Unleash Sublimation Creativity: Using Infusible Ink Pens with Your Brother ScanNCut

Have you ever dreamed of creating vibrant, permanent designs on your crafts using just pens and your cutting machine? With sublimation and Infusible Ink pens, this dream becomes a reality, and guess what? You can even use them with your Brother ScanNCut machine! If you’re a ScanNCut owner intrigued by the possibilities of sublimation, especially using the versatile Brother Scan And Cut Pen Tool, you’re in the right place.

This comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to use Cricut Infusible Ink pens and markers with your Brother ScanNCut. We’ll cover everything from ensuring pen compatibility with the brother scan and cut pen tool (Universal Pen Holder), setting up your designs in Canvas Workspace, drawing with your ScanNCut DX, and finally, sublimating your colorful creations onto various blanks like coasters.

Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just starting out, this tutorial will empower you to expand your creative horizons and unlock new potential with your Brother ScanNCut and the magic of sublimation using the brother scan and cut pen tool.

Understanding Infusible Ink and Sublimation

Before diving into the specifics of using Infusible Ink with your Brother ScanNCut and the brother scan and cut pen tool, let’s understand what Infusible Ink and sublimation are all about.

Infusible Ink is Cricut’s brand name for their sublimation product line, encompassing transfer sheets, pens, and markers. Sublimation is a process where special ink, when heated, transitions from a solid state directly into a gas, bypassing the liquid phase. This gas then infuses itself into polyester materials or polyester-coated surfaces, creating a design that becomes part of the material itself, unlike vinyl which sits on top.

The beauty of sublimation lies in its permanence and feel. Designs become incredibly durable, dishwasher-safe on mugs, and soft to the touch on fabrics, without the stiffness often associated with vinyl. Infusible Ink pens and markers take this a step further by allowing you to hand-draw or machine-draw intricate designs, offering endless customization and vibrant, multi-colored possibilities without the need for layering vinyl.

While Cricut Infusible Ink is popular, other brands like We R Memory Keepers with their Transfer Quill Markers and Artesprix also offer sublimation pens and markers. In this guide, we’ll focus primarily on Cricut Infusible Ink pens due to their wide availability and variety, and compatibility with the brother scan and cut pen tool.

Choosing the Right Infusible Ink Pens for Your Brother ScanNCut

To utilize Infusible Ink pens with your Brother ScanNCut, the key accessory is the Universal Pen Holder – essentially your brother scan and cut pen tool adapter. This holder allows your ScanNCut to accommodate pens of various sizes, not just Brother-branded ones.

Extensive testing reveals that certain Infusible Ink pens and markers are perfectly compatible with the Universal Pen Holder. Specifically, the slimmer Cricut Joy Infusible Ink pens and the standard Cricut Infusible Ink pens and markers fit snugly within the brother scan and cut pen tool. However, the thicker barrel Infusible Ink marker sets, like the Tropical and Freehand sets, are too wide for the Universal Pen Holder. Similarly, We R Memory Keepers Transfer Quill markers also work seamlessly with the brother scan and cut pen tool.

To simplify pen selection, remember this rule of thumb: if the pen or marker barrel is similar in size to the Cricut Joy Infusible Ink pens and markers, it will likely fit into your brother scan and cut pen tool. Wider barrels will not be compatible.

Here’s a helpful list of compatible Cricut Infusible Ink sets for your brother scan and cut pen tool:

• Cricut Infusible Ink Ultimate Markers Set 1.0 mm (30 count)
• Cricut Infusible Ink Ultimate Pens Set 0.4 mm (30 & 15 count)
• Cricut Infusible Ink Basics Markers (1.0mm ) & Pens (0.4 mm)
• Cricut Infusible Ink Watercolor Splash Markers (1.0mm ) & Pens (0.4 mm)
• Cricut Infusible Ink Neons Markers
• Cricut Infusible Ink Black Pens 0.4 mm
• Cricut Infusible Ink Black Markers 1.0 mm
• Cricut Infusible Ink Nostalgia Markers (1.0 mm ) & Pens (0.4 mm)

Preparing Your Design in Canvas Workspace for Infusible Ink with the Brother ScanNCut

Let’s get your design ready in Brother Canvas Workspace to use with your Infusible Ink pens and brother scan and cut pen tool. For this tutorial, we’ll use a “Four Seasons Circles” design, which you can adapt for your own projects.

1. Open Your Design: Launch Brother Canvas Workspace and open your chosen design file. For our example, open the “Four Season Coasters .CWPRJ” file.

2. Access Layers Panel: On the right-hand toolbar, click the Layers panel (it resembles stacked papers). You’ll see that design elements are organized into groups.

3. Isolate Your Design (Optional): If you only want to work with one design from a set, like the “Spring circle” in our example, move the other designs (e.g., Fall, Winter, Summer) off the virtual mat by dragging them to the gray area surrounding the mat. This keeps your workspace uncluttered.

4. Resize if Necessary: Ensure your design fits your blank. For coasters around 3.5 inches, check the Edit panel (right toolbar) to confirm the design width and height are appropriately sized (around 3.5 inches). Maintain aspect ratio if resizing.

5. Hide Unwanted Cut Lines: In our coaster example, the circle around the design is just a size template and not meant to be drawn. To hide it, go to the Layers panel, find the Spring design group, locate the circle layer (usually the last layer within the group), and click the eye icon next to it to hide it. Do the same for any other elements you don’t want to draw, including entire groups moved off the mat. Important: Hidden elements can prevent file transfer to the ScanNCut if not properly managed.

6. Change Cut to Draw Setting: For each design element you want to draw with your Infusible Ink pen using the brother scan and cut pen tool, you must change its setting from “Cut” to “Draw.” In the Layers panel, locate the knife blade icon next to each visible layer. Click the knife blade and select “Draw.” The icon will change to a pen nib, indicating the draw setting. Repeat this for all elements you intend to draw. Note: This step is crucial for the ScanNCut to recognize the action as drawing, not cutting.

7. Position Design on Mat: Drag your design to the upper-left corner of the virtual mat in Canvas Workspace. This helps align your physical paper placement on the actual ScanNCut mat. Leave some margin around the design for paper trimming later.

8. Transfer File to ScanNCut: Go to File > Export/Transfer FCM file. Click “OK” on the warning about hidden items and small elements. Choose your preferred transfer method:

   • USB Drive: Save the file to a USB drive.
   • Wireless Transfer: Send the file wirelessly if your ScanNCut is Wi-Fi enabled.
   • USB Cable: Transfer via USB cable connected to your computer.

Installing Your Infusible Ink Pen into the Brother ScanNCut Universal Pen Holder

Now, let’s physically prepare your Brother ScanNCut to draw with Infusible Ink pens using the brother scan and cut pen tool.

1. Prepare the Universal Pen Holder: Insert the Universal Pen Holder into the pen positioner tool.

2. Insert Infusible Ink Pen: Slide your chosen Infusible Ink pen (fine point recommended, like a Cricut Joy 0.4mm pen) into the holder, pushing it down until it touches the bottom of the positioner. For Infusible Ink on paper, precise depth isn’t critical.

3. Secure the Pen: Tighten the gray band on the pen holder by pulling up and turning it until it grips the pen firmly. Snap the small teeth on the gray band into the white teeth on the holder to lock the pen in place.

4. Install in ScanNCut: Open the blade holder on your ScanNCut. Remove the blade. Insert the Universal Pen Holder into the blade holder slot and push it until it’s fully seated. Close the blade holder to secure the brother scan and cut pen tool in place.

Loading the Mat and Setting Up Your ScanNCut DX for Drawing

With the brother scan and cut pen tool installed, we’re ready to load the mat and configure your ScanNCut DX for drawing.

1. Prepare the Mat: Use a Light Tack Mat to prevent tearing lightweight copy paper. Place a sheet of plain copy paper in the upper-left corner of the mat, aligning with your design position in Canvas Workspace.

2. Load the Mat: Insert the mat into your ScanNCut machine and press the “Load Mat” button.

3. Retrieve Design Data: On your ScanNCut DX screen, select “Retrieve Data” to access your transferred design file.

4. Select Your Design: Choose the “Spring tree” design (or your chosen design) from the list and press “Okay.”

5. Choose Draw Option: Tap the “Please Select” arrow and choose “Draw” from the options. This tells the ScanNCut to use the brother scan and cut pen tool for drawing.

6. Perform a Test Draw: Always perform a test draw to ensure proper pen placement and pressure. Select “Test.” A small triangle will appear. Drag it to an area with paper on the mat and press “Start.”

7. Adjust Pen if Needed: Examine the test triangle. If the draw is faint or uneven, adjust the pen in the Universal Pen Holder, usually pushing it slightly further down for better paper contact. Repeat the test draw.

8. Start Drawing Your Design: Once the test draw is satisfactory, press “Start” to begin drawing your full Infusible Ink design with the brother scan and cut pen tool.

Coloring Your Design and Preparing for Sublimation

After your ScanNCut, equipped with the brother scan and cut pen tool, completes the drawing, unload the mat.

1. Inspect the Drawn Lines: You might notice that some lines, especially outlines, appear slightly dotted or bumpy. This is due to the ScanNCut’s method of using dots to fill thin shapes.

2. Smooth Out Lines (Optional): Carefully go over bumpy lines with the same fine-point Infusible Ink pen used for drawing to smooth them out for a cleaner look after sublimation.

3. Color Your Design: Use Infusible Ink markers and pens to color in your design as desired. Explore different color combinations and shading techniques.

**Color Palette Used:**
*   WRMK Transfer Quill in Brown
*   WRML Transfer Quill in Fuchsia
*   Cricut Infusible Ink 1.0 mm Marker in Green
*   Cricut Infusible Ink 1.0 mm Marker in Forest Green
*   Cricut Infusible Ink 1.0 mm Marker in Green Apple
*   Cricut Infusible Ink 1.0 mm Marker in Light Purple
*   Cricut Infusible Ink 1.0 mm Marker in Yellow
*   Cricut Infusible Ink 1.0 mm Marker in Coral

**Note:** Sublimation ink colors appear less vibrant before heating, which is normal. Colors will intensify dramatically after heat pressing.

4. Trim and Tape to Coaster Blank: Trim your colored design into a circle slightly larger than your coaster blank. Place the coaster face down (shiny side) on the design. Align the design as desired (e.g., bottom of the hill with the coaster edge). Fold excess paper around the coaster to create its shape on the paper. Cut slits in the overhanging paper edges (avoiding the design) to allow smooth folding around the curved coaster.

5. Secure with Heat Resistant Tape: Fold the paper around the coaster, overlapping slits as needed, to ensure the design lies flat against the coaster’s front and edges. Use heat-resistant tape to firmly secure the paper to the coaster. Regular tape will melt under heat. Ensure the colored design is against the shiny (sublimation-receiving) side of the coaster.

Sublimation with Cricut EasyPress 2

Now for the exciting part – sublimating your design using the Cricut EasyPress 2.

1. EasyPress 2 Settings: Cricut recommends 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 240 seconds for ceramic coasters with EasyPress 2. Refer to the Cricut Heat Guide for specific settings for your blanks.

2. Prepare Heat Pressing Station: Layer a towel, then an EasyPress Mat, followed by two sheets of plain white cardstock on your work surface. Place the taped coaster (design side down) on top. Cover with parchment paper, ensuring it’s larger than the EasyPress 2 heat plate.

3. Apply Heat: Once the EasyPress 2 is heated, place it straight down onto the parchment paper covering the coaster, ensuring full coverage. Press the green “Go” button and leave it undisturbed until the timer beeps. Crucial: Do not move or slide the EasyPress during heating to prevent smearing or ghosting of the Infusible Ink design.

4. Cool Down: When the timer is complete, lift the EasyPress 2 straight up and return it to its cradle. Turn it off and allow it to cool completely. Remove the parchment paper immediately (discard if scorched). Caution: The coaster is extremely hot! Do not touch it. Let it cool for at least 30 minutes.

Revealing Your Sublimated Coaster

After the coaster is completely cool, carefully remove the tape and paper backing to reveal your vibrant, sublimated coaster!

The colors will be significantly brighter and more vibrant than they appeared before heating. The design is now permanently infused into the coaster, making it durable and beautiful. Enjoy your personalized, dishwasher-safe coaster!

This project demonstrates the fantastic potential of combining your Brother ScanNCut with Infusible Ink pens and the brother scan and cut pen tool. Experiment with different designs, colors, and blanks to explore the full spectrum of sublimation crafting possibilities!