The Basics Of Cricut Design Space (With Tutorials)

Have you recently bought a Cricut machine but aren’t sure how to use the bundled Design Space software? Are you searching for a tutorial that can teach you its basics? If so, this guide has got you back. 

Here we have discussed the working of Cricut Design Space so that you can do the work without any hassle. 

Design Space Tutorial 

To start working with the design space, you need to open it. Upon doing that, you will see the dashboard of the software. 

There you can see an option called “My Projects” that has all the saved projects. So, you can create a new project. 

By continuing scrolling, you can find Ready to Make projects. Also, a Cricut Community includes designs made by Cricut users (like you). These designs are fun, and you can try them without any issue. 

At last, you can click on the New Project option, which is present at the top of the page. It will open a new canvas. If you have more than one Cricut machine, you need to select the machine type you are working with. 

Then on the left side of the, you will find different menu options, including new templates, projects, images, text, shapes, and upload.

Here’s what each option means. 

New Project Option 

This option lets you start working on a new project. When you click on it, a blank canvas is displayed on the screen. If you click on the new project option again, you will be asked to replace the current blank canvas with a new one or save your existing project. 

Templates Tool

You can select any template that Cricut Design Space offers using template tools. You can make your project visually appealing by selecting the most appropriate template.

The templates can also come in handy for sizing and spacing but remember that it’s not cut out. To change the size of a template, you can take the help of the drop-down menu. You can match the template by changing a few things. 

Projects 

The third option lets you see all the available ready-to-make projects. Here, you can find different designs and projects that are already made. You can copy these projects to perfection. Also, some ready-to-make projects come with scope for customization when you open them. 

Within the customization tool, you also get the freedom to search for certain projects that are included with Cricut Access. Besides this category, you can find others as well, like Free for Cricut Joy or Free. 

If you want to learn the basics of your new Cricut machine, you can take the help of these free projects to begin your learning journey. 

Insert Images Tool

If you want to add images to your project, you can do it with the insert images tool. Upon clicking on this tool, you can see a vast Cricut library of images open. Select an image to put into the project from the given options. 

If you want to search for any particular kind of image, take the help of the search bar. Also, you can select the desired image from the categories that are below the search bar. 

Imagine you are searching for car images. So, when you type a car in the search bar, all the similar images will be displayed on the screen. You can even take the help of a filter tool. You can select one or more filters depending on your requirements. 

This way, you will get the right image, which you can insert into your project to make it visually appealing. 

Linetype

You can find a wide variety of linetype depending on the Cricut machine you have. But if you have Cricut Maker, you will find the most options since it has multiple tools. 

Here’s a list of linetype you can find with the Cricut machine they are available with. 

• Wave: Wavy blade (Cricut Maker)
• Engrave: Engraving tool (Cricut Maker)
• Perf: Perforation tool (Cricut Maker)
• Deboss: Debossing tip (Cricut Maker)
• Foil: Foil transfer kit (This tool needs to be purchased separately. It works for Cricut Explore Air 2 and Cricut Maker)
• Score: Scoring Wheel (Cricut Maker) or Scoring stylus (Cricut Explore Air 2 or Cricut Maker)
• Cut: Fine blade tip (Cricut Explore Air 2, Cricut Joy, and Cricut Maker), Deep Cut (Cricut Explore Air 2 and Cricut Maker), Knife blade (Cricut Maker), or Rotatory Blade (Cricut Maker) 
• Draw: Pens (Cricut Explore Air 2, Cricut Joy, and Cricut Maker)

Depending on the blade you are using, you can change the linetype. And based on your choice, the image will differ a little. Not to mention, you can even change the pen type by clicking the drop-down box. 

Text Tool

Next comes the text tool, which lets you type your desired text. Whatever you type will appear on the canvas for you to have a look at. 

If you want to edit your text, use the options given on the top of the toolbar. These options will appear once you have selected the text. Using the tool, change the font. And even better, use the search bar to search for an image. For better results, filter your search. 

To make your fonts look more dramatic, you can add shadows to them by clicking on the multi-layer font option. In addition, if you are writing in cursive letters, use the letter space tool to adjust the space between the letters. 

Shapes Tool

Do you want to insert basic shapes into your canvas? If so, you must select the shapes tool. It lets you add designs line, square, heart, line, circle, and more. 

Upload Tool

This option lets you add your designs to the canvas without any complications. Once you click on the upload tool option, you get to choose between uploading a pattern fill or an image. 

You can select an image by clicking on the file, or you can drag and drop a file. Make sure the files are in .jpg, .gif, .png, .bmp, .svg, or .dxf. format. Also, at the bottom, recently uploaded images are displayed. That means you don’t have to upload a single image multiple times. 

While this upload tool accepts a wide range of formats, if your file is in .svg format, the process will get easier for you. On the other hand, working with other file formats can be tricky and time-consuming. 

After uploading the picture, if you do not want any specific parts that you don’t want, you can use the erase tool. It will eliminate the unwanted parts. 

At last, you can see two options, i.e., save as a cut image or save as print and then cut. You can select any option depending on your choice. 

Layers Menu

This option is available on the right-hand side of the screen. And then, at the bottom, you can find different options: slice, attach, flatten, weld, and contour. 

The interesting thing about the layers tool is that it shows different layers of images and texts that you have on the canvas. 

Color Sync Tool

Finally, there is a color sync tool that lets you make different layers of the canvas into the same color. You need to drag and drop different layers to make this tool work. 

With its proper usage, you can cut all pieces of the same color at the same time. This way, you can save so much of your time because you no longer have to switch between the materials. 

Extra Tips

When you are ready to make your project, click on “Make It” to open a mat preview screen. Using these options, you can make changes to your project. Also, you can make copies to avoid the issue of creating the same image multiple times. 

Conclusion 

Cricut Design Space can help you create a wide variety of things. And if you know its basics, you can easily play with different options without getting confused. 

We hope this step-by-step guide helped you understand how Cricut Design Space works. You can use these basic options to make better designs.