How to make an SVG for Cricut
- Add your image. Use the largest, sharpest copy you have. A PNG with a transparent background works best.
- Pick a style. Auto works for most designs. Silhouette makes a one-color decal, Logo keeps lettering crisp, and Outline draws single lines for pens and engraving.
- Remove what you will not cut. Turn on Remove background, or click any color to remove it.
- Set it up for your machine. Type the width in inches, then add registration marks for layered vinyl, a sticker border for print then cut, or mirror it for iron-on.
- Upload to Design Space. Download the SVG, then in Cricut Design Space choose Upload, Upload Image and pick the file. It arrives with one layer per color.
Built for cutting
Smooth cut lines
Curves use as few nodes as possible, so the blade glides along them instead of stepping around pixels.
Layers by color
Every color is its own layer, ready for its own mat. Shapes do not overlap unless you turn on Stacked layers.
Registration marks
Four small squares sit in the same place on every color layer, so layered vinyl lines up when you stack it on transfer tape.
Sticker borders
A white border around the design for print then cut stickers. Holes are filled, so it cuts as one clean shape.
Mirror for iron-on
Heat transfer vinyl is cut face down, so the design has to be flipped. One switch does it.
Real size
Type the width in inches, centimeters or millimeters and the file carries that size.
Questions
How do I upload an SVG to Cricut Design Space?
Open a new project, click Upload, then Upload Image, and choose the SVG file. It appears under Recent Uploads with one layer per color. Select it and add it to the canvas.
Why does my SVG open at the wrong size in Design Space?
Programs disagree about how big an SVG pixel is. Set the width in inches before you download, then check the size on the canvas and type the exact width there if it is off.
What are registration marks for?
Each vinyl color is cut on its own. The marks are cut on every layer in the same spot, so you can line up the squares on your transfer tape and every color lands where it should. Peel them off before you apply the design.
Do I need to mirror my design?
Only for iron-on, also called heat transfer vinyl, which is cut with the shiny side down. Adhesive vinyl, paper and stickers are cut without mirroring.
Can I make stickers with Print Then Cut?
Yes. Turn on Sticker border to get a white outline around the design. In Design Space, flatten the design so it prints in color and cuts along the border.
What images make the best cut files?
Bold shapes with few colors: logos, lettering, clip art and silhouettes. Very thin lines and tiny pieces are hard to weed, so raise Clean up to drop them.
Does it work with Silhouette and Brother ScanNCut?
Yes. The file is a standard SVG. Brother CanvasWorkspace opens SVG files, and Silhouette Studio opens them in Designer Edition and higher.
Is it free?
Yes. There is no signup, no watermark and no limit on how many images you convert.