How to Create Cricut Cut Files in Adobe Photoshop

This post may contain an affiliate link. See my disclosure policy.

With just a little design experience, I can show you how to use Photoshop to create Cricut Cut files with this tutorial! Use your own graphics or purchased designs for beautiful print and cut illustrations!

This post is sponsored by Cricut. All opinions are 100% my own.

Welcome to another week of the Cricut Post Series! I almost always use Adobe Illustrator to create Cricut Cut Files, but not everyone knows how to use it. I’ve found a lot of people are more comfortable with Adobe Photoshop, so I wanted to give you a tutorial on how to use Photoshop for creating Cricut Cut Files! Don’t worry, we’ll cover Illustrator, too!

Watch This Video On How To Use Photoshop To Create A Cricut Cut File

Tools For How To Use Photoshop:

• Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore Air -while I don’t use my Cricut in this tutorial, you will still need it when you cut out your project.
• Cricut Design Space
• Adobe Photoshop
• Bright Life Watercolor Set
• Hello Sunshine Font

Step-By-Step How To Use Photoshop To Create Cricut Cut Files:

1. Open Adobe Photoshop, then create a new document. Tip: I always recommend making the file size larger than the size you will be cutting out since Photoshop images can get pixelated if you enlarge them.
2. Go to FILE then click on Place Embed and choose a PNG image you’d like to use. I used elements from the Bright Life Watercolor Set.
3. Repeat until you have all the elements you’d like, then rearrange and resize them. Tip: To move an item to the back or front, go to the LAYERS panel, click on the element, then drag it down or up.
4. Select the type tool, then choose your font (I used Hello Sunshine Font). Click anywhere on the page and start typing. Adjust the size in the CHARACTER Panel.
5. Once everything is where you want it to be, select all of the elements, then go to the LAYERS panel, select all the items by clicking the top element, hold the shift key, then select the bottom element. Now drag everything to the file folder to GROUP the images.
6. Select the group and drag it to the NEW icon (it looks like a sticky note). This will duplicate the group. Note: I do this in case I ever want to change anything…you’ll see why in the next step.
7. Now, hide one of the groups by clicking on the icon that looks like an eye. Open the other group and select all the elements, right click and select MERGE LAYERS. Once they’re merged you will not be able to edit individual layers.
8. Now, hide the white background.
9. Select the MAGIC WAND tool and click outside the grouped image. Also click inside the loopy letters like the f, e, o, etc.
10. Right click, then SELECT INVERSE. Keep it selected for the next steps.
11. Create a new layer in the layers panel behind the graphic by clicking on the sticky note icon.
12. Go to the Drawing Tool, make sure the color is white, and start coloring on the graphic in the new layer.
13. Once it’s filled in, go to FILE, click on SAVE AS and choose PNG as the file type.

Now that your file is saved, you can upload it to Cricut Design Space as a Print and Cut file! Cricut will do the rest for you 🙂

Next week, I’ll be sharing how to create a Hand Lettered Cut file in Adobe Illustrator! Can’t wait!

Join the EXCLUSIVE Facebook Group, be the first to know about Cricut updates and sales, and get Cricut Tutorials Delivered to your inbox for FREE!

If you liked this, check out these other posts: