The Slice and Weld functions are great tools to customize images and even create new images.
Slice
Slicing splits two overlapping images or text into different parts. A common use of the Slice tool is removing part of an image.
When to use Slice
In this image, I want to separate the flowers from the rest of the giraffe. If this image was layered, I could hide part of the image or use the Contour tool to remove cut lines. However, this image is a single layer, and there are no cut lines to hide that would separate the giraffe from the flowers.
How to slice an image
Two images must be selected in order for the Slice button to light up. So, go to the Shapes panel and insert a square. Unlock the padlock and stretch it over the area to be sliced. Lock the padlock. (It’s okay if it overlaps the image on the sides.) Line the square up to point where the image needs to be separated. (I’m using the circle as a size guide here, and I’ll hide it before slicing.)
Once the shape and the image are selected, the Slice button will be available. To select the shape and the image, either drag a bounding box around both of them, or click on the shape and the image in the layers panel while holding down the shift key.
After slicing, delete the slices that aren’t needed. I’ll delete everything but the giraffe head.
Slicing on a curve
In this example, the bathtub and the woman in it are all one image. To separate them, use a circle and stretch it into an oval to cover the area to be removed.
It’s the same process here. Select the circle and image, and slice.
Delete the unneeded slices. The bathtub is left by itself.
Slice can be used for cutting text out of an image, but attach is a better option. Attaching is fewer steps, and the text can be easily changed later. When the text is attached to the shape, the text will turn the same color as the shape, but it will still cut out.
Weld
Welding removes overlapping cut lines. It can be used to join cursive text or combine shapes to create new images.
If you want this circle and giraffe to cut out of one piece of material, like for an HTV design, select the circle and the giraffe and weld.
The circle and the giraffe are now one image and all one color as a result. If you want the color to match what you’re cutting it out of, that can be done in the edit bar at the top of the screen.
I thought the giraffe would look cute in the bathtub, so I welded them together!
Remember, if you just need to hold cut placement, use attach, not weld. The Attach function will hold separate shapes together as if they were one image, so Cricut Design Space won’t rearrange them when you cut to optimize your cutting material.
For instance, if you’re cutting a non-cursive word and want all the letters to stay together so you can easily weed and directly stick them to something with correct letter spacing, they need to be attached. Attaching also is easy to make changes to later.
Use weld when you want something stuck together permanently, and all in one piece.
Here is a brief video demonstrating these features:
Thank you very much for this!!! You have no idea how I have wished I could do this. Now I know how to. Im so excited!!!
I have so much to learn but am having fun doing projects and learning things
Great! I’m so glad it helped!
You have just made an ole lady very happy. As I’m a visual person this has helped me so much.
Thank you
You’re welcome! I’m so glad I could help!