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Learn how to upload SVG files to Cricut Design Space like a boss! SVG’s are really easy to import into your Cricut projects and will give you more flexibility than simple image files.
One of the biggest things new Cricut users struggle with is uploading their own images to Design Space. I know I did! You find a cute image but when you upload it or try to resize it in Design Space, it’s grainy or it just doesn’t look right. What gives??
The most likely culprit is that you’ve chosen a basic image file like a .jpeg or .png which imports into Design Space as a single-layer image and does not resize well.
SVG files are the preferred file type for Cricut since they support multiple layers (more colors!) and are easy to resize.
You can upload unlimited SVG files to Design Space for free! I like free. Free is good. The ability to upload SVG files to Cricut Design Space really allows you to get creative and make even more projects with your Cricut.
What’s an SVG File and How is It Different?
SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphic. SVG’s, like the name implies, are vector file types. Vector image files are mathematically calculated so they maintain good quality no matter the resolution.
When you import an SVG into Design Space, there’s no editing required. The file is ready to go exactly as the original designer intended it. Easy peasy.
SVG files support multiple layers which is exactly what you want if you have a design that contains more than one color.
Basic images like .jpeg or .png are raster images. Raster images are comprised of tiny pixels as opposed to the mathematically calculated paths you find in vector images. Raster images don’t scale very well. Pixelation or blurriness will occur when you try to resize a raster image.
Cricut Design Space interprets a raster image as a single-layer file. When you try to select it as a “cut” image, you’ll lose the individual colors and it will turn to one solid color, usually gray.
How Do You Upload SVG Files to Cricut Design Space?
Now that we know that SVG files are the best choice for your Cricut projects, let’s learn how to upload SVG files to Cricut Design Space.
To upload an SVG file to Cricut Design Space, click the Upload button on the left-hand side of your canvas.
On the left of the screen, you’ll see this. (The other side is to upload a pattern, which I cover here.) No matter whether it’s a basic or vector image, this is how you’ll start the upload process.
SVG files are the easiest to upload!
To upload an SVG, click the Upload Image button. You can either drag and drop your file into Design Space or you can hit the Browse button to navigate to the location of your SVG file on your computer.
If your SVG is contained within a zip file, you’ll need to unzip it first.
I’m going to upload a cute unicorn because in 2020 you take magic wherever you can find it, right?
Once you’ve selected your file you’ll see this screen. Your image is displayed on the left with a transparent background (you can tell because of the blue and white checkerboard). On the right, your only options are to give your file a name and any tags you’d like to use. If you plan on uploading a lot of files, I’d highly recommend entering a few descriptive words about your image to make it easier to search for it later. I added a few just to demonstrate.
Click Save once you’ve entered the information about the image and you’ll be taken back to the Upload screen.
Finding Your Uploaded SVG Files
You’ll be taken back to the upload screen where the SVG file you just uploaded should be the first image on the left.
To find your uploaded images at a later date, click the upload button again to view your recently uploaded images or click the View All link to see all of the images you’ve uploaded.
Insert Your Uploaded SVG File Into Your Project
We’re in the home stretch now! Once you’ve selected your uploaded image in your library, hit Insert images. This will place the image onto your canvas.
If your image doesn’t import at the correct size for your project, it’s easy to resize it. You can either use the sizing handles around your images or enter the measurements in the toolbar at the top.
My SVG file looked like the image on the left when I first imported it. It looked like the image on the right after I resized it. Notice there’s no loss of quality after I made the image bigger. That is a huge advantage of using SVG files over other basic image types!
SVG Files Support Multiple Layers
Let’s talk a little about how Cricut Design Space displays multiple layers in an SVG file. Here’s my resized unicorn on the canvas. On the right side of the screen, you can see that each element in the file is separated by its color.
If this were a .jpeg or .png, we would only see one layer on the right which would be an outline of the image in a single color (usually gray by default).
Your Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore needs colors split into layers so that they can be cut separately.
You Can Upload Images to Cricut Design Space Like a Boss!
I hope that cleared up your questions about uploading SVG files to Cricut Design Space vs other types of image files.
A Google search for “free SVGs” will turn up a lot of great resources for finding SVG’s for your projects. Many bloggers provide free files (including me!) for you to download. Some might require you to sign up for a mailing list to get access to their library.
Now that you’ve mastered the art of uploading images, it’s time to start creating some awesome new things!
