Quick Guide to Using JPG Files with Cricut Print Then Cut!

If you’ve purchased or downloaded a digital card kit that includes JPG files, you can use Cricut Design Space to turn them into beautiful Print Then Cut projects. This guide shows you how to remove white backgrounds and resize your JPGs to fit standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper.

Whether you're working with ephemera, card panels, or sentiments, this tutorial will walk you through the basics!

How to Remove Backgrounds from JPG Files in Design Space:

1. Open Cricut Design Space and go to your current project (or create a new one).
2. Click Upload from the left-hand menu.
3. Select your JPG file—this might be a sheet of elements like ephemera, sentiments, or decorative panels.
4. Once uploaded, Design Space will take you to the Background Remover screen.
5. In the Manual section (left menu), click Select.
6. Click anywhere on the white background of your JPG page.
7. Wait a few moments while Design Space removes the background.
   ✅ You’ll see only the design elements remaining on a transparent background!
8. Zoom in (around 325%) using the plus/minus buttons at the bottom right of the screen.
9. Under Manual, click Erase, increase the Erase size to 100, and:

    - Carefully drag over any copyright text or watermark to remove it.
    - ✨ This keeps your Cricut from trying to cut tiny letters.

10. When you’re happy with the result, click Apply & Continue.
💡 Note: This kit is for Personal Use Only—removing the watermark does not remove copyright. Thanks for respecting the artist’s work!

Resizing JPGs for Print Then Cut:

1. On the next screen, select Flat Graphic (for Print then Cut projects), then click Continue and Upload.
2. The file will now appear in your Canvas! (if it’s a large file, it might take a minute to load)
3. If you see a red warning icon in the Layers panel, your image is too large for Print Then Cut.
4. Click Auto-Resize Image in the warning box.

    - Design Space will automatically resize your image to fit 8.5 x 11 inch paper.

5. You’re done! No additional sizing is needed for most files in your digital card kit.

✏️ Tip: You can always re-upload the same JPG file if you want to experiment with different sizes later!

Final Thoughts:

Now that your JPG file is prepped, you’re ready to hit Make, then follow the directions to finish the Print then Cut steps. This process is quick, beginner-friendly, and perfect for bringing your cozy card kit to life!

Note for Readers:

This tutorial focuses on the basic setup for Print Then Cut projects using JPGs from digital card kits. While Design Space includes more advanced layout and sizing tools, this guide gives you everything you need to get started with ease!