Cricut Foil Transfer System FAQ

Cricut Foil Transfer Tool is compatible with Cricut Maker, Cricut Explore, and Cricut Venture machines. For information about Cricut Joy Foil Transfer Tool click here. 

No. Cricut Foil Transfer Tool requires Design Space for Desktop; it is not compatible with mobile apps.

For Foil Transfer projects with Cricut Explore Air 2 (or older) machines always turn your dial to Custom, then select your base material from the list in Design Space. Do not use the dial settings with Foil Transfer Tool, even if they match your base material (i.e. do not use the Cardstock dial setting, even if you're foiling onto cardstock).   

Each tip is marked with lines that indicate the size of the tip:

• One line = Fine Tip
• Two lines = Medium Tip
• Three lines = Bold Tip

Tape strips are included with Foil Transfer Sheets. If you run out, you can choose tape with a light adhesive, such as washi tape, painter’s tape, or masking tape. Test tape on base material first to ensure it won’t tear the material when removed.

To see which materials work best with the Cricut Foil Transfer Tool and sheets, view this list.

• Test tape on your base material first. While the included tape strips work on a variety of materials, it's best to ensure the tape won't damage your material when removed.
• Position design so tape does not pass under the black rubber rollers on the machine. On the project preview, move your design away from the edges and top of the mat. Then carefully position the base material on your mat so it precisely corresponds to your design on the project preview screen. This will give you space to tape the foil transfer sheet, so the tape doesn't cover any portion of your design, but also doesn't go under the black rubber rollers.
• Tape along all edges of the foil sheet. Foil Transfer Sheet should be smooth, flat, and secure against your base material. Use full tape strip or long pieces of tape to secure the entire edge of the foil transfer sheet.
• Tape should not cover any portion of your design area. Be sure to include an allowance for the tape when you trim your foil transfer sheet. Areas of the design covered by tape will not transfer properly, and if the tool crosses over tape it may cause the tape and foil transfer sheet to tear.
• Use care when removing tape. Peel tape off slowly to avoid tearing base material.

Cricut Foil Transfer Sheets are placed on top of your base material with shiny colored side up. Do not allow Foil Transfer Sheet to stick to mat adhesive.

This is not recommended. Foil is completely removed from the sheet during transfer. Reusing a sheet for another project will result in broken lines/incomplete transfer where the foil was removed in a previous project.

For the best experience with the Foil Transfer Tool, position your design and materials on the mat so that tape and foil do not pass under the black rubber rollers or pinch rollers at the sides of the machine. Allowing tape to pass under those rollers may cause the tape to pull on the material or come off as the mat moves back and forth through the machine.

Additionally, allowing foil to pass under those rollers or the white star wheels bar will result in unwanted foil transfer on your mat or material.

Gently tap your material against a hard surface to dislodge foil dust, or use a soft tissue to rub or brush foil dust off the material. 

It's important to prevent the Foil Transfer Sheet from sticking to the mat adhesive, as this will damage the Foil Transfer Sheet and will leave foil particles in your mat adhesive. For best results, trim Foil Transfer Sheet so it covers the design area of your base material and includes an allowance along all sides for tape — tape should not cover any portion of the design area.

Areas of the design covered by tape will not transfer properly. For best results, position tape so it doesn't cover any portion of the design.

Make sure the foil piece is large enough to cover your design, including an additional allowance on all sides for the tape. On the project preview, move your design away from the edges and top of the mat. Then carefully position the material on the mat so it precisely corresponds to your design on the project preview screen. This will give you space to tape the foil sheet so that the tape doesn't cover any portion of your design, but also doesn't go under the black rubber rollers.

To protect foil transfer sheets and keep them flat, store in its folded cardboard packaging.