How to prep your blank for pressing with Cricut EasyPress 3

Preparing your blank for pressing with Cricut EasyPress is simple! The experience varies a little depending on your base material and heat- transfer material. We’ve provided some tips below.

Note: For specific prepping instructions for your project, refer to the Cricut Heat app.

Prepping for iron-on (HTV)

Prewash

For apparel blanks like t-shirts, hoodies, jeans, or anything else you will likely machine wash in the future, we recommend pre-washing the blank without fabric softener to pre-shrink the garment and remove chemicals that may prohibit strong adhesion. Ensure fabric blanks are clean and dry before transferring your design.

Preheat

Follow instructions in the Cricut Heat app to preheat the blank where you plan to transfer your design. The purpose of preheating is to remove wrinkles and any residual chemicals or excess moisture which might interfere with a successful transfer.

Prepping for Infusible Ink

No prewash

For Infusible Ink projects, we do not recommend prewashing apparel or other fabric blanks. Most fabrics, and even hard blanks like coasters, have lint fibers on them not visible to the naked eye. Dye from these fibers can activate during transfer, infusing unwanted blue speckles into your blank. Pre-washing could result in accumulation of more lint on the blank.

Lint Roll

Again, most fabrics, and even hard blanks like coasters, have lint fibers on them not visible to the naked eye. Thoroughly lint-roll your entire blank, especially the area that will come into contact with the heat plate. This will prevent lint or other debris from being pressed into the blank, causing the dye in the lint to infuse unwanted blue speckles into your blank.

Preheat

Follow instructions in the Cricut Heat app to preheat the blank where you plan to transfer your design. Preheating removes wrinkles, residual chemicals, and excess moisture from the blank which could interfere with a successful transfer. If you choose not to preheat, the transfer process will convert excess moisture into steam, which will likely displace pigment and result in unwanted effects.

Once your blank is prepped, you’re ready to press! Follow instructions in the Cricut Heat app to apply and press your design.