To edit shapes in Cricut, select the shape you want to modify, either on the Canvas or in the Layers panel, and then make your desired changes. This includes adjusting size, rotation, position, and visibility.
Here's a more detailed breakdown of how you can edit shapes in Cricut Design Space:
Selecting Shapes for Editing
- On the Canvas: Click directly on the shape you want to edit. A bounding box will appear around the shape, indicating that it's selected.
- Layers Panel: The Layers panel (usually on the right side of the screen) lists all the elements in your project. Click on the layer corresponding to the shape you want to edit.
Common Editing Operations
Once a shape is selected, you can perform the following edits:
- Size: Drag the corner handles of the bounding box to resize the shape. You can also use the "Size" fields at the top of the screen to enter specific width and height values. To maintain the shape's proportions while resizing, lock the aspect ratio by clicking the lock icon.
- Position: Click and drag the shape to move it to a new location on the Canvas. Alternatively, use the "Position" fields at the top of the screen to enter specific X and Y coordinates.
- Rotation: Hover your cursor just outside the corner handles of the bounding box. A curved arrow will appear, allowing you to click and drag to rotate the shape. You can also use the "Rotate" field at the top of the screen to enter a specific rotation angle.
- Color: Use the color picker in the top toolbar to change the fill color of the shape (if applicable) or the line color of the shape (if applicable).
- Deleting: Select the shape and press the "Delete" key on your keyboard, or click the trash can icon in the Layers panel.
- Hiding: Click the eye icon next to the shape's layer in the Layers panel to hide or unhide it. This is useful for temporarily removing a shape from your design without deleting it.
Editing Shapes Within Groups
Shapes are often grouped together in Cricut Design Space. To edit individual shapes within a group:
- Ungroup: Select the group and click the "Ungroup" button in the top toolbar (or right-click and select "Ungroup"). This will separate the shapes into individual layers, allowing you to edit them independently.
- Double-Click/Double-Tap: You can also simply double-click or double-tap on the group on the Canvas to directly access and edit the shapes within the group without ungrouping.
Advanced Shape Editing
Cricut Design Space also offers more advanced shape editing tools:
- Weld: Combines two or more shapes into a single, permanent shape. This is useful for creating custom designs and eliminating cut lines between overlapping shapes.
- Slice: Cuts one shape out of another. This is useful for creating layered designs and custom cutouts.
- Attach: Holds shapes together in their relative positions when cutting or drawing. This is different from grouping, as attached shapes will be treated as a single unit by the Cricut machine.
- Contour: Allows you to hide parts of a shape that you don't want to cut. This is useful for simplifying complex designs or removing unwanted details.
By mastering these shape editing techniques, you can create a wide variety of custom designs with your Cricut machine.
