Cricut Maker 3

The Cricut Maker 3 is a computer-controlled cutting machine for paper, cardstock, adhesive vinyl, heat-transfer vinyl, and other thin materials. It can also draw, score, and perform other operations with specialized tools. We like it for making stickers and t-shirt iron-on patches.

Quick Start: Print Then Cut

Use Print Then Cut when you want to print a design, photograph, sticker, or other full-color artwork and then cut around its outline.

1. Create or Find Your Design

You can create your design in Cricut Design Space, or create artwork in another program such as Inkscape, GIMP, Photoshop, Illustrator or any art/design software you like.

The Cricut can cut SVG paths, but we usually use the Cricut for "print and cut" jobs that work better with raster graphics (.png, .jpg). Cricut sometimes has trouble with multiple paths and layers in vector graphics.

2. Open Cricut Design Space
Connect to the Cricut: choose the machine you will be using: Maker 3. You can connect via Bluetooth, or use the USB cable when that fails.

Start a new project. If you created your artwork elsewhere:

Select Upload.
Upload your image.
Add it to the Canvas.
Scale it to the size you want. Note: Cricut often resizes your image!

3. Make the Project

Select Make.

Design Space will arrange your artwork on a page and add registration marks around the printable area. Do not crop, cover, or alter these marks (after printing, the Cricut scans them to precisely align the cuts).

Select Continue, then choose Send to Printer.

4. Print on the Epson

If you have never used the Epson photo printer, make sure that you set up your computer to connect to the EPSON-ET 8550. If you skip this step, you won't see it as a printer.

In the Cricut print dialog, turn on Use System Dialog:

In the system print dialog:

Select the EPSON-ET 8550 printer.
Open the printer settings/preferences.
Select the Rear Paper Feed / Rear Feeder as the paper source.
Select the appropriate paper size and paper/media type.
Check the print quality settings.
Print the page.

Do not scale or resize the print. The printed size must match the registration marks generated by Design Space.

5. Prepare Your Print for Cutting

Select a mat appropriate for your material. The 12" mats work for regular-sized cuts. The long mats are needed for 13"x19" paper and other cuts. Cricut doesn't like the mats that we cut in half. Mats are in the cabinet under the Maker 3.
Remove the clear protective sheet from the mat.
Align the material with the grid. Make it straight, but don't go crazy the alignment marks will be used to guide the cutter.
Place your material on the adhesive surface and press it down firmly.

Do not throw away the clear protective sheet. Put it back on the mat when you are finished.

Continue to the material-selection screen and select the material you are using.

6. Load the Cricut

Position the mat under the guides and against the rollers.

When the Load/Unload button flashes on the Cricut, press it. The machine will pull the mat into position.
When the Go button flashes, press it to begin.

7. Unload the Material

When the cut is finished, press the flashing Load/Unload button.
Remove the mat from the machine.
Replace the clear protective sheet on the mat when finished.

Cricut Design Space

Cricut Design Space is required to operate the Maker 3.

Download Cricut Design Space: https://design.cricut.com/
Create a Cricut account, if you don't have one.

You can use Design Space to create simple designs, add text and shapes, upload artwork, arrange the project, select materials, and send jobs to the Cricut.

A Cricut Access subscription is not required to use the Maker 3. Some fonts, images, and projects within Design Space require a subscription or individual purchase. Cricut will try to upsell you on art and services, but you can do everything we need to do without paying for any premium content/services.

Materials

glossy and matte sticker sheets: these 8.5"x11" letter sized sheets are made for photo quality inkjet prints and can be cut into stickers. try to use a full sheet so that we don't waste them. You can always print a low rez version on plain paper for prototyping.
laminate: we have a roll of laminating sheets that can be used to make water resistant/smudge resistant stickers.
- apply the laminate after "print" and before "cut" in the Cricut process
- cut a sheet to size with scissors
- remove the backing and apply it carefully/smoothly to your printed material
- smooth it with a squeegee if needed
- continue to "cut" your design
adhesive vinyl: can be used for decals, signs, labels, and graphics applied directly to a surface. You can cut it on the Cricut, but we usually use the Roland for this material.
Heat-Transfer Vinyl (HTV / Iron-On): HTV is used for design that will be applied to fabric with the heat press
Paper and Cardstock: Place paper or cardstock directly on an appropriate Cricut mat. Choose the closest matching material in Design Space. Heavier cardstock may require additional pressure or multiple passes.

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