The blobs of color can be smaller or larger depending on the settings and software used to perform the vectorization. The end results like a paint-by-number version of the original image. It is probably the least applicable to Cricut crafts but it is an important foundational component. It is the vectorization of photos or detailed images. This first example, you might have seen on various platforms. How to make an SVG – Simple Approximation Vectorization Let’s go through some of the most popular scenarios. And then there are times when you want to group certain elements of the image together but not others. Other times you want to preserve the details of the image and just create a cut path around the outline of the image. Some times you want to vectorize the entire image. It is also subjective what a good conversion means in different contexts. It is an extremely difficult math problem to figure out how to convert dots to directions. Well, the simple answer is it takes a lot of math. So what’s the big deal, why can’t we just convert a bitmap image to a vector image easily? SVG files are image files that contain directional information or paths information about the image. It wants to know what path to take to make the cut. It needs directional (or vector) information. Unfortunately, the blade in the Cricut needs additional information. It wants to know what color to use for each dot in the image. This is useful for most printers because that is how it processes information to print. The image file records the image with information on each pixel. Bitmap images are composed of pixels (or dots). Most digital images you see are bitmap images. Why can’t you use regular JPG or PNG images to cut? There are other vector file formats but SVG is the most common and is the one that Cricut uses for all its machines.

It is a type of vector file that most cutting machines use to determine what direction to send the blade.

Paw patrol for cricut