| One of the most basic things you will want to do with | | | | letter a different size. To weld letters that are individual, |
| the Cricut Design Studio is to weld letters together to | | | | follow these steps: |
| form one word. There are two ways to weld letters | | | | |
| together. The first is to work with the word as one | | | | 1. Select the first letter you will want to use. Make sure |
| image that can be manipulated all together. The | | | | you hit enter to deselect the letter before adding a |
| second way is to bring in each letter as an individual | | | | new one. |
| image that can be manipulated by itself. | | | | 2. Select the second letter you will be using. Notice that |
| As you type the letters in your word, you will notice | | | | when you select each letter, it is it's own individual |
| that they show up on the cutting mat one right after | | | | letter. It can be manipulated in any way and not effect |
| another. When you select the group of letters by | | | | the other letters. |
| clicking on one of the lines, any changes such as size | | | | 3. Continue adding letters making sure to hit enter after |
| will be applied to all the letters at the same time. | | | | each one. |
| Another method is to type one letter and then hit enter | | | | 4. In this welding method the kerning feature is not |
| before typing another. This makes each letter | | | | used. Simply select a letter, manipulate it to the size |
| separate so that you can manipulate each letter | | | | and look desired and check the weld box. |
| individually. | | | | 5. Select the next letter and manipulate it as desired. |
| To weld a word when the letters are all one group, | | | | Move it to where it overlaps the first letter. The |
| follow these steps: | | | | amount of overlapping is your discretion according to |
| | | | your design. Check the welding box. |
| 1. Click the word with the mouse so it is selected. | | | | 6. Continue until all letters have been manipulated and |
| 2. Kerning is the space between letters. Set this at | | | | the welding box is checked for each. |
| -.005 or leave at zero. Hit apply. | | | | 7. Preview the word. The letters that have had the |
| 3. The letters will move together, some may be | | | | welding box checked will appear as a dark line that will |
| touching while others may not. Select each individual | | | | be cut with the lighter lines showing where they are |
| letter in the word . It will become a dashed line when | | | | welded. If any letter is a solid filled letter instead, the |
| that particular letter is selected. Move it using the nudge | | | | welding box was not selected for that particular letter. |
| arrows until each letter is slightly overlapping. | | | | Simply go back and select the letter again and check |
| 4. Select the whole word again and check the welding | | | | the welding box. |
| box under shape properties. | | | | Welding is one of the most basic and most used |
| 5. The word will have dark lines showing where the | | | | functions in Cricut Design Studio. Follow the steps |
| cutting will be, while a lighter line will represent where it | | | | above and you will be on your way to using the Cricut |
| has been welded together. | | | | in a whole new way. If you are more of a visual |
| There are times that you will need to work with each | | | | learner, many step by step guides to welding including |
| letter or image individually. This is particularly useful | | | | screenshots are available online. |
| when you may want one letter one size and another | | | | |