In This Article
In this tutorial, I walk you through step by step in Making JPG Files into Cut Files in Cricut Design Space. I hope you find this helpful when using your Cricut machine to edit JPG files.
Can my Cricut use JPG files?
Yes! Cricut Design Space has a handy method to take your JPG (JPEG) files and convert them to a cut file right inside the program. You can also use this technique to convert other files like GIF, PDF, PNG, and more using Cricut Design Space software.
Step 1: Open Cricut Design Space
How to upload a JPG to Cricut?
You might be asking yourself “how in the heck can I upload a jpg file to use with my Cricut machine?” It’s easy! To start, open Cricut Design Space and open a new project. Then click on “Upload Images.”
Step 2: Add Your Image File
Then Click “Upload Image”
Next Click “Browse”
Choose the JPEG file you want to use for your cut image, from your computer or device.
Step 3: Convert the Image in Cricut Design Space
When it’s uploaded to Cricut Design Space, click on “Simple Image” if it’s a simple image like the one I’ve uploaded here, and then Click “Continue”.
If it’s more complicated simply click on the appropriate complexity of the image you are working with.
Step 4: Remove the White Space from your JPG File
Next choose the “Select and Erase” icon that looks like a wand.
Then drag your mouse into the white space of your image until the cursor turns into a cross beam, and simply click in the white space.
The background will turn a checkered blue and white indicating it’s now transparent.
Once your JPG image is ready as a transparent graphic you can click “Continue”.
Step 5: Save Your JPG Graphic as a “Cut Image”
Next click on “Save as a Cut Image”, and then click “Save”.
Step 6: Insert the Cut Image
Choose the saved cut image file and then click “Insert Images”.
The cut JPG image is ready to be resized to fit whatever measurements desired. It’s now essentially a JPG transformed into a vector graphic.
Step 7: Make your Cricut Project
Click “Make It” when ready to cut.
Cricut Design Space will continue giving directions until your cut project is complete.
I hope this tutorial on Making JPEG Files into Cut Files in Cricut Design Space is helpful. Please let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or hints for our fellow crafters.
Linda says
Finally a website that makes this super easy. I was getting very frustrated and about to quit. Thank you. Now i have to figure how to use transfer paper.
Gail says
THANK YOU for providing clear instruction with this topic! You were the first person to ever really make it clear what the clean up action was all about and how you have to click on the white areas. I was pulling my hair out and came across your piece.
Leslie C Orman says
Thank you, this tutorial is so easy to use. I am new to Cricut Design, this tutorial was super helpful.
janice says
When I do this my jpeg images are fuzzy and most the time they can’t be cleaned up
Cindy Connolly says
when using a .jpg file in design space i clicked on the down arrow at top left side of screen & selected ‘basic cut’ and my image file turned into gray square the image disappeared why? if i don’t select ‘basic cut’ they will not cut the image. It simply wants to cut square. Am i misunderstanding this part?
Bett says
I am very new to using the Cricut. I found one of, if not the most important steps is to remove the background. I also had mine turn to gray squares but if you click on the gray box beside where it says cut or basic cuts, you can revert them back to the original picture you had before.
Cheri says
Thank you so much. I am somewhat new to cricut and this is the first tutorial I’ve seen that makes sense to me. Thanks so much!
Nesa says
When I do this, sometimes the lines after I clean them up are too thin.. how do you thicken up the lines on the image? Thank you
KB says
I tried to upload a .pdf and design space won’t let me. I don’t understand how thesE steps apply to PDF’s too.
Sarah says
Does the image need to be solid black for a cut file on a cricut?
Like when it makes the image and its white with a black outline will the cricut cut it so when I weed it the chunk of the white is removed