Using SVG Files with Score Lines in Cricut Design Space

If you prefer written step by step instructions instead of video, continue reading.

How to Use Dashed Score Lines in Design Space

You’ll want to use SVG files with dashed score lines if you do not have a scoring tool for your cutting machine. In this case, the blade of your Cricut will cut along the dashed lines, creating perforated lines that can be easily folded.

First, upload the SVG to Cricut Design Space. By default the design will open with everything grouped together. Right-click on the design and choose “Ungroup” to work with the layers individually.

In the Layers panel, each layer is set to “Cut” by default – in this case that’s exactly what we want. Since we don’t have a scoring wheel or stylus, the blade of our Cricut will cut along the dashed score lines.

The only thing we need to do to make sure everything cuts correctly is Attach the score lines to the box shapes. First, let’s see what would happen if we skip this step…

If we just click the “Make it” button without attaching, Design Space is going to separate everything onto different mats. The box shapes and score lines are all on separate mats, because we forgot to tell Design Space to keep them together!

In order to keep everything together when we send it to the mat, we first need to Attach the score lines to their matching box shapes.

The easiest way to do that here is to click on the group name in the Layers panel. Doing this will select both the score lines and the matching box shape. Now just Right-click on the group name, and choose “Attach”, and both layers will stay together when it’s time to cut.

Repeat that step to attach each group that has score lines.

Now when we click “Make it” the score lines and box shapes are kept together with the correct placement on a single mat.

How to Use Solid Score Lines in Design Space

Now let’s open up the SVG file with the Solid Score Lines. You’ll want to use solid score lines if you have a scoring wheel or scoring stylus.

Upload the Cricut SVG File to your Canvas, and once again everything comes in as a group, so we’ll Right-click to Ungroup it.

Notice this time, that the score lines are Solid lines, instead of Dashed as in the previous version.

By default, everything is set to Cut in the Layers panel. But this time, we need to tell Design Space that we’ll be using a scoring tool and that we want these lines to be scored instead of cut.

In the Layers panel, select only the score lines, (hold SHIFT as you click to select multiple layers at once).

Then, in the Linetype menu change the setting from “Cut” to “Score”.

Now in the Layers panel the selected layers have changed from “Cut” to “Score”.

Also notice that the solid lines have turned to dashes. However, these aren’t the same as the dashed score lines in the previous SVG file. These dashed lines are just symbolic within Design Space to indicate that your machine will be scoring along these lines instead of cutting them.

So now the final step is to Attach the score lines to the box shape, so that everything cuts and scores with the correct placement.

Click on the group name to select both layers, then Right-click on the group name and choose “Attach”.

Repeat for each group that has score lines.

Now when we click “Make it”, the mats are sorted automatically and each box shape has the score lines in the correct place. Design Space also knows that it is first going to Score, and then Cut.

If you’re using a scoring stylus, you machine will score and then cut in 1 step.

If you’re using a scoring wheel, your Cricut will pause after scoring and prompt you to swap out the scoring wheel for a blade, then it will resume cutting.

That’s all there is to it! After using SVG Files with Score Lines in Cricut Design Space a few times, you’ll be a pro at setting up score lines! I hope this tutorial has helped you learn how to work with Cricut SVG files that have score lines in Design Space. If you’re looking for some 3D SVG card and box templates to try out, take a look at the Doables section of my shop!

Happy Crafting!