Start by stabilising your fabric.
For quilting cotton, use an iron-on backing or apply spray starch or fabric sizing to help it hold its shape.

Once your fabric is ready:
Use the standard mat and standard blade with blade holder.

Recommended settings:
Blade depth: 6
Cut speed: 3
Cut pressure: 0

Run a test cut using a small 1" square. If the cut isn’t clean, gradually increase the blade depth until you get a smooth result.
Keep a record of the settings that work best for each fabric type. It’ll make future projects quicker and easier!

Click here to find the best blade and mat for your project.

The longevity of your mats depends on how often you use them and what materials you're cutting. Mats used frequently or with heavier materials may wear out faster than those used occasionally with lighter fabrics.

To help your mats last longer:
Keep them clean by gently removing debris after each use.
Always replace the acetate protective cover when storing your mat to prevent the adhesive surface from drying out.
Store mats flat and away from direct sunlight or heat.

Taking good care of your mats can significantly extend their lifespan and improve cutting results over time

Please see here "how to clean your mat"

The blade's longevity depends on how you use it. Cutting thicker or tougher materials will wear it down faster than lighter ones like paper or vinyl.
To get the most out of your blade:

Use separate blades for different materials - one for fabric and another for paper crafts. This helps maintain sharpness and extends the life of each blade.
Avoid cutting through the mat by setting the blade depth correctly.
Clean the blade regularly to prevent buildup that can affect cutting performance.

If your cuts start looking uneven or the blade begins tearing the material, it’s probably time for a replacement.

Your ScanNCut machine automatically adjusts the blade’s direction before each cut to ensure precision. You might notice small notches just above the ruler on your mat - these are part of the machine’s process to align the blade correctly before starting.
This built-in feature helps ensure clean, accurate cuts every time, without needing manual adjustments.

The maximum cutting thickness depends on your ScanNCut model and the type of blade you're using.

Here's a quick guide:

For CM-series models:
Up to 0.8 mm with the Standard Cut Blade
Up to 1.5 mm with the Deep Cut Blade

For SDX-series models:
Up to 3.0 mm with the Auto Blade
Up to 1.5 mm with the Thin Fabric Auto Blade

Please note: These limits can vary depending on the material type. Always perform a test cut and adjust your settings as needed for best results.

You can bunch up a towel to prop up the hat and provide a stable surface.

Yes, thicker materials like denim and canvas need more time than lighter fabrics such as T-shirt cotton. While thinner materials typically require 25–30 seconds, thicker ones benefit from a longer press time.
For best results when applying iron-on transfer sheets (e.g. glitter, hologram, flock, or film) to thicker materials:

Press for 40 seconds on the front
Then 40 seconds on the back
Allow the material to cool completely before peeling off the carrier sheet

This helps ensure a strong bond and a clean finish.

No. Neither the ScanNCut machine nor its accessories are designed to be used with fondant or any other type of food product. These machines are intended for crafting materials such as paper, fabric, and vinyl - not edible items.
Using food products may damage the machine and void your warranty.

To cut intricate designs accurately, follow these steps:
Select your design and use the Scan to Cut Data function.
On the on-screen grid, highlight only the parts of the design you want to cut.

If some details aren’t being picked up:
Tap Image Detection Level to adjust how the machine reads the design.
Use the Delete Size function to remove any unwanted small elements.
Reduce the delete size to help capture finer details more accurately.

Taking the time to fine-tune these settings ensures your intricate designs are scanned and cut cleanly.

It depends on the scanning mode you're using:

Direct Cut Mode: Use patterns that are at least 5 mm square for reliable detection.
Scan-to-Cut Data Mode: The default minimum size is 5 mm, but you can adjust the delete size setting to scan images as small as 1 mm.

Smaller designs may require fine-tuning the detection settings to ensure all details are captured accurately.

If your image or design has a lot of detail or the background contains too much visual information, Direct Cut mode may not recognise it properly. In these cases, we recommend using the Scan-to-Cut Data function instead.

Scan-to-Cut Data is better suited for:
Intricate designs
Images with complex backgrounds
Projects requiring precise selection and editing

This mode gives you more control over what gets scanned and cut, helping ensure your design is captured accurately.

No, you don’t need a scanning mat for most scanning tasks. Both the low-tack mat and the standard mat can be used for scanning and cutting.
For scanning photos or printed images on thin paper, the low-tack mat is recommended to prevent damage. However, if you plan to use your ScanNCut for archiving pictures or documents, we recommend purchasing the scanning mat for optimal results and protection.

The scanning mat is not compatible with Direct Cut mode. It’s designed for scanning images and documents that will be saved to a USB drive or used with the Scan-to-Cut Data function.
For Direct Cut mode, please use either the low-tack mat or the standard mat, which are specifically designed for scanning and cutting in that mode.
Using the correct mat ensures proper functionality and helps avoid error messages.

If your ScanNCut scanner isn’t picking up your image or document, it may need cleaning. Here’s how to do it:

Open the compartment on the bottom of the scanner to expose the scanner glass.
Wipe the glass gently with a dry, lint-free cloth to remove dust or smudges.
Secure the cover once cleaned.

A clean scanner surface helps ensure accurate image detection and scanning performance.

If you need further assistance, please contact customer support

Only one CanvasWorkspace account can be tied to the machine and be used at one-time. However, you can alternate between CanvasWorkspace accounts.

Please refer to the Wireless Network Guide for more information.

Paper is one of the many wonderful surfaces that ScanNCut is great for cutting.

Because of the background scan and Direct Cut function, the ScanNCut machine takes cutting paper to a whole new world of possibilities. When attempting to cut paper the best way to start is by analyzing your paper and seeing what depth you may need to cut as well as performing a test cut.

We recommend always starting with a smaller blade depth and working your way up. Your standard machine setting should work fine, but you can adjust as needed.

If your paper is thin, start with your Standard Blade at a setting of 1-2.

If you are using cardstock or heavier patterned paper, you may want to start with a blade depth of 4.

For glittered cardstock you may want to start with a blade depth of 6. For specialty papers you will want to measure your blade to your paper and see what depth will work and not be too deep.

To become comfortable with paper cutting and other materials you may work with on your ScanNCut, we recommend starting a cut journal to keep track of what settings work best for you and your machine. Your mat will also depend on what type of material you are using. Check out the FAQ “What mat should I use for what?” to find the exact answer for your cutting needs.

Our start-up guide is designed to help you get started with your ScanNCut, but every material behaves differently. If you’re cutting through your mat, it’s likely that the blade depth is set too high for the material you're using.
Here’s what to do:

Always start with a test cut using a lower blade depth.
Adjust gradually until you find the right setting for your material.
Remember, thinner materials may require less depth than expected.

Cutting through the mat can happen, especially when working with unfamiliar materials. Taking time to test and adjust will help protect your mat and improve your cutting results.

ScanNCut comes with a built-in feature that desaturates the colour of your surface, allowing you to see your designs with ease. To access this feature, simply touch the key on the left that has the wrench icon. Scroll down to the page for the Background option. Here you can either select the Dimmer image (grey with white polka dots) or select Off to turn off the scanned image. This will allow you to still see your background and set your design exactly where you want it to be cut on the fabric.

You may be applying too much pressure when securing the scrapbook paper to the standard mat. For best results, lightly press the scrapbook paper to the standard mat. Do not use a brayer or spatula. Gently remove the scrapbook paper and cut designs off the mat immediately. If the paper continues to tear, try using the low-tack mat.

Start by starching and ironing your fabric. Next, apply a fabric support sheet to your standard mat. Take your fabric and gently lay it across your mat within the grid area. Once placed correctly, take the backside of your spatula handle and run it across your fabric to press the fabric securely to your mat as well as to smooth out any air pockets.

Before cutting your fabric, always perform a test cut to ensure that your fabric and blade depth work together. Start with a smaller blade depth and work your way up to what you need in order to avoid cutting too deep and through your mat. Once your fabric is secure and at your desired blade depth, cut your design. If the blade is still not working, experiment with Cut Pressure and Cut Speed in the Tools menu.

It depends on the thickness of your fabric. Most cotton fabrics will use the turquoise standard blade. Please reference the quick guide provided with the machine’s operation manual for suggested material, blade, and mat recommendations.

No. You cannot cut multiple layers of fabric. However, if you are working on a large project, you can cut many pieces out using the 12" x 24" cutting mat.

No. We do not recommend that you wash fabrics attached together with the contact sheet.

There are two sheets of iron-on backing included with your ScanNCut machine and additional backing is available for purchase. You are of course welcome to try other brands as well.

Yes, you can easily cut quilting cotton sprayed with a stabilizer with your ScanNCut machine.

The ScanNCut machine was created to give crafters the creative freedom of being untethered from a computer and the expense of cartridges. Your designs can easily be scanned in — and saved or cut directly from — your surface.

For those crafters that enjoy using cutting machine software and like the versatility of SVG files, visit our cloud-based file website, CanvasWorkspace, to create an account and get started for free. Or download the PC version of CanvasWorkspace.

CanvasWorkspace will remove tiny design elements to ensure better cutting quality. So first, determine if you really need all those elements in your design. One reason you may want to keep them is if they are meant to be drawn, not cut. If that is the case, then simply enlarge the overall design in CanvasWorkspace before saving to an FCM file. You can reduce the size again after you have loaded the design on the ScanNCut machine.

Since the ScanNCut will only read FCM files, it is best to print your file and scan it into your machine.

Please make sure your file contains appliqué stitch data. Not all ScanNCut models read .PES/.PHC data. Specifications vary by model.