To truly lock an object's position on your canvas in Cricut Design Space, preventing it from being moved, resized, or rotated, you typically use a feature found within the Layers panel.
Here's how to prevent an object from being accidentally altered or moved:
Locking an Object to Prevent Movement and Changes
This method effectively "locks" the object in place, making it unselectable and unchangeable until you unlock it.
- Step 1: Select the object(s) you wish to lock on your canvas.
- Step 2: Go to the Layers panel on the right side of the screen.
- Step 3: Find the layer corresponding to the selected object(s).
- Step 4: Click the three dots (...) next to the layer name.
- Step 5: From the menu that appears, select "Lock".
Once locked, a lock icon will appear on the layer thumbnail in the Layers panel, and you will not be able to select, move, resize, or rotate the object on the canvas until you unlock it by clicking the three dots again and selecting "Unlock".
Understanding Different Types of "Locking" in Design Space
It's important to note that the term "lock" can refer to a few different functions in Cricut Design Space, depending on the context or the control being used.
Locking Rotation (Using the Shift Key)
As shown in the provided reference, holding down the Shift key while rotating an object causes it to snap to specific degree increments (22.5°, 45°, 90°).
- This action helps you achieve precise angular rotations easily.
- However, this does not lock the object's position on the canvas; it only constrains the angle of rotation while you are performing the rotation action.
Locking Aspect Ratio
When you select an object, you'll see a small lock icon on its bounding box, often near the size dimensions.
- Clicking this icon toggles whether the aspect ratio (proportion between width and height) is locked or unlocked.
- When locked, resizing the object changes both width and height proportionally.
- When unlocked, you can stretch or squish the object non-proportionally.
- This does not lock the object's position on the canvas; it only affects how the object resizes.
Summary of Lock Types
Here's a quick comparison of the different locking actions:
| Lock Type | How to Achieve | What it Locks | Prevents Movement? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lock Position/Layer | Layers Panel (...) > Lock | Movement, Resizing, Rotation (of object) | Yes |
| Lock Rotation | Hold Shift while Rotating | Rotation Angle (snaps to increments) | No |
| Lock Aspect Ratio | Click Lock icon on object bounding box/size box | Proportionate Resizing | No |
By using the "Lock" option in the Layers panel, you can effectively lock an object's position and prevent any unwanted changes to it on your canvas.
