How to make stickers with Cricut Print Then Cut

Print Then Cut lets a Cricut cut neatly around stickers you print on a home printer. Get the size and the sensor right and the rest is easy.

The size limit, and how many stickers fit

Want to fill that area automatically? Turn on Cricut mode in the printable sticker sheet maker, download the PNG and upload it as a single image. Or upload individual sticker PNGs and let Design Space arrange them.

Step by step

  1. Export your design from the sticker maker as a 300 DPI PNG. The transparent background outside the shape is what Design Space traces.
  2. Upload in Design Space (Upload → Upload Image), choose Complex, confirm the background is already removed, and save as a Print Then Cut image.
  3. Resize on the canvas to the exact size you designed at; the sizes you set here are the printed sizes.
  4. Make It → Continue → Send to Printer. Switch Add Bleed on, and switch off the printer’s own scaling (“Use System Dialog” lets you check it is 100%).
  5. Load and cut: place the printed sheet on the LightGrip mat top-left, pick the material (for example “Sticker Paper” or “Printable Vinyl”), and the machine scans the black registration box before cutting.

Kiss cut or die cut on a Cricut

Sticker-paper settings make kiss cuts: through the sticker, not the backing, so you get a sheet you peel from. For loose die-cut stickers, press Go again for a second pass without unloading the mat, choose a heavier material setting, or trim around each sticker with scissors. See the kiss cut vs die cut cross-section.

Fixing “registration marks not found”

  • Glossy paper reflects the sensor light. Use matte sticker paper, or stick matte tape over the black box lines.
  • Strong daylight or a lamp over the machine confuses the sensor. Dim the lights or shade the machine.
  • The sheet was printed scaled. Reprint at 100% / actual size.
  • The mat is placed crooked or the sheet is not flush top-left.

Questions people ask

What is the maximum Print Then Cut size on a Cricut?

On Letter-size paper the standard Print Then Cut area in Cricut Design Space is 6.75 × 9.25 inches. That area includes all your stickers; the registration box is printed around it.

Why can’t my Cricut read the registration marks?

The most common causes are glossy paper reflecting the sensor light, bright room light shining on the mat, and printing at less than 100% scale. Use matte sticker paper or cover the marks with matte tape, turn off overhead lights near the machine, and print at actual size.

Which Cricut machines can do Print Then Cut?

The Maker and Explore series support Print Then Cut. Check Cricut’s current support pages for the Joy models, as support has changed over time.

Should I add bleed for Print Then Cut?

Yes. Design Space has a bleed option that is on by default and extends the colour a little past the cut. Leave it on for coloured edges, or use die-cut designs with a white border.