How to use Slice in Cricut Design Space

The tools in Cricut Design Space are very powerful and when used properly, they can make a major impact on our projects.

The 5 most powerful tools in Cricut Design Space are found at the bottom of the Layers Panel.  These tools are called Slice, Weld, Attach, Flatten and Contour. Let's talk about Slice.

In this post I will be discussing how to use Slice in Design Space. If you just want a better understanding of how this tool works as well as how to troubleshoot if you encounter any issues then continue reading. I've also gone over Attach, Contour, Weld and Flatten in detail so check those out too so you can get a complete understanding of how to master the tools in Cricut Design Space.

I'm going to share a quick win with you before you read any further, If your slice tool is greyed out and you feel like you've done everything right and you want to toss your Cricut out the window, heres the thing. Your Slice tool is probably not working because you have more than two layers selected. Or, you've only selected one. Slice only work when two layers are selected. No more, no less. ONLY TWO.  That's it! Go check and I bet you that's the problem.

What is Slice?

When you Slice an image in Cricut Design Space you are cutting a new design out of an existing one. I’m sure that explanation is clear as mud but as you continue to read this post, this explanation will make more sense to you. I'll give you a few examples to help paint a better picture of Slice:

• Think of Slice like using a knife to carve a pumpkin; or
• Think of Slice like using a cookie cutter to cut a cookie shape out of dough.

In both examples above, you are cutting something out of another object.  The idea behind Slice is that you create a brand new design out of an existing one.

How to use Slice in Cricut Design Space

Slice is great for creating Knock-out designs

Slice is the ultimate Crop tool. I come across images all the time in Cricut design space that have an element that I don’t want to use and I use the slice tool to crop the image. Look at the image below. I want to use the faucet but I don't like the water droplet so I'll just crop it out.

Slice is the perfect tool to break apart a single layer image.  I come across single layer images all the time in Cricut design space that  I break apart because I'm only interested in using a part of the design for my project.  The same goes for text.  As you can see in Step 4 below, the image was sliced apart and now the words and the frames are two separate designs.  The yellow portions are extra layers from the Slice results so you can get rid of those.

Slice is perfect for cutting a new shape out of an existing one.

The slice tool in Cricut Design Space is greyed out

If there are more than one layers selected, the Slice tool gets greyed out. You can only work with two layers at a time when you Slice.Ungroup the layers and Slice will illuminate.

Summary

Slice is probably the tool I use most in Design Space.  It's a really powerful to have a tool that can break an existing image apart into something completely different.

How about you? What is your favourite way to use Slice?

WANT TO REMEMBER THIS POST ABOUT THE SLICE TOOL IN CRICUT DESIGN SPACE? SAVE THIS PIN TO YOUR PINTEREST BOARD!