How to Sell SVG Files

Creating an SVG file (which stands for Scalable Vector Graphics – graphics that can be resized without losing quality) is a great way to earn passive income from your own designs. Simple SVG files are highly sought after by crafters using cutting machines like the Silhouette Cameo or Cricut, as they are easy to resize and cut. To sell SVG files, all you need is a creative design idea and a vector graphic editing application such as Inkscape to bring your images to life. This article will guide you through the steps of turning your ideas into SVG artwork that you can sell on platforms like Etsy and other creative marketplaces.

Research trending SVG designs. If you want to create designs that will sell well, take some time to explore the types of designs that are in high demand. You can start with these resources:

• SVG category on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/market/svgs
• Top-selling SVG designs on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/search?q=svgs&explicit=1&order=most_relevant
• Trending SVG list by InsightFactory (free account provides limited data but still valuable): https://insightfactory.app/etsy-trends/?product_category=svg

Choose an appropriate font and design for cutting. Ensure that your design is easy to cut using a Cricut machine or similar device. This means using bold, straight lines and avoiding thin, intricate details. Stay away from fonts that are overly complex.

• If you want to preview how text looks with various fonts, visit https://wordmark.it to try it out!

Only use one-time purchase licensed fonts. After selecting your font, make sure it’s free for commercial use. If the font file isn’t on your computer, search for the font’s name online to find the creator and check the licensing information on their website. Here are a few sources where you can download one-time purchase fonts to use in your SVG file without concerns:

• 1001 Fonts: https://www.1001fonts.com/free-for-commercial-use-fonts.html
• Fontspace: https://www.fontspace.com/commercial-fonts
• Fontbundles: https://fontbundles.net/free-fonts

Check the copyright and trademark status of text. Avoid selling names or phrases that are trademarked by others – this could lead to legal trouble. If your design includes text or phrases, make sure to:

• Search the United States Copyright Office database: https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=First
• Check for trademark registrations via the United States Patent and Trademark Office: https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/search

Design your own work. Following each step in the design process is the key to creating a unique piece. Never use someone else’s design and simply add a few tweaks – this could lead to copyright issues. Alternatively, you can use free vector graphics. Below are some sites where you can find free-to-use or public domain images and ideas:

• Public Domain Vectors: https://publicdomainvectors.org
• VectorStock: https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vectors
• Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/vectors/

Install Inkscape on your Windows or Mac computer. Inkscape is one of the most popular and completely free vector graphic design applications. Even if you’re designing in a raster graphic program (or have a design in BMP, PNG, or JPEG format), you can still import the image into Inkscape and use the drawing tools to convert it. If you haven’t installed Inkscape yet, you can download it from: https://inkscape.org.

• Click the DOWNLOAD link at the top of the page, then select the download link for your operating system to start downloading.
• To install Inkscape, double-click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions.

Create a new file in Inkscape. Follow these steps:

• Open Inkscape.
• On the Quick Setup screen, click the Save button.
• Click Thanks.
• Click the Print tab.
• Select the paper size you want to use. Don’t worry – no matter which size you choose, the final SVG file will still be scalable without losing quality. That’s the magic of vector graphics!

Import an existing image (optional). If you already have a design, you can import it into Inkscape and use the built-in drawing tools to convert it into a vector graphic. Images with thick, smooth lines yield the best conversion results. Here’s how to add an image to Inkscape:

• Click the File menu.
• Click Import.
• Select All Bitmaps in the "Files of Type" dropdown.
• Choose the image you want to use and click Open.
• Select Smooth for Image Rendering Mode and click OK.

Use the drawing tool to trace over the imported image (optional). If you’ve added an existing image, here’s how you can convert it into a vector graphic to save as an SVG file:

• Click on the imported image to select it.
• Click the Path menu and choose Trace Bitmap…
• Your options will depend on the type of image you want to convert. The goal here is to create simple black outlines.
• Start by selecting Single scan and choose Brightness cutoff.
• Click Update while processing the image to see the changes.
• Adjust the "Brightness threshold" slider until the image turns into bold black outlines that the cutter can follow.
• Click Apply to place the outline on top of your image.
• Click and drag the original image away from the outline to position the two images side by side.
• Right-click on the original image and select Delete so you only see the outline. The outline is now the vector version of your traced image.

Add text. Adding text to your image is simple! Just click the text tool in the left toolbar, select the font you want to use, and type your word or phrase anywhere you want.

• To move the text, click the select tool (arrow) in the top-left corner, then click and drag the text to your desired position.
• You can resize the text box by clicking on it and dragging any of the arrows until it’s the size you want.
• To change the font, click the Text tool again, select the text, and choose a different font.

Convert text to paths. After adding text, you will need to quickly convert it into a path. Here’s how to do it:

• Click on the text to select it.
• Click the Path menu at the top of the screen.
• Select Object to path from the dropdown.
• If you want to move or resize individual letters in a word or phrase, click the Object menu and select Ungroup. Now you can click and select each letter separately.
• Once you’re done editing, you can merge the characters by selecting the word or phrase, clicking the Path menu, and choosing Union.

Save the image as an SVG file. Once your design is complete, it’s time to export the image. Here’s how:

• Click the File menu.
• Select Save As....
• Choose the file format Inkscape SVG (*.svg).
• Click Save.

Choose a platform to sell your SVG files. Etsy (https://www.etsy.com) is the largest marketplace for handmade goods, but it's not the only place to sell your SVG designs. You can also sell on the following platforms:

• Creative Fabrica: https://www.creativefabrica.com/open-store/
• Design Bundles: https://designbundles.net
• The Hungry JPEG: https://thehungryjpeg.com
• Creative Market: https://creativemarket.com/

Try creating a bundle of SVG designs. As seen across various marketplaces, SVGs are often sold as sets with similar styles or themes. Consider creating a bundle of related SVG designs so buyers can use them for multiple projects.

Test your SVG file in Cricut Design Space and/or Silhouette Studio before selling. Before listing your design for sale, it’s essential to ensure that the SVG file displays correctly on the most commonly used platforms. You can check your design on either of these applications, or ideally, on both. If there are any issues, you can adjust them in Inkscape before finalizing your image set.

• You can download Silhouette Studio from https://www.silhouetteamerica.com/software/ss/download. Once opened, simply go to File > Open and select the SVG file to check it.
• Download Cricut Design Space from https://design.cricut.com. To view your image, open the app, click Upload image, choose Browse, and double-click the image to open it.

Set usage rights for your SVG file. You can define various usage rights for your file. Many sellers on Etsy allow buyers to use the SVG file for personal and commercial purposes, while others restrict it to personal use but offer a commercial license for an additional fee. Be sure to specify these rights clearly in the product description on Etsy (or wherever you’re selling your work).

• Check out the Creative Commons FAQ to help you decide the appropriate usage rights for your product at https://creativecommons.org/faq. This can also provide you with language to include in your usage terms.
• In addition to outlining the terms in the SVG file description, it’s recommended to create a text file (using Notepad or TextEdit) with the full usage terms and include it in the ZIP folder along with the SVG files.

Create eye-catching promotional images. Customers won’t purchase your SVG unless they know exactly what it is! Use your favorite design software, such as Adobe Photoshop, Gimp, or Canva, to craft visually appealing images of your work. Check out other Etsy listings for inspiration on how to present your product.

• Even if you upload a regular JPG or PNG version of your SVG design, others can download it and convert it into their own SVG using Inkscape without paying you! Use applications like uMark Online or PowerPoint to easily watermark your images, preventing others from stealing your work.

Create a ZIP folder containing your SVG files. When you sell digital files on marketplaces for handmade goods, buyers will download the product files they purchased. Instead of just offering the SVG (or set of SVG) files and a text file with usage terms, it’s a good idea to include alternative image formats such as PNG or GIF for the buyer to use as needed. To store multiple files in one folder, compress the folder into a ZIP format that can be easily extracted on any operating system.

• Bold, thick lines work great for SVG files.
• Create your design in your preferred image editing tool before importing it into Inkscape.
• Don’t forget to watermark the preview images of your SVG designs to prevent others from using your work without paying.