How to Print Then Cut on Cricut: A Comprehensive Guide

Cricut machines are incredibly versatile, offering a wide range of creative possibilities. One of the most popular and useful features is “Print Then Cut.” This function allows you to print designs on your home printer and then precisely cut around them using your Cricut machine. From custom stickers and vibrant invitations to unique bookmarks and personalized labels, Print Then Cut opens up a world of crafting opportunities.

If you’re new to Print Then Cut or looking to refine your technique, this guide is for you. We’ll answer all your pressing questions and provide a step-by-step walkthrough to ensure your next Cricut project is a success.

Which Cricut Machines are Compatible with Print Then Cut?

Before you get started, it’s crucial to know if your Cricut machine supports the Print Then Cut feature. The following Cricut models are compatible:

• Cricut Maker™ 3
• Cricut Explore™ 3
• Cricut Maker™
• Cricut Explore Air 2™
• Cricut Explore Air™

If you own one of these machines, you’re ready to explore the world of Print Then Cut!

Understanding Cricut Print Then Cut: What Is It?

Print Then Cut is a powerful operation within Cricut Design Space software that bridges the gap between your home printer and your Cricut cutting machine. It allows you to print intricate designs, images, or text on materials like sticker paper, cardstock, or printable vinyl using your inkjet printer. Then, your Cricut machine precisely cuts around the printed elements, following the contours of your design.

Close-up of Cricut machine performing Print Then Cut operation

The beauty of Print Then Cut lies in its accuracy and versatility. You gain several key benefits:

• Precise Sizing: Ensure your printed items are exactly the size you need.
• Design Freedom: Utilize Cricut’s vast image and font library to create unique print then cut designs.
• Material Flexibility: Cut precisely on various material thicknesses supported by your Cricut machine.

When your design is sent to print, you’ll notice black scanner bars printed around the edges of the page or boxes framing your images. These are registration marks. The Cricut machine’s built-in scanner uses these marks to accurately locate your printed design on the cutting mat and ensure precise cutting.

Getting Started with Print Then Cut: Essential Supplies

To embark on your Print Then Cut journey, gather these essential supplies:

1. Compatible Cricut Machine: Refer to the list above to confirm your machine’s compatibility.
2. Inkjet Home Printer: An inkjet printer is crucial for Print Then Cut. Laser printers are not compatible. Many Cricut users have their preferred inkjet printer brands and models.
3. Printable Material: Choose your material based on your project. Popular options include:
   • White Cardstock: Ideal for invitations, cards, and paper crafts.
   • Printable Sticker Paper: Perfect for creating custom stickers.
   • Printable Vinyl: Great for durable stickers and labels.
   • Printable Clear Sticker Paper: For transparent stickers and overlays.
4. Cricut Design Space: Ensure you have the latest version of Design Space installed on a compatible device.
5. LightGrip Cutting Mat (Blue Mat): This mat provides the ideal tackiness for holding your printed material securely during cutting.

Device Compatibility for Cricut Print Then Cut

Currently, the Print Then Cut feature has some limitations regarding device compatibility. While you can design and save Print Then Cut projects using the Design Space Android app, the actual printing and cutting process requires using Design Space on a Windows/Mac computer or an iOS device (iPhone or iPad).

Devices compatible with Cricut Print Then Cut feature

Ensure you are using a compatible device when you are ready to print and cut your projects.

Finding Ready-to-Use Print Then Cut Images in Design Space

Cricut Design Space offers a vast library of images, and many are already formatted for Print Then Cut. Here’s how to find them:

1. Open Design Space and start a new project.
2. Click ‘Images’ in the design panel on the left.
3. Navigate to the ‘Filters’ menu on the left-hand side of the image library.
4. Scroll down to ‘Operation Type’ and check the ‘Print Then Cut’ box.

This filter will display all images in the Cricut library that are pre-designed for Print Then Cut projects, saving you time and effort.

Screenshot showing how to filter for Print Then Cut images in Cricut Design Space

Creating Your Own Print Then Cut Images in Design Space

One of the great things about Design Space is the ability to transform any cut image into a Print Then Cut design. Here’s how:

1. Select a Cut Image from the image library or upload your own SVG file.
2. Add the Image to Your Canvas in Design Space.

Screenshot showing a cut image added to the Design Space canvas

If your chosen image doesn’t have a background layer, you’ll need to create one to make it suitable for printing and cutting. The Offset Tool is perfect for this:

1. With your image selected, go to the ‘Offset’ tool in the top edit bar.
2. Adjust the Offset Distance to create a background layer around your image. The blue preview outline will show you the offset’s shape and size.
3. Click ‘Apply’ once you are satisfied with the offset layer.

Screenshot showing the Offset tool being used to create a background layer

Now, to combine the image and the offset layer into a single printable layer:

1. Select All Layers of your image and the newly created offset.
2. Click the ‘Flatten’ tool located in the bottom right-hand corner of Design Space (or in the ‘Actions’ menu).

Screenshot showing the Flatten tool in Design Space

After flattening, you’ll see that all layers are merged into one, and the layer name changes to ‘Print Then Cut.’ If you need to make adjustments, you can ‘Unflatten’ the layers, make your edits, and then ‘Flatten’ them again before proceeding to ‘Make It.’

Design Space canvas view of a flattened Print Then Cut sticker design

Adjusting Material Size for Print Then Cut in Design Space

Cricut Print Then Cut now supports larger material sizes, including A3. It’s important to verify that the correct material size is selected in Design Space before printing:

1. Go to the top left menu in Design Space.
2. Select ‘Settings’ from the dropdown menu.
3. In the Design Space settings window, click on ‘Load Type.’
4. Under ‘Print Then Cut Page Size,’ choose the appropriate material size from the dropdown menu.

Screenshot showing how to change Print Then Cut material size in Design Space settings

Selecting the correct material size ensures that your design and registration marks are printed correctly for accurate cutting.

Why White Cardstock is Recommended for Print Then Cut

For optimal performance with Cricut Explore and Cricut Explore 3 machines, it is recommended to use white materials, especially white cardstock, for Print Then Cut projects. Reflective materials, colored papers, or patterned materials can interfere with the Cricut machine’s sensor’s ability to read the registration marks accurately.

However, Cricut Maker and Cricut Maker 3 machines offer more flexibility and can Print Then Cut on light to medium-colored papers. Regardless of your machine, using an Inkjet Printer is essential for Print Then Cut.

Achieving Accurate Colors: Printer Settings for Print Then Cut

Color matching between your Design Space preview and your printed output is crucial for satisfying results. To ensure accurate colors, proper printer settings are vital:

1. After the mat preview screen in Design Space, click ‘Send to Printer.’
2. In the print setup screen, you’ll see options like ‘Add Bleed.’ Bleed adds a small margin of color around your design, preventing white borders after cutting, especially for edge-to-edge color images. You can uncheck this if not needed.
3. Crucially, check the box for ‘Use System Dialogue.’ This is essential!
4. Click ‘Print.’ This will open your printer’s native settings dialogue box.

Screenshot highlighting the 'Use System Dialogue' option in Design Space print settings

Within your printer’s dialogue box, you can fine-tune settings like:

• Paper Type: Select the appropriate paper type to match your printable material (e.g., sticker paper, cardstock).
• Print Quality: Choose a higher print quality for richer colors and sharper details.
• Disable ‘Fit to Page’: Ensure that options like ‘Fit to Page’ are unchecked, as these can resize your design and disrupt the Print Then Cut accuracy.

Experiment with different printer settings and note down the settings that work best for your materials and printer. This experimentation will lead to consistent and high-quality Print Then Cut results.

Material Settings for Sticker Sheets: A Guide

Cricut materials are rigorously tested to ensure optimal performance with Cricut machines. For creating sticker sheets with Print Then Cut, Cricut offers a range of compatible printable materials, including:

• Printable Sticker Paper
• Printable Vinyl
• Printable Clear Sticker Paper

When using these materials, select the corresponding material setting in Design Space before cutting. These pre-set material settings are designed to create perfect sticker sheets with kiss-cut precision, cutting through the sticker layer but leaving the backing intact.

Calibration for Print Then Cut: Ensuring Cutting Accuracy

Print Then Cut calibration is a crucial step to ensure your Cricut machine cuts precisely along the edges of your printed images. Calibration aligns the machine’s cutting blade with the scanned registration marks.

Step-by-step calibration instructions for each compatible Cricut device can be found here. Regularly calibrating your machine, especially after moving it or changing blades, will maintain optimal Print Then Cut accuracy.

Share Your Cricut Print Then Cut Creations!

We are excited to see the amazing projects you create using Print Then Cut! Share your makes with the Cricut community on social media by tagging @cricut_uk on Instagram and TikTok.

You can also share your projects directly in Design Space by publishing them live. Learn how to publish and share your projects in Design Space here.

Unleash your creativity and explore the endless possibilities of Cricut Print Then Cut!