How To Upload Images To Cricut Design Space

Cricut design space is incredible; there’s not much you can’t find there. However, what if you want to cut an image that’s not available in Design Space? Or you want to add your Child’s artwork to Cricut Design Space, use a custom design you have bought from Etsy or one of my free SVG files?

Follow this easy tutorial to help you step by step with How To Upload Images To Cricut Design Space. I have also created a printable guide for you to print and save for later.

How To Upload Images To Cricut Design Space

What Images Can I Upload To Cricut Design Space?

There is a wealth of options available and endless crafting opportunities once you know how to add your own images to Cricut Design Space. Think of all the custom Cricut projects you can make as gifts or if you are a small business making custom products to sell at craft fairs and markets.

What File Types Can I Add To Cricut Design Space

• PNG files: these single layer files work fine for me, but some say they can go a little grainy, but they do cut fine.
• SVG and dxf files are vector images and are better for resizing and making larger as they are clearer, they can also upload in layers
• Screenshots and basic images your own work
• PNG photos
• bmp
• jpg 
• gif files
• Colour patterns and images for print then cut image files.

A Few Ideas Of Images You Can Add To Cricut Design Space

• Children’s art work or school pictures.
• Baby or children’s hand prints or footprints
• Custom designs from Pic Monkey or Canva
• Photos
• Custom files you have permission to use.
• Printable stickers and pdf files made in Canva (You can’t add the pdf, however you can screen shot the pdf and add the screen shot. Just make sure you make the background a different colour)

What Files Can’t I Add To Cricut Design Space

Anything you don’t own or have permission to use. These images are protected by copyright, which is a huge deal.

There are companies set up to find people using non copyright images and I know people who have used images without realising they were copyright protected who have had hefty fines.

If you purchase a file from ETSY it will state usage rights, as does Cricut Design Space in its Angel Policy and apps like Canva have a usage policy. However do check out the details as brands such a Disney can not be made and sold and are for personal use only.

Can I Create And Cut My Own Images To Upload To Cricut Design Space?

Surprisingly, being able to upload images to Design Space to cut your images is incredibly easy. Some projects may require a little patience. However, the process is simple, and the easier the design is, the simpler it is to add an image to Cricut Design Space.

Basic Image Upload To Cricut Design Space

• When you start a new project, you will be brought to the Cricut Design screen.
• Click upload at the bottom of the left-hand bar and browse for the images, vector image or basic image to upload. 
• Click upload and find the image you want to add if you have downloaded this file from the Internet it will be in the downloads file on your pc or MAC (even screenshots work) and click upload.
• Ensure you observe copyright laws. However, personal images are fine. 

Select Complex Image

Your image will open in this window and you have options at the bottom of the screen, I always choose complex image, one you select you are taken to the next window with a checkerboard background. 

Edit Your Image To Remove The Background.

On this window you can remove the any unwanted background if you are uploading a screenshot, this is easier if its a simple image. If you have design space access you can use the automatic button. 

However if you don’t, you have the option to select and erase parts of your image by clicking the star to drag the eraser tool over areas to be removed. ( If you download any images from my site I have done this for you)

Keep going until you are happy with the entire image, however if you make a mistake just re-click to remove or correct. ( You can also create vector files in illustrator)

Scroll In For Intricate Images

It’s also good to remember that if the image is intricate, you can scroll in and out using the % plus and minus slider bar under the image to make it larger and easier to see. Using the crop tool to remove any unwanted areas is also an option. 

Once the background is removed, you are left with a cut image; you now have the option of saving it as a cut file or print and cut, which can be changed in design space.

You can now upload the image and use it in design space there will be a box to the right which enables you to name your upload to save it to the image library for future use. Now start uploading a new image if you wish.

How To Add A Vector, SVG, PNG Image Upload To Cricut Design Space

Click new project in Design Space, click Upload on the sidebar and choose Upload image. This will open a browse button. Here, you can browse files on your pc or Mac; again, any files downloaded will most probably be in your download files. 

Select the file and click open. If the file is an SVG file it will upload straight to your image library. 

If it’s a PNG file, choose complex. This will take you to the background remover window; however, if it’s an SVG or PNG file , the background should be removed for you. Click apply and continue; in the next window, click save as a cut image.  

If Your Image Is A Print And Cut Image?

If the image you are uploading to Cricut Design Space is a printable image, follow the same procedure. However you must save it as a print and cut image to retain the colour detail.

How To Get My Designs To Upload To Cricut Design Space

If you’re on this page looking for the download of a free alphabet? Go back to the project page and look for the banner image that says subscribe here, get the files here or words to that effect.

Click on the banner and a link will open to my free download shop. From here, if you subscribe, you are able to sign up and download my free images, ready to upload and drag into Cricut Design Space. 

Creating Free Images For Cricut In PicMonkey

I sometimes like to create paper cuts or stickers in PicMonkey and transfer these to design space. Notably its very simple to create images and paper cuts in PicMonkey.

Simply design your image with a transparent background. Thus, when you upload to Design Space, it will upload ready to print or cut without a background. However, if your image does have a background it’s easy to remove.

I made the cut file above by choosing a tree in images. Then duplicate and crop both images, one at the top and one at the bottom, to create two halves, a top and a bottom of a tree.

Next add two rectangle lines to frame your text and add text. Now save either with or without a background.

More Cricut Tips

For more Cricut Tips And Tutorials check out my Cricut section.

Plus check out my post on uploading fonts, glyphs and special characters to Cricut Design Space.

How To Upload Images To Cricut Design Space.

Yield: To add custom projects and images to design space.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Active Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

How To Upload Images To Cricut Design Space, remove backgrounds on any images in design space and upload to cut.

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Print

Materials

• Cricut card stock, vinyl or infusible ink

Tools

• Cricut design space
• Cricut machine
• Cutting mat

Instructions

1. Select Images To Upload To Cricut Design Space
   Click upload at the bottom of the left hand bar and find the image you want to add, (even screenshots work) and click upload. Ensure you observe copyright laws, however personal images are fine.
2. Edit Your Image To Remove The Background.
   On this window you can remove the background. If you have design space access you can use the automatic button.
   
   However if you don’t, you have the option to select and erase parts of your image by clicking the star on areas to be removed. ( If you download any images from my site I have done this for you)
   
   Keep going until you are happy, however if you make a mistake just re-click to remove or correct.
3. Its also good to remember that if the image is intricate you can scroll in and our using the % plus and minus bar under the image.
4. Once the background is removed you are left with a cut image, you now have the option of saving as a cut file or print and cut which can be changed in design space.
5. If Your Image Is A Printable Image?
   
   If the image you are uploading to Cricut Design Space is a printable image then you must save it as a print and cut image to retain the colour detail.
6. 
   You can now upload the image and use it in design space.

Notes

What Images Can I Upload To Cricut Design Space?

There is a wealth of options available and endless crafting opportunities once you know how to add your own images to Cricut Design Space. Think of all the custom Cricut projects you can make as gifts or indeed if you are a small business making your own custom products to sell at craft fairs and markets.

A Few Ideas Of Images You Can Add To Cricut Design Space

Children’s art work or school pictures.
Baby or children’s hand prints or footprints
Custom designs from Pic Monkey or Canva
Photos
Custom files you have permission to use.
Printable stickers and pdf files made in Canva (You can’t add the pdf, however you can screen shot the pdf and add the screen shot. Just make sure you make the background a different colour)

What Files Can I Add To Cricut Design Space

PNG files, these work file for me, but some say they can go a little grainy
SVG are vector files and are better for resizing and making larger as they are clearer
Screenshots of your own work
PNG photos
Jpeg photos

What Files Can’t I Add To Cricut Design Space

Anything you don’t own or have permission to use. These images are protected by copyright, which is a huge deal.

There are companies set up to find people using non copyright images and I know people who have used images without realising they were copyright protected who have had hefty fines.

If you purchase a file from ETSY it will state usage rights, as does Cricut Design Space in its Angel Policy and apps like Canva have a usage policy. However do check out the details as brands such a Disney can not be made and sold and are for personal use only.

Recommended Products

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