Can I Upload An Svg File Into Cricut Craft Room

This is an overview of how to make SVG for the Cricut covering a few of the nigh common use cases.

Let's kickoff with some nuts…

What is an SVG file?

SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics. It is a blazon of vector file that nigh cutting machines utilise to decide what direction to send the bract.

In that location are other vector file formats but SVG is the almost mutual and is the ane that Cricut uses for all its machines.

Why can't you use regular JPG or PNG images to cut?

Nigh digital images you see are bitmap images. Bitmap images are equanimous of pixels (or dots). The image file records the paradigm with information on each pixel.

This is useful for most printers because that is how information technology processes information to print. It wants to know what color to use for each dot in the image.

Unfortunately, the blade in the Cricut needs boosted data. Information technology needs directional (or vector) information. It wants to know what path to take to brand the cut.

SVG files are image files that incorporate directional information or paths information most the paradigm.

How to SVG files from JPEG or PNG images

So what'southward the big deal, why tin can't nosotros just convert a bitmap image to a vector image easily?

Well, the simple answer is information technology takes a lot of math. It is an extremely difficult math problem to figure out how to convert dots to directions.

It is as well subjective what a good conversion means in different contexts.

Some times you want to vectorize the unabridged image. Other times you want to preserve the details of the image and only create a cut path around the outline of the paradigm. And so in that location are times when you want to group certain elements of the image together but not others.

Let's go through some of the nearly popular scenarios.

How to make an SVG – Uncomplicated Approximation Vectorization

This first case, you might accept seen on various platforms. It is the vectorization of photos or detailed images. It is probably the least applicable to Cricut crafts just it is an important foundational component.

The terminate results like a paint-by-number version of the original image. The blobs of color can exist smaller or larger depending on the settings and software used to perform the vectorization.

This version of the vectorized image contains fewer paths. It is simpler and creates a certain aesthetic you may or may not want.

This scenario is most common for print designs, the SVG for this photo can be scaled infinitely large in a way that doesn't look "grainy" poster size.

How to create SVG files for Cricut

I find most Cricut crafters only desire to do this for vinyl projects. I have a detailed tutorial on how to vectorize photographs inside Design Space here.

Here is another example of a unproblematic graphic from a visual perspective, that is text. In this scenario, you just want the vectorization to nearly accurately describe the outline of the image.

It actually is the same process that you lot would employ in both scenarios. In both these scenarios, you can actually exercise the vectorization within Cricut Design Space.

Cricut Blueprint Space does take some native vectorization capabilities. They are not keen, but I observe it covers a lot of utilise cases for Cricut crafters.

This is the simplist scenario for converting the original JPEG to an SVG within Blueprint Infinite.

You simply upload the JPEG image. Because there is loftier contrast between the colors and the back is uniform, you lot tin can select "Uncomplicated" in the upload process.

So just Select and Erase the groundwork by clicking anywhere on the background. And so select a Relieve as a Cut Image.

While the print and cut image choice might await like, yous don't desire to utilize that considering y'all won't be able to change the vector shapes later on.

There are scenarios when yous want to preserve the pixel information within the cut paths though through the Print and Cut option.

Cutting Effectually a Photo in Cricut Design Space

There may exist other times when you just want to preserve the details of a photo and merely cut around the photo.

Or possibly you want to only import it and and then cut it in a different shape. This is the process to do both.

To cutting around a photo in Cricut Pattern Space, start with Upload Paradigm.

Afterwards selecting your image, select "complex" and so Design Space knows to preserve the resolution of the epitome.

Then practice nothing on the next page when it asks you what you lot desire to proceed and erase.

On the post-obit screen, "Save every bit a Cut image".

It'southward not also bad. Cricut Pattern Infinite just makes information technology not very intuitive when they employ imprecise terms similar elementary, moderate, and complex.

If you lot are interested in cutting different shapes around a photograph, check out my Cricut Design Infinite for Beginners Full tutorial here.

How to Scan and Cut Images in Cricut Design Space

This Hand Patrol example is one I know many parents might exist interested in. Simply before I say anymore, delight don't go do this for commercial purposes, that would be violating copyright laws.

So my kids have many many Manus Patrol items. I actually but took a photo of a page in i of their books and used the print and cut function to make a agglomeration of stickers to entertain them. Please don't go taking screenshots of Paw Patrol images online and then beginning selling t-shirts with the image.

This photo instance didn't actually involve vectorizing the internals of the image, it merely created a vector path around the image and preserved the pixel data inside the photo.

How to Export Designs out of Cricut

Did you spend an afternoon designing the perfect card that you just want to share with your beau Cricut crafting friends?

And then y'all realize Cricut doesn't actually let you export any of the designs you make in the app.

Well, I have a pocket-size hack I share with all my people. I've included this quick tutorial in my resource library.

How to turn images into cutting files in Design Space

Best for… quick conversion of simple graphics and when you lot want to preserve the photo details and simply want to cutting effectually it.

Cons: Has limited actual vectorization capabilities and is terrible for well-nigh every other apply case.

This is a more than complex scenario than my beast images earlier considering the "groundwork" is not 1 continuous piece.

The basic premise for turning images to cut files in Design Infinite is helping information technology make up one's mind the "groundwork" and the part you want to keep. You exercise this by manually labeling the "foreground" and the "groundwork".

Let's take this Harry Potter Inspired graphics ready. I have saved it with high resolution.

To turn this into an SVG file in Design Infinite, yous need to outset upload the image using the "Upload" tool.

And then select your file. Using the "Select & Erase" tool in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. Then mark the groundwork.

(if you want this FREE set up of Harry Potter Inspired graphics, they are available in my resource library)

This works well for high-resolution images that don't accept a lot of small abrupt corners and has high contrast with the colors used. This is why when you try to vectorize a "5" in a minor image, the points are not sharp and the labeling tool seems also chubby. At the end of the day, the original image just didn't have enough pixels to describe the "v" so that Design Space can guess the path.

This is what I mean by express capabilities. Other more than dedicated image process software has more than "smarts" to gauge the "correct" path with limited pixels.

How to plow more than complex photos into vinyl SVG cut files for the Cricut

If y'all are interested in making these intricate vinyl decals of a photo like, this is totally doable within Cricut Design Space. I take a full tutorial on how I turned this photo into a cutting file with Cricut Design Space here.

Moving on…

Say you want to brand individual cutouts in vinyl of Chase from Paw Patrol. That requires a lot more authentic detailed path approximation than Cricut Blueprint Space tin can handle. Yous will take to utilise more dedicated software exterior of Pattern Space.

How to make SVG files for Cricut in Illustrator

All-time for...circuitous SVG files that have multiple layers (colors) and require postal service vectorization editing.

Cons: It is not super easy to use, there's a learning curve and it really is non the "smartest" at finding the path meaning information technology will require some transmission editing.

Probably the most well-known software for making SVG files is Adobe Illustrator.

how to make svg files for cricut in illustrator

The function to brand SVG files out of bitmap images is "Image Trace". You can admission the tool panel by going to Window > Paradigm Trace.

I can write a whole book on other editing functions to do later on tracing the image so I will stop here on Adobe Illustrator. In fact, I have:

Interested in making your own SVGs?

Learn how to utilise Inkscape and Adobe Illustrator with my ebook series Crafty Designs.

How to brand SVG files in Inkscape

Best for...medium complication images that require editing and for when y'all simply want something free.
Cons: Information technology sucks at finding the path and has terrible usability. Simply it's gratis.

Of all the times I have used Inkscape, in that location is simply one scenario where I will recommend information technology. It is to make an Archimedean Spiral.

A what?! Why would I ever need this?!

Let me to finally utilize a tiny bit my double Masters for once on a crafts subject… there are some types of rolled flower templates that crave a tight circular spiral.

A tight round screw is chosen an Archimedean Spiral. The base screw template in Inkscape this an Archimedean Spiral. The base spiral template in Adobe Illustrator is a Logarithmic Spiral. These two differ past the decay rate. A Logarithmic Screw has….logarithmic decay, it "spirals out" much faster.

Thank you for indulging me in this bluster…

Back on path to tracing paths Inkscape. (heehee, sad, I couldn't help myself)

So Inkscape does have uses exterior its Archimedean Screw.

If yous want step past step instructions on how to vectorize an paradigm in Inkscape, check out my Inkscape Tutorial Commodity.

If you are actually set up on learning this free software, cheque out my ebook on how to utilise Inkscape to blueprint Cut Craft Designs to a higher place.

Best paid SVG converter – Vector Magic

Best For… fastest, easiest and most authentic SVG converter for simple to complex images
Cons: express editing functionality mail service vectorization.

I apply Vector Magic most 90% of the fourth dimension because it requires no manual labeling on my role and no tutorial to use.

I tin vectorize an image… a screenshot, a photo, any digital paradigm in about less time it takes me to type this sentence.

Let simply use my Harry Potter inspired graphics for instance. I took a screenshot of the epitome (Ctrl+Alt+PrintScreen).

I so went to vectormagic.com

I pasted the image into the browser (Ctrl + five).

It automatically starts vectorizing. I so download.

THAT IS IT!!! I used 4 keys on my keyboard. Information technology required virtually 3 seconds of piece of work on my part.

There are options to tweak the settings to get different results. The default setting is automated to make things easier for anybody.

Now, I'1000 not encouraging everyone to become out and violate copyright laws and kickoff taking screenshots of everything. Please don't go practice that.

Free SVG converters

Best for… no scenario, it'south only free
Cons: information technology sucks on all fronts. Just use Design Infinite if it is a unproblematic epitome.

This is really the bottom of the pit when it comes to vectorization. If I was to create a software product, I would hope the only matter going for information technology isn't that it is gratis.

Making your own SVG files

There are a couple of options if you want to become into making your own SVG files.

The commencement is to purchase Adobe Illustrator and learn how to use it.

If your intention is not to beginning a 2d career in graphic design, and then I suggest using Google Slides. It is gratis, information technology is available online so no need to download anything. It is the Google version of Microsoft PowerPoint (which is not free).

Afterward making your pattern, you tin can then utilize ane of the options to a higher place to convert it to an SVG file.

Annotation: there is an option to save Google Slides equally an SVG format but don't be fooled. It is not a true SVG file. Information technology might be if you had only a couple of simple elements (like 1 circle and i triangle) only fifty-fifty then, it does not reliability save it as an SVG file.

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