Do I Take the Plastic Off the Cricut Mat?
The answer to this question depends on your specific crafting needs. If you are looking to use the Cricut mat for cutting paper, cardstock, or other non-adhesive materials, then you should leave the plastic film intact. The plastic film provides a non-stick surface that is ideal for keeping your materials in place while cutting and prevents them from sticking to your blade or other parts of the machine.
However, if you are looking to cut adhesive material such as vinyl or heat transfer vinyl (HTV), then it is best to remove the plastic film from the mat before use. This is because the adhesives used for these materials can stick to the plastic film and cause issues such as decreased cutting accuracy or even damage to your machine. To remove the plastic from your mat, simply peel it off starting at one corner and working your way around until all of it has been removed.
Once you have removed the protective plastic film from your Cricut mat, it is important that you take extra care when using it with adhesive materials. Make sure that only one type of adhesive material is used at a time on each side of the mat and clean any residue off with rubbing alcohol after each use. You should also store your mats in a way that prevents them from coming into contact with other materials or surfaces that could damage them.
It is also important to note that using a Cricut mat without its protective plastic film may decrease its lifespan. This means that if you plan on using adhesive materials frequently, then you may want to invest in additional mats so you can keep one covered with its protective plastic and reserve others specifically for cutting adhesives.
Overall, whether or not you take off the protective plastic film from your Cricut mat depends on what types of materials you plan on cutting with it. For paper and cardstock projects, keep the mat covered as this will provide an optimal surface for non-adhesive projects and prevent damage caused by residue buildup over time; however, if you are planning on cutting any type of adhesive material such as vinyl or HTV then it is best to remove the protective layer first.
Conclusion: Ultimately, whether or not you should take off the protective layer from your Cricut mat depends on what type of crafting project you are working on – non-adhesive material like paper and cardstock requires leaving it intact while adhesives like vinyl need to have it removed before use in order to prevent damage caused by residue buildup over time.