Can You Draw In Cricut Design Space

Tackling how to use draw in cricut blueprint space along with what the heck you tin practise with it. From using writing fonts in cricut design space 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 back with another Silhouette VS Cricut video (and blog post!) and this time… we're talking nigh the draw 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 design software, and the different materials that they can cut. We're non and then much talking about which is ameliorate, but the different features and what they can do.

So I'll start off with some honesty- this isn't a feature from Cricut that I use often. I accept used information technology a few times in projects I've created over the by few years only considering how much I use my auto? It's pretty rarely used. Since I dearest my hand lettering– I don't use it for things I think that it's most used for. Like addressing an envelope, or writing someones proper name in a beautiful script. I'd rather merely do that past paw. If yous love using the pen tool, I'd dear to hear what yous create with information technology!

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

If you would rather watch it in video form… check it out! And while you're over there, I'd dear if you subscribed :) I discover it's easier to follow the process in video merely if you'd rather read (I run across yous, in the lunchroom at work- ha!), I've got yous covered with the written postal service below.

What is the Cricut Draw Tool?

Cricut machines have two clamps for tools- ane for a blade manner tool (Clamp B) and 1 for a pen style tool (Clamp A). At to the lowest degree this is true for the two machines I've had (Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker)! Y'all cannot put a blade in clamp A simply similar y'all tin can't put a pen in clamp B. You'll figure this out pretty quickly if you are creating a projection that requires 2 pens and it tells you to load 1 at a fourth dimension. Clamp 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 cutting that you're used to- just with a marking. Every bit the name would suggest, it draws instead of cuts. There's some limitations on this only it'southward pretty cool if y'all're looking to draw some things! I could come across this existence great for scrapbookers, replacing lots of stamps with the wide variety of designs in Cricut Design Space.

How to Apply Cricut to Cutting AND Draw

The commencement project I wanted to demonstrate for you is how to use multiple tools with your Cricut. In this projection I used the fine point blade (the one that comes with your auto), the scoring tool (adaptive tool for the Maker), and a fine indicate mark. I created this little envelope out of bill of fare stock. I love using double sided scrapbook newspaper for custom envelopes since you get the fancy look of an envelope liner with only one piece of paper.

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

This design is just one I plant in Cricut Blueprint Space and added the writing to. I sized my text to the envelope (yous can resize the entire envelope and text afterwards- keeping it all in line if you need to!) and chose a script font for the text. I conversation in the video a fleck more about writing fonts and Cricut Design Space capabilities. I'm going to skip over that hither and chat about that in the next department of this mail service. Only for the sake of this example- make certain to choose a writing font for your envelope. You tin can filter your search for this.

I also chose to add a postage design to the envelope. I used a cut file for this and just changed the line blazon to draw. I talk more nearly that in some other section also but it only changes where the machine would have cut to a line that will draw.

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 space all the pieces of a design out as if it's cut layers out of vinyl if you lot don't 'attach' them using the paperclip icon at the lesser of the layers panel. You can resize this attached blueprint equally much as you lot demand before you hit 'Go far'. I also turned off the envelope liner in this blueprint. You can plow on and off layers past hit the heart icon in the layers panel.

When you hit 'Brand it', you tin can motility your blueprint around on your mat if you lot need. Then, you'll be prompted to put in specific tools first. For this design, it told me to put in my pen and my scoring blade. When it was finished that portion of the project, the machine paused and the software prompted me to put in the fine indicate bract. The automobile never unloads to keep it all lined up.

Using the Cricut Draw Function with Fonts (writing fonts)

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

But… the spacing! This kills me! The machine spaces the letters and so that it can cut them individually. Which, again, is great in theory… merely so you'd demand to identify each letter individually on your design to get a great kerning back. They do requite yous the power to adjust the spacing of your letters, but specifically with script fonts where the lead in needs to attach to the previous letter… it's obvious these aren't spaced out evenly, every bit adjusting the font spacing doesn't fully correct the issue. You can come across this very obviously as I play with fonts on my envelope blueprint.

Which fonts can you use with the cricut draw tool

What fonts tin can you use with the draw tool? Cricut has specific fonts called 'writing' fonts that are meant for the Cricut describe tool and typically are simply one line thick per letter. You tin can filter by them or you can select the font y'all love and pick the 'draw' line type from the driblet down carte to run across what it translates like as a fatigued font.

How to Address Your Own Envelope

Okay then after I fabricated my own envelope and addressed information technology in the concluding project, I thought information technology was a good time to show how to apply the writing tool on your own surface! I take done this before in a Cricut VS Silhouette project. you can see my 'Bee Kind' Wooden Pennant I drew on RIGHT Here.

For this project, I used the aforementioned address template I'd made in the last instance. To edit whatever of the font, y'all demand to disassemble the designs from one another (in the layer panel), edit your font or motion things around, whatsoever yous need, then 'attach' it again before cutting to go on it lined upward.

Once you hitting brand it, yous can no longer size it simply you lot tin motility it around on your mat. You'll definitely want to do this to make sure it's lined upwards on your envelope. If you wanted to practise lots of envelopes at one time, I'd advise using Cricut SnapMat to make sure that they're lined up well. I did a whoooole video and weblog post about SnapMat Right Hither.

Practise you lot need to select the right pen and paper in Cricut Design Infinite?

When you're cut using your Cricut, textile pick is very important. It'due south what makes certain your blade will cut through your textile cleanly, and that it won't cut through your mat… or the bankroll of your material, or whatever yous're trying to do.

When you're using the Cricut Draw function, though? I have institute information technology really doesn't affair… near of the time. Equally long equally y'all choose one of the preloaded pens that's the same size (ish) every bit the one that you want to utilise, you're expert to go. The machine won't discover which colour you put in there ;)

You also can't select 'kraft envelope' so picking something like 'cardstock' works groovy. Just exist enlightened that similar any felt tip, using it on a super rough surface could fray the tip.

The driblet down of pen options in Cricut Design Space besides doesn't give you selection for the washable fabric marking Cricut makes. If you wanted to marker on fabric, I'thousand chatting more about that below, but but choose a different mark and information technology should be fine.

Can you apply a Cut File for the Draw Tool

The thing is, you tin do whatever you want with Cricut. Only some things just look nicer and are easier. Ha! Then Yes you can totally use a Cricut cut file for draw. But it will just modify the cut lines to depict lines. Which is oftentimes keen if y'all have a layered cut file merely I shared a couple examples in the video where y'all can see… information technology's not that nifty. If you have a thinner blueprint that looks similar a draw design but is a cut file? You're going to double up each of your lines.

You can use the 'profile' tool (bottom of the layer panel) to plough off some of those lines, but it might non stop upward looking how you lot'd like (as in my instance). I did do this for my 'Bee Kind' Pennant though and loved the expect of just the outline of the bee. So information technology can piece of work out… but information technology also tin not. You lot'll take to play with your specific blueprint to determine for yourself.

How to Separate a Cricut Design Into Different Colors

If yous observe a design you love in Cricut Design Space (or somewhere else!), you can definitely separate information technology out to cutting or describe in different colours. This is the aforementioned process for a cut file that isn't already separated into layers every bit it is for a draw pattern.

How to separate one design into multiple colours with Cricut

The tool yous're going to want to get cozy with is the 'contour' tool, found at the bottom of the layers panel. When you accept your blueprint selected, click 'contour' and you can choose which lines to ignore… or contour. You lot 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 most lines to demonstrate this with… JK but really it has And then MANY lines. If you lot accept this many, yous might find it easier to select 'contour all' and so only plow back on the lines y'all want in a certain color.

When you but have the lines y'all desire in your showtime color turned on, hit the x on the countour window and meet the changes reflected on your canvas. Change the color of the design to that beginning colour you would like it drawn in (or i that is similar, recall information technology doesn't accept to be exact but it volition hep you lot call back which pen to put in when). And then, copy and paste your blueprint then you have two. Line them up perfectly, and then hit profile and click your contours until y'all take but the parts of the designs you'd like in your second colour and and then on. Practice this until you have all of your colours done! You can see this existence done in the video if you like.

When you are happy with your design, select all the layers of your pattern and click 'attach' to make certain they all describe together. Then click 'Make it!'. If you lot forget to click 'adhere' yous volition know because information technology will endeavor to draw it on several mats. When you are making information technology, it will tell you which pen to put in when, information technology will practice this all without unloading the design.

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

Okay so ii 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 Cloth Pen is used with most Cricut sewing patterns you tin cutting with the Maker. It can be used to marking the pattern right onto your material for you. You could also throw it in the Maker to write instructions on cloth to have it washed out later. I could run across this being keen for gifts. Information technology is not 1 of the available markers in the drop downwardly menu but equally I mentioned before, you lot really don't need to cull the exact pen you lot're working with for it to piece of work.

Infusible Ink pens are meant to exist used on laser copy paper and and so that design on paper be transferred to an Infusible Ink blank. I haven't written any posts on Infusible Ink However just information technology'due south coming! In the concurrently, my friend Cori has such great tutorials for it- check this i out!

And every bit for OTHER pens? You can definitely use not-cricut brand pens in the Cricut machines simply I couldn't observe any pens I owned that fit. Nevertheless… Jennifer Maker has a very informative video nearly different pens to use correct hither!

Phew! What a big post! I'm going to leave it at that. If yous have whatever other questions about the Cricut Draw Tool, you lot can drop them in the comments and I'll try to go an respond to them!