Cricut machines are incredibly versatile, offering a wide range of crafting possibilities. One of the most exciting features is “Print Then Cut,” which allows you to create custom printed designs and then precisely cut around them. This function opens up a world of creative projects, from personalized stickers and labels to unique invitations and intricate paper crafts. Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your Cricut with the Print Then Cut feature? Let’s dive into everything you need to know to master this technique and elevate your crafting projects.
Understanding Cricut Print Then Cut
Print Then Cut is a powerful operation within Cricut Design Space that bridges the gap between printing and cutting. It enables you to print designs from your home inkjet printer and then use your Cricut machine to accurately cut around those printed elements. This process relies on sensor marks printed around your design, which the Cricut machine reads to precisely align the cut.
Benefits of Using Print Then Cut
Why should you use Print Then Cut? This feature offers several key advantages for crafters:
- Precision Cutting: Achieve perfectly cut outlines around your printed images, eliminating the need for manual cutting and ensuring professional-looking results.
- Custom Sizes and Shapes: Create printed elements in any size or shape you desire, limited only by your printer’s capabilities and the cutting area of your Cricut machine.
- Extensive Design Library: Leverage Cricut Design Space’s vast library of images, fonts, and ready-made designs to create unique Print Then Cut projects.
- Material Versatility: Cut a wide range of printable materials, including sticker paper, vinyl, cardstock, and more, allowing for diverse project applications.
- Intricate Designs Made Easy: Tackle complex designs with confidence, knowing your Cricut will accurately cut even the finest details.
When you prepare a Print Then Cut project in Design Space, you’ll notice black registration marks – scanner bars or boxes – automatically added around your design on the print preview. These marks are crucial as they guide the Cricut machine’s sensor to accurately locate and cut your printed images.
Cricut Print then cut how to do
Getting Started with Print Then Cut: What You Need
To embark on your Print Then Cut journey, you’ll need the following essential tools and materials:
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Compatible Cricut Machine: Ensure you have a Print Then Cut compatible Cricut machine. These include:
- Cricut Maker 3
- Cricut Explore 3
- Cricut Maker
- Cricut Explore Air 2
- Cricut Explore Air
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Inkjet Home Printer: A home inkjet printer is essential for printing your designs. Important: Laser printers are not compatible with Print Then Cut due to the way they fuse toner to the paper, which can interfere with the Cricut sensor. Inkjet printers use liquid ink that is absorbed into the material, working seamlessly with the Print Then Cut sensor technology.
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Printable Materials: Choose your desired printable material. Cricut offers a range of compatible materials, including:
- Printable Sticker Paper: Ideal for creating custom stickers and labels.
- Printable Vinyl: Perfect for durable stickers, decals, and iron-on transfers.
- Printable Clear Sticker Paper: Great for transparent stickers and layering effects.
- White Cardstock: A versatile option for various Print Then Cut projects like cards, tags, and paper crafts.
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Design Space Software: You’ll need Cricut Design Space, accessible on compatible devices.
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LightGrip Cutting Mat: The blue LightGrip cutting mat is recommended for securing your printed material during the cutting process.
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Compatible Device for Design Space: While you can design Print Then Cut projects on Android devices, printing and cutting require Design Space on a Windows/Mac computer or iOS device due to full feature compatibility.
Cricut Print then cut which devices
Finding and Creating Print Then Cut Images in Design Space
Design Space offers a wealth of resources for Print Then Cut projects, allowing you to use pre-designed images or create your own custom designs.
How to Find Ready-Made Print Then Cut Images
- Open Design Space and Start a New Project: Begin by launching Design Space and initiating a new project canvas.
- Access the Image Library: Click on “Images” in the design panel on the left-hand side of your canvas.
- Filter by Operation Type: In the filter menu that appears, locate “Operation Type” and select the “Print Then Cut” option.
- Browse Print Then Cut Compatible Images: Design Space will now display images specifically designed for Print Then Cut projects, making it easy to find suitable graphics.
How to find print then cut images in Cricut Design Space
How to Make Your Own Print Then Cut Images
You’re not limited to pre-designed images; you can transform any cut image into a Print Then Cut design. Here’s how:
- Select a Cut Image: Choose any cut image from the Design Space library or upload your own SVG file. Add it to your canvas.
How to make your own print then cut image in Design Space
- Create an Offset Layer (if needed): If your selected image lacks a background layer, you’ll need to create one. Use the “Offset” tool in the edit bar at the top of your screen.
- Adjust the “Distance” setting in the Offset tool to control the size of the background layer. The blue outline preview will update as you adjust.
- Click “Apply” once you’re satisfied with the offset layer.
Use offset tool for stickers in Design Space
- Flatten the Layers: Select all layers of your image, including the original cut image and the offset layer. Then, click the “Flatten” tool located in the bottom right-hand corner of Design Space (or within the “Actions” menu on mobile).
- Flattening merges all selected layers into a single “Print Then Cut” layer. You’ll see the layer name change to reflect this.
- If you need to edit individual layers later, you can “Unflatten” them, but remember to flatten again before proceeding to “Make It.”
Flatten tool for print then cut images
Creating a sticker in Cricut Design Space
Optimizing Your Print Then Cut Settings for Success
To achieve the best Print Then Cut results, understanding and adjusting your settings is crucial.
Changing Material Size in Design Space
Design Space accommodates various material sizes for Print Then Cut, including larger formats like A3. Always verify that the correct material size is selected before printing.
- Access Settings: Click the top-left menu in 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 choose the appropriate material size you are using.
Changing Print then Cut materials size in Design Space
Why White Cardstock is Recommended (and Limitations of Colored Materials)
For optimal sensor readability and cut accuracy, especially with Cricut Explore and Explore 3 machines, white materials are highly recommended for Print Then Cut projects.
- Reflective and Dark Materials: Reflective materials, colored materials (particularly dark shades), or materials with patterns can interfere with the Cricut machine’s sensor, making it difficult to accurately read the registration marks.
- Cricut Maker Series Flexibility: While Explore series machines perform best with white, Cricut Maker and Maker 3 machines have improved sensor capabilities and can handle Print Then Cut on light to medium-colored papers with more success. However, white is still the most reliable choice for all Cricut machines.
Color Matching: Printer Settings are Key
If you notice discrepancies between the colors you see in Design Space and your printed output, printer settings are usually the culprit. Ensuring correct printer settings is vital for accurate color reproduction.
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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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Access System Dialogue: Always check the “Use System Dialogue” box. This is crucial!
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Open Printer Settings: After clicking “Print,” a new dialogue box will open – this is your printer’s settings window, not Design Space settings.
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Adjust Printer Settings: Within your printer settings, you can fine-tune various options:
- Paper Type/Media: Select the appropriate paper type matching your printable material (e.g., sticker paper, cardstock, glossy photo paper).
- Print Quality: Choose a higher print quality setting for vibrant colors and sharp details (e.g., “Best,” “High Quality”).
- Disable “Fit to Page”: Ensure options like “Fit to Page” or “Scale to Fit” are unchecked. These settings can resize your design and disrupt the Print Then Cut calibration.
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Experiment and Note Settings: Different printers and materials may require slightly different settings. Experiment with various combinations and note down the settings that produce the best results for future projects.
Understanding Bleed
In the “Send to Printer” dialogue in Design Space, you’ll see an option to “Add Bleed.”
- What is Bleed? Bleed is a small border that Design Space automatically adds around your images when printing. This border ensures that when your Cricut cuts, there’s no white edge left along the cut line, especially for designs with edge-to-edge color.
- When to Use Bleed: Bleed is generally recommended for most Print Then Cut projects, particularly stickers and images where you want full color right to the edge.
- When to Disable Bleed: If you have designs where a white border is intended or if you are printing elements that don’t have edge-to-edge color, you can uncheck the “Bleed” option.
Use System Dialogue for Print then cut in Cricut Design Space
Material Settings for Sticker Sheets
Cricut materials, including their printable sticker papers and vinyls, are rigorously tested to ensure optimal performance with Cricut machines. When creating sticker sheets using Print Then Cut, selecting the correct material setting is essential for clean and accurate cuts.
- Material Dropdown: In Design Space’s “Make It” process, you’ll reach the material selection screen. Click “Browse Materials.”
- Choose Correct Material: Search for and select the specific Cricut printable material you are using (e.g., “Printable Sticker Paper,” “Printable Vinyl,” “Printable Clear Sticker Paper”). 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: Ensuring Cut Accuracy
Print Then Cut calibration is a vital step to guarantee that your Cricut machine cuts precisely along the edges of your printed images. Calibration aligns your machine’s cutting blade with its sensor readings.
- Calibration Instructions: Detailed step-by-step calibration instructions are available on the Cricut Help website for each compatible device: Calibrating your machine for Print Then Cut. It’s recommended to calibrate your machine periodically or whenever you experience cut alignment issues with Print Then Cut projects.
Share Your Creations!
The Print Then Cut feature opens up a vast playground for your creativity. Experiment with stickers, personalized stationery, unique home décor, and so much more. We are excited to see what you create! Share your Print Then Cut projects with the Cricut community and inspire others. Tag @cricut_uk on Instagram and TikTok to showcase your amazing makes. You can also share your projects directly in Design Space and connect with fellow crafters. Learn how to publish and share your projects in Design Space here.
