When uploading .svg or .dxf files into Cricut Design Space, you may receive the following error message: "Your file includes unsupported items. For best results, use a different file type." Read the article below for explanations and solutions for this error.
What's unsupported?
- Pattern Fills - .svg or .dxf files cannot contain pattern fills when exported for Cricut Design Space image upload.
- Explanation – Pattern fills are fills on shapes that are anything other than flat colors. Color gradients, textures, patterns, images, and photographs are all examples. This prevents Cricut Design Space from separating your shapes into different layers based on the color.
- Solution – Export your file as a .jpg, .bmp, .gif or .png. This will enable you to upload the shape to Cricut Design Space. The file will not be layered into individual colors like a vector file (.svg or .dxf). It will come through as a single layered object which can then be printed on a home printer and cut out with the Cricut Machine using Print then Cut.
- Clipping Paths - .svg or .dxf files cannot contain clipping paths when exported for Cricut Design Space image upload.
- Explanation – Clipping paths are multiple shapes layered together so that one shape masks or clips the other shapes. Imagine a circle masking out a piece of a square to create a new shape like a jigsaw piece. Since your jigsaw piece is actually a few shapes overlapping one another, Cricut Design Space can’t make sense of it when you go to upload it.
- Solution One – If the desired end result is filled with a flat color, use the tools within your preferred design program to flatten the image into one shape. By merging the multiple shapes into one form you will be able to upload it successfully as a .svg or .dxf without changing your design.
- In Adobe Illustrator you can convert clipping paths into single shapes with the tools in the Pathfinder panel.
- In CorelDraw, the PowerClip feature is only used for shapes that overlap images or bitmap files. In this case, you will not be able to flatten everything into a single shape with a basic fill. See Solution Two below for an alternative solution.
- Solution Two – If you are using a clipping mask over an image, a photograph or over any shape that is not filled with a flat color: Export your file as a .jpg, .bmp, .gif or .png. This will enable you to upload the shape to Cricut Design Space. The file will not be layered into individual colors like a vector file (.svg or .dxf). It will come through as a single-layered object which will can then be printed on a home printer and cut out with the Cricut Machine using Print then Cut.
- Text - .svg or .dxf files cannot contain editable text when exported for Cricut Design Space image upload.
- Explanation – Text needs to be converted into a shape before it is sent to Cricut Design Space.
- Solution – Before you export your file, convert the text by selecting it and using Create Outlines in Adobe Illustrator or Convert to Curves in Corel Draw. This will turn the editable text into a set of shapes without changing the way they look. You can now export your work as a .svg or .dxf file.
- Linked Images - .svg or .dxf files cannot contain linked images when exported for Cricut Design Space image upload.
- Explanation – Linked images are images that are not embedded within your file. The file contains links to images that are stored in other places (this keeps the file size small). Cricut Design Space can’t read those linked files when you try to upload the image.
- Solution One – Embed the images in your file. This works only if you’ve linked in other .svg or .dxf files. In the Links panel in Adobe Illustrator using the Embed Image(s) tool, and in the Links panel of CorelDraw Unlink an image or use the Break Link tool. This will remove the external link and combine the files into one. You can now export your work as a .svg or .dxf file.
- Solution Two – Export your file as a .jpg, .bmp, .gif or .png. This will enable you to upload the image to Cricut Design Space. The file will not be layered into individual colors like a vector file (.svg or .dxf). It will come through as a single-layered object which can then be printed on a home printer and cut out with the Cricut Machine using Print then Cut. Use this method if you have linked in images in any format other than .svg and .dxf.
- Embedded Unsupported Images - .svg or .dxf files cannot contain non-vector files for Cricut Design Space image upload.
- Explanation – .svg and .dxf files are vector formats and Cricut Design Space uses these to create cut files that separate your designs into layers based on color. When your file contains images, photographs or gradients Cricut Design Space can no longer create a file with a separate layer for each shape and color.
- Solution – Export your file as a .jpg, .bmp, .gif or .png. This will enable you to upload the shape to Cricut Design Space. The file will not be layered into individual colors like a vector file (.svg or .dxf). It will come through as a single-layered object which can then be printed on a home printer and cut out with the Cricut Machine using Print then Cut.