Master the Art of Image Editing: Effective Techniques to Clean Up Google and Facebook Images

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Uploading a Black and White Image into Design Space
   • Saving the Image to Your Computer
   • Cleaning up the Image
3. Uploading a Colored Image into Design Space
   • Saving the Image to Your Computer
   • Cleaning up the Image
4. Inserting and Resizing the Images in Design Space
5. Creating Layered Cut Images
6. Duplicating Layers for Different Colors
7. Using Contour to Select Specific Portions of the Image
8. Changing the Canvas Color
9. Mirroring the Mats for Heat Transfer Vinyl
10. Cutting the Design on One Mat
11. Conclusion

How to Upload and Clean Up Images in Design Space

Design Space is a powerful software that allows You to Create and customize designs for various projects. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, knowing how to upload and clean up images in Design Space can make a significant difference in the quality of your designs. In this article, we will walk you through the process of uploading both black and white images and colored images into Design Space, cleaning them up, and turning them into layered cut images. So, let's get started!

1. Uploading a Black and White Image into Design Space

The first step in uploading a black and white image into Design Space is to save the image to your computer. Right-click on the image and choose the "Save Image As" option. Select a location on your computer where you want to save the image and click "Save". Repeat this process for any additional images you want to upload.

Once you have the image saved to your computer, open Design Space and click on the "Upload" button. Choose the black and white image you want to upload by clicking on the "Browse" button and navigating to the saved location on your computer. Select the image and click "Open".

In Design Space, click on the "Complex" option to start cleaning up the image. If the image has fuzzy dots around it, which is common when cleaning up images sourced from Google or Facebook, follow the next steps to fix it.

Scroll down to the "More Options" section and click on "Reduce Colors". Change the number to 2 and set the bottom number to 60. This adjustment helps eliminate the fuzzy dots around the image. Preview the image to ensure that there are no more fuzzy dots. If it looks good, click "Continue".

Save the image as a cut image by clicking on the appropriate button. This allows you to use the image for cutting purposes.

2. Uploading a Colored Image into Design Space

Uploading a colored image into Design Space follows a similar process to uploading black and white images. Save the colored image to your computer by right-clicking on it and selecting the "Save Image As" option. Choose a location to save the image and click "Save".

Open Design Space and click on the "Upload" button. Browse and select the colored image you want to upload. Click "Open".

Since this is a colored image, you don't need to reduce the number of colors. Leave the top number of colors unmodified and set the bottom number to 60, which is a good starting point. Adjusting this number can help achieve the desired effect for your image.

Next, clean up the image by deleting everything except the black Outline. Preview the image to ensure it looks good. Click "Continue" and save the image as a cut image.

3. Inserting and Resizing the Images in Design Space

With the images uploaded and cleaned up, it's time to insert them into your design canvas in Design Space. Click on the "Insert Images" button and select the images you want to use. Once inserted, you can resize them to fit your project.

To resize an image, select it and use the resizing handles to make it larger or smaller. You can also maintain the image's proportions by holding down the Shift key while resizing.

4. Creating Layered Cut Images

Layered cut images add depth and dimension to your designs. To create layered cut images, you'll need to duplicate the image layers for each color in your final project.

Start by duplicating the image layer for the first color. For example, if you have red and yellow in your design, duplicate the layer once for red and once for yellow. Move these duplicated layers aside.

5. Using Contour to Select Specific Portions of the Image

The Contour feature in Design Space allows you to select specific portions of an image for different colors. This is particularly useful when you want to assign different colors to different elements of a design.

Click on the layer you want to customize and choose the "Contour" option. Select "Hide All Contours" and then click on the specific portions of the image that you want to be a specific color. Once you've made your selections, click on the top box to confirm and remove the contours. You will be left with just the selected color portions.

Repeat this process for each layer, selecting the specific portions you want to assign a color to.

6. Changing the Canvas Color

If you want to change the background color of your design, you can easily do so in Design Space. Simply click on the "Canvas Color" option and choose the color you desire. This is especially helpful if you're planning to transfer the design onto a shirt or any other item that requires heat.

7. Mirroring the Mats for Heat Transfer Vinyl

When using heat transfer vinyl or iron-on materials, it's crucial to mirror each mat to achieve the correct orientation on your project. Rather than manually mirroring each mat, you can use a useful hack in Design Space.

Select the entire design, go to the "Flip" option, and choose "Flip Horizontally". This will effectively mirror all your mats without having to do it individually.

8. Cutting the Design on One Mat

To optimize material usage and simplify the cutting process, you can cut the entire design on a single mat. Change the color of the design to a uniform color, such as light yellow, using the "Select All" option. This allows you to see all the elements of your design on one mat.

Click on the "Make It" button and choose your material. If you're using heat transfer vinyl or permanent vinyl, selecting "Premium Vinyl" usually yields good results.

Load your chosen vinyl colors onto the mat according to the size and quantity requirements specified in the design. Make sure everything is properly aligned and cut the design.

9. Conclusion

Uploading and cleaning up images in Design Space is essential for creating professional and visually appealing designs. With the step-by-step guide provided in this article, you now have the knowledge to upload both black and white images and colored images into Design Space, clean them up, and turn them into layered cut images. Don't forget to take AdVantage of the Contour feature for specific color selections and use the mirroring hack for heat transfer vinyl. Experiment with different designs and have fun creating unique projects in Design Space. Happy crafting!

Highlights:

• Learn how to upload both black and white images and colored images into Design Space
• Clean up images to remove fuzzy dots and unwanted elements
• Create layered cut images for depth and dimension
• Use the Contour feature to select specific portions of an image for different colors
• Easily change the canvas color to match your project requirements
• Mirror mats for heat transfer vinyl with a convenient hack
• Cut the entire design on one mat for material optimization
• Step-by-step guide with detailed explanations and screenshots
• Suitable for beginners and experienced users of Design Space
• Enhance your designs and create professional-quality projects

FAQ

Q: Can I upload images with a transparent background in Design Space?

Yes, Design Space supports images with transparent backgrounds. When saving an image with a transparent background, make sure to save it in a file format that preserves transparency, such as PNG.

Q: How can I remove unwanted elements from an uploaded image in Design Space?

To remove unwanted elements from an uploaded image in Design Space, you can use the Contour feature. Select the layer containing the image and click on "Contour". From there, you can choose to hide specific contours, allowing you to remove unwanted elements and customize the image as desired.

Q: Can I resize the images in Design Space?

Yes, you can resize the images in Design Space. Simply select the image and use the resizing handles to make it larger or smaller. Holding down the Shift key while resizing will maintain the image's proportions.

Q: What Type of vinyl should I choose for cutting in Design Space?

The choice of vinyl depends on the specific requirements of your project. If you're using heat transfer vinyl or permanent vinyl, selecting the "Premium Vinyl" option in Design Space usually yields good results. However, make sure to consider the application method and materials before making a final decision.