OFFSET TEXT IN CRICUT DESIGN SPACE USING IPHONE, IPAD & ANDROID

Today I’ll show you how to easily offset text to use in Cricut Design Space for your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices. This is my preferred method when I’m not using my laptop or desktop computer with Cricut Design Space.

Happy Update to Cricut Offset for iPad or iPhone users: The Cricut Design Space App for IOS devices (iPad, iPhone) was recently updated to Version 5.6. This version allows the new “Offset” feature along with “guides” to use to assist in sizing your creations.

Click here to be taken to my brand new post: Cricut Offset on iPad and iPhone

I am sorry to announce Offset is not released for Android users “YET” Yes they do plan on it for a future release. So keep reading below for the Offset workaround until Cricut releases it.

I am beyond thrilled that Cricut added the new feature “Offset” to Cricut Design Space for desktop/laptop users. I’ve been playing with it for a while and finding it very user-friendly for text and images.

At this time, the “offset Text” is not available to use if you design using a cell phone or any smart device, so it is not an option in the app version of Cricut Design Space.

But have no fear, I will show you how I easily create Offsets with my Text using the very user-friendly App, Phonto.

If you missed my post on Curving Text in Cricut Design Space using iPhone, iPad & Android, click here.

So back to my good news on how to use the FREE Phonto App to easily offset text. It is available on both Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. This is an awesome app that also easily curves text. Ready to see the easy steps?

What can you use Offset Text for?

Offset text is great for making words pop! Think of contrasting colors in each of your layers. Here are just a few ideas to think about implementing them in your designs

• Greeting Cards
• Iron-On/HTV Projects
• Vinyl Projects
• Cake Toppers
• Banners
• Signs
• Water Bottles
• Bulletin Boards
• Classrooms
• Sunday School
• Party Projects
• Ok, I could go on and on, but I wanted to give you some hints of ideas!

HOW TO OFFSET TEXT USING PHONTO APP

First, download the Phonto App depending on which version you need. My tutorial today is based on my Apple iPad but the directions are the same for iPhone & Android.

You can watch the short video or just below I show the exact same steps using screenshots of the process.

VIDEO: HOW TO OFFSET TEXT USING IPHONE, IPAD AND ANDROID

If you prefer to watch a video instead, you can!

Once you download the app, tap or click to open Phonto. It will be showing an ad at the top of the app but not to worry, you can just ignore it and it won’t be in your way while designing.

Next, tap on the camera icon and choose “Plain Images”

This brings up your canvas choices. I like the plain white one which is to the right of the plain black one. So for this tutorial, tap the white one.

Next, click on the rectangle with the arrow icon and choose “use”.

Now here is your plain white canvas ready to add text. Tap anywhere on the plain white canvas and an “Add Text” option will appear. Tap on “Add Text”.

Next, type your word, name or sentiment you want to add an Offset Text to. If you want your text to be in the middle of your canvas tap on “Align: Left and change it to “Align: Center”. Then tap on “Font” and choose which font you want. Today I am using the font “Baskerville SemiBold” then tap on done.

1. Type sentiment
2. Tap Align Left to change to Align Center
3. Tap font and choose font
4. Tap done

Next, you’ll want to change the color of the text so you can see it better.

Today I chose Blue by tapping on “Style” and then tap and slide the color boxes to choose the blue square or the color you desire.

Important Step: Before we create our Offset we want to make a copy of your typed word or sentiment.

Tap on the canvas area to get rid of the current menu you are in.

Tap again to bring back the black menu options as seen below.

Use your finger or Apple pencil to slide the menu to the left to reveal more options such as copy.

Tap on the “Copy” icon to make a copy of your text.

Now, here comes the fun part of adding your offset to only one of your texts. This is called “Stroke” in the app Phonto.

Tap on one of the text words and select the “Style” option, then tap on “Stroke” shown below.

Now slide the color boxes to choose what color box you want the “Offset” to be, I chose a darker shade of blue.

Now use the “Width” slider to determine how much or big of an offset you want.

This was my preference below for my Offset. Just use your personal preference and keep in mind what you want your final design to look like.

Tap on “Done” in upper right-hand corner when you are happy with your design.

Simply tap on the white canvas to have the black menu go away.

If you want the menu to come back at anytime, simply tap in the “white” area again.

Now you can tap on the “Size” option in the black menu and use the slider to increase or decreased your text size.

You can use your finger or apple pencil to move your word around on the white canvas if needed.

Now we are ready to “upload” your “Text” & your “Offset Text”.

Once you are satisfied with your design simply tap on the “upload” icon in the lower right-hand corner as shown in the below photo, then choose the option to “Save image as PNG”

Then you will get this awesome message!

Tap on OK. You will probably get an AD popup which in a second you have an option to close out of it or simply close the Phonto App as we are done using it and ready to upload our PNG Image into the Cricut Design Space App.

HOW TO UPLOAD YOUR PNG IMAGE INTO CRICUT DESIGN SPACE

1. Open up Cricut Design Space App
2. Tap on “New Project”
3. Tap on “Upload”

4. Tap “Select from Photo Library”

5. Locate your photo and tap on it.

Now it’s time to “Clean Up” image and prepare it for Cricut Design Space.

We first need to remove the background and make it transparent. You do this by selecting the wand in the lower left-hand corner.

Tap on the wand and then tap anywhere in the white area near the text.

When you look at the photo above, the checkered background shows you that now the background is “Transparent”. This is what we want. Basically we removed the white background.

Now we need to complete certain areas such as the inside of the letters, D,e & e.

Tap your finger or Apple pencil in the middle of the letters to make them transparent too.

This is my “Cleaned up image” ready to bring further into Design Space.

Tap Next. Then Next again on next screen.

1. Select the box on the left for a “Cut” Image
2. Add your image name
3. Tap “save” in upper right corner

Now you will see your image with all of your “uploaded images”.

Tap on your image, then tap insert.

The image will likely import really big. Simply use your fingers to pinch the size down and then you can use the “double arrows” to size further.

Important step: We need to make a copy of this group of text & offset.

Tap on Actions then Duplicate as seen below.

Tap on the image on the right then tap on “Hide Contour”

I highly suggest watching the video of the next steps as I even show 2 different methods, contour verses slice.

To make it simple, you have 2 groups shown above.

You want to remove the “Text” layer from one group and…

You want to remove the “Offset” layer from the other group.

The end result will be to have 1 text layer and 1 offset layer.

As I stated above, you have 2 ways to do this. I want to share the “Contour” method as a lot of new Cricut crafters are afraid or don”t know how to use the contour feature, but I’m here to show you how easy it is. YOU can do this!

If you want to learn the slice method for this type of tutorial, please watch the video in this blog post.

Ok, so from the picture above I had you select the “Hide Contour”. Now my screen looks like this…

Tap on the circled image until it’s gone and your screen looks like this…

Now for the group on the left we want to keep the “offset” image and remove the “Text” image by using “Hide Contour” again.

Tap on the image group on the left. Tap on “hide contour”

Tap on parts of the circled text until it’s all gone. But keep the Offset image.

Now you are ready to pick your colors for each layer.

1. Select “Edit”
2. Tap on the black circle next to the word Cut
3. Select your color from the squares then select the shade of that color you want
4. Tap on “Apply”

Then tap on your Offset image and follow same sequence to change the color.

If by chance one of the layers needs to be on top instead of on the bottom, simply tap on “arrange” via the Edit menu. It is grayed out now since we are already arranged and centered. I just wanted you to be aware in case you need it.

Now, it may seem like a lot of steps when you first learn this process, but I promise it’s super easy and once you have done it a few times it is just easy peasy! 🙌

If you are on a desktop/laptop computer I wanted to mention something unique, How to curve text using fonts and symbols.

Wow, that is a lot of helpful information! It literally takes me long multiple hours to prepare a video and blog post of this nature. So much so I may have forgotten to share a tip you may be wondering.

Please always feel free to ask any questions or even leave a helpful tip I may have forgot or did not think to include in this post! You can leave a comment or question below or on my YouTube channel.

Let’s all help each other and “create with love”.

♥♥♥ If you found this post or video helpful or want to save it for later, please pin or share the love ♥♥♥

I appreciate your sharing and support ♥

♥ Create with Love ♥