Cricut Print then Cut Hack: Larger Maximum Size Tutorial

Maximize Your Cricut Print Then Cut Size for Full-Sheet Stickers

If you’re a Cricut enthusiast like me, you know the frustration of running into size limitations when using the Cricut Print Then Cut feature. Whether you’re creating custom stickers, labels, or a large decal (like what I am doing for this composition book), Cricut’s default size restrictions can feel limiting. But what if I told you there’s a way to work around those constraints and maximize your Cricut Print Then Cut size? In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through how to push the boundaries of what Cricut Design Space allows, how to fit more on your Print Then Cut sheet, and how to use your Cricut machine to its fullest potential. Whether you’re customizing a composition book or working on a different project, these tips will help you make the most of your material.

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Why Cricut Print Then Cut Size Matters

Cricut’s Print Then Cut feature is a powerful tool, allowing you to create detailed, multi-color designs with your home printer and then have your Cricut machine precisely cut them out. However, Cricut Design Space currently limits the maximum Print Then Cut size to 6.75 x 9.25 inches on an 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of paper. For many crafters, this is more than enough. But for those of us who like to think big—whether it’s making full-sheet stickers, custom notebook covers, or large labels—these limitations can be a significant roadblock. I also have to say, I want the larger sizes because I hate waste - if we can move the white border just a bit we can really get quite a bit more in terms of printable images.

Imagine trying to cover a full-sized composition book with a single sticker or create an elaborate sticker sheet. The default Cricut settings would force you to downsize your design or split it across multiple sheets. But with a few adjustments and some clever workarounds, you can bypass these restrictions and use more of your material, making it possible to achieve larger, more ambitious projects.

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Getting Started: Setting Up Your Design in Cricut Design Space

To maximize your Cricut Print Then Cut size, the first step is to create your design in Cricut Design Space. For this tutorial, I’ll walk you through the process using a simple example: creating a custom full-sheet sticker to cover a composition book. The same principles apply if you’re working on other projects like sticker sheets, labels, or other large decals.

1. Open Cricut Design Space and Create Your Sticker Design

If you are doing a big decal: begin by measuring the item you want to cover. In this case, my composition book measures 7 x 9.7 inches, so I’ll create a rectangle in Cricut Design Space with those exact dimensions. To do this, start by selecting the rectangle shape from the shapes panel. You’ll need to unlock the aspect ratio so you can manually enter the width and height. Once you’ve adjusted the size to 7 x 9.7 inches, you’ve got the base of your design. My design for the composition book is still just slightly too big for this hack so I had to adjust down by .02 inches making the design 7 x 9.68 inches.)

Next, decide on the pattern or image you want to use. For my project, I chose a fun dinosaur pattern that I previously uploaded to Design Space. If you’re creating a sticker sheet or label, you can add multiple images or text elements. Adjust the scale of your pattern to fit within your rectangle. You can do this by selecting the pattern fill and using the scale slider. In this example, I scaled down the dinosaur pattern to make the design more detailed.

2. Change Your Page Size to Tabloid

Here’s where the trick comes in to maximize your Cricut Print Then Cut size. By default, Cricut Design Space is set to print on an 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of paper. However, to fit more on your Print Then Cut sheet, you’ll need to change the paper size to tabloid (11 x 17 inches). This might sound counterintuitive, especially if your home printer doesn’t support tabloid printing, but don’t worry—we’ll adjust that later. My printer does not have tabloid printing just as a reassurance that this works.

To change the page size, go to the print settings in Cricut Design Space and select tabloid from the drop-down menu. This adjustment allows you to fit a larger design within the printable area, even if you’re ultimately printing on standard letter-sized paper. If you are in the layers panel, you might see a warning at the side that says are over the maximum size, you can click the option here to adjust the load type or page size and change to tabloid.

3. Prepare Your Design for Print Then Cut

After resizing your design to take advantage of the larger paper size, you’ll want to flatten your image. Flattening is crucial because it tells Cricut to treat your design as a single layer. Without flattening, Cricut might attempt to cut out individual elements of your design separately, which is not what we want when working with a full-page sticker or large design. If you are doing your own stickers you will want to flatten images individually.

Once your design is flattened, it’s ready for the next step. However, before proceeding, it’s always a good idea to do a quick check to ensure everything is aligned properly. Use the align tool in Design Space to center your design both horizontally and vertically within the page. This will ensure that your entire process goes smoothly and that your Cricut machine cuts your design accurately.

How to Fit More on Your Print Then Cut Sheet

With your design set and the page size adjusted, you’re almost ready to print. But there’s one more key step to ensure you maximize your Cricut Print Then Cut size and use as much of the page as possible.

1. Move the Design to the Edge

To make the most of your material size, use your keyboard’s arrow keys to nudge the design as close to the edge of the page as possible. This may seem like a minor adjustment, but it can make a significant difference in how much of your design Cricut is able to print and cut. The closer you can get to the page edges, the more material you’ll use, and the less wasted space you’ll have. You want to make sure its in the corner as close as possible to the edge, not aligned to the top or side of the page.

2. Adjust Your Printer Settings

Now, it’s time to print your design. In Cricut Design Space, click “Make It” to proceed to the print setup. When you reach the print dialog box, make sure to select “Use System Dialog.” This option allows you to manually adjust your printer settings, which is critical for this technique. I also kept the bleed on for my print. I found that when I turned the bleed off, the Cricut cut improperly.

Since we set the paper size to tabloid earlier, the design may appear larger than what your printer can handle. Don’t worry! When the system dialog box appears, change the paper size back to letter (8.5 x 11 inches). This adjustment effectively tricks the system into allowing you to print a larger design on a standard letter-sized sheet of paper.

Now, I have a print preview for my inkjet printer (I am using an Epson Ecotank 2400) - I am able to see on my preview that all four of the registration marks are on the 8.5 x 11 inch sheet of paper. This is absolutely crucial for you to max out the size of paper and have your Cricut still cut everything in the right place. What you might see if the sizing is not correct is that the print goes onto multiple pages. If everything is properly sized, when you change from the tabloid size, down to the letter size, then there should be one sheet of paper with all four marks and your complete image.
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For best results, optimize your printer settings by selecting “Best” quality and the appropriate paper type. If you’re using printable sticker paper or printable vinyl, choose “Glossy” under the paper type settings. Even though we’re pushing the boundaries of Cricut’s Print Then Cut size, the key is ensuring that your printer produces a crisp, high-quality print.

After adjusting the settings, print a test page using draft mode in black and white. This step ensures that the registration marks print correctly and that the design fits within the page margins. If everything looks good, you can proceed with printing your actual sticker design. (I did this multiple times - the absolute max size I could get was 7.1 inches by 9.68 inches on a letter sheet of paper using this method.

Cutting Your Full Print then Cut Sheet

With the design printed and ready to go, it’s time to cut your full-sheet sticker. Here’s how to do it seamlessly:

1. Cutting Your Design

Place your printed sheet onto a 12 x 12 cutting mat. Cricut Design Space may recommend using a larger mat, but in my experience, the 12 x 12 mat works perfectly fine. Make sure the registration marks are fully visible within the cutting area.

To improve the Cricut machine’s ability to read the registration marks on glossy paper, you can lightly run a white crayon over the black lines. This trick helps the Cricut cut sensor marks stand out against the glossy surface. Alternatively, you can place a small piece of matte tape over the marks or position a strip of paper underneath the black box at the bottom layer to help with reading.

2. Laminating and Applying the Sticker if you're making the composition book!

Once the design is cut, peel back a small section of the sticker backing and carefully align it with the spine of your composition book. Use a squeegee with a soft felt edge to apply the sticker smoothly, working out any air bubbles as you go. If your sticker is slightly larger than the book cover, simply fold the excess material over the edges for a clean finish.

Final Thoughts: Unlocking New Possibilities with Cricut Print Then Cut

By following these step-by-step instructions, you can push beyond Cricut’s standard Print Then Cut size limits and unlock new possibilities for your projects. Whether you’re making full-sheet stickers, large labels, or intricate designs that require maximum material usage, this technique will help you get the most out of your Cricut machine.

Remember, the key to success is testing. Always run a draft print first to ensure your settings are correct and that the registration marks align properly. With a little practice, you’ll be able to confidently tackle larger, more complex projects using Cricut Print Then Cut.

Stay Crafty!