StudioSVG CREATE
Sign up
Image to SVG Layered SVG AI generator Photo to SVG Similar design Ideas Pricing
Sign in Create free account

Colour layers

Layered SVG maker

Reduce an image to a few flat colours and get one cut layer per colour, stacked in a single SVG and as separate files. Best for clip art, stickers and flat illustrations.

How to make a layered SVG

  1. 1Upload a flat, colourful image: clip art, a sticker design, a cartoon or a logo.
  2. 2Choose how many colours to keep, from 2 to 12. Fewer colours means fewer layers to cut and stack.
  3. 3Leave background removal on unless the background is part of the design.
  4. 4Convert and download: one SVG with every colour as its own layer, plus each layer on its own.
  5. 5In Design Space or Silhouette Studio, assign a material to each layer and cut them in order.

What's in the download

One SVG with every colour as its own named layer, ready for Cricut Design Space; a layers folder with each colour as SVG, DXF and EPS; and a transparent PNG of the whole design.

Choosing the number of colours

Every colour is a separate piece of vinyl, cardstock or HTV, so start low. Three to five colours is enough for most clip art; add more only when details disappear. Similar shades are merged automatically, so a design with soft gradients becomes a few flat areas, which is exactly what a cutter needs.

Which images work

Flat artwork with clear colour areas works best. Photos with soft shading turn into many small pieces that are hard to weed; for a photo of a person or pet use photo to SVG, which redraws it as a layered portrait first. For single-colour art the image to SVG converter is faster.

Questions

How do I stack the layers?

Cut each colour from its own material and stack them from the background up. In Design Space the layer order in the SVG is already the stacking order.

Can I use it for HTV shirts?

Yes. Cut each colour from heat transfer vinyl, mirrored, and press the layers one at a time, bottom layer first.

Why are some details missing?

Very small areas are merged into their neighbours so they can be cut. Try more colours, or turn off background removal if the lost detail sits on the edge.

What does it cost?

Layered conversions use credits; the pricing page lists the current cost. New accounts start with free credits.

What file formats do I get?

A layered SVG, every layer as SVG, DXF and EPS, and a transparent PNG.