Cricut machines are celebrated for their incredible cutting precision, but did you know they can also bring your printed designs to life? The ‘Print Then Cut’ feature is a game-changer, allowing you to create custom stickers, vibrant bookmarks, personalized invitations, and a whole universe of other projects. If you’ve been wondering how to leverage this amazing function, you’re in the right place. We’re diving deep into the world of Cricut Print Then Cut, answering all your pressing questions to help you unleash your creative potential.
Which Cricut Machines Offer Printing Capabilities?
Not all Cricut machines are created equal when it comes to printing and cutting. Here’s a list of Cricut machines that are fully compatible with the Print Then Cut feature, ensuring you can bring your most colorful visions to reality:
- Cricut Maker™ 3
- Cricut Explore™ 3
- Cricut Maker™
- Cricut Explore Air 2™
- Cricut Explore Air™
It’s important to note that while older models like Cricut Explore One® do not support Print Then Cut, the machines listed above are perfectly equipped to handle this versatile feature.
Understanding Cricut Print Then Cut: A Detailed Overview
Print Then Cut is a specialized operation type within Cricut’s Design Space software that bridges the gap between your home printer and your Cricut cutting machine. Imagine this: you design an image in Design Space, send it to your home inkjet printer to be printed onto your chosen material, and then, with the printed sheet placed on your Cricut machine, the machine precisely cuts around your printed design.
The beauty of Print Then Cut lies in its accuracy and versatility. You gain the power to:
- Create Precisely Sized Printed Items: Whether you need perfectly shaped stickers or precisely cut photo booth props, Print Then Cut delivers accuracy.
- Utilize Cricut’s Extensive Libraries: Access a vast library of images and fonts within Design Space to design intricate print then cut projects.
- Cut Various Materials: Print Then Cut works with a range of materials, allowing you to customize projects based on material thickness and type.
When your designs are printed, you’ll notice black scanner bars printed around the edges of the page or boxing in your images. These registration marks are crucial; they act as guides for the Cricut machine’s sensor, enabling it to accurately locate and cut around your printed images with laser-like precision.
Close-up of Cricut Print Then Cut registration marks on printed sticker sheet
Essential Tools and Materials for Print Then Cut Projects
Ready to start your Print Then Cut journey? Here’s what you’ll need to gather to ensure a smooth and successful crafting experience:
- A Compatible Cricut Machine: Refer to the list above to ensure your machine supports Print Then Cut.
- A Home Inkjet Printer: Crucially, you need an inkjet printer, not a laser printer. Inkjet printers are compatible with the materials typically used for Print Then Cut, like sticker paper and printable vinyl. Many Cricut users have their favorite inkjet printer brands, so exploring online crafting communities for recommendations can be helpful.
- Printable Material: The possibilities are vast! Cricut recommends starting with:
- White Cardstock: Excellent for practicing and creating sturdy printed elements.
- Printable Sticker Paper: Perfect for making custom stickers of all shapes and sizes.
- Printable Vinyl: Ideal for durable stickers, labels, and decals.
- Printable Clear Sticker Paper: Create transparent stickers that blend seamlessly onto surfaces.
- Design Space Software: Ensure you have access to Design Space on a compatible device.
- LightGrip Cutting Mat: The blue LightGrip mat is essential for holding your printed material securely during the cutting process without being too sticky and damaging your print.
Device Compatibility for Cricut Print Then Cut
While Design Space aims for broad compatibility, it’s worth noting a current limitation. The Print Then Cut feature is fully supported on Windows/Mac computers and iOS devices (iPhones and iPads). While you can design and save Print Then Cut projects using the Android app, you’ll need to use Design Space on a Windows/Mac computer or iOS device to actually print and cut these projects.
Cricut Print Then Cut compatibility across devices, highlighting mobile and desktop options
Finding Ready-to-Use Print Then Cut Images in Design Space
Cricut simplifies the process with a vast library of pre-designed Print Then Cut images. Here’s how to find them quickly within Design Space:
- Start a New Project: Open Design Space and initiate a new project canvas.
- Access the Image Library: Click ‘Images’ in the design panel on the left-hand side of your canvas.
- Filter by Operation Type: In the filter menu on the left, locate ‘Operation Type’ and check the ‘Print Then Cut’ option.
This filter instantly displays images that are already optimized and compatible with the Print Then Cut function, saving you time and effort in design preparation.
Screenshot showing how to filter for Print Then Cut images in Cricut Design Space
Transforming Any Cut Image into a Print Then Cut Design
Want to use a standard cut image for a Print Then Cut project? Design Space makes it easy to convert almost any cut image. Here’s the process:
- Select a Cut Image: Choose any cut image from the Design Space library and add it to your canvas.
Example of a single layer cut image added to Cricut Design Space canvas
- Create an Offset Layer (if needed): If your chosen image lacks a background layer, you’ll need to create one. Use the ‘Offset’ tool in the edit bar (top toolbar in Design Space). Adjust the ‘Distance’ of the offset to create the desired background border around your image. Click ‘Apply’ to generate the offset layer.
Using the offset tool in Cricut Design Space to create a background layer for stickers
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Flatten the Layers: Select all layers of your image (the original cut image and the newly created offset layer). Then, click the ‘Flatten’ tool located in the bottom right-hand corner of the Layers panel (or within the ‘Actions’ menu on mobile).
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Verify Operation Type: Once flattened, you’ll see all layers merge into a single layer, and the operation type will automatically change to ‘Print Then Cut’ in the Layers panel. If you need to make adjustments, you can ‘Unflatten’ the layers, make your edits, and then ‘Flatten’ them again before sending your project to your Cricut machine.
Demonstration of using the flatten tool to combine layers for Print Then Cut in Design Space
Visual example of a sticker design being created in Cricut Design Space using Print Then Cut
Adjusting Material Size for Larger Print Then Cut Projects
Good news for crafters who love to go big! Cricut Print Then Cut now supports larger material sizes up to A3 (11.7 x 16.5 inches). It’s essential to verify that the correct material size is selected in Design Space before you print. Here’s how to adjust the material size settings:
- Access Design Space Settings: Click the top left menu within Design Space (the three horizontal lines).
- Open Settings: Choose ‘Settings’ from the dropdown menu.
- Navigate to Load Type: In the Design Space settings window, click on ‘Load Type’.
- Select Print Then Cut Page Size: Use the ‘Print Then Cut Page Size’ dropdown menu to select your desired material size, ensuring it matches the material you are loading into your printer.
Steps to change Print Then Cut material size settings in Cricut Design Space settings menu
Why White Materials are Recommended for Print Then Cut (and When You Can Use Colors)
For optimal performance with Cricut Explore and Cricut Explore 3 machines, white materials are highly recommended for Print Then Cut projects. This is because the Cricut machine’s sensor relies on detecting the printed registration marks, and reflective, dark-colored, or patterned materials can interfere with the sensor’s ability to read these marks accurately.
However, Cricut Maker and Cricut Maker 3 machines are more advanced and can handle Print Then Cut on light to medium-colored papers. If you’re using a Maker machine, you have a bit more flexibility in your material choices. Regardless of your machine, always use an inkjet printer for Print Then Cut.
Troubleshooting Color Mismatches: Printer Settings are Key
Ever printed a design that looks vibrant on screen, but the colors seem off when printed? This often comes down to printer settings. Here’s how to ensure better color accuracy for your Print Then Cut projects:
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Send to Printer: After the mat preview stage in Design Space, click the ‘Send to Printer’ button.
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Explore Print Options: You’ll see a few print options appear.
- Bleed: The ‘Add Bleed’ option is useful for images with edge-to-edge color. Bleed adds a small margin of extra color around your design, ensuring no white borders appear after cutting. You can uncheck this if your images don’t have edge-to-edge color.
- System Dialogue: Always Tick This! This is crucial. By ticking ‘Use System Dialogue’, a new dialogue box will pop up – this is your printer’s settings window.
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Adjust Printer Settings: Within your printer’s settings, you can fine-tune print quality, media type, and color settings. Make sure options like ‘Fit to Page’ are unchecked as they can resize your images and disrupt the Print Then Cut accuracy. Experiment with different print settings (e.g., photo quality, paper type) to see what yields the best color results for your specific printer and materials. Keep notes of your ideal settings for future projects!
Screenshot showing the 'Use System Dialogue' option in Cricut Design Space print settings
Optimal Material Settings for Creating Sticker Sheets
Cricut materials, especially their range of printable sticker papers and vinyl, are designed for seamless Print Then Cut projects. To create sticker sheets, ensure you select the correct material setting in Design Space. Cricut offers specific material settings for:
- Printable Sticker Paper
- Printable Vinyl
- Printable Clear Sticker Paper
Selecting these pre-set material options in the material dropdown menu will optimize your Cricut machine’s cutting pressure and settings for creating perfect sticker sheets every time.
The Importance of Calibration for Print Then Cut Precision
Calibration is a vital step to ensure your Cricut machine cuts precisely along the edges of your printed images in Print Then Cut projects. Think of it as fine-tuning your machine’s accuracy. Cricut provides step-by-step calibration instructions for each compatible device. You can find detailed guidance here. Taking a few minutes to calibrate your machine can significantly improve the quality and accuracy of your Print Then Cut results, eliminating frustrating misaligned cuts.
Share Your Cricut Print Then Cut Creations!
Now that you’re equipped with the knowledge to master Cricut Print Then Cut, we’re excited to see what you create! Share your amazing stickers, cards, and other print then cut projects with the Cricut community. Tag @cricut on Instagram and TikTok to showcase your talents.
You can also share your projects directly within Design Space by publishing them to the community. Learn how to publish and share your projects in Design Space here. Let your creativity shine and inspire others with the magic of Cricut Print Then Cut!
