Topic
Cut settings and materials
Every cut depends on three choices: the blade, the mat grip and the pressure or depth. Start with the maker's preset for your material and adjust one setting at a time after a test cut.
- Cricut mat grips
- LightGrip blue, StandardGrip green, StrongGrip purple, FabricGrip pink
- Rule
- test cut first, change one setting at a time
The fine point blade handles most vinyl, iron-on, paper and light cardstock. The deep point blade has a steeper angle for thicker items such as magnet sheet, stiffened felt and heavy cardstock. The Knife Blade on Cricut Maker models cuts dense materials in several passes. The rotary blade rolls through unbacked fabric.
Mat grip should match the material. Light grip for copy paper and thin card so it lifts off without curling, standard grip for vinyl and cardstock, strong grip for chipboard and wood, and fabric grip for fabric. A mat that has lost its tack lets material shift, which looks like a blade problem.
For vinyl you want a kiss cut: through the vinyl film and only scoring the liner. If the liner is cut through, lower the pressure or depth; if the vinyl will not weed, raise it a step. The cut settings finder gives a starting point for each machine and material.
Common mistakes
- Changing blade, pressure and mat at the same time, so you cannot tell what fixed it.
- Cutting iron-on without mirroring the design and with the shiny side up.
- Using a worn mat and blaming the blade.
Tools for this topic
Pages on this topic
- Which Cricut mat to use for each materialWhich Cricut mat to use for vinyl, iron-on, paper, cardstock, chipboard and fabric, what each grip color means and which mat sizes fit each machine.Explainer
- Vinyl types for cutting machinesPermanent, removable, heat transfer, Smart and printable vinyl explained: what each is for, how it is cut, and which machines can cut each one without a mat.Explainer
- Silhouette Cameo cut settings by materialHow to set blade depth, force, speed and passes on a Silhouette Cameo for vinyl, HTV, cardstock and sticker paper, and how to use the test cut to dial them in.Explainer
- Print then cut size limits and printer needsMaximum Print Then Cut sizes for Cricut Explore, Maker, Joy Xtra and Venture by page size, how Silhouette Print and Cut compares, and which printer you need.Explainer
- How to make stickers with a CricutMake stickers on a Cricut with print then cut: design, flatten, print with bleed, kiss cut sticker paper, and fix sensor problems caused by glare or glossy paper.How-to
- How to cut basswood and chipboard with a CricutHow to cut basswood, balsa and chipboard with a Cricut Maker and the Knife Blade: mat taping, star wheels, passes, checking the cut and design limits.How-to
- How to cut felt with a Cricut ExploreCut stiffened and backed felt on a Cricut Explore with the deep point or bonded fabric blade: prep, mat, Design Space preset, test cut and fixes for fuzzy edges.How-to
- How to cut fabric with a Cricut MakerCut clean fabric pieces on a Cricut Maker with the rotary blade and pink FabricGrip mat: fabric prep, grain direction, loading, unloading and common mistakes.How-to
- How to adjust a vinyl cutter blade depth and forceSet blade exposure, force and offset on a drag knife vinyl plotter so it cuts through the vinyl film but only scores the backing. Includes test cut steps and fixes.How-to
- Cutting machine maximum cut size chartMax material width and cut length for Cricut Joy 2, Joy Xtra, Explore 5, Maker 5, Venture, Silhouette Cameo 5, Portrait 4 and ScanNCut, with machine sizes.Explainer
- Cricut cut settings chart: material, blade, pressureCricut cut settings chart for vinyl, iron-on, cardstock, felt, chipboard, wood and fabric: which blade, which mat, the Design Space preset and pressure.Explainer
- Cricut blades explained: fine point, deep point, knife and rotaryWhich Cricut blade fits which machine and material, how to tell the housings apart, and when a fine point, deep point, knife or rotary blade needs replacing.Explainer
Gear for this topic
- Best cutting machines for vinyl decals and signsVinyl cutting machines from Siser, Silhouette and Cricut compared on cut width, matless roll cutting, blades, software and connectivity for decal work.Gear guide
- Best cutting machines for making T-shirts with iron-on and HTVCricut, Silhouette and Siser cutters for iron-on shirts compared by listed cut width, included heat press, HTV in the box and software.Gear guide
- Best cutting machines for wood, leather and chipboardCutting machines for basswood, leather and chipboard compared on stated max thickness, tools, cut width, software and connectivity.Gear guide
- Best cutting machines for stickers and print then cutSticker cutting machines from Cricut, Silhouette, Siser, Brother and USCutter compared on print then cut method, cut width, thickness and included materials.Gear guide
- Best cutting machines for fabric and quiltingBrother ScanNCut, Cricut Maker 5 and Silhouette Cameo compared for fabric by listed blade, fabric mat, thickness limit and built-in quilt patterns.Gear guide
- Best cutting machines for cards and paper craftsCricut Joy Xtra, Joy 2, Explore 5, Maker 4 and Maker 5 plus Silhouette Curio 2 compared for cards by card mat, scoring, pens and supplies.Gear guide