Cricut machines offer a customizable, automated way to speed up the exact cutting work required for project manufacturing, but the capabilities of these devices will soon be limited by an upcoming update. Cricut is updating the accompanying software, Design Space, of the machines by posting uploads that can limit the number of projects that Cricut owners can actually make.
To get a Cricut ready to cut, you need to use pre-made patterns or upload original designs to an application called Design Space. It used to be free and unlimited for all users, but now Cricut limits users to 20 free uploads per month. To upload more, owners will soon need to sign up for $ 9.99 per month / $ 95.88 per year on Cricut’s Access Standard plan or Access Premium plan for $ 118.88 per year.
Anything previously uploaded will be able to remain in Design Space without any changes or restrictions, but it is important to understand that you will need to use Design Space in some capacities to use a modern Cricut. And Cricut machines can cost from about $ 179 to $ 399, before the potential subscription.
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Design Space is needed in the most basic way to upload designs created in other applications so that it can be formatted to work with Cricut machines. For example, a pattern for a paper flower made in Adobe Illustrator or a logo sketched in Procreate can be uploaded so that the Cricut machine knows where to cut on material used, whether it is paper, material, vinyl or even wood. Design Space works on its own as a creation software, but when you sign up, it becomes more fully available, with access to exclusive fonts, images and patterns. Even with the optional subscription for more features, many users still choose to create their work elsewhere and only use Design Space for preparation before cutting.
With this new upload limit, an entry is required to restore the original feature that Crafuit bought a Cricuit: to create as many projects as needed, with the only limit, rather than an arbitrary number provided by a software update is set.
In addition to the ever-present, stark reality that businesses can limit the capabilities of a product you “own”, several Cricut owners have made contact. The edge about an even more striking problem: projects often require multiple uploads to complete, which means the upload limit can be reached even faster. This could be due to user errors or a complicated project that requires multiple pieces, but for any person using a Cricut in their business, it could mean that they will most likely be forced to sign in if they want to maintain their normal productivity level. .
In a statement issued to The edge, Cricut said he remains committed to his plan and ‘the best possible experience for [its] members “:
Cricut has announced changes to our Design Space software, including the new Offset and Project Collection features, as well as a custom upload update, which limits image and pattern uploads to 20 per month for members without a Cricut Access entry. All users will still be able to design and cut regardless of the upload. Cricut remains committed to creating the best possible experience for our members, and we will continue to support our community of makers as our top priority.
The reaction to Cricut’s planned change also boils down to the company’s official sub-edit. Cricut users shared the contact information of Cricut employees and launched a petition from Change.org in protest of the upcoming update. Cricut says it will start encouraging users to sign in to Design Space within the next few weeks until the upload limit takes effect on an unspecified date.