How to find the right Die-Cut Tools & Accessories AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in Die-Cut Tools & Accessories
- Plate size matches the press
- Buy cutting pads and plates sized for your exact press model, either standard or wide. Plates from a different model change the sandwich thickness and cause failed cuts or excess strain on the press.
- Cutting mat matches the cutter brand
- Cricut, Silhouette and Brother mats are not interchangeable. Match the brand, the machine and the mat length. Each machine feeds and registers its mats differently.
- Mat grip for the material
- Use light grip for printer paper and thin paper, standard grip for cardstock, and strong grip for chipboard and thick materials. The wrong tack either lets material shift or tears paper when you peel it off.
- Magnetic platform for thin dies
- Choose one only if it is sized for your press and you use thin metal dies. It holds intricate dies in place and can reduce shimming, but it adds thickness to the sandwich.
Brands that matter
- Sizzix: Plates, platforms and the Tim Holtz-branded tools for its presses.
- Spellbinders: Plates and accessories for the Platinum press.
- Cricut: Mats, scrapers and weeding tools for its cutters.
- Silhouette: Mats sized for Cameo and Portrait cutters.
- Brother: Mats specific to the ScanNCut line.
What to avoid
- Generic plates without a stated model compatibility.
- Universal cutting mats that do not name your specific cutter model.
Questions
Why does my die only cut part of the way through?
The sandwich is usually too thin. Add a shim such as cardstock or a thin plate, and replace cutting pads that are warped or deeply scored.