No, I don't trim. I cut the fabric to the 8.5" x 11" and bend the fabric in half lengthwise and start laying it down. Then just smooth the fabric. It's easy to pick it up and reposition the fabric. I have strings hanging sometimes, but they've never gotten stuck in the printer. I try to cut the long ones, but leave the short ones alone. It would take days to cut all of them! :P