Skip to main content
Cricut Design Space is the free software that powers every Cricut machine. Available on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, it’s where you design, customize, and send projects to your cutter. You don’t need any graphic design experience to use it — the interface is built for beginners but deep enough to satisfy experienced crafters. This guide walks you through every major feature you’ll use to get from a blank canvas to a finished cut.

​
Getting the App

Design Space is completely free to download and use. Head to cricut.com/setup on a desktop browser to grab the Windows or Mac installer, or search “Cricut Design Space” in the App Store or Google Play for mobile. You’ll need a free Cricut ID to sign in. Once logged in, you’re ready to start creating.

​
Exploring the Home Screen

When you open Design Space, you land on the Home screen. The left-hand panel shows your recent projects, and the main area displays featured designs and seasonal content. Use the top navigation to switch between Home, Canvas (your design workspace), and Calibration settings. The search bar at the top lets you find images, fonts, and ready-to-make projects from the Cricut library — many are free, while premium designs require a Cricut Access subscription.

​
The Canvas: Your Design Workspace

Click New Project to open a blank canvas. The canvas is where all your design work happens.
  • Left toolbar — Contains tools to insert images, text, shapes, and uploaded files.
  • Top toolbar — Changes based on what you have selected; shows options like color, font, size, position, and arrangement.
  • Layers panel (right side) — Displays every element in your project as individual layers, making it easy to select and edit specific objects.
  • Canvas settings — Use the gear icon to toggle the grid on or off and adjust canvas size.
Design Space automatically assigns cut lines to every element you add. If you want something to print rather than cut, select it and change its Operation type to “Print” in the top toolbar.

​
Uploading Your Own Images

One of the most powerful features in Design Space is the ability to upload your own SVG or PNG files.
1

Open the Upload Panel

Click Upload in the left toolbar. You’ll see options for image uploads and pattern fills.
2

Select Your File

Click Upload Image and choose your SVG or PNG from your computer or device. SVG files retain their cut lines automatically. PNG files require a background-removal step.
3

Clean Up the Background (PNG Only)

For PNGs, Design Space opens a background-removal editor. Use the Select & Erase or Erase brush to remove the background, then click Apply and Continue. Choose whether the image is a Simple, Moderately Complex, or Complex cut type.
4

Save and Insert

Click Save, then select your uploaded image from the library and click Insert Images to place it on your canvas.

​
Using the Text Tool

Click the Text button in the left toolbar to add a text layer. A text box appears on the canvas and a font panel opens on the left side. Type your message, then use the top toolbar to:
  • Change the font — Browse system fonts or hundreds of Cricut fonts (marked with a Cricut logo). Filter by style, including cursive, serif, and display fonts.
  • Adjust letter spacing — Use the Letter Space field to tighten or loosen the spacing between characters, useful for welding script fonts together.
  • Change font size — Enter a value in the Size field or drag the corner handles on the canvas.
  • Switch styles — Toggle Bold, Italic, and writing (single-line pen) styles where available.
To weld script letters so they cut as one connected word instead of individual letters, select your text layer, open the Letter Space control, and reduce it until the letters overlap. Then click Weld at the bottom of the Layers panel. This is the most popular text trick in Design Space.

​
Sizing and Placing Designs

Select any element on the canvas to reveal its blue bounding box with corner handles. Drag the bottom-right corner handle to resize proportionally. To enter exact dimensions, use the W (width) and H (height) fields in the top toolbar — click the lock icon between them to maintain the aspect ratio. Use the Position fields (X and Y) to place elements precisely relative to the canvas. To align multiple objects, select them all (click one, then Shift-click the others), then use the Arrange dropdown in the top toolbar to align centers, edges, or distribute spacing evenly.

​
Selecting Your Mat and Material

When your design is ready, click the green Make It button in the top-right corner. Design Space shows a mat preview — each color in your design appears on a separate mat. You can rearrange elements on the mat screen to minimize material waste. On the next screen, select On Mat or Without Mat (for Smart Materials), then choose your material type from the search-and-select list. Type the name of your material — for example, “Cardstock,” “Vinyl,” or “Iron-On” — and select the correct variant. Design Space automatically configures the blade pressure and speed for that material.

​
Creating Your First Project (End to End)

1

Open a New Canvas

Click New Project from the Home screen to open a blank canvas.
2

Add a Shape or Image

Click Images in the left toolbar, search for something simple like “star” or “butterfly,” and insert a free design onto the canvas.
3

Resize and Position

Drag the corner handle to make the design about 4 inches wide. Use the position fields to center it on the canvas.
4

Add Text (Optional)

Click Text, type a short word, and choose a font. Resize it and place it below or inside your shape.
5

Click Make It

Hit the green Make It button, confirm your mat layout, then select your material type and connect your machine.
6

Cut and Enjoy

Load your mat, press the flashing Go button on your Cricut, and wait for the cut to finish. Unload, weed, and admire your first Design Space project.
Save your project frequently by clicking the Save button in the top-right corner of the canvas. Give it a descriptive name so you can find it later in your project library. Saved projects remember your exact design, fonts, and sizing — so you can re-cut or modify them any time without starting from scratch.