How to Trace an Image in Cricut Design Space
Cricut Design Space includes a built-in Trace tool that adjusts the contour cut line around an uploaded image. It is used primarily for Print Then Cut projects where you need Design Space to generate a clean cut outline.
About How to trace an image in Cricut Design Space
Cricut Design Space includes a built-in Trace tool that removes backgrounds from uploaded images to create clean cut paths. This is different from full vectorization — it specifically adjusts the contour cut line around an uploaded PNG or JPG image.
How Trace works in Design Space: Trace detects the edges of your image and sets a threshold that determines where the cut line falls. It is used primarily for Print Then Cut projects where you upload a raster image and need Design Space to generate an accurate cut contour around it.
Using Trace for Print Then Cut: upload a PNG image via Upload > Upload Image. In the upload dialog, select Complex Image (for detailed artwork) or Simple Image (for flat designs). Click Continue. The Trace tool appears — drag the slider to adjust the edge threshold. Areas shown in pink are the regions that will be cut. Adjust the slider so only the design is pink, not the background. Click Apply and Continue. Upload as Print Then Cut image.
Using Trace to remove white backgrounds: if your PNG has a white background, use Select and Erase in the upload screen to click and remove the background colour. Then use Trace to clean the cut contour.
Limitations of Design Space Trace: the Trace tool is not a full vectorizer — it produces a raster-based contour cut line, not clean vector paths. For cut-only projects (vinyl, cardstock) where you want clean vector outlines, convert the image to SVG before uploading to Design Space. The SVG vectorizer produces sharper, more precise cut paths than the Design Space Trace tool for most images.