• Home
  • Cricut Basics
    • Text – Cricut Design Space Basics
    • Images – Cricut Design Space Basics
    • Upload – Cricut Design Space Basics
    • Attach Basics – How to Attach in Cricut Design Space?
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Cricut Design Space
    • Cricut Mats
    • Fonts
    • Images
    • SVGs
    • Transfer Tape
    • Weeding
    • Tutorials
  • Tools & Accessories
    • Be Organized
    • Cricut BrightPad
    • Cricut EasyPress
    • Tools
    • Vinyl
    • Library
  • Addicted to Chalk
    • What is Magnolia Design Co
    • What is Chalk Paste?
    • Create Reusable Stencils for Chalk Paste
  • About Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Library

Smart Cutting Machine FUN

Cricut Beginner Tips & Tricks

  • Smart Cutting Machine FUN
  • Home
  • Cricut Basics
    • Text – Cricut Design Space Basics
    • Images – Cricut Design Space Basics
    • Upload – Cricut Design Space Basics
    • Attach Basics – How to Attach in Cricut Design Space?
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Cricut Design Space
    • Cricut Mats
    • Fonts
    • Images
    • SVGs
    • Transfer Tape
    • Weeding
    • Tutorials
  • Tools & Accessories
    • Be Organized
    • Cricut BrightPad
    • Cricut EasyPress
    • Tools
    • Vinyl
    • Library
  • Addicted to Chalk
    • What is Magnolia Design Co
    • What is Chalk Paste?
    • Create Reusable Stencils for Chalk Paste
  • About Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Library

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click & make a purchase, I receive a small commission. Thanks! Read my full disclosure policy.

You are here: Home » Tips & Tricks » Cricut Advanced Options – What is Reduce Colors and Color Tolerance

Cricut Advanced Options – What is Reduce Colors and Color Tolerance

Pin
Share
Tweet
Reddit

Learning what Reduce Color and Color Tolerance under Advanced Options in Cricut Design Space will be a game-changer for anyone wanting to edit images. Learn how to use both of these advanced options and become an expert image editor.

When you upload an image, you are met with many options. If you are only wanting to know how to upload an image to Cricut Design Space, click this link.

Most of them are self-explanatory, but two aren’t so easy to understand; Reduce Color and Color Tolerance. Let’s break both of those down into simple terms so we can all understand them.

Cricut Advanced Options

VIDEO – What is Reduce Colors and Color Tolerance under Cricut Advanced Options and how do you use it?

Where are the Advanced Options located in Cricut Design Space?

It isn’t easy to find the Advanced Options unless you know where to look. It’s really easy. You have seen it, but you just didn’t take notice of it.

First, go to upload on the Canvas in Cricut Design Space. Click on “Upload”.

Cricut Advanced Options

Next Click on “Upload Image” in the next box.

Cricut Advanced Options

Next click “Browse” to find your image you want to edit.

Cricut Advanced Options

Now click “Complex” and then hit continue on the bottom right of the page.

Cricut Advanced Options

We are finally at the Cricut Advanced Options page. Took us long enough, right?

Cricut Advanced Options

What is Reduce Colors and Color Tolerance under Cricut Advanced Options and how do you use it?

Now that we found the Cricut Advanced Options, let’s get to work. I want to erase the background from my grandson’s picture. Using the Select & Erase tool on this same page can do the job, but it will take a long time. If you are only looking for how to use the Select & Erase tool, click this link.

We can also use the crop option to crop out some of the backgrounds, but to really get it all, we need to use the Reduce Colors and Color Tolerance options.

Let me walk you through it. There is a video on this page as well, where you can watch me use these options. It should be above just a little bit.

If I leave all the settings as they are and click the background with the wand, it takes away a small amount. I could just click over and over and over again, but there is an easier way.

Cricut Advanced Options

What is Reduce Colors in Advanced Options in Cricut?

First, we will click on “Cricut Advanced Options” and then choose Reduce Colors. The smaller number of colors will simplify the image, which will make it easier to edit.

It is automatically set for Unmodified, but we are going to change that. I am going to reduce the number for my image to 2 colors. It now looks like this…

Cricut Advanced Options

I clicked on the colors I didn’t want and I was left with this…

Cricut Advanced Options

It needs more work, but the major background is gone. Now let’s do the same thing, but use the Color Tolerance button instead.

What is Color Tolerance in Advanced Options in Cricut?

The Color Tolerance button affects the color of the image. The higher the number the greater number of similar colors will be included and erased. The lower number means fewer similar colors will be selected and removed.

Let me show you with images what that looks like when I set it on 100 and click my image once.

Cricut Advanced Options

Reset it to 4 colors and then click my image once and this is what it looks like.

Cricut Advanced Options

Can you see the difference in how much was erased with one click? There is a huge difference between 4 colors and 100 colors. It would be a lot less work using a higher number to erase the bulk of the background.

If the larger number is erasing parts you don’t want to erase, click the back arrow and lower the number on the Color Tolerance option. I finally found that 35 was the Color Tolerance that worked for my image.

I had to play around with it and use the back arrow several times. But once you find the right number for your image, you will be so happy.

Here is mine by using 35 Color Tolerance.

Cricut Advanced Options

Now I need to finish it up by using the eraser tool. Click on the eraser on the left-hand corner at the top.

Cricut Advanced Options

By using the Eraser tool you can just erase away the last of the pieces. You can drag the bar to the left to make the eraser smaller or drag the bar to the right to make the eraser bigger. This will allow you to grab the big chunks and the really small ones. Don’t forget to use the Zoom over on the right-hand side at the top. This will allow you to zoom in on really small parts and erase them.

Can you see the back arrow and then zoom in and out buttons? I am zoomed way in on my image. You will use these tools a lot while editing your image.

Cricut Advanced Options

This is my edited version. I like it! Isn’t he adorable?

Cricut Advanced Options

Cleaning up images using Advanced Options

Here is one trick you will want to remember. If you have an image you downloaded from the internet, they usually aren’t very clear or clean. Using the Advanced Option you can usually play with it and get it cleaned up quickly.

It’s the Color tolerance we want to play with. Can you see the difference when I use the Select & Erase tool in the same area on the image, but at a different Color Tolerance level. 16, 50, and 85 levels…in that order?

How to Erase in Cricut Design Space
How to Erase in Cricut Design Space
How to Erase in Cricut Design Space

If you look closely you see how much more detail is deleted the higher the tolerance is set. By playing with the tolerance level you can erase pretty much all the little details and specks in an image.

But be careful, one wrong move and it erases things you don’t want gone. If I set it too high it clears similar colors that I didn’t want to erase. Just use the back arrow to undo it.

Now that you know what Reduce Color and Color Tolerance is inside the Advanced Options in Cricut, go edit something. The sooner you use this information the more you will retain it. You DON’T want to forget this!

Happy Crafting!

Bren with Addicted to Cricut
Cricut Registration Marks | What? When? How?
How to Add Fonts to Your iPad for Cricut
How To Use Transfer Tape on Cricut Projects
How To Clean My Cricut Mat
Pin
Share
Tweet
Reddit
«

Cricut Design Space, Images, Tips & Tricks

Gallery of Cricut Projects You Can Do!




What is Reverse Canvas

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

About Addicted to Cricut

Bren Okaloosa Beach Oct 2017

Hi, I am Bren and I am completely Addicted to Cricut.

Cricut is about creating projects for friends and family that you love. But learning all about the Cricut isn’t as easy as it should be.

I provide tip, tricks, ideas and solutions to help you learn all about your Cricut machine so you can keep creating beautiful things.

Let me help you tackle your Cricut machine so your addiction will grow everyday.



My Trusted Places for Vinyl and SVG Files

Expressions Vinyl

Swing Design

Cricut

My Vinyl Direct

Happy Crafters

SVG Cuts

Etsy

Maison Gregoria Flower Shop

Design Bundles


Affiliate Disclosure:

Smart Cutting Machine Fun is a professional review site that receives compensation from the companies whose products we review. We review each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.

FTC Website Disclosure:

SmartCuttingMachineFun.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I am also with other affiliate programs, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other merchants websites. You should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services online. The Owner does not accept payment or merchandise from manufacturers in exchange for writing reviews.

Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Compliance:

We are in compliance with the requirements of COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act), we do not collect any information from anyone under 13 years of age. Our website, products and services are all directed to people who are at least 13 years old or older.

Copyright © 2021 · Darling theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 · Darling Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Please join our Facebook group where we share ideas and find support.
Join Here!