how to draw in cricut design space

Tackling how to employ draw in cricut design space forth with what the heck you tin can do with information technology. From using writing fonts in cricut design infinite to separating a file into multiple colours and addressing envelopes with cricut pens.

Title image How to use the Cricut Draw Tool

Alexis and I are dorsum with another Silhouette VS Cricut video (and blog mail!) and this time… we're talking almost the describe or write or sketch tool! In this series, Alexis from Persia Lou and I are comparing the Silhouette and the Cricut machines to requite you insights into how they work, the blueprint software, and the different materials that they can cut. Nosotros're not so much talking about which is better, only the different features and what they can practice.

So I'll first off with some honesty- this isn't a feature from Cricut that I utilise oft. I have used information technology a few times in projects I've created over the past few years merely considering how much I utilize my car? It's pretty rarely used. Since I love my hand lettering– I don't use it for things I think that it's well-nigh used for. Similar addressing an envelope, or writing someones name in a beautiful script. I'd rather just do that by hand. If you honey using the pen tool, I'd dear to hear what yous create with it!

In this video and blog postal service, I get through how to put together a impress and cut file using a Cricut paradigm and Cricut Writing Font, I comprehend how to letter on a surface that is not a cutting file (ie. an envelope or pennant), how cut files transfer to draw files, and how to separate a file into multiple colours. Phew! It's a big list!

If y'all would rather watch it in video form… check it out! And while you're over there, I'd love if you subscribed :) I find it's easier to follow the procedure in video but if y'all'd rather read (I see you lot, in the lunchroom at work- ha!), I've got y'all covered with the written mail below.

What is the Cricut Draw Tool?

Cricut machines have two clamps for tools- one for a blade style tool (Clamp B) and one for a pen style tool (Clench A). At least this is truthful for the two machines I've had (Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker)! Y'all cannot put a blade in clamp A just like you lot can't put a pen in clamp B. You'll figure this out pretty rapidly if yous are creating a project that requires 2 pens and information technology tells you to load i at a time. Clench A also houses their older scoring tool which is the scoring tool needed for the Cricut Explore.

How to use more than 2 tools in one design with the Cricut Maker

The cricut draw tool uses the same mechanics of the cut that you're used to- just with a marker. As the name would propose, information technology draws instead of cuts. There'south some limitations on this but information technology'southward pretty cool if you're looking to draw some things! I could encounter this being keen for scrapbookers, replacing lots of stamps with the wide variety of designs in Cricut Design Space.

How to Use Cricut to Cut AND Describe

The showtime project I wanted to demonstrate for you is how to apply multiple tools with your Cricut. In this project I used the fine bespeak blade (the one that comes with your motorcar), the scoring tool (adaptive tool for the Maker), and a fine point marker. I created this fiddling envelope out of carte stock. I beloved using double sided scrapbook newspaper for custom envelopes since you get the fancy await of an envelope liner with simply ane piece of paper.

How to use cricut cut and draw tool at the same time

This design is just one I found in Cricut Pattern Space and added the writing to. I sized my text to the envelope (you can resize the entire envelope and text subsequently- keeping it all in line if you lot need to!) and chose a script font for the text. I chat in the video a bit more about writing fonts and Cricut Design Infinite capabilities. I'1000 going to skip over that hither and chat about that in the adjacent department of this mail service. Simply for the sake of this example- brand certain to choose a writing font for your envelope. Yous can filter your search for this.

I also chose to add a postage stamp design to the envelope. I used a cut file for this and merely changed the line type to draw. I talk more nearly that in another section too but information technology just changes where the machine would have cut to a line that volition depict.

How to use cut files with Cricut Draw tool

Yous will need to attach these layers together so the writing draws ON the envelope. Cricut will automatically infinite all the pieces of a design out as if it's cutting layers out of vinyl if yous don't 'adhere' them using the paperclip icon at the lesser of the layers panel. You tin resize this attached blueprint equally much every bit y'all demand earlier you hitting 'Brand information technology'. I also turned off the envelope liner in this design. You tin turn on and off layers past hit the centre icon in the layers panel.

When yous hit 'Make it', you tin can move your blueprint around on your mat if you demand. Then, you'll be prompted to put in specific tools beginning. For this design, information technology told me to put in my pen and my scoring bract. When it was finished that portion of the project, the car paused and the software prompted me to put in the fine point blade. The machine never unloads to go along it all lined up.

Using the Cricut Depict Function with Fonts (writing fonts)

Okay so I said this in the video and I'll say information technology here… I love Cricut and the software but the one matter I find limiting and I do find frustrating? Fonts. On the plus side, you can cutting any of your own fonts on the Cricut (woohoo!) and they have a huge library of fonts for you to use in their software if you lot're non a font hoarder like I am.

But… the spacing! This kills me! The automobile spaces the letters and then that information technology can cut them individually. Which, once again, is great in theory… but then y'all'd demand to place each letter individually on your blueprint to get a great kerning dorsum. They exercise give you the ability to adjust the spacing of your letters, just specifically with script fonts where the lead in needs to attach to the previous letter… it'southward obvious these aren't spaced out evenly, as adjusting the font spacing doesn't fully right the issue. You can run into this very obviously as I play with fonts on my envelope design.

Which fonts can you use with the cricut draw tool

What fonts can you use with the depict tool? Cricut has specific fonts chosen 'writing' fonts that are meant for the Cricut depict tool and typically are just one line thick per letter. Yous can filter by them or you lot can select the font y'all love and option the 'describe' line type from the driblet downwardly menu to see what it translates like as a drawn font.

How to Address Your Own Envelope

Okay so afterwards I made my own envelope and addressed it in the terminal project, I thought it was a adept time to show how to utilize the writing tool on your own surface! I have done this earlier in a Cricut VS Silhouette projection. you can see my 'Bee Kind' Wooden Pennant I drew on RIGHT Here.

For this projection, I used the same address template I'd made in the concluding example. To edit whatever of the font, you demand to disassemble the designs from one another (in the layer panel), edit your font or move things around, whatever you need, and so 'attach' it again before cutting to keep information technology lined upward.

One time you hit brand it, you can no longer size it just you lot can move it around on your mat. You'll definitely desire to do this to make sure information technology'south lined upwards on your envelope. If you lot wanted to do lots of envelopes at in one case, I'd suggest using Cricut SnapMat to make certain that they're lined up well. I did a whoooole video and weblog mail service about SnapMat Correct Hither.

Do you demand to select the correct pen and paper in Cricut Design Space?

When you're cutting using your Cricut, material selection is very important. It's what makes sure your blade will cut through your material cleanly, and that information technology won't cut through your mat… or the backing of your material, or whatever you're trying to do.

When you're using the Cricut Draw role, though? I have found it actually doesn't thing… most of the time. As long as yous choose 1 of the preloaded pens that's the aforementioned size (ish) as the i that you want to use, you're adept to become. The machine won't detect which color you put in there ;)

Yous likewise tin can't select 'kraft envelope' and so picking something similar 'cardstock' works great. Only be aware that like whatever felt tip, using information technology on a super crude surface could fray the tip.

The drop down of pen options in Cricut Blueprint Infinite likewise doesn't requite you choice for the washable material mark Cricut makes. If yous wanted to marking on fabric, I'm chatting more most that below, but only choose a dissimilar marker and it should be fine.

Tin can yous employ a Cut File for the Draw Tool

The thing is, you tin can exercise whatever you want with Cricut. But some things just look nicer and are easier. Ha! Then YES yous tin can totally use a Cricut cutting file for draw. But it will just change the cut lines to draw lines. Which is oftentimes not bad if you accept a layered cut file but I shared a couple examples in the video where you can see… information technology's non that smashing. If you have a thinner pattern that looks like a draw design but is a cut file? You're going to double up each of your lines.

You can utilise the 'profile' tool (bottom of the layer panel) to turn off some of those lines, just it might not finish upwards looking how y'all'd like (as in my example). I did do this for my 'Bee Kind' Pennant though and loved the look of just the outline of the bee. And then it can piece of work out… only it also can not. You'll have to play with your specific blueprint to decide for yourself.

How to Separate a Cricut Design Into Different Colors

If you lot detect a design you dear in Cricut Blueprint Space (or somewhere else!), you can definitely split it out to cut or draw in unlike colours. This is the aforementioned process for a cut file that isn't already separated into layers as it is for a draw design.

How to separate one design into multiple colours with Cricut

The tool you're going to want to get cozy with is the 'contour' tool, plant at the bottom of the layers panel. When you take your pattern selected, click 'profile' and you lot can choose which lines to ignore… or profile. You can either select the lines individually in the sidepanel to erase or click on the lines in the preview window. I chose a design with the worlds about lines to demonstrate this with… JK only actually it has SO MANY lines. If you accept this many, you might find it easier to select 'contour all' and and so just plough back on the lines you desire in a certain color.

When yous only take the lines you want in your first color turned on, hit the ten on the countour window and meet the changes reflected on your sail. Change the color of the design to that offset colour you would like information technology drawn in (or one that is similar, remember it doesn't have to be exact just it will hep you remember which pen to put in when). Then, re-create and paste your design so you accept two. Line them up perfectly, then hitting profile and click your contours until you take only the parts of the designs you lot'd like in your second color and so on. Do this until you have all of your colours done! Y'all tin can meet this beingness done in the video if you like.

When y'all are happy with your design, select all the layers of your design and click 'attach' to make sure they all draw together. Then click 'Arrive!'. If you forget to click 'attach' y'all will know because it will try to draw it on several mats. When y'all are making information technology, information technology will tell you which pen to put in when, it will do this all without unloading the design.

Using the Infusible Ink Pens + Washable Material Pen with Cricut Maker

Okay and so two other types of pens that Cricut makes that I have used (although didn't demonstrate for this video) are the Infusible Ink Pens and the Washable Fabric Pen. The Washable Fabric Pen is used with almost Cricut sewing patterns you can cut with the Maker. It can be used to mark the pattern right onto your fabric for you. Y'all could also throw it in the Maker to write instructions on fabric to have it washed out later. I could see this being great for gifts. Information technology is non one of the available markers in the drop down carte only as I mentioned earlier, you really don't need to choose the verbal pen you're working with for it to work.

Infusible Ink pens are meant to be used on light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation copy paper and so that pattern on newspaper be transferred to an Infusible Ink blank. I haven't written any posts on Infusible Ink All the same but information technology's coming! In the meantime, my friend Cori has such bully tutorials for it- check this ane out!

And equally for OTHER pens? Yous can definitely employ non-cricut brand pens in the Cricut machines but I couldn't find any pens I owned that fit. However… Jennifer Maker has a very informative video about different pens to employ correct here!

Phew! What a big mail service! I'm going to go out it at that. If you take any other questions about the Cricut Describe Tool, you can drop them in the comments and I'll try to get an answer to them!