Fixing a bad svg file can be a time consuming and frustrating process. In this tutorial I will talk about what are some of the things that can cause a svg to be broken, and how you can repair it just using the Cricut Design Space program.
What to I mean when I use the term bad svg file?
Specifically when I say that a svg file is bad or broken I am talking about the files that we upload to Design Space and they come in with hundreds of tiny pieces that seem to be scattered all over and not connected to each other. While this might be okay for some operating systems, a SVG made in this manner is not what you want for a die cutting machine.
If you look at your Layers Panel in Cricut Design Space and there are more layers than there are colors in the design, you probably have a bad, or poorly made, svg that you are trying to work with. If you want to learn more about layers, I talk about that HERE.
What causes a bad svg file?
Sometimes it is because the person who created the svg does not understand how to create a svg for a die cutting machine, and set it up with the proper groupings and break it apart by colored layers.
Sometimes it is because the svg was created by using a tool that converts an image into a svg, and that tool broke the image down into too many pieces. This is also why I show you some of the BEST tools for creating svg files HERE.
What steps can you take in fixing a bad svg file?
First, if you purchased a bad svg file, reach out to the seller and let them know that their svg is broken. They might be able to repair it. If they cannot, or will not, I would recommend leaving a review on their site so that others will know the quality of the svg files that they produce.
Next, you will have to try and repair the image so that it cuts like you expected it to. To do this, you will have to get all of the little pieces that should have been connected to be joined together. I did this by clicking on each of the touching parts of the same color and then clicking on the weld button to join them into one cut.
If there are sections of the image that do not touch, but you want them to stay positioned and group together so they cut out better for layering, select them and then click on the attach button.
Here is a video to show you how I did this with one bad, broken svg that started off with over 100 layers/cut mats . . . in the end I got it down to just a handful of layers/cut mats.
Where to find good quality SVG files
To avoid spending time fixing a bad svg file, make sure to buy good quality svg files. I have a list of places where you can get high quality svg files HERE.
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