Updated on July 23, 2024
How to Use Templates in Cricut Design Space. Templates help you visualize and size your design to fit perfectly on your final project piece. Step-by-step tutorial on how to use templates plus a video.
Welcome to the first tutorial on Cricut Design Space Basics. Today, I will show you how to use the templates tool in Cricut Design Space.
The templates tool can help you visualize and size how your cut image will look on your final project. This can be helpful to be sure your design is not too big or too small for the final project piece.

SHOP CRICUT NOW
Use Code: LAURA10 to save $10 off any cutting machine or heat press (no minimum). Excludes materials, accessories, mystery boxes, etc. (US and CA only). Unlimited uses per code. Expires 12/31/24
How to Use Templates in Cricut Design Space
You can use templates with any Cricut machine that uses Cricut Design Space software – Cricut Maker, Cricut Explore Air, Cricut Joy, and Cricut Venture. However, templates are unavailable in the Cricut app for iOS or Android or the Cricut Basics App.
Open Cricut Design Space and click on New Project. First, you want to click on the templates tool in the design panel.
This will open the templates window. You can scroll through all the templates, choose a category from the dropdown menu to filter the templates, or use the search bar to find a specific template.

Types of Cricut Templates
There are many different designs of templates to choose from – cards, parties & events, home decor, fashion, photo memories, kids crafts, and gear.

The template that I use most often is when I make custom t-shirts. I use this to ensure my iron-on designs will fit the particular shirt I create.
I can create one design and easily make matching shirts for my daughter and me by resizing the design to fit the correct templates.
To find all the shirt templates, type the word shirt into the search box, then choose the shirt that looks most like the one you’re working with.

For this example, I am going to choose a scoop neck tee. Once you select your template, you will see an alert that the template will not be saved with your project. You must add the template whenever you open your design in Design Space.

Now, you can select the type and the size from the drop-down menus at the top.
Some templates have a custom option for you to add the size manually. I will choose a women’s short-sleeved shirt in a size large. For the shirt template, you can create designs for both the front and back of the t-shirt.

Change the Color of the Template
To change the color of your template image, select the color swatch next to your template name at the bottom of the layers panel.

You can choose one of the current project colors, a color from the basic color palette, or select or type in any hex color code at the bottom. I have a grey T-shirt, so I will choose grey from the basic color palette.
Now, you are ready to add images or text to your shirt. Click on the images tool in the design panel.
Let’s create a shirt about our love for coffee. Type in the word coffee in the search bar. I will choose these two images and add them to my design.
RELATED: How to Add Images in Cricut Design Space

Since these would be way too small to fit on my shirt, I can resize them to fit by dragging them over to the shirt and adjusting them with the arrows in the right corner of each design.

If you decide you no longer want your template or you want to change it, you can delete the current one by clicking on the template in the layers panel and then the delete button.
Change the Color of the Blank Canvas
The blank canvas layer is another feature to help you visualize your final project when designing. The default is white, but you can change the color to whatever you like.
Click the color swatch next to where it says blank canvas on the layers panel.

If you want it to be white again, click on the blank canvas in the layers panel and then click Delete.

How to Use Templates in Cricut Design Space Video Tutorial
Subscribe to my channel for more Cricut Design Space Basics tutorials.
CRICUT ACCESS SUBSCRIPTION
Purchase a Cricut Access Subscription to save! You’ll get unlimited access to the growing library of over 1,000,000+ cut and print images and over 1200 fonts. You’ll also receive a 10% discount on licensed content like Disney®, Marvel®, Star Wars™, Harry Potter™, and more. Plus, save 10% on cricut.com and subscriber-only exclusives. Get free shipping on orders over $50 and 20% off materials with a Premium membership. Learn more.
You may also like:
Leave a Reply