Do you have a Cricut and are not sure where to begin with Design Space? When you learn something new it can be pretty scary at first. I get it; sometimes we don’t even know where to start because there’s so much information out there and it’s just overwhelming. I was overwhelmed at first just like you, but I learned to use Design Space by just playing with it and watching numerous how-to videos. So now I want to make it easier for you by showing you what I know!
Once you understand the features and functionality of Design Space you can conquer some amazing projects — and knowing how the system works can save you time in the long run. I put together a YouTube video walking you through design space and it is titled Design Space Tutorial. You can click on the link, or you can also find it on my YouTube Channel “FunStuffCrafts.”
The video is an excellent step through, but I also thought it would be a good idea to recap the video and the icons for your reference. So, let’s get started with the left side panel of Design Space.
Design Space Left Hand Panel
The very top icon is the three horizontal lines and it is how we get to the home page.
New (+): Where you select to start a new project.
Templates: Where you can find numerous templates to help you with your project. I like to use these for my HTV Projects.
Projects: Where you can find all types of ready-made projects.
Images: Where you can find all of the images that Cricut offers.
Shapes: Where you will find the basic shapes you can use for your project.
Upload: Where you can upload SVG files into Design Space for your project.
Design Space Edit Bar Section 1
Now let’s take a look at the top ribbon of Design Space.
Undo: This is the arrow that is curled and pointing to the left at the top left of the ribbon.
Redo: This icon is right next to the “undo” and it is the opposite of undo.
Font: This is the icon below the “undo” icon, and it is where you can change your font style.
Linetype: This is the icon where you can change your line type. This is also where you will find the options for Cricut’s new toolset.
Cut: The option to Cut your material.
Draw: The option to Draw on your material. I use this to write on a card.
Score: The option that places a line onto your material to enable you to add fold lines for cards, envelopes, boxes, and other 3D projects!
Engrave: The tool that engraves unique and permanent designs on a variety of materials.
Deboss: This tool is used to deboss a design. You no longer need embossing folders.
Wave: The tool that is used to create a wavy cut to your image.
Perf: The tool that is used to create a perforation on your image.
Fill: The icon where you can choose a color or pattern to fill your image layer for Print Then Cut. This is available when the Cut Linetype is selected.
Select All (+): The icon you choose to select or deselect all items on the Canvas simultaneously.
Edit: This is a drop-down to find common edit tools like cut, copy, and paste.
Style: Where you select the style of your font.
Font Size: Where you select or change the font size for your project.
Edit Bar Section 2
Let’s continue along the top ribbon.
Align
The “align” icon defines the margin that aligns two or more objects. You can have your objects line up to the left, right, top, or bottom, or have horizontal or vertical centers. You can also distribute your objects evenly vertically or horizontally.
Arrange
The arrange icon can change the order in which objects appear on the canvas, including “Move to Back”, “Move Backward”, “Move to Front”, and “Move Forward”. The changes will be reflected in the Layers Panel.
Flip
The flip icon can flip an object horizontally or vertically.
Size
The size icon can adjust the width or height of an object by typing in an exact value or by using the stepper to adjust the size by 0.1 at a time.
Letter Space
Letter Space can change the spacing between letters in your block of text. You can type in a value or use the steppers to change by 0.1.
Line Space
Line Space changes the space between each row of text. You can type in a value or use the steppers to change by 0.1.
Alignment
Alignment can change the alignment of your entire block of text to use left, right, centered, or full justification.
Curve
You use the Curve tool to bend your text into a circular shape easily.
Edit Bar Section 3
Now we’re going to finish the top ribbon.
Rotate
The “rotate” will adjust the angle of your object by typing in an exact degree or use the stepper to adjust the angle by 1 degree at a time.
Position
The position identifies the location of the object on the X and Y-axis.
Advanced
With advanced tools, you can create individual groupings of text from your text block. They include groupings of individual letters, groupings of lines of text, and groupings of layers of text.
Design Space Top Right Hand Layer Ribbon
Now let’s move to the Layers Section.
Group
The “group” tool is used to group multiple layers, images, or text. Grouping makes it easier to resize or move them on the design screen.
UnGroup
Ungroup is the opposite of grouping.
Duplicate
The “duplicate” tool does just as it says. It duplicates the image.
Delete
The “delete” tool deletes or erases the image.
Design Space Bottom Right Hand Ribbon
Slice
The “slice” tool splits two overlapping images or text into different parts. Slice creates new cut paths from two images, resulting in three or more completely new shapes! Each of the new shapes will show up in the layers panel as an individual layer that you can keep or discard.
Weld
The “weld” tool allows you to join shapes to create a single customized image by removing any overlapping cut lines. Welding can be a great way to simplify a design, keep the letters of a word connected, or combine shapes to create new designs!
Attach
The “attach” tool is used for two different functions. One is to fasten images in their place so that when you go to cut the images, it shows up precisely as you arranged it in the design screen. So many people will create their perfect design and then go to cut it out and are confused as to why it’s all mixed up on the mat preview.
Flatten
“Flatten” is used with the Print then Cut feature. What it does is take a multi-layer project and squishes it down to one layer to be printed on your home printer and then it will be able to be cut out on your Cricut machine. When you flatten a multi-layer project it will keep the colors that were on your canvas, so here’s a quick tip; Make sure you have the colors you want before you flatten!
Contour
You use “contour” to remove the unwanted parts.
That’s it! – You are now ready to use Design Space! I hope this tutorial along with the video are useful tools for you to use. Let me know what projects you try first. I would love to hear from you, so please leave me a comment!
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