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Cricut Heat Guide: Everything You Need To Know || Cricut.com/setup

Since the year 2017, when Cricut launched its first heat press in the market, there has been no looking back from its side. We can find quite a big product range of heat presses in its Cricut Heat Press/ Easy Press product line-up. From the first Cricut Easy Press, which was a much rather basic product, to Cricut Easy Press 2 with three different sizes available, to the Cricut Mini Press, Cricut Mug Press, Cricut Easy Press 3, Cricut Hat Press, and Cricut Auto Press.

Cricut has launched so many products in its Cricut Heat product range. This blog is written keeping in mind all the necessary details one needs to get started with Cricut Heat Press. So, keep reading further to learn everything about Cricut Heat Guide, and I assure you by the end of the article, you will become a pro at using Cricut Heat presses.

How Many Cricut Heat Press Are There?

Every Cricut Heat press has different temperature and time settings depending on the fabric you are using it on. The temperature and time settings for Cricut Easy Press for cotton fabric will be different compared to that of the vinyl material. Similarly, the temperature and time setting for Cricut Easy Press and Cricut Easy Press 2 will be different. The reason is simple every model has a different set of features and is made for varying purposes. The various range of products in the Cricut Heat Press products line up are as follows:

Cricut Easy Press

Cricut Easy Press was launched in the market in August 2017 with a heat plate of 9 inches X 9 inches dimensions. It is a combination of an iron that we use in our homes and fool-proof convenient heat-transfer technology. This machine was designed by Cricut specifically for transferring iron-on materials to creative projects like t-shirts, cotton fabrics, heat transfer vinyl, etc.

Cricut Easy Press 2

Cricut Easy Press 2 was launched in the market just a year later, and it is an advanced model if you compare it with the previous one. The Easy Press 2 gets hotter and heats up much faster compared to the original model. This tool is designed specifically for adding iron-on materials to all your creative projects. It is made with the finest materials and technologies that give you a professional iron-on finish in less than 60 seconds.

Cricut Easy Press Mini

As the name of the product suggests, this is a smaller version of Cricut heat presses that were previously available in the market. The Cricut Easy Press mini is used for pressing heat on smaller objects like stuffed animals, hats, shoes, etc.

Cricut Mug Press

The Cricut Mug Press is modeled in a mug shape, so it perfectly wraps around the outside area of the coffee mugs. It heats up both the infusible ink sheets and the designs that are drawn with infusible ink markers. Use it with the Cricut Heat Guide for perfect results.

Cricut Easy Press 3

The Cricut Easy Press 3 is a more refined version of the other two Easy Presses bringing new meaning to “easy.” This latest addition gives a new level of ease to your heat transfer projects. The best part about this easy press 3 is that you can pair it with the new Cricut Heat application that is meant to guide you through any heat transfer project you take on. This app is filled with all the necessary information about every heat press project possible. It guides you through a list of supplies that you need for your project and shows you how you can stack the materials for proper pressing.

Cricut Hat Press

The Cricut Hat press is a one-of-a-kind handheld hat press that will make you a pro at creating beautiful hats at home. It works on materials with varying surfaces and curves. It works on materials with varying surfaces and curves. You can work with your Cricut hat press on almost of types of hats, be it bucket hats to trucker hats. Just the way other heat press products are designed with a ceramic-coated plate at their base, in the same way, the hat press has the same heat plate for even distribution of heat on the materials you are working on.

Cricut Auto Press

This is the most advanced heat press ever made, which is a merger between commercial power and a home-friendly sleek body. It is built with high-quality components and sturdy steel construction to deliver professional-level production.

Cricut Heat Guide

I went to the official website of Cricut and searched for the Cricut Heat guide. I was really happy with what came on my screen. So basically, the first screen of the Heat Guide has an image of all the products they have launched in the Cricut Heat family. In case you are not aware of which heat press you have; you can find that out just by clicking on “Which Cricut EasyPress do I have? Find out Here.”

Just below that option on the first page of the Cricut Heat guide, you get two small drop-down options. The first one is Heat-Transfer material, where you can select the HTV material that you are using by clicking on the small downward-facing arrow. The second option that you have is to choose which base material you are using. After selecting both the options, select that you are using the Cricut Pressing mat. And then, all you need to do is click on the green “APPLY.”

Once I chose the heat transfer and the base material, I got the answer of what temperature I should select on my heat press machine. And I also got other important information like how much time I should apply it, how long I need to pre-heat the Cricut Easy press, how much pressure I must apply, how long I need to flip and press, and lastly, when to remove the heat press from my materials.

If you want, you can also check the temperature in Celsius by selecting “c.” What I really liked about using the Cricut Heat Guide on the website of Cricut was that just below all the important information, the website guided me further on what supplies I will need for the project. When you swipe down your screen a little bit further, you will find the information broken into four sub-headings numbered from one to four. The first one is mentioned earlier in the list of supplies, and the second one is Prep, which means you must prepare beforehand.

The third one informs you of the application procedure, and lastly, you get information on the care you need to do of your material once you have completed the project. After all the information, if you need any extra help, you have the option. By clicking on the green “Learn More,” you can read Cricut’s step-by-step tutorials.

How To Read The Cricut Heat Guide?

Every template that you get to read the temperature, pressure, and time required for the particular Cricut Heat press machine will vary according to the Heat Press machine that you are using. Here is a memo Cricut heat guide of Easy Press 2 that will help you to understand how to read every other heat press guide:

From the top of the page

The top of the Cricut Heat Guide template can tell the user the materials that are covered along with the temperature and time chart at a glance. This information is very important as the values of time and temperature may significantly vary depending on whether the user is using the Easy Press mat or a towel.

Read the Menu Bar

The menu bar is the small section present just below the top heading area of the Cricut Heat Guide template. This bar shows the specific Iron-on variety mentioned in the left-hand column, followed by the pressure that is required by the material. The pressure values are usually either “firm” or “light” and are the same across all the base materials. The final section in the Menu Bar is the names of the base materials.

Follow the Chart Body

The chart body of the Cricut Heat Guide template has the temperatures mentioned in it because it is the most crucial part of using any Heat Press. The temperature of each base material and different Iron-On Heat Transfer materials are given in degrees Fahrenheit. The press time is indicated in seconds; next to the time mentioned, you might find a value written in brackets. This bracket includes the value if there is an exception to the noted pressure for the given iron-on materials.

Don’t Forget About The Notes Section

We often neglect the small notes portion given at the bottom of the Cricut Heat Guide, but it sure carries the important piece of information we must read. At the bottom, the notes have press instructions, special application instructions, and carrier sheet peeling instructions.

For more Information: https://ny-cricut.com/cricut-heat-guide/

How To Clean A Cricut Mat At Home? [3 Best Methods] || Cricut.com/setup

When your Cricut mat gets dirty and loses its stickiness, you may wonder: how to clean a Cricut mat? Or just throw it in the trash and buy a new Cricut mat? A sticky Cricut mat is a key to success in doing the best craft projects with a Cricut machine. The best way to keep Cricut mats sticky is to keep them clean. But, as we use mats and cut more and more things, the mat wears out and becomes dirty, causing them to lose their stick. This causes the material to slide around while cutting, resulting in a bad cut. So, we will guide you on how to clean a Cricut mat at home with some tips and tricks.

The life of Cricut mats will vary depending on the material used or cut and how often the Cricut mats are cleaned. But with regular attention, you can keep Cricut mats in tip-top condition for a long time and save your time and money by stopping another trip to the store.

How Often Should You Clean Cricut Mats?

First, let’s talk about taking care of Cricut mats before “fixing” them. If you craft daily with your Cricut mats, you need to clean your Cricut mats more often if you craft once a week. The better you take care of Cricut mats during your daily craft projects, the longer they will last for you to use.

Depending on your material, most Cricut mats require cleaning after 2-4 cuts. We suggest cleaning Your Cricut mat whenever you see that the material doesn’t stick as well as before.

You may need to clean your Cricut mat more often if you use a material that leaves a lot of debris, such as felt, glitter vinyl, denim, or leather. You must clean your Cricut mats after cutting wooden material with a knife blade. But, if you stick to smooth materials like paper, vinyl, and cardstock, you can probably get away with less cleanup.

Every Cricut mat includes a clear protective sheet from StandardGrip and LightGrip to FabricGrip, StrongGrip, and even Card Mats. These sheets aren’t for shipping or retail packaging; they are intended to be kept and used throughout the lifecycle of the Cricut mat.

These sheets serve two main purposes:

It covers and protects the adhesive surface of the Cricut mat, so it does not stick to other items when the Cricut mat is not in use. These sheets eventually let you stack Cricut mats on top of each other, put them in baskets, on shelves, etc.

Also, it keeps environmental dust from sticking to the Cricut mat. Leaving mats uncovered allows dust to collect on them, which reduces their stickiness more quickly.

Method 1: How To Clean a Cricut Mat with Baby Wipes

Do you know that you can give a new life to your Cricut mat to make it sticky again? To clean a Cricut mat, simply use alcohol-free baby wipes or wet wipes handy to wipe down your Cricut mat.

If it’s dirty with fibers or whatnot (other particles), wipe in small circles around your entire Cricut mat until it’s clean, then let it dry, which takes about 10 minutes or more. You can lay them flat while they dry or hang them on a drying rack; make sure to take them down when they dry so they don’t deteriorate over time. Baby wipes not only clean your Cricut mat but also help it retain some of its stickiness. So wiped it off the old one with wet wipes, and it became sticky and usable again.

Method 2: How To Clean a Cricut Mat with Dish Detergent

You can also use a gentle dish detergent to clean a Cricut mat if you don’t have baby wipes or wet wipes. To do this, run a small amount of dish detergent, such as Dawn dish soap, with warm water (not hot water) on your Cricut mat.

Cricut says that you can use a plastic, stiff-bristled brush to gently scrub with warm soapy water until the entire surface of your Cricut mat is clean. But, make sure you scrub gently, as it’s possible to scrub off the adhesive, so you must use a brush, not a scrubbing sponge. When done, let it dry with a paper towel, and then allow your Cricut mat to air dry thoroughly, and it should be sticky once again.

Method 3: How To Clean a Cricut Mat with a Stick Lint Roller

Always be gentle with your Cricut mats; they can also last you through many rounds.

To clean a Cricut mat, run a sticky lint roller (or a loop of masking tape) over your Cricut mat to remove dust, fibers, bits of paper, and hair. This can be done daily, between projects, when you forget to cover your Cricut mat overnight, or when you see bits and fibers on your Cricut mat. This is the best method to remove any leftover bits or pieces of paper. When the lint roller is stickier than your Cricut mat, it pulls all the offending hairs and pieces of paper right off your Cricut mat. It works quite well on less sticky Cricut mats.

Source URL : https://ny-cricut.com/how-to-clean-a-cricut-mat-at-home/

How To Cut Vinyl With Cricut? [ A Comprehensive Guide] || Cricut.com/setup

Want to learn how to cut vinyl with Cricut but don't know how to get started? The good news is that it's easy to work with vinyl. This post will teach you how to do it and get beautiful results. Vinyl is the material you can cut and apply to create your craft projects, including tumblers, decorated mugs, stickers, and decals.

Vinyl has two parts. The upper layer is genuine vinyl and has a sticky on the backside. The back layer is a paper liner. You can think of craft vinyl as a sticker. Cutting vinyl with a Cricut machine allows you to create precise cuts and complex designs.

Cricut machines are great for creating all kinds of craft projects, from home decor to customized gifts and many more. Below we will guide you on how to cut vinyl with Cricut through the step-by-step instructions.

Cricut Guide: How To Cut Vinyl With Cricut

Follow the basic steps to cut vinyl with Cricut; let's look at each part of the procedure in more detail.

1. Design Your Project at Cricut Design Space

To learn how to cut Vinyl with Cricut, first, open the Cricut Design Space and create a new project. Add an image to the Canvas. Select one of the pre-create Cricut projects, add an image from the Cricut Access library, or upload your SVG file.

When your design is prepared, tap the green Make It button.

On your next Prepare screen, you'll notice that the pieces in your project have been separated into mats by color. Properly check that everything looks as it should.

If your design pieces are not where you want them, you can go back to your canvas screen and "Attach" them. Once everything looks as it should tap the green Continue button.

2. Put the Vinyl On Your Cricut Mat

Lay a blue or green cutting mat on your flat project surface, and remove the transparent plastic protective sheet. Lay the vinyl on your mat, paper liner side down. Try to align the edges of the vinyl with the grid on your mat.

Smooth your vinyl with a scraper tool or brayer. Try to eliminate any air bubbles that may interfere with your cut.

Put the mat in your Cricut machine. Align the edges of your mat with the guide. Then tap the Load button to load the mat into your Cricut machine.

3. Select Your Material Settings

Back to Design Space. You will be viewing the Make screen, where you choose the right cut setting for your vinyl.

Follow your on-screen steps to Set Base Material. Select a vinyl setting from the list of options. If you don't see Vinyl in the Favorites list, select Browse All materials to access the full list of material settings.

Note: If you're using the Cricut Explore Air 2, you can choose a material set by turning on the Smart Set dial on your machine.

Next, ensure you've loaded the right cutting blade into your Cricut machine (vinyl, use a fine-point blade.)

When you're prepared, tap the Go button to start cutting.

4. Weed Your Design

When your cut is finished, tap the Load button again to take off your mat. Now, you will remove the extra vinyl from the design with a weeding tool.

What is weeding? Weeding means removing extra vinyl from spaces around your design that you don't want to transfer to your final product.

Next, turn your mat upside down on a clean project surface, and peel your mat away from the vinyl. Peeling your mat off the vinyl, rather than the other way around, helps keep the vinyl from curling or cracking.

5. Prepare Your Project Surface

Ensure the project surface of your base material is dry and clean before applying vinyl. You want to remove any dust, lint, or oil that may be preventing the vinyl from sticking to your project surface. It’ll help you easily cut vinyl with Cricut.

6. Apply Transfer Tape To Your Vinyl Design

Cut transfer tape that is slightly larger than your vinyl design. Peel the backing paper off your transfer tape. Lay the transfer tape over your vinyl design, using the grid lines to keep everything straight and lined up.

Use the scraper tool to smooth out your transfer tape into your vinyl. This helps the transfer tape stay on your vinyl design.

7. Peel Your Transfer Tape and Vinyl Design Away From the Paper Liner

Slowly and carefully peel off your transfer tape at a 45-degree angle from your vinyl paper backing. The transfer tape should remove the vinyl design away from its paper backing. If the vinyl doesn't stick to your transfer tape, put your tape back down and burn it again.

8. Apply Vinyl To the Project

Use transfer tape to apply the vinyl design to your project. You can use the grid lines on your transfer tape to ensure your design is completely aligned. Apply pressure to your vinyl to adhere it to the project. Use a scraper tool to burn your design onto the project. Start in the center of your design and work towards your edges, which can become air bubbles.

9. Remove Transfer Tape

Slowly peel your transfer tape off the project surface. Try removing at 45 degrees angle. The transfer tape should be removed, leaving behind the vinyl design.

If your vinyl design does not remove from your transfer tape, put your transfer tape back down, and burn again. Then, try again.

Now you've completely removed your transfer tape; you can see your completed design. Allow your vinyl to fix for 24 hours before washing or dampening it. Letting your vinyl will give it time to form a stronger bond, and you'll get the best long-term results.

Source URL:- https://ny-cricut.com/