How to Keep Images in Place on Cricut

To keep images and text in place on Cricut so they cut exactly as arranged in Design Space, you should use the Attach function.

What is the Attach Function in Cricut Design Space?

The Attach tool in Cricut Design Space serves two main purposes:

1. It fastens layers together in their current arrangement on the Canvas. This ensures that when you go to cut, your images, shapes, or text stay precisely where you put them relative to each other.
2. It can also change layers from Cut to Score or Print then Cut, although its primary use for keeping things in place is the first point.

Using Attach is crucial for projects where the spatial relationship between different design elements is important, like layering vinyl, creating multi-piece designs, or ensuring text is placed correctly over a shape before cutting.

Steps to Use Attach to Keep Images in Place

Based on the official guidance, here's how to use Attach to keep your design elements exactly where you want them:

1. Add and Arrange: First, add your images, shapes, or text to your Canvas in Cricut Design Space. Arrange them exactly as you want them to be cut on your mat.
2. Select Your Elements: Next, select all the images, text, or layers that you want to keep together in that specific arrangement. You can do this by clicking and dragging a selection box around them or by holding down the Shift or Ctrl/Cmd key while clicking on each layer in the Layers panel.
3. Click Attach: With your desired layers selected, navigate to the bottom of the Layers panel on the right-hand side of the screen and click the Attach button.
4. Verify Attachment: You will know your images are successfully attached because the selected layers will be grouped together in the Layers panel, and their label will change to Attach instead of Cut, Score, or Print.

Now, when you click "Make It," these attached elements will appear on the cutting mat preview exactly as they were arranged on your Canvas, ensuring they cut in the desired spatial relationship.

When to Use Attach

Use the Attach function for various crafting scenarios:

• Cutting multiple shapes or text elements exactly relative to each other.
• Placing text precisely onto a shape you want to cut out around it.
• Creating stencils where cut lines need to stay fixed relative to each other.
• Keeping different colored vinyl pieces in their correct layout for easy application after cutting.

Think of Attach as digitally taping your layers together on the mat before sending the design to your Cricut machine.

Detaching Elements

If you need to rearrange elements after using Attach, simply select the attached group in the Layers panel and click the Detach button (which replaces the Attach button when layers are attached).

Using the Attach function is the standard and most effective way to ensure your design elements maintain their position relative to one another during the cutting process on your Cricut machine.