Edited: October 3, 2024
Working with iron-on designs larger than the heat plate is a breeze with Cricut Autopress!
Iron-on (HTV) projects
- Plug in and power on Cricut Autopress.
- Set the control pod to the recommended time and temperature for your base material and specific iron-on material. Refer to our online Heat Guide for recommended settings for your project.
- Preheat your base material as directed in the Cricut Heat Guide.
- Arrange your blank on the pressing mat/platen, and position your iron-on design on the base material.
- Plan your approach: visually divide the image into smaller sections that the Cricut Autopress heat plate can cover. It is okay if the heat plate overlaps previously ironed-on sections. Just ensure any exposed iron-on film (meaning the carrier sheet has been peeled away) is covered by a protective sheet, so it doesn’t make direct contact with the heat plate. “Protective sheet” can be a Teflon sheet or an extra piece of iron-on carrier sheet.
- Close the press until it contacts your project, then gently push down on the handle to engage the pressure motors.
- When the pressing cycle is complete, shift your base material and design so that the next section is on the pressing mat/platen. Then close the press and start the next cycle.
- Repeat until heat has been applied to the entire design.
Note: Infusible Ink designs should be smaller than the heat plate and receive a single application of heat. They should not be applied in sections as this will result in unwanted transfer effects such as fading or lines in the transfer where the heat plate has overlapped a previously pressed section.
When transferring Infusible Ink or sublimation designs on large fabric blanks, you can “thread” the blank onto the mat/platen. Simply open blank and slide over mat/platen so that only one layer of the blank is on the mat. Tuck excess material under and around the platen as needed to keep it out of the way.
Tips
- Cricut Pressing Mat can be removed from the platen for ease in arranging your base material and design so it’s ready to go when you place it on the platen. This makes it easy to prepare while the press is heating up.
- Threading – when base materials like apparel, pillow covers, bags, etc., are large or have bulky seams, zippers, or buttons you need to avoid, you can “thread” your base material on the mat/platen. Simply open the item and slide it over the mat and platen until the pressing area is positioned how you want it. Then, tuck the remainder of the base material under and around the platen, out of the way.
- For designs that are only slightly smaller than the heat plate, make sure the edges of your design don’t flow over the edge of the mat as this will prevent those edges from receiving the necessary heat and pressure.
- When applying multiple-layer iron-on designs or iron-on designs larger than heat plate which must be applied in sections – use a protective sheet such as a Teflon sheet as a protective barrier between the heat plate and exposed iron-on.
- When you have peeled the carrier sheet off one iron-on section, you can use it as a protective sheet for another section as needed.