Unfortunately, Design Space, which is completely free to use, is not optional. There is no other way to tell the cricut machine to cut. If you have not yet bought a machine, you can still create an account and start learning how to use Design Space. You do not need to have a machine to use the program, you just won't be able to do anything with your designs and projects until you have access to a machine. (My daughter would design things at college in her own Design Space Account, then come home on break and cut everything on my machine)
Here's a step by step for how to use Free SVGS in Design Space:
2. SVGs look like HTML files - And All Cut Files Are Not SVGS
One of the most common mistakes when uploading free svgs to Design Space is uploading the wrong file. If you have the option to clean it up, or the option to save it as either a cut file or a print then cut file, you uploaded the wrong file. SVGS are scalable vector graphics that will not distort when resized and (almost always) come with each color as a separate layer. They will, by default, have the icon of your default web browser - so look for the icon that looks like a website. Here's an illustration of what each of files is in a typical download :
3. Fonts are installed on your device, not uploaded to Design Space
With svgs, you upload them to Design Space. For Fonts, you install them on your device, and then find them under the system fonts tab in Design Space. Here's a detailed step by step for using free fonts in Design Space: https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2017/12/all-about-fonts-text-in-cricut-design.html
It's also important to know that Design Space does not read font kerning. That means although technically we can use system fonts in Design Space, Design Space will make a mess out of them. They will be spaced weird, you will never see the built in ligatures (ligatures are like glyphs, but they occur naturally based on letter combinations)
4. No matter which machine - Joy, Air, or Maker - it's all same Design Space Program & Features.
Your options in Design Space however, will be limited, or will change, based on the device you use. For instance, the curve feature is not available on ipads, and snapmat is not available on computers.
The maker can cut more materials - such as thin balsa wood, and it has additional tools, like the rotary blade. The Joy is essentially a miniature version of the Air machines (at almost the same price as the full size version..) so it does a lot les and will only work with smaller sized materials.. but the features in design space, such as curving text, slicing, uploading svgs, using fonts, etc - those are all exactly the same whether you are using the Joy or the Air or the Maker.
5. Attach Keeps Your Design From Jumbling When You Click Make It
A common frustration with Design Space is that you will have your design all looking just the way you want it, and then when you click make it, the letters and images will be a jumbled mess. If you cut it that way, you would have to put your design back together like a puzzle.
Instead, go back and select everything of one color (so all the black) and attach all the black pieces. Repeat that for each color.
Now each "layer" will cut exactly the way you attached it. Cricut will still send them to the mat by color - because you will insert one color at a time on the mat. So it will cut all of one color ( black) and then it will tell you to insert a mat with the next color (red) and it will cut those pieces. You will still have to layer the colors to finish your design, but if they are attached, they will be spaced exactly where they need to be to line up the layers.
6. The Cricut Machine Cannot Print, It can only cut, and draw with pens.You do not print with cricut, you cut. There IS however, a Print Then Cut Option. For that, you will need a printer, separate from your cricut machine.
Print then cut is when you print a detailed image on something like sticker paper, or iron on transfer paper (sometimes called "printable vinyl"), or even just on card stock, and then after it is printed, cricut will cut it out for you. This is how you can cut one multicolored image as one piece, without needing to layer colors.
You can not just cut any image you print. Print then cut can only be used with designs you uploaded, or created, in Design Space. You have to print them from the Design Space Program, and they will print with a black box around them. The black box is the registration marks, that's how the cricut machine will know where to cut. Because of this, print then cut is limited in size.
Any printer will work with print then cut.
7. You Do Not Have To Use Cricut Products.
Actually, I strongly recommend you do not use cricut vinyl. It's overpriced, and the quality is not as good. You also do not need to use cricut mats and tools, although their tool set is hands down my favorite. Cricut transfer tape is good only for glitter vinyl - it's too strong, and will be VERY frustrating if you try to use it for much else. But for glitter vinyl, it does do a great job.
Find a list of places I like for purchasing vinyl, with guidelines I follow for the best prices:
8. You do not need a Heat Press (nor an easy press) to make a shirt.
And there's no need to "stand on your iron" either. It may take a few tries to learn the right settings for your iron, and what works for you, but for 3 years and hundreds of items, I have never once even considered a heat press nor an easy press (which is really just an iron made by Cricut). It's just not something I need.
None of our friends and family wash our shirts special, and we all use the dryer. If a shirt is washed inside out, it's only because that's how it was tossed in the wash. I'm not saying it's a bad idea to only wash them inside out, and never use a dryer.. I'm just saying that's not the type of family I live in, and our shirts have held up just fine. (But remember, I do NOT use cricut vinyl. Siser, Transwonder, Stahls - but never cricut brand.)
That's not saying you won't want a heat press. Your experience may be very different than mine, and if you are selling a lot of shirts, then you very well may want one. But you don't need one to get started. You can take your time, make a few items, and figure out what works best for your set up.
And that's the key with ALL of this hobby. What works for one person may not work for another. Take it one thing at a time, and figure out what works best for YOU.
See the texture in the vinyl here? That's the fabric fibers showing through the vinyl. That's what you want to see. If you vinyl is smooth and glossy, it is probably not adhered to the fabric. But it is also possible to press too long and or too hard and melt your vinyl too.
Here's a step by step of how I use a regular old thrift store iron:
8. SVGS are not Project Specific. You can use the same svg to cut out of paper, regular vinyl for on a cup, or from htv for on a shirt.
An svg is just a graphic - it can be used for anything. If you cut the grinch svg out of paper you can use it on a card, the same svg can be cut out of vinyl for on a cup or ornament, and then it could be cut again from HTV to be ironed on to a shirt.
There are some exceptions to this. If you are using an svg designed for building a 3d lighthouse, for instance, its probably not going to work on a t-shirt. An svg for a rolled paper flower would look silly on a cup. They COULD be used, don't get me wrong, it's just obvious you would not really want to.
9. You do not have to watch Youtube. (But you can, if you like)
There is no book or instruction manual that comes in the box with your machine. There's a sample project, and then.. well, you are on your own. Cricut does have a huge library of online learning manuals. And there are thousands more websites with tutorials.
Youtube is a full of great resources for those who enjoy learning that way. But for those of us who lack the internet speeds, or attention span, for videos, you do not ever have to watch a single one to use your cricut machine. I can say that with confidence, because I lack both quality internet, and a decent attention span, and I have used my machine almost daily for three years.
The important thing to remember if that you do not have to learn it all at once. There's SO much to learn. But you don't need to learn how to do it all. Start with one project, learn what you need for that specific project, then move on to the next project.
This year I have been doing a 12 Week Christmas Craft Challenge. Each week we tackle a new project, with new skills, using the cricut machine. We started with paper, making gift tags, and then worked our way through how to us transfer tape, how to layer a design with registration marks, print then cut, using htv... and more. It's all FREE. Find the lessons here:
10. The First Answer Will Always Be - Shut Down and Restart
Over time, you are very likely to have some frustrations with Design Space. All of a sudden a text box may not work, or an image may not load, or... well, there are a lot of issues. The first thing to try, always, is saving your project, then shutting down Design Space, even shutting down your entire computer or device, then reboot and try again. It won't always fix the issue, but it probably will about 25% of the time.
If that doesn't work, try asking for help in a cricut facebook group. I know Cricut has a "help line", but the wait is often hours long. You'll frequently find it much faster to ask other users. My personal Cricut Group is here, and it's the fastest way to reach me. (I'm notoriously bad at answering private messages. I mean well - but it's always one of the last things I find time for). Find my group - Learn Cricut With Free SVGS here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1121399284857845
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Here's a longer guide for new cricut users - What To Buy, What To Download, And How to Use It All:
I also keep an index of my How To, Tips & Tricks, & Tutorials, Here:
