Cricut “Non-Embedded Image Elements” Error: What It Means and How to Fix It

Supporting guide · Updated 2026-05-21 · 5 min read

Quick answer

Seeing the “non-embedded image elements” error? The fastest fix is StickerReady. It converts the trapped raster image into real vector cut paths and exports a clean, Cricut-safe SVG — error gone.

You can also remove the embedded image and trace it to vectors by hand in Inkscape — the steps are below. But for a quick fix, StickerReady does it in one pass.

Fix this error ›
Non-embedded image error

An SVG wrapper is not the same as real vectors

Cricut needs paths. A PNG or JPG hidden inside an SVG still cannot be cut like vinyl.

1Raster inside SVGThe file contains linked or embedded image data.
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2Trace or convertReplace the image with true vector paths.
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3Upload clean SVGDesign Space sees real cut lines.

It is one of the most-searched Cricut errors, and one of the most cryptic: “The uploaded SVG contained the following items that are not supported: Non-embedded image elements.” Here is what it actually means and how to clear it.

What the Error Means

!
This error usually means the file is still pixels inside.
PNG/JPG inside SVGPhotoshop exportrenamed fileno cut paths

An SVG is supposed to contain vector paths — mathematical lines the Cricut blade can follow. But an SVG file can also contain a raster image (a PNG or JPG) embedded or linked inside it. When it does, Design Space throws the non-embedded image elements error, because it cannot turn pixels into cut lines.

This almost always happens when artwork was made in a pixel-based program — Photoshop is the classic example — and then saved with an .svg extension. The file looks like an SVG, but inside it is still a photo.

Renaming does not convert

Changing a file’s extension from .png to .svg does not turn it into a vector. The pixels are still pixels. A real conversion has to redraw the image as paths.

How to Fix It

Simple logoTrace bitmap and delete the original image.
PhotoUse a real photo-to-SVG workflow, not a quick trace.
StickerReadyConverts the raster image into a clean Cricut-ready SVG.

If the design is simple (logo, lettering, solid shapes)

  1. Open the file in Inkscape.
  2. Select the embedded image and use Path → Trace Bitmap to convert it to vector paths.
  3. Delete the original embedded image, keeping only the traced vectors.
  4. Clean up stray paths, then Save As Plain SVG.

If the design is a photo

Photos need real conversion, not a simple trace — auto-tracing a photo produces a messy, unweedable result. Use a proper photo-to-SVG workflow (covered in our photo-to-SVG guide) or run it through StickerReady.

🖼️
Fake SVGLooks like .svg but contains raster image data.
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✂️
True SVGBuilt from cuttable vector paths.

Turn a real image into a real SVG

StickerReady converts photos and raster images into clean, cuttable vector SVGs — no error, no Photoshop.

Try StickerReady free

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just use Print Then Cut instead?

Yes, for some projects. If you want a printed, full-color design cut out around the edge, export the artwork as a PNG and use Print Then Cut. But if you need vinyl cut lines, you need a true vector SVG.

Why did my Photoshop SVG cause this error?

Photoshop is a pixel editor. Even when it exports an .svg file, raster layers stay as embedded images inside it. Use a vector tool, or convert the artwork properly, to get a cuttable SVG.

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