2 Best way to add tails to fonts in Cricut

Method 1: Using Character Map or FontBook.
Method 2: Using SVG files.
Jump to the final step: How to add tails to fonts

Fonts with swashes (Some call it flourishes fonts or long-tail letters like I do) are created by font designers like me. But we don’t always create fonts with tails on the uppercase letters. As a designer, we decide what’s best for the final look. In my case, I made tons of custom fonts and graphic design for small to big companies, and after years, I noticed long-tail letters look much better on lowercase letters. While some people would not see any difference between the lowercase and uppercase swatches, I really do, and I strongly think a design or logo looks much better with lower case. That is my opinion, but I am always open to new ideas, so I did create a few fonts with capital letters with the tail, but that is not my preferred choice.

Like the Olivia font, some people often ask me where the Uppercase tail is. In my opinion, it even looks better. Since I did not create it to balance the final design, I will show you how to achieve a much better look by using the lowercase tail letter.

Let’s Start!

Method #1

Step 1.

Unzip the folder.

I always provide fonts within a zip folder to save space. PC requires software to unzip it. The one I am using is that one:

www.peazip.github.io

But any other zip software will work on a PC desktop or laptop.

You will need a Zip application on Android devices (Any Tablet or mobile; Chromebook, Samsung tab, Samsung book, etc. Some people told me they are using one of these three apps:

1. B1 Archiver
2. RAR
3. WinZip

Some are free on google play store, but it comes with ads.

Luckily, it doesn’t require any zip application to unzip it on Mac or any Apple devices (iPhone, IPad, Mac Desktop). 

Once all the zip application is installed, or on Mac, all you have to do is to double-click on the zip folder, and it will create a new folder. Please note the location because I have been asked many times, “where are my files.” The Zip application will ask where to unzip it. I would recommend selecting the desktop.

On mobile, it is a little bit different and annoying for a beginner, if you will. So far, it doesn’t create a new folder, but once you tap on the zip folder, it will release all the files. I say it is annoying because having all the files grouped within a folder makes it easier to manage it, but since the apple device will release the files, you can’t be sure which file is related to the font folder. I think it is the same on android devices, but I can’t tell since I never tried. I own Apple devices. Please remember that the zip folder will usually unzip the files to your “FILES” blue app colour on apple. You can browse “latest” to see all the files.

Step 2.

Double click or tap on the font file ending with the extension “.ttf.” This will install the font.

TTF font files usually are more compatible on any platform, so even if I provide the “OTF” version of the font, I still recommend installing the TTF font version to ensure you get all the special characters available.

Step 3.

Access the long tail letters.

I provide two ways to access your font tails.

1. If I provide an SVG file, you can upload it to Cricut, and it will upload all the long tail letters. If you have uploaded the SVG file to Cricut, all you have to do is ungroup it and keep the character you need for your design using the eye icon next to the layers.
2. The second method is a little bit advanced if you ask me because it requires you to use the Character map on PC or Font book on Mac. I call this the “copy and paste” method. That method is really for advance designers because it gives more control.

This is Character map on PC (How to access flourishes characters on PC via Character Map.)

This is Font Book on Mac

How to access flourishes characters on Font Book on Mac.

Where is the Character Map on PC

1. On Windows 7 and before: Character Map is located in “All Programs” →→ Accessories →→ System Tools →→ Character Map in the Start Menu. 
2. On Windows 8 and 10: The Character Map is located in the Windows Accessories folder in the Start Menu.

How to access font book on mac

You can access Font Book with a keyboard shortcut; press the F4 button on your keyboard. Once the screen panel opens, type Font Book and you will see the Font Book app.

4. Last Step.

Finally, How to add tails to fonts that don’t have uppercase with long-tail letters:

In that example, I created the word “wear,” and all I did was take the long tail letter “w” and increase its size to make it look like an upper case. Don’t you think it looks beautiful, even better than with an uppercase!? I do!

Here’s how I did it:

Step 1. I create two typing boxes.

Notice I created two separate typing boxes, not the same one.

Step 2. Make sure to select the Olivia font on the two typing boxes. (Keep in mind I explain using the Olivia font, but you can do the same with any font).

Select the font you want to use. It is normal you don’t see the tail yet.

Step 3. This is where we add the tail using Character map or Font Book.

I will use Font Book in this example, but the process is precisely the same with Character Map. We will do the copy and paste method.

1. Select the letter where you want the long tail to appear (double click on desktop computer or laptop or tap on tablet and mobile)

Select the letter where you want the long tail to appear.

2. Open Font Book or Character Map, select the long tail letter that you want and copy it. (On your keyboard, you can do the shortcut “CMD button + C” to copy or click at the top menu on “File” >> “Edit” >> “Copy”).

Make sure to double click on the letter. Selecting only one time won’t work.

3. Go back to your Cricut canva, select the letter again and paste it.

I need to mention it because I heard some people wondering why is this happening. The letter you selected will become blank, but this is normal in Cricut design space. What you have to look for is the main letter, and noticed you pasted the tail letter successfully. 🙂

The blank letter is normal in Cricut design space.

4. In the final step, move the two letters next to each and make it look the way you want it to be. Follow the designer inside you 🙂 Voila!

A simple technique, but wow! Gorgeous!

Isn’t beautiful? It’s much better than using am uppercase if you ask me!

Method #2

This method is for lazy people, ah ah! 😉

Sometimes, I include SVG files. I don’t do it every time because it takes a lot of time doing this one by one (I might be lazy too, ah-ah), but I am aware some crafter like it to save time.

If you have an SVG file template, all you have to do is upload it and ungroup it. Finally, you can use the eye icon located at the very right side of the layers and keep only the long tail letter you want for your design. As simple as that, and it takes literally 2 minutes!

Click on the ungroup selection to ungroup in Cricut design space.

You can toggle (click) on and off the eye icon to keep visible the layers (letters) you want to keep for your design.

Both methods are excellent but uploading an SVG file is much faster, while using the Character Map or Font Book is more for the advanced crafter. Not every designer provides SVG files because it’s time-consuming, but I will do my best to do it if I notice you prefer this method. You can email me about it if you want. Both ways are perfect anyway (I repeat myself because it’s true, ah ah 🙂

I hope this free tutorial helped you with your project. I wish you happy crafting, and don’t forget to visit the font section for the latest custom font creation on cricutny.com!

Helen