Learn the basics for creating a simple SVG cut file in Illustrator that can then be cut using a Cricut Explore or Silhouette Cameo.
UPDATE! I expanded this post as a part of my Illustrator for Crafters and SVG Designers series! You can view my new post Make an SVG from a Font or start at the beginning with my Adobe Illustrator Workspace Overview!
One of my goals recently is to tackle the reader questions I get a lot. One of those is how I design my own cut files for my Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker. While I sometimes design cut files using the Cricut Design Space, I prefer using Adobe Illustrator to design my own files.
Stop pulling your hair out and start creating confidently with your Cricut! Finally understand how to use your Cricut with my Learn Your Cricut eBooks!
To start, we’ll create a simple design to show the basics of creating a cut file in Illustrator. Illustrator is a highly powerful software and can be intimidating for beginners. So let’s start with something easy—a quote: “Live Loved.”
I am working on a Mac, but I will also give the PC commands. I am a HUGE proponent of keyboard shortcuts, so I am going to share those as well in teal. USE THEM. I am twice as fast at designing files now because my hands rarely leave the keyboard.
NOTE: the layout of your workspace might be different than mine—I have found the menus that work best for me. If you don’t have a panel that I reference, go to Window and scroll down to find it, making sure to look in sub-menus if necessary.
Step 1: Create a New Document
Create a new document that is 12″ x 12″ — the size of a Cricut cutting mat.
File > New (cmd+N / ctrl+N)
You can specify both the dimensions and the unit here. I choose 12 x 12 and set the unit to inches.
Step 2: Type Your Quote
Click the Type Tool (T) in the left-hand panel and type your words: live loved. I used separate text boxes for each word, because I prefer to be able to move each line individually. It’s easier than dealing with line spacing and centering and all that.
Step 3: Change Your Font
I didn’t love the default font (does anyone?) so I went to the menu Type > Font > Beloved. (Get the Beloved font here.) Once the new font was selected, I moved each line around until I was happy.
Step 4: Outline Your Fonts
The next step is to outline your fonts. This basically turns them from fonts into shapes. You must outline your fonts or the Cricut Design Space and Silhouette Studio will not be able to read them. You’ll get an error when you try to upload them.
Type > Create Outlines (shift+cmd+O / shift+ctrl+O)
An important note about using fonts. The Cricut and Silhouette cut “simple” artwork the best. And by this I mean that the machine software prefers fewer “nodes.” It can cut incredibly intricate designs, but the more mathematically simple they are, the better. The easiest way to see your font’s nodes is looking at your fonts once you’ve outlined them. You’ll see that Beloved is a fairly straightforward font—a reasonable number of “nodes” (those tiny squares) around the font.
To illustrate a complicated font, I used one of my favorites, Midnight. Notice just how many more nodes there are in this font! For each of those nodes, the blade will change directions ever so—and there’s a good chance that it will mess up your materials with so many different cuts.
Step 5: Unite
As our file is right now, the Cricut will still read each letter as an individual shape and cut them separately. You can see in the above screenshot that the blue outlines of the letter tails overlap each other. To make each word one single shape, you’ll use the Unite tool under the Pathfinder Panel.
Window > Pathfinder (shift+cmd+F9 / shift+ctrl+F9)
The Unite tool is the first top left option under Shape Modes (if you hover over each button, it will tell you what they are). Make sure all of your text is selected and click the Unite option. You’ll see that the tails of each letter are gone and you now have one continuous shape.
Step 6: Make a Compound Path
If you want, you can continue to saving as an SVG at this point. But I like to do one more quick step to save myself some time in the Cricut Design Space. Right now, this image we’ve made is actually three shapes — “live,” “loved,” and the dot over the “i” in lived (it’s separate because it’s not overlapping either of the other two shapes). If you bring this file into the Cricut Design Space as is, you’ll have these three shapes and you’ll need to attach them to cut them properly. Instead, I make everything a compound path in Illustrator and it imports it as one shape.
Object > Compound Path > Make (cmd+8 / ctrl+8)
Step 7: Save as an SVG
Illustrator files are natively “.ai” file extensions. Usually I will save an Illustrator version of my artwork, and then save a separate SVG for cutting.
File > Save As (shift+cmd+S / shift+ctrl+S)
In the dropdown Format menu, select SVG and save! Don’t worry about any of the options in the pop-up—just hit OK and your file will save as an SVG that you can open in the Cricut Design Space or Silhouette Studio Designer Edition.
Then you’re ready to cut your file and use it however you’d like!
I hope this tutorial helps you get your feet wet in using Illustrator to design cut files for the Cricut and Silhouette! Illustrator is such a wonderful program with so many capabilities—it’s time to start exploring them!
Are you interested in the whole Adobe Illustrator Series? Click on the links below to delve further into the tutorials. It is strongly recommended to follow them in order. I have also added some ‘bonus’ links for more information on Adobe Illustrator.
- Workspace Overview (video)
- Paths, Anchor Points, and Handles (video)
- Make an SVG from a Font (video)
- Tips for Using Fonts in SVGs (video)
- Color Basics (video)
- Using Shapes and Lines to Make Illustrations (video)
- Using the Pen Tool (video)
- Creating Fun Text Effects (video)
- Image Trace (video)
- 10 Quick Tricks for SVG Design (video)
Bonus Links:
Comments & Reviews
Glenda Piacenti says
In your key board short cut strokes for making your image a “compound path” is the plus sign included in the short cut, or does that just mean you use two keys together? (ctrl 8 or ctrl+8) I’ve not used illustrator, but of course it looks similar to Photo shop, which I have used. I do not have a Cricut, but the idea of creating my own designs appeals to me. I would probably use it a lot for stencils. I’m a maker and an art teacher.
Jen Gallacher says
I have been looking for a straightforward tutorial on this process. THANK YOU!!
Cori George says
You’re welcome! The compound path can be a little tricky depending on the file, but everything else should work exactly this way every time! :)
Aster says
Hi. Thank you so much for this! Does it always have to be 12×12? What if I created my own print file in letter or a4 size paper? TIA!
Cori George says
You could make it any size smaller than 12×12 too! (Or 12 x 24 if you have a big mat and material!)
Amy says
How would you make faces or people? Not just sayings? Would you still use illustrator?
Savannah says
You can “live trace” an image to make a black and white face. However it may be too intricate for the circut. Try a youtube tutorial. You’ll likely find something Warhol-ish.
Cristi says
Thank you!!!
Lisa says
Thank you for this easy to follow tutorial. After I followed your example, I created my own and added a piece of clip art. When I uploaded the SVG to Design Space, the elements were not placed as I created them and some were overlapping where they shouldn’t have been. Did I do something wrong? I’ve noticed having this issue on some SVGs that I have purchased as well. Thanks for your help!
Lisa says
Nevermind. I found that if I check “Preserve Illustrator editing capabilities” while saving, it keeps everything in place. Thanks again for this great tutorial!
Ashley says
Does this process work for images as well, or only text?
Cori George says
It works for simple images! Give it a shot and see what happens — play around with the sliders, too!
Marina says
Thank you so much!!!
Angie Smith says
Thank you so much for this tutorial. This was a lifesaver. I’m a new Etsy seller and am fairly new to Illustrator so this helped me fix the SVG files and figure out why they didn’t open in Cricut.
Natalie Shirley says
This tutorial saved me! I’ve had illustrator for a loooong time and never even opened it. Thanks for making it so easy to follow along!
Cori George says
Woohoo! I’m so glad to hear it!
Michelle Cascio says
I’ve gotten text mastered, thanks to your tutorial, but one thing I can’t seem to figure out is how to make a circle border in Illustrator and then import it into Design Space. Once I bring it into design space, it turns completely black (filled in solid black rather than an outline or border). I have looked at the layers box and there is only the path…no clipping mask. It looks perfect in Illustrator. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong and can’t find the answer online.
Cori George says
Michelle — could you send some screenshots to hello@heyletsmakestuff.com? Thanks!
Erica says
I’m having issue with Cricut resizing my svg uploads… any issues on your end or suggestions? I’m actually using Inkscape not Illustrator, but same principal.
Cori George says
Hi Erica — are they not pulling into Design Space at the same size you are designing them in Inkscape?
Michelle Scott says
thank you for this quick blurb, just got a cricut for christmas and was hoping someone on the internet would have some tips on how I can use illustrator and my cricut together, going to try your tips out once I hit enter!
Marianne says
I make all my SVG files in Illustrator too. Have you had any issues when importing to design space? Every once in a while I get a random wonky line. Something that should be straight is warped etc. Cricut support has no idea how to help.
Cori George says
Hi Marianne — yes, on occasion things aren’t 100% right. Often I have to re-create the piece that is wonky or zoom waaaaaay in to see if there is an extra node or something. I get way fewer of them than I used to — I think the more and more you get comfortable with Illustrator, the less often you’ll experience these little hiccups.
Luis Castellon says
Can you do this workflow without having to purchase Access? I want to make my designs and send them straight to the cutter, they seem greedy by making it so restrictive. Thanks.
Cori George says
Yes! You can use Cricut Design Space without a subscription to upload your own files. You do not need Cricut Access to use Cricut Design Space — it’s free. Hope that helps!
Ashley says
Do you have a tutorial or tips on how to do this with a pretty intricate design? I have a friend wanting me to cut out a logo that his company created. He emailed me the logo as a jpeg and as a png file. But everytime I try to import it into design space, it is only allowing me to save it as a print then cut file. When i try to change it to just a cut file, it blanks out the whole image. Could illustrator be used to “Edit” the file slightly, to be saved as an SVG file, and then loaded into design space to be used as a cut only file?
Cori George says
I am working on a tutorial for uploading JPGs, but yes, most often they are too detailed or there is not enough contrast to make them into a good cut file. Illustrator might give you better luck, but it’s limited as well for turning jpgs (especially detailed ones or one with lots of similar colors) into SVGs.
I know that’s not a lot of help — it’s just hard for software (any software!) to change a pixel file (like a jpg) into a vector file (like an SVG).
Lori says
I have used inkscape so far for making an svg out of PNG or JPG – works great.
Tammy says
If you will google convert jpeg png to svg free online, there are several sites that do it. Once you pick your site, upload the image and click convert, then click download and it will download it as an svg image. On more intricate stuff I find this is much easier to do! Some sites do better than others so if it isn’t right on the first one convert it using a different site. Also if you use the png image in your Cricut design space most of the time you won’t have as much editing to do as you will a jpeg one. Hope this helps
Lori says
Now I have a question for you…. I made an image on my iPad Pro using Graphics App. I have saved it as an PSD and an SVG. When I pull it into Design Space, I get a black image on every layer ( 1 black and 1 colored). I figured out that the black was the line or outside and the color is the color fill. I even tried DL illustrator and seeing if that made a difference. Same issue happening. I really like doing the work on my iPad with the pencil. I was just hoping to eliminate the black layers – I want it to look professional for sharing with others. Thanks for your help
Erin R says
Hello! Would this process work for getting the cricut to draw the design/words?
Thanks for the great information!
Tarissa Hopkins says
Yes, you would just need to adjust the setting in your Cricut Design Space to draw rather than cut. Hope that helps!
Cece says
Hi Cori, so glad I found your blog! I have the Explore Air and been trying to figure out how can I find info on how to create my own images. You are awesome to share this knowledge! Thank you!
XOXO <3
Tarissa, HLMS Reader Support says
I’m so glad you found the blog, too! :)
Judy Quiroga says
I am having problems creating a ready to cut file for my cricut explorer 2. Do you create svg files? Please help
Cori George says
Sorry — my busy schedule doesn’t allow me to do custom work! Hopefully you’re able to find someone to help!
Bonnie says
Wonderfully easy tutorial to follow! Thank you for posting. :D It’s SO hard to find easy to understand instructions on how to do this stuff in Illustrator, etc. Thanks again!!!
Sara says
Thank you for the concise tutorial! I’ve been designing in Illustrator for years, but I’m new to the Cricut family. This got me up and running in Design Space in a snap! :)
Lisa says
Thank you! I’m on PC. I couldn’t get the pathway thing to work, but I’ll figure it out eventually. This is awesome!
Sophia says
Do I need to design and save at 300ppi? If not, what resolution would be suitable for most cutting machines?
Cori George says
Vector files don’t have a resolution by their nature. If you are designing in Illustrator, just export as an SVG and you’ll be good to upload it and cut on your Cricut!
Caprice Washington says
Thank you very much for all of your input it’s very helpful. & the fact that you respond swiftly is even more appreciated. As of right now, I’m having a issue with this part. Do you have any insight on how to get a file in Illustrator and get it to cricut? I just downloaded adobe and don’t know where to began lol. Once again, thank you.
Trish Gunther Russell says
I have created a silhouette from a photo, with the hopes of creating a vinyl xfer with my Maker. I saved it as .svg in AI, but the background continues to be white and not transparent. When I select cut in design space, it only cuts out the square and not the silhouette. Please advise.
Dave H says
If the photo hasn’t been traced in Illustrator Design Space only sees the boundary of the photo, not the image itself. Place the photo in an Illustrator document, then go to Object>Image Trace>Make. You’ll see a preview of the trace results. Go to Window>Image Trace to make adjustments for your trace. Make sure to click Advanced and confirm that the Ignore White box is checked. Play around with the settings until you get what you want, then click Trace. You’ll get a vector trace of your photo. After making it a compound path and simplifying the path if needed, you’ll have something you can save as an SVG and open in Design Space.
Dave H says
A quick tip to make complicated fonts a little less node-heavy: after converting your text to paths go to Object >Path>Simplify. Make sure the Preview box is checked then set the Curve Precision slider to about 98 or 97%. Don’t go much lower than that; it’ll delete a lot more nodes and distort the look of your font. Having the Preview on will help you see how much you’re changing the look of the font. After using Simplify continue on with the steps outlined above. You should end up with a fairly close representation of your font but without quite so much potential for cutting errors and material waste. Hope this makes life a little easier.
DEHolz says
My custom Illustrator file contains an arc line with a stroke of 16pt. When I upload the svg file, CDS sets the stoke back to one, without rounded endpoints. The SVG file is saving the stroke/endpoint information under CSS. I’m thinking that CDS doesn’t read/convert the CSS information in the SVG file.
Is there any way to force CDS to set the stroke on the line to 16 pt? Or do I have to go back to Illustrator and make this line a shape?
I’ve had this same issue when using stroke to fatten up a font…. CDS seems to strip it out.
Any Ideas?
Cori George says
Yes, Cricut Design Space can’t read a stroke—that’s the basic problem. The way to get around that is to outline your stroke (basically make the stroke into a shape). Same with a font—you’ll have to outline the stroke and use the Unite tool to make the whole thing thicker.
Che’ says
How would this work with multiple layers? For example a stroke behind the original text
Caprice says
Is there any way to get the adobe app free?
Amy Motroni says
Hi Caprice,
No, they don’t have a free version of Illustrator unfortunately.
Amy, HLMS Reader Support
Caprice says
Ok, thank you. If I were to download the free trial and then deactivate will I still be able to use my pics?.
Susan BJorling says
Thanks for this post! As someone just starting to teach myself Illustrator, I’m immensely grateful. :)
Marie says
Do you know how I can make an svg file for drawing in Cricut. I want to create a word and save it so Cricut will fill in the word not outline it when I select draw.
Mary says
Hi Cori, Great information. This is my first time using my new Cricut Explore Air. I would like to make words for my three recycling center trash cans using AI. My question is how do I do I make all three, different length phrases so that they are all the same sizes? The words are going to be “Paper & Cardboard”, “Plastic & Aluminum”, “Glass”. The trash cans are tall and thin, so I’m working with a surface space of about 4″ x 18″ for each.
Amy Motroni says
Hi Mary,
Set up your artboard so they are all the same size and then you can use the transform tool to make the words the same text length.
Hope that helps!
Amy, HLMS Reader Support
judi says
I want to make a tag that has a “stitched” effect inside of it. I am using illustrator. I made the tag, made a hole and created a compound path and it works great. But the stitched effect shifts when I bring it into cricut. Any thoughts? Thanks.
Amy Motroni says
Hi Judi,
Try grouping the image in Illustrator before uploading to Design Space.
Happy Crafting!
Amy, HLMS Reader Support
Elizabeth O Lange says
Hi
I have made a fairly complicated puzzle cut using Illustrator and the pen tool. It’s not allowing me to make a compound path. Any tricks? I’d upload a screen shot if I could.
Amy Motroni says
Hi Elizabeth,
We would need to see the file to be able to help troubleshoot.
You can send it to hello@heyletsmakestuff.com and we can take a look!
Amy, HLMS Reader Support
Denise says
Thanks for the information it was helpful if you ever get a chance can you show us how to create a rhinestone template please
Lindsay says
This was helpful but I have a couple of follow-up questions.
1. Some of my files are saying they are “corrupt” after I save them – could this by AI related and do you have any troubleshooting advice?
2. Do you have a tutorial for designing with an image? As in, if I want to place text but also add an image to my SVG?
Thanks!
Chrissie Easton says
Thanks Cori – Just made my first SVG file in Illustrator. You made it sound so easy and it was!
Cheers
Amanda says
So I am trying to make something that is 10″ x 14″, I have the 12″ x 24″ circuit board, so would I just change dimensions in illustrator? or would I need to make two separate 12″ x 12″ files and merge them together later? I am attempting to make stencils.
sue says
I have an svg file that looks correct in Illustrator, and when I upload it to Design Space, the thumbnail looks correct, too. But when I insert it on my canvas in Design Space, it’s filled as a solid black, and I can’t see any of the other details on it. The layers listing shows all the details that I can’t see in the main image, but it makes it hard to select items if I want to change them to scores or draw lines. Any idea what I’ve done to cause the big black fill?
Sue says
I just figured it out myself. Just in case anyone else has the same issue – shapes that have no fill but a stroke appear as black when inserted into Design Space. If I fill the shape with any color (even white) the problem goes away.
Alan says
Excellent, Thank you.
I just hope the cricut software for PC and mac improves, its very slow indeed. It also lacks a lot of basic funtions that should of been included years ago.
Worse being creating font designs within cricut (Dont bother)
Siiri says
Thanks so much for this article! I’m a beginner, and I’m wondering if I’m able to start with a file that I had already worked quite a bit on in photoshop (just a simple line drawing, originally hand drawn and then uploaded) that I don’t want to start over!) Can you tell me if that’s possible? Thank you so much!
Crystal Summers says
Hi Siiri,
Yes, you should be able to open the .psd file in Illustrator. If not, I would convert it to an EPS file. Both Photoshop and Illustrator can open that type of file. Let us know if you have any other questions.
Good luck!
Crystal, HLMS Community Manager
Michelle says
Hi Crystal!
Thanks to your blog, I was able to make a beautiful text file in illustrator, and save my file as SVG/PNG. Thank you so much, from an Illustrator newbie! I was wondering if I could ask a question. I designed a text file in illustrator, and added an image that I drew myself in illustrator. Once I exported my file as a PNG for Silhouette, my drawn image wasn’t fully editable in Silhouette. My text was editable with no issues. I can fill in my image with different colors, but the outline function isn’t working as I’d expect. I was wondering if you had any advice to a step I might be missing in illustrator for the image portion. I hope that’s not too confusing. Thanks so much, Crystal!! I’m so happy I found your blog.
Crystal Summers says
Hi Michelle,
I’m not as familiar with the Silhouette software as Cricut Design Space. However, here’s an article that may help you convert to an SVG: https://heyletsmakestuff.com/cut-sketch/. I hope this helps!
Happy crafting!
Crystal, HLMS Community Manager
Brenda Fields says
Thank you so much for this article. I am new at using adobe illustrator. Prior to reading your article I created a simple file in illustrator and tried to move it to circuit design space. I got an error several times and it was so frustrating. I did not know what I was doing wrong. I had no idea that I had to outline my words in illustrator to successfully uploaded to cricket design space.
After reading your article I was able to create a file in illustrator and successfully move it to circuit design space. Thanks again for great instructions.
Shadaan says
Hey Cori, this was so awesome. Thanks so much. I am a total newbie so have a few questions which perhaps you can answer better. If with the text we were to add one or two png images as well in the file then what will be the steps. May be adding a heart or a swirl along with live love above.
Then how to go ahead what will be the steps
Involved. Please help
judith levinsky says
This was wonderful. I am looking forward to more tutorials. I am a designer but do most of my work in Photoshop. Excited to finally work in Illustrator with your help. Thanks.
Judy
Ernestta says
Good morning,
Thank so much for the tutorial. However, whenever I upload my SVG into Cricut design space it gives me a white and a black version of the svg. It’s like it comes in two layers of two different colors and not just one SVG in black. Do you have any idea why it does this?
Crystal Summers says
Hi Ernestta,
What program are you using to create the SVG file? If you are using Illustrator, you likely need to make the whole design a “compound path”. If you’re using another program, it would be something different. Feel free to email hello@heyletsmakestuff.com and we can help you troubleshoot.
Happy crafting,
Crystal
Nina says
But is it true that I have to subscribe to an online membership in order to use Cricut Design Space and then it only works online (I am rural and have crap internet)? And is it true that you can’t import an SVG file to Silhouette without a purchased upgrade to the software?
Crystal Summers says
Hi Nina,
Cricut Design Space requires an account, but it is free to join. The only time you would pay is if you wanted to subscribe to Cricut Access for access to SVGs. However, there are plenty of free ones in Design Space, as well as on the Hey Let’s Make Stuff blog! You can use DS offline, as well. However, you’ll need internet to download SVGs or designs. If you plan to create your own designs, you can do that offline.
Hope this helps.
Happy crafting!
Crystal, HLMS Community Manager
Judith Westby says
Do you have any experience of SVGs you’ve made in Illustrator coming to Design Space way ( and I mean WAAAAAY) too big? I make quite complex 3D things, and things with many layers and overlays. They used to be fine but overnight something happened with DS and now they’re coming in massive – one simple shape I made which was 22cm wide came in at over a metre wide. Has that ever happened to you and how did you get around it? It’s a nightmare and means that the things I make and sell won’t be easy for buyers to use.
kimberly says
Hello,
I am creating my own svg files in illustrator but when I do the compound path step it changes the color of my design. and when I pull it in to design space it just doesn’t allow me to flatten the file. I am experiencing this with uploads. Also, When I create my own stickers it does not outline properly unless I have a thicker stroke. Is adding the stroke the way to make the stickers cut as an outline. New to cricut but have an IT background, graphics design, and photography. I am learning a lot but need some help. Thanks for your help
Kimberly says
This is Kimberly again, Also, when I select unite in the pathfinder options it changes the color of my design as well. ( I have multiple colors in my design ) I have followed the previous steps for outlining it is just not working like I would like.
Thanks for your help.
Devon says
This is super helpful, thanks! I’m also on a Mac, and I got lost at Step 6: Make A Compound Path. My Object menu at the top doesn’t have an option for Compound Path. The closest I can find it Object > Path > Join, but all the Path options are greyed out. Any idea why? Thanks!
Cori George says
Can you screenshot that menu for me? Compound Path is fourth from the bottom in the Object menu for me—I’m wondering if it might be in a different place for you!
Karin says
I’m not new to Illustrator but new to Cricut. This was so helpful! One issue I’m having is I’m designing something that is 8 x .5 inches in Illustrator but when I bring it over to Cricut Design Space it’s HUGE. I know you can manually adjust the size, but this is something I plan on selling and I don’t want the buyer to have to mess with re-sizing. Am I doing something wrong or missing something? Thanks for any additional guidance!
onegreendoggy says
Best Cricut blog page ever. Thank you so much for teaching me something I really wanted to know! New”ish” to both Cricut and Illustrator. Your directions were perfect!
Victoria says
Hi, I’m new to illustrator and Cricut, I have a file that I’ve done a lot of work on intending to create stickers but in Cricut Desgin Space the images are black and white, some images are also missing their fill and I just don’t nowhere I’m going wrong or how to fix it. Also is there a way to bring the entire file from AI into design space or do I need to save the image an upload individually? Can you please help.
Crystal Summers says
Hi Victoria,
Are you using closed pathways in your AI document? Each piece in an AI document has to be “closed” or else Design Space doesn’t know how to read it. For stickers, you can save the sheet as a PNG and bring into DS as a single file.
Hope this helps!
Crystal, HLMS Community Manager
Colby Dees says
The “Unite” and “Compound Path” steps were what I needed / was missing … Thank you!
M Umair Ali says
Can we use clipping mask or gradient in illustrator for SVG files if we make them for cricut for printing??and can we export many design like export for screen as we want to use individual Desi ga in cricut
Cori says
Yes! Just make sure to save the file as a PNG, and you can upload and use it with Print then Cut: https://heyletsmakestuff.com/cricut-print-then-cut/
Flavia says
Hi Cori!
I just want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing this tutorial! You made really easy for beginners, I was looking online but it is overwhelming.
I love to draw and I love to create with Cricut. Many times I had an idea but I could not find a image for my project.
So I want to start to make my own images/SVG files. I see there is a lot to learn to get to that point and but I am ready to get to it!
Also I have a question for you: Which one is a better deal for crafters Illustrator or Photoshop?
I really like your projects!
Cori says
Hi Flavia,
Illustrator is definitely a better option for people creating SVG files! Illustrator creates vector images out of lines and points, while Photoshop uses pixels. When you think about how a Cricut cuts, it cuts lines and turns at points. So it’s built to design the type of files a Cricut uses natively. :)
Krissy Lauren says
Hey, can you please make a post about “how to make a compound path editable in Circut from Illustrator?” I can make designs for my sister (in illustrator) but she cant change the color of the shapes in her circut. What am I doing wrong? Is it locked? How do I save it unlocked?
Cori says
Hi Krissy,
If you want to be able to make different pieces of your image in different colors, each piece of the image needs to be a compound path. Your image can have multiple compound paths. But if a piece is a single compound path, when you change the color of one part it will change the color of anything else within the compound path. Hope this helps! :)
Renee says
Thanks for the tutorial! Way more helpful than Adobe forum discussions. Self proclaimed “experts” couldn’t even answer my simple questions.
Crystal Summers says
Glad you found it helpful, Renee!
Happy crafting!
Crystal, HLMS Community Manager
Tanja says
Thank you so much! That saved me!
I exported to SVG and just got a black box in CRICUT Design Space… but now it worked!
Gloria says
Hi Cori! I have watch you & others making SVGs, but very few with illustrator. Do you teach SVGs with illustrator? I thought you offered a course through one of the craft summit/Fairs. I am on your email list.
Emma Jones says
Thanks so much for sharing this. I’m new to illustrator and cricut. I don’t have a Mac but I’ve got an iPad Pro with the app version of AI- would this work or can I use my windows laptop with Ai if i buy the subscription? TIA x
Cori George says
Honestly I’m not sure! I’ve never used mobile Illustrator before. I assume you can do the same or similar things but I am not sure the exact process. Sorry I’m not much help there!
Rehab Hassan says
This is so helpful. Thank you son much!
Santos Bobet says
awesome blog. thanks!
Cori says
Thank you! So happy you are finding it helpful! :)
Nickie says
Thank you so much, I have been struggling for months trying to figure out how to get fonts to work with Cricut DS. Thanks to you I finally learned how to. I recently starting using Adobe and WOW! I am so overwhelmed there is way to much! It comes with so many apps that its starting to confuse me. I wanted to throw the towel in last week cause its to complicated, but im stuck in a years contract so i gatta figure it out another thing thats making it worse is im jumping from 1 app to another! I just stepped back all week, and decided to open it again tonight with a UGH!! anyway Thank you :)