A list of Cricut design space terms and what they mean

Cricut Design Space is the accompanying software used to design and layout projects for the Cricut cutting machine. Here is a list of common terms within Cricut Design Space and their meanings:

Canvas

• Canvas: The virtual workspace in Cricut Design Space where you design your project.

Design Elements

• Images: Pre-designed graphics that you can insert onto your Canvas.
• Text: The tool that allows you to add and edit text in your design.
• Shapes: Basic geometric shapes you can add to your design, like circles, squares, and stars.
• Layers: Individual elements of your design that can be edited independently.
• Group: A function that allows you to link layers together so they move and size together but remain separate for cutting.
• Ungroup: This breaks apart the grouped layers, allowing you to edit them individually again.
• Weld: A function that merges multiple layers into one to create a single cut path.
• Attach: Temporarily holds cuts in position relative to one another on the cutting mat.
• Detach: Reverses the attach action, releasing layers from their fixed position.
• Slice: A tool that cuts overlapping images or text into separate parts.
• Flatten: Combines layers into a single printable image with a transparent background.
• Unflatten: Separates a flattened image back into its individual layers.

Cutting Operations

• Cut: The default action where the Cricut machine cuts your design out of the selected material.
• Score: A function that creates fold lines on the material; requires the scoring stylus or scoring wheel.
• Draw: Uses a Cricut pen to draw your design instead of cutting it.
• Print Then Cut: A feature that allows you to print a design on your printer and then cut around the printed image with your Cricut machine.

Material Settings

• Material Settings: Where you adjust the cut settings for different materials like paper, vinyl, or fabric.
• Custom Materials: Allows you to set and save custom cut settings for materials not listed in the default material settings.

Tools and Accessories

• Blade: The cutting component of the machine; comes in various types (fine-point, deep-point, etc.) for different materials.
• Scoring Stylus/Scoring Wheel: Tools used to create score lines.
• Cricut Pens: Pens designed to fit into the Cricut machine for the draw function.

File Management

• Project: The entire design, including all images, text, and shapes, that you save in Cricut Design Space.
• Save: Storing your current project within Cricut Design Space for future use.
• Make It: The button you press when you’re ready to send your design to the Cricut machine to be cut, drawn, or scored.

Advanced Actions

• Mirror: Reverses an image or text for cutting heat transfer materials that require placing the material face down.
• Rotate: Allows you to turn an object to a different angle.
• Size: Adjusts the height and width of an object.
• Position: The location of an object on the Canvas, defined by X (horizontal) and Y (vertical) coordinates.

Interface

• Header: The bar at the top of Cricut Design Space that includes menus and options.
• Design Panels: The sidebars where you access images, text, shapes, and manage layers.
• Zoom: A tool to enlarge or reduce the view of the Canvas on the screen for better visibility.

Miscellaneous

• Sync: Adjusts the colour of different layers to match for colour consistency.
• Smart Set Dial: A feature on some Cricut machines that allows you to easily select the material you are cutting.

This is a basic glossary of Cricut Design Space terminology. As you work with the software, you’ll become more familiar with these terms and how they apply to your crafting projects.