DecalyFrom a picture to a clean cut, one question at a time
Plain answers about tracing pictures into cut files for vinyl, iron-on and cardstock, written by the developer of Decaly. Where another tool is the better answer, the guide says so.
Start here
- How to convert an image to SVG on AndroidWhat tracing does, the steps on a phone, and what to check before you cut.
- PNG to SVG for Cricut: turn a PNG into cut layersWhy Design Space takes a PNG as one layer, and how to get one layer per colour.
- Image to SVG apps for Android, comparedImage2SVG, SVG Vector, Vectorize Image, Vector Ink and Decaly, with dates and sources.
Layers and colours
- How to make layered vinyl from a pictureChoose the colours, trace the layers, pick a layering style, cut and apply.
- How to layer vinyl without overlapping coloursCutting each colour only where it shows, and when stacking is the better choice.
- Photo to SVG: which photos make a good cut fileWhy photos turn into colour bands, and how to photograph a drawing so it cuts.
When the cut goes wrong
- Why your SVG came out all blackOne-colour traces, black backgrounds and pictures in disguise, and the fix for each.
- Low resolution image to SVG: why the cut turns blockyWhy small pictures cut as staircases, how many pixels you need, where to find more.
- Vinyl too thin to weed? How thin a blade can cutHow thin a blade can cut, why it depends on size, and how to fix thin pieces.