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5 from 3 votes

How to Create SVG Cut Files Using Inkscape

Learn how to create SVG cut files using Inkscape with our easy tutorial. These simple steps will help you create your very own SVG files for personal and commercial use.

Ingredients

  • Computer
  • Inkscape
  • Cricut Design Space

Instructions

  • Download Inkscape.
  • Once you’ve installed Inkscape, open Inkscape and you should have a new template on your screen.
  • I like to work with a square template when designing SVGs. To resize the template, select File and click Document Properties. I always set my width and height to 500 x 500 mm but this can be customized to whatever dimensions you want.
  • Now we’re ready to add our text. Select the text tool from the vertical toolbar on the right (the letter A). You can also select F8 if using a PC and T if using a Mac.
  • Type your text and select the font you want to use. To select the font, click the small triangle next to the font drop down box. You can also click Text from the menu bar and select Text and Font to change the font, style and size.
  • To resize the text and images, click on the select tool (arrow) on the vertical toolbar. Before resizing the text and/or images, I highly recommend locking the text. To do this, click the lock located on the Tool Controls Bar.
  • Align and Distribute the design to make sure everything is centered. Select the elements that you would like to center. To do this, make sure you are using the selector tool. Click Object in the menu bar and select Align and Distribute. Make sure you have Page selected next to Relative to. Select Center on Vertical Axis to make sure everything is center on the template. If you want everything aligned to the left or right, select Align Left or Align Right. If you want to make sure the entire design is centered in the center of the template, click Edit on menu bar and Select All, then Object on menu bar and Group. Now select Center on Vertical Axis and Center on Horizontal Axis.
  • Once you’ve finished creating your design, we need to turn our design into an SVG. This will allow us to do a few things. First, we can resize the image without changing the quality of the image. We can also upload it to use in Cricut Design Space. To do this, click Edit on the men bar and click Select All. Now select Path on the menu bar and click Object to Path. To make sure your design is an SVG, you will want to make sure the design has nodes. Nodes allow you to move and edit the different paths within the design.
  • To make sure your design has been changed to a path, click on the Node Tool on the vertical toolbar. Then click on your design. You should now see all the nodes in your design. If you don’t see the nodes, you will need to repeat step 6.
  • Once you have finished creating your design, it's time to save it. Select File and Save As. Type in the name of your file and select your file type at the bottom of the screen. Here you'll want to save your design as an Optimized SVG. Select Optimized SVG and click Save.
  • Upload Design to Cricut Design Space to make sure it uploads correctly.

Notes

  • To open a new template, click File and New.
  • To create a custom template, click File, New, and Document Properties. Select the size of the template and click File and Save Template. Name your template and click save. Now you can open your template under File and New From Template.
  • Don’t forget to lock text and images before resizing. Click the lock located on the Tool Controls Bar.
  • If you find that something in your design isn’t lining up when uploading to Cricut Design Space, there are a few things you can do. First, click Select All, Path and Combine. Next, click Object and Group. This should correct everything in Design Space.