Thursday, December 1, 2011

How to Use Mat Layers in Cricut Craft Room

Today, my video is about understanding the mat layer feature in the Cricut Craft Room. 

Below is the video (click HERE if you can't see it):



I've been getting lots of questions about Cricut Craft Room and I will do my best to answer them.  Here are a few I've gotten:

1) Do you have to do the layers or would the Imagine print it out all together with different colors on one layer?

Currently, you are not able to color, print and cut all the layers onto one image (kind of like making a sticker) with the Imagine.  So, for Disney characters, you can't put all the layers together and print and cut.  You would still have to cut each of the 9 pieces out separately and then glue together.

2) When you show the colors in the fill mode, will my Imagine print it out like that?

No.  Those colors in the fill mode under the Mat Layers menu are just for design purposes only.  You would have to use the "Colors and Patterns" menu to do that for the Imagine.  See photo below:


3) Is there a way to cut an image in half. Let's say I want a border of snowflakes down the left hand side of my layout. I only want half the snowflakes in the border. I want the left hand side of the boarder to be a straight line so it lays up against the side of the page. I could use the other half on the right hand side. If the image falls outside the cutting area, will the cricut only cut what is in the cutting area? This is one way that I have thought might solve my question.

No - I just tried it.

4)Do you know if you can "turn off" the mat background? Sometimes those squares make it hard for me to see the final design.

I haven't found a way to do that.

I will have a video up about the "hide selected contour feature" soon.  Please leave more ideas of things you'd like to know about Cricut Craft Room.  And for those tired of Cricut Craft Room, I will be putting regular type posts up again real shortly (;-)

Missed some of the Cricut Craft Room series?  Here's some links!

Intro to the Cricut Craft Room
How to Layer in the Cricut Craft Room - Video
Easy Design Tip for Cricut Craft Room - Video
How to Weld and Shadow in Cricut Craft Room - Video
How to Group and Autofill in Cricut Craft Room - Video
How to Hide Selected Contour in Cricut Craft Room - Video
How to Download and Import Files into Cricut Craft Room - Video
How To Export Files to the Gypsy from the Cricut Craft Room - Video

Want to see more of my projects?
Click HERE to see my gallery!
Subscribe to Obsessed with Scrapbooking to learn more about ways to use the Cricut in your scrapbooking! Share/Save/Bookmark

30 comments:

  1. I have to tell you that I love these videos. I am trying so hard to learn how to use the Craftroom and find it very difficult compared to my Gypsy. Yet I have the Craftroom downloaded at work and can actually design dring my luch and on breaks so I really want to know how to do this. Your videos are very helpful.

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  2. Thanks! Great video. I'd love to see an actual word book made up. How do you bind it?
    Couldn't you use the coordinate settings in the upper right-hand corner to make sure your layers haven't shifted instead of scrolling or eyeballing it? That's what I use when welding things together.

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  3. Hi Joy,
    I can't get enough of Cricut Craft Room. I'm having a great time designing with it and LOVE designing with carts on my wish list. I love being able to fill the images with the patterns and colors from the imagine carts. Keep the videos coming, especially the more advanced features.

    I have been able to layer, color and print layers into one complete image, but when I cut it after printing, the calibration is off. I print all layers only first, then cut only the shadow/outermost layer next. It works, but the cut is a little off center. :(

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  4. Another great video! Thank you SO much! This is exactly what I was wondering. You mentioned to check the pressure and speed. Does this override the settings on the machine?

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  5. Thanks for sharing the videos. I haven't watched yet but hope to this weekend and play a little.

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  6. Thanks Joy for answering my questions and for doing these videos, so much easier to learn it when you see it done!! Thanks again!

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  7. I love the craft room videos. I have played around with it a little bit and can't wait to try some more since I watched your videos. Thanks.

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  8. Really appreciate your videos. BUT for those of us who don't quite understand, how do you hook the computer to the Cricut?

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  9. I have to say "YOU ROCK JOY"! You have done an awesome job putting together these videos and I have thoroughly enjoyed them and leared a ton. I have designed word books in DSE and all I can say is wow! CCR is so user friendly. Thank you for taking the time to put these together for us!

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  10. Thanks Joy! I like the craft room and you are making it so much easier to learn.

    Naomi

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  11. Hi Joy,
    Thanks for the videos they are a great help.
    My PC with Design Studio has died:(
    Does Craft Room replace the need for design studio or the gypsy? I am not replacing the PC, but I have a Mac.
    Thanks,
    Bernadette
    bhbmom@verizon.net

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  12. Fabulous videos, please keep them coming. I know that there are alot of us who appreciate the effort.

    Donna C.
    goCricutgo

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  13. Fabulous videos, please keep them coming. I know that there are alot of us who appreciate the effort.

    Donna C.
    goCricutgo

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  14. Thanks for the videos and the answers to questions. I have another question. On one of the tutorial videos in the Craft Room, it said that the Font - Cricut Craft Room Basics was free (it is listed in the Craft Room Basics). However, when I try to cut with it, it is prompting me to insert the cartridge, which of course, I don't have. What do I have to do to take advantage of this free font?

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  15. Thanks for the information. I have been playing in the ccr lately and doing the mats and layers were confusing at times. So you definitely made it all plain and simple. So I will continue to use the ccr. Thanks again

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  16. I think this is a wonderful idea and I save all my emails from Obsessed, Everyday Cricut and COurtney Lane Designs and put them in folders so I can go back at my leisure and look at them as needed. Thank you for doing this. Very helpful.
    Mstgane
    Ann

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  17. Thanks for the video, Joy.

    I noticed when you pressed cut you had the choice of your Expression 2 or Expression 2 Wifi. Are you able to cut using Wifi or do you have to use the cord?

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  18. Thanks for explaining all this stuff! wow! ~*PD

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  19. Thanks for the video!I was wondering if you can use images from multiple cartridges on one project?

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  20. Wow this is great! I have really learned a lot with your short lessons. Thanks so much!!!

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  21. Excellent videos. I've had a chance to play with the craftroom, but not explore every detail. your video's are a true help! Thank You!
    HeatherM

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  22. I have to tell you I had a light bulb moment while watching your latest Cricut Craft Room Video! I have looked at other videos and instructions on how to do the layers and I still did not get it, but I do now! :)

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  23. JOY,
    These are just wonderful videos. Thank you so much for doing them. There is so much to learn and you are doing a wonderful job of explaining them--they are so helpful. Looking so forward to seeing more. You are a GREAT teacher. THANK YOU.

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  24. Thank you again Joy!! Really appreciate all the work you are doing to get us successful in the craft room!!

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  25. These videos are awesome Joy thank you so so much for doing them. I am starting to see the benefit of the craft room.

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  26. Another great video Joy! I haven't attempted layered projects yet but now I see how simple it really is. Thanks for the visual explanation...so much easier to understand. Can't wait to learn more with you.

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  27. great vids like always. im telling you we would be lost with out you gals. thanks for all you do and share. 1205love@gmail.com merry xmas, god bless u and yours

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  28. I just finished watching all your Craftroom videos. Great job! I enjoyed them...they were clear and not too wordy :). Thank you for taking the time to share.

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  29. I have 3 cartridges. I have just purchased the cuttlebug and would love to win the Christmas set to use for Christmas! Perfect timing, so I hope I win.

    juliew50@ymail.com

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  30. Hi Joy, I found this tutorial very useful and used it for our Thursday tutorial over at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge blog today. Please come and visit if you haven't already.
    Thanks again,
    Sheila FCCB DT

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