Using Flatten in Cricut Design Space makes it possible to turn any cut file into a printable image. Here’s how to use this feature, and a few tips and tricks for making the most of the Flatten tool.
Welcome back to my series on the five tools in the layers panel of Cricut Design Space: Weld, Attach, Slice, Flatten, and Contour.
Today we’re tackling the flatten tool! This is one the most simple tools to use in the layers panel, because it only has one main purpose:
- Changing images from standard shapes to print-then-cut shapes.
Let’s see what this means and how to do it.
Print then Cut Basics
Print then Cut is a really great feature of the Cricut. It allows you to print an image on your home printer, and then your Cricut will cut around the edge of the shape. I have an extensive Print then Cut tutorial on my calendar, but in the meantime, you can read this post about using Print then Cut.
There are three primary ways to go about creating a Print Then Cut image.
First, you can upload a JPG or PNG and the software will turn it into a Print Then Cut image. Learn more about uploading files to the Cricut Design Space.
Second, you can open up the layers panel for the image and change it from a cut type to a print type. This second method is the best method if you are only changing one layer to print then cut.
And third, you can use Flatten.
Using Flatten to Create a Print Then Cut Image
Flatten basically takes two or more normal cut shapes and flattens them into a single printable image. I prefer using flatten to the other two methods mentioned above because it is the easiest way to take multiple shapes and make them one printable shape.
It’s quite simple. Let’s take a look at an example. Say I want to make a gift tag. I have an oval and this cute text of “happiness is homemade.” I could cut out the happiness is homemade and spend far too long trying to get all those pieces to align on my oval. Or, I could just flatten and print the gift tag using Print then Cut.
Place the text image over the oval and select both. Then click Flatten in the lower right menu. The outlines around the text image and oval will disappear, and you will notice that in the layers panel you now have on printable image under the heading “Flatten.” They will hold their size and position when you Print then Cut.
Then hit Make It! Instead of your normal cutting screen, you’ll see a Print then Cut screen. The program will direct you to print your image on your home printer. It will have a black registration border around it when it prints. Then when you go to cut it, the Cricut Design Space will use that registration line to know exactly how to cut around the edge of the oval perfectly!
Hope you learned a little more about the Flatten tool today! Come back next week — I’m going to be talking all about Contour!
Cricut Tips & Tricks
- The Best Sublimation Blanks and Substrates for Crafters - September 20, 2021
- Brother SVGs for Cricut and Silhouette - September 17, 2021
- The Ultimate Guide to Cricut Print then Cut - September 16, 2021
Novella says
Hello I would like to learn more about your product
Amy fisher says
Hi there,
I have tried this but my machine is then trying to cut all of my wording aswell as the background shape! Is there a way to stop it from doing this ao it only cuts the background shape?
Thanks!
Amy Motroni says
Hi Amy,
Can you send a screenshot to hello@heyletsmakestuff.com?
Most likely you need a white shape behind whatever your image is.
Thanks
Amy, HLMS Reader Support
Jenniffer Grafton says
Hi! I’ve added my own text from design space and flattened it to a white rectangle with everything set to print and cut. My cricut air keeps cutting my text. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks!
Amy Motroni says
Hi Jennifer,
It sounds like you’re doing it right. Can you send a screenshot?
Amy, HLMS Reader Support
Trinity says
I have an image that I have flattened to make the whole thing a print and cut. I’m using fishhook font and in design space, it is showing real thin which is what I’m wanting but when I go to print it out it is really thick and all the words are separated but so close it looks smudgy. Any help would be appreciated.
AEK says
You may need to turn bleed off.
Amy Motroni says
Hi Trinity,
Uncheck “bleed” when it goes to print. My guess is that you will also need to flatten a white shape behind whatever you are cutting as well.
Hope that helps!
Amy, HLMS Support
Melissa says
Anytime I add text to a shape, flatten and then try to print then cut, it freezes up design space and closes. Then when I try to open the file again, it says it’s too big (the file, not the size of the printing job) I’m just trying to created some custom tags! Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Amy Motroni says
Hi Melissa,
That would be a question for Cricut Support.
Sorry we can’t me of more help!
Amy, HLMS Support
Rebecca Stryker says
I’m having this problem as well!! 2” circles with text inside, even if I only have 3 on the page it says “wow, big projects” like what?! And most of the time it won’t even open it!!
Karen Ann Williams says
Can you help? I bought a svg file that has multiple designs in it. It turns out it is a print and cut file. I only want to cut one of the designs. I have figured out how to ungroup and just select the one image I want to cut but can not get it out of the print then cut. I do not want to print. I have uploaded this set many times trying to figure it out and I just can’t get it. Can you offer any help?
Jadyn says
Hey Karen! Have you tried separating it with the contour tool? I’ve had some designs where I wanted to print the majority and cut one part in a glittery paper to make it pop/stand out from the rest. I used contour tool to pull it out! Maybe try reading up on that tool and see if it will work for you!! Hope you figure it out :)
Amy Motroni says
Hi Karen,
Can you send a screenshot to hello@heyletsmakestuff.com so we can see what it looks like?
Thanks!
Amy, HLMS Support
Karen Ann Williams says
Thank for answering. I did finally figure out a way to do it. As long as I let it in 2 layers it will cut. It was when I tried to make it all one layer to cut. So I figured a way to do what I needed by layering it.
Lauren says
Hi, I have uploaded print and cut images to design space but it is still cutting the inside of the images. Are you bc able to help please?
Crystal Summers says
Hi Lauren,
I’m sorry you’re having issues with the print then cut feature. Have you made sure you are flattening the entire design (and not just one layer?). Often times, I’ll double check that I’ve selected all the layers of my design and then selected “flatten”. If the entire design is not flat, your Cricut machine will try and cut individual pieces instead of the entire shape. Please let me know if this helps!
Happy crafting!
Crystal, HLMS Community Manager
debbie zylka says
I am having trouble hope you can help. Is there a way to have the print and cut feature cut around an image and not just a box or a shape around an image. For example if I have an image of a flower how can I get the cricut to cut around the border of the flower?
Roxy says
I’m new at this. Is it normal for the project to take long to load project in order to print. It takes about 1/2 hr to load the next screen!! It does give me a message saying “Loading project. Wow! That’s a big project. This may take a moment.”
Crystal Summers says
Hi Roxy,
WHOA! So large projects do sometimes take a while to load. However, depending on your computer speed, it can be affected as well. If you’d like it to load quicker, I would try making the design smaller. If that’s not possible, then unfortunately you will have to wait. 30 minutes seems really long though!
I hope that helps!
Crystal, HLMS Community Manager