Since the launch of Maker 3 & Explore 3, everyone has been looking for Cricut Smart Materials. You've chosen the correct place if you haven't heard anything about them or want to know about their features. These materials were specially designed for Cricut Joy but were discontinued as they restricted the large projects.
However, the company introduced a new Maker & Explore family member to utilize them accurately. These materials combine with various accessories to get the best-personalized projects. Continue exploring the post in depth about the electric cutting machine materials.
What are Smart Materials for Cricut?
The intelligent materials for Cricut are advanced crafting materials that can be inserted directly into the electric craft plotter without any mat. Additionally, they make the crafting process faster and easier. Through Cricut Joy, the mat can handle a cut up to 4 feet long and repeated cuts up to 20 ft long. Apart from that, the Maker 3 & Explore 3, the image can be cut up to 12 ft long.
It can be ensured that the users will get the best quality projects due to the limited number of materials. Accompanied by that, you’ll get the HD-quality result as the fabric only supports specific machines. Three cutting materials are available: Smart Paper, Iron-On, and Smart Vinyl (removable & permanent).
Further, knowing about Cricut’s innovative materials, let’s take a step forward by grabbing the elaborated data related to its family member. Let’s not waste any time and pursue the next section.
What are Smart Material’s Family Members?
Most crafters add these items to their collections to strengthen their creative skills. One of their side effects is that they can be utilized only with Joy, Maker 3, and Explore 3 versions. In the meantime, let us help you introduce the member, including inside the family tree.
Smart Vinyl
This material is available in two varieties, i.e., Permanent and Removable varieties. It also comes in various colors, effects, and material lengths from 3 ft (0.9m) to 75 ft (22.9m). Smart Vinyl can be quickly weeded and applied to add a personal touch to the craft. Below, we’ve explained the variety of types of vinyl:
Removable Smart Vinyl
Crafters endorse this vinyl for indoor projects and temporary creations. One of the features of this vinyl is that it is durable and can be stuck on the wall without any pieces. An individual can easily remove it without damaging the paper or wall quality.
Permanent Smart Vinyl
This long-lasting waterproof type of bright vinyl is the supreme alternative for outdoor projects or outer walls. These types of vinyl are considered for glasses, mugs, or cups
Smart Iron-On
Do you love to wear customized clothes? Then Smart Iron-On is the answer to all your question. This material can beautifully cut and weed and be applied without complications. The cloth lasts until 50+ washes and is available in various colors and effects, with a length from 3 ft (0.9m) to 9 ft (2.7m).
Smart Paper Sticker Cardstock
With the assistance of this cardstock, you won’t be facing issues such as glue stickiness and messiness around the room. To complete the personalized project, you just have to cut, peel off and stick the design on the banners, cards, attractive posters, etc. The Smart Paper Sticker Cardstock comes in 13 in (33cm) x 13 in (33cm) sheets.
Besides these essential innovative materials for Cricut, Roll Holder is another vital accessory added to the list. The roller helps keep the materials organized, aligned, clean, and precise cut. Apart from that, the holder rolls from 4 ft-75 ft (3m-22.8m), with a built-in trimmer for a straight edge every time.
Apart from revealing comprehensive information about the materials overview and family members, we all must know about the primary topic: uploading the material. For that, you must investigate the particulars explained in the next section.
How to Load & Unload Cricut Materials?
Cricut Explore 3 & Maker 3 allow users to cut down a single shape or continuously cut long without the machine mat. Besides, if you’ve recently purchased the items and want to experience something new in crafting, follow the steps below.
- First, create your project on the Design Space software/application.
- Second, after the compilation of the project, tick the Make It box.
- Third, choose the material you’ll be loading under the Type drop-down box.
- After that, the software will inform you about how much material you need.
- Next, select Continue to go ahead with the next step.
- Under the Connect Machine drop-down section, click on your machine.
- Now, click the right side of the material setting and tap Browse All Materials to search for all the compatible machines.
- Following the machine selection, the light will start blinking on the top of the machine, resembling that your craft plotter is all set to load the material.
- Next, on the machine, place the material against the left material guide and slide it under the mat guide & against the machine rollers.
- Further, you need to tap the Load button to measure the material.
- Select the Go button to see the magic happening before your eyes.
- Lastly, choose the Unload option once the cutting process ends.
The steps mentioned earlier will lend you to conclude the task practically without facing any technical errors.
Conclusion
As a result of this blog, you must have piled up a lot of details about Cricut materials. To add up the accessories lifeline, you need some tips, which include: waiting to trim the material after the cutting process comes to an end, ensuring that the material selected & uploaded on the machine is the same, leaving 10 inches of space behind the cut-die machine to give materials enough space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: How to take care of Cricut Iron-On projects?
Answer: Preparing new Cricut Iron-on projects gives another level of excitement. However, don’t forget to wash/dry the item from the inside out on the delicate cycle for the best results. If you see some area of the Iron-On material coming out after getting washed, then re-iron it to get it placed.
Question: How to straighten Smart Materials if it’s loaded improperly?
Answer: Cricut Explore 3 & Maker 3 will try to straighten the uploaded material while measuring its length before cutting. However, if you still examine that the material loaded isn’t placed correctly, then unload and reload the material.
Visit: Cricut.com/setup
Source: Cricut Smart Materials: Its Types and How to Load Them!
