Cricut Print Then Cut with Digital Clipart (Clean, Crisp & Beginner-Friendly)

💌 Introduction

We love digital clipart because it gives us total creative freedom. But when we want that magical moment of holding the finished piece in our hands, Print Then Cut is one of the easiest ways to bridge the digital and handmade worlds.

This guide is designed for cozy beginners who want clean results without complicated tech talk. We are focusing on simple, reliable steps and the most common fixes for blurry prints, faded color, or slightly off cuts.

Note: Cricut is a trademark of Cricut, Inc. This article is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Cricut.

✨ The Quick Answer

If we want the fast, beginner-friendly summary, here it is:

• Use PNG for clean cut-out clipart and stickers.
• Use JPG for full panels or background-style prints.
• Print at high quality and confirm 100% scale.
• Small test sheet first saves a lot of frustration.

🧺 What Is Print Then Cut?

Print Then Cut is a workflow that lets us:

• Upload an image into Cricut Design Space
• Print it on our home printer
• Allow the machine to read the registration marks
• Cut around the printed designs

This is perfect for stickers, labels, card embellishments, journal ephemera, party décor, and cozy seasonal craft sets.

✅ What We Need to Get Started

• A Print Then Cut-capable cutting machine
• Cricut Design Space installed
• A home printer
• Printable material (sticker paper, cardstock, printable vinyl)
• High-quality digital clipart

We do not need fancy supplies to get beautiful results. Most of the quality comes down to the file, print settings, and material choice.

🧩 Best File Types for Print Then Cut

PNG (our favorite for cut-out clipart)

PNG files often include transparent backgrounds, which makes them ideal for clean cut-outs and layered designs.

• Best for stickers
• Best for character clipart and focal elements
• Best for cardmaking clusters and journaling pieces

JPG (great for full panels)

JPG is a solid choice when we want a full rectangular print or background-style element.

• Best for full-page prints
• Best for flat labels or simple panels

If we want a deeper format breakdown, this pairs perfectly with our guide:

• PNG vs JPG vs SVG for Crafting

✂️ Step-by-Step: Print Then Cut with Clipart

Step 1: Choose high-quality clipart

Clean edges and strong resolution create the most satisfying results. If we enlarge a tiny image too much, even the best machine cannot fix softness.

Step 2: Upload to Design Space

• Open a new project
• Click Upload
• Select your PNG or JPG
• Save and insert into the canvas

Step 3: Arrange your layout

We can create single stickers, mini clusters, or a simple sticker sheet. Try to keep designs comfortably spaced until we feel confident.

Step 4: Click “Make It”

This prepares the layout and adds the registration marks the machine will read later.

Step 5: Print

When the print dialogue opens, choose your best-quality options and confirm scale settings.

Step 6: Place on the mat

Align the sheet exactly as the on-screen guide shows. Smooth it flat so nothing lifts during cutting.

Step 7: Cut

The machine reads the registration marks and cuts around your designs.

🖨 Best Printer Settings for Crisp Results

If we want cleaner details and richer color, these are the safest settings to aim for:

• Print quality: Best / High / Photo
• Paper type: Match your material (sticker paper, cardstock, matte photo)
• Scale: 100% (avoid “fit to page”)
• Disable draft mode

This guide also supports our Print Then Cut readers beautifully:

• Why Your Clipart Prints Blurry (And How to Fix It Fast)

📦 Best Materials to Use

• Matte sticker paper for soft, cozy finishes
• Glossy sticker paper for bright color pop
• Printable vinyl for a premium feel
• Cardstock for journaling pieces and cardmaking elements

🔍 Why Prints Look Blurry (And Fixes)

If our Print Then Cut sheet looks soft or slightly fuzzy, the most common reasons are:

• The file is too small and was enlarged too much in the canvas.
• Printer quality is set too low.
• Paper type is mismatched in print settings.

We can usually fix this by switching to high quality, choosing the right paper setting, and using a higher-resolution clipart file.

🎯 Fixing Misaligned Cuts

• Use bright, even lighting so the sensor reads marks clearly.
• Make sure the sheet is pressed flat on the mat.
• Confirm 100% print scale.
• Use a clean mat to avoid tiny shifts.

🎨 Easy Project Ideas

• Cozy seasonal sticker sheets
• Planner icons and labels
• Gift tags with matching sticker seals
• Mini journaling ephemera sets
• Cardmaking sentiment clusters

❓ FAQs

Do we need special clipart for Print Then Cut?

No. We just need clean, high-resolution images. PNG is often the easiest choice for cut-out designs.

Can we use JPG for Print Then Cut?

Yes. JPG is great for full panels or rectangular prints. For transparent, sticker-style designs, PNG is usually better.

What is the easiest beginner test?

A small mini sheet with 2 to 4 designs. It helps us confirm color, material choice, and cut setting before we commit to a full page.

🎁 Free Printable Craft Sampler

If you want a gentle way to test Print Then Cut styles, paper, and settings, a free printable craft sampler is available.

Sign up below and the sampler will be sent straight to your inbox 💌

💎 All Access Membership

All Access Membership is our cozy unlimited doorway into the full WondersArtist crafting library.

• ✨ Unlimited access to clipart, seamless papers, journaling printables, cardmaking resources, and more
• 🧺 New releases included while your membership is active
• ⚡ Instant downloads with a calm, beginner-friendly experience
• 🔁 Flexible membership you can manage anytime

💎👉 JOIN ALL ACCESS

🌷 Final Thoughts

Print Then Cut is a beautifully cozy way to bring digital clipart into real-life crafting. When we pair strong PNG files with thoughtful printer settings and the right materials, the results feel clean, joyful, and surprisingly professional.

If we want a growing creative library that supports stickers, cardmaking, journaling, and seasonal projects all year long, All Access keeps that door wide open.