exact aforementioned steps. Click that trivial 'Upload' cloud and then when you get to the image type, I chose 'complex' to retain all the quality of the design I want to print. Then, when it's time to erase, I chose the magic wand (highlighted in blue) and clicked the grey to erase the background. I didn't take to do any more bear on ups since this image was very clean. Depending on your image, you might need to do a bit more in this tab before moving on. When you go to the next screen, you can choose either print so cutting or a cut only image. For this 1, of grade, I chose print and so cut. You tin can see how clean the cut lines are on the cutting only image- that's how you know you don't have annihilation additional to erase in the previous tab. So it will populate in your uploaded images and you tin can insert it onto your canvass.

Similar the PNG, yous volition see that it information technology is one layer only in the layers tab. Instead of the cutting symbol by the layer, you lot'll come across a printer instead. When y'all striking 'Go far' it will load onto it's own print then cut mat (with a black sensor box around it). From here you lot would print and and then cut information technology. For a total tutorial on using impress then cut on printable vinyl- I've got a video and written tutorial on that Right Hither.

I used this vinyl decal (made with Cricut Printable Vinyl) on my Moleskin blackness paper notebook and am really then happy with how this one turned out! I call up I will definitely be using this design again in the future.

HOW TO USE JPG IMAGES FOR Pattern FILL (TWO WAYS)

Alright, I also wanted to demonstrate that 'Pattern Fill' option and why I don't carp using it. First, allow me prove you how I add together a pattern to a shape or pattern in Cricut Design Space. You'll want to upload your pattern (I uploaded this beautiful floral watercolour design for my last Cricut Vs Silhouette tutorial. It's from a pack of watercolour florals purchased here.

Y'all would follow the exact same steps as the JPG image above (without erasing the background). Once yous've inserted it in, add the shape you'd similar the pattern to fill. I went simple and chose a eye from the shapes tab but you could use any PNG or SVG prototype y'all've uploaded equally well. Lay your shape over your pattern exactly where you desire the design to fill. You tin can resize the pattern and move information technology effectually besides until you're happy. Then select both layers by holding down CTRL on your keyboard and selecting both the layers on the layer panel OR you can simply click and drag your mouse over the pattern and shape to select them both. And then click 'Piece' at the bottom of the layers tab. This will give you lot three layers. You tin can click the little centre beside the layers you don't want to employ (or merely delete them) and so yous're left with your pattern filled shape. I dear how much control this gives me.

The other mode you tin can go this issue is to upload your watercolour florals (pattern) as a Pattern Fill instead of under the standard Upload. When you lot go to the upload tab (that lilliputian cloud), you have two options. We've been using the Upload choice, at present permit's click the Pattern Fill option. You select your design and so you'll get to label or title your design before you lot save it. When you get back to your uploaded images gallery… you lot'll come across information technology's not there. That'south because it'due south been saved with the patterns, not with the images. You need to select the shape or epitome that you'd like to fill up with the blueprint showtime and then turn information technology to a print (non cutting only) in the layers tab. Then yous volition see the option of 'Patterns' in the layers tab and your pattern will testify up at that place. When you select information technology, it will be added to your shape. Now in the video, I said you couldn't change that pattern but it was pointed out to me that you tin make some changes information technology just doesn't provide the same amount of control every bit the slice option does.

I totally forgot to make these ones into an actual project until I was editing the video and realized I didn't have one! But this is the technique and florals I used for this DIY- you tin can find the full tutorial for that in this post.

HOW TO Become YOUR LETTERING FROM PAPER TO Cut USING Simply Pattern SPACE

Alright, this is the actually fun one (if yous like to hand letter!). Correct off the bat… I exercise this in Photoshop usually. Not because Pattern Space can't practice it (I'm going to show you how it can!) simply because I'm style speedier in Photoshop. If you're wanting a tutorial on how to exercise this in Photoshop (did you know yous can try Photoshop for a month for free to run into how you like information technology?!), you tin can check out my tutorial on that RIGHT Hither. But for this tutorial… permit'southward wait at how to get your lettering from paper to vinyl with simply Cricut Blueprint Infinite and your photographic camera phone!

Permit me preface by proverb that if you practice have a scanner, that will requite you lot a better quality picture to begin with. But you really don't need i if you're non wanting to retain image quality (similar watercolour details). And so I took this photo using my camera phone (low low-cal and all… it's non a great photo) and went to that upload tab (the deject) and chose this epitome. When prompted with selecting the image type, choose SIMPLE image. I know, information technology seems like it's not a elementary image but by choosing this, it will simplify your photo, losing prototype quality (which you don't need anyways), simply making it easier to delete the parts yous don't desire. Run into how information technology makes it less detailed? This is perfect! The start affair you lot should exercise is ingather it down to just the area y'all want to keep. Even if you don't have a pen in the picture, I find that the edges of the photo are always darker and I always seem to have trivial scraggler dark areas to erase if I don't crop starting time.

Once it'southward cropped down, you can use that magic wand to erase the background. Yous'll also want to delete the background within your loopy letters (like in the e). You can click on the 'preview' button (highlighted in blue) and cheque and encounter what it will expect like every bit a cut file. You might see some dots outside of your pattern that need erasing. Switch to your eraser tool to practice this. I toggle back and along between preview and erase until I'm happy. When y'all're happy, you can choose 'cut but image' and insert information technology onto your canvass for cut. That'southward what this decal is on the notebook. I did go back in though and evidence an option to requite your decal a brushy look. You can come across the brushy item, for case, in this project hither. To erase some of those 'brushy' spots, just click on your magic wand and delete some of the lighter coloured areas. If it deletes likewise much, you can disengage and get into the advanced details to lower your colour tolerance to effort again. But a little tip if yous like that brushy look :)

Just like the PNG and JPG images above, this will import all as one layer and retain it'south layout when you click 'Make It'.

I didn't have anything else that needed a decal (I've stuck vinyl on everything in my life already) so I put this one on the inside embrace of my notebook. This is just the Cricut Adhesive Vinyl in Rose.

Alright! I Then hope that you found all the details y'all needed in this tutorial. If you have any suggestions for time to come Silhouette VS Cricut videos, experience free to asking them in the comments!

Here'southward some more cracking beginner Cricut Tutorials!

Y'all Tin Meet ALL MY CIRCUT PROJECTS RIGHT Hither!

carrollfactere.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.lemonthistle.com/cut-out-any-image-how-to-upload-your-own-files-to-cricut-design-space/

Share this post