What is Heat Transfer Vinyl(HTV)

Are you a beginner? Intermediate crafter? No problem! Join us as we explore the ins and outs of heat transfer vinyl, including how to use heat transfer vinyl, cutting your desired design, weeding your heat transfer vinyl cutout, and so on. 

Otherwise known as iron-on vinyl or simply HTV, heat transfer vinyl is a popular way of customizing soft goods such as t-shirts, handbags, schoolbags, pillows, hats, or sportswear. 

Polyester and other soft materials need lower settings, while denser ones like burlap require higher temperatures. We suggest that you use favorable fabrics such as polyester, cotton, denim, poly/cotton blends, and canvas.

There are three common varieties of heat transfer vinyls:

One major difference between HTVs and adhesive vinyls is heat. While the former requires heat for adherence, the latter is pressure-sensitive and thus does not require heat. When cutting through either of the two, avoid cutting through the PET carrier sheet.

Most HTVs come in 12 by 12-inch sheet lengths and widths of either 12, 15, or 20 inches. If you’re unsure of the length or variety you want, trust our team of experts at HTVRont to suggest an ideal option based on your personal needs. 

Get ready to take the plunge and learn how to cut files, weed, and use your HTVRont Auto Heat Press.

What You’ll Need:

The first step to cutting your HTV masterpiece is to design it first. Utilize easy-to-maneuver software such as Cricut Design Space and Silhouette Studio for unlimited templates, images, and fonts. Adjust your artwork settings and font size before sending your design to the vinyl cutter. 

Ensure you mirror your image, or in simpler terms, reverse it horizontally. Remember that you’re cutting the back of your HTVRont heat transfer vinyl; when you press it onto your garment, doing so ensures the cut file faces the correct side. Measure the surface of the garment, and ensure it aligns with your finished piece.

Heat transfer vinyls have two sides: the upper clear protective film and the lower dull/muted side. The clear side, or the carrier, holds the HTV pieces in place during application for a correctly aligned cut design. The dull side is the material’s adhesive side - the side you’ll be cutting and placing directly on the garment when you press it.

The cut settings will vary greatly depending on your vinyl cutter and heat transfer vinyl. Adjust the cutter’s settings based on your cutter’s instructions. Load the cutting mat with the HTV’s protective film facing down into your machine, and let the cutter work its magic. The complete cut-out design is known as the cut file .

Weeding simply refers to removing unwanted vinyl from your cut file. Being a delicate process, you’ll want to use a quality hook or similar weeding tool to clear out the excess pieces intricately. The process is pretty satisfying, so have fun while you take your time to achieve that perfect finish.

Start by locating the cut lines. Take hold of one of the edges using your weeding tool and lift the excess HTV pieces directly from the carrier sheet. Weed the excess vinyl around the design as you slowly progress to deeper parts, such as the inside parts of the letters. 

Going forward, you should know that pressure is crucial to ensuring a successful finish. Ensure you exert enough pressure with your preferred heat press. Otherwise, you risk a weak design that can easily peel off after a single wash.

That said, explore these three effective ways to apply heat transfer vinyl. Pick out the best one based on your budget and personal preferences. Let’s get to it, shall we?

Trust us when we say this heat press is the best choice for beginners and expert artisans. Sure, it’s a bit pricey, but it’s also a superb investment for anyone wanting to elevate their business and crafting game. We’ll explain.

Do you have a shirt-printing business? Or maybe you’re organizing a local event. Either way, the HTVRont auto heat press is up to the task. It does design sizes of up to 15x15 and exerts an even amount of pressure on the surface to ensure a smooth, satisfactory finish. Simply place your garment between the platens, confirm your heat press settings, and use the firm clamping mechanism to apply your design.

The portable and compact HTVRont mini heat press machine offers similar vinyl press quality. Despite its small 2.6 x 4.4-inch heating plate, this mini heat press machine heats up fast and distributes heat across the surface to guarantee permanent and vibrant patterns. 

It features three temperature levels: low (284°F/140°C), Medium (320°F/160°C) and High (356°F/180°C). Set your preferred time and temperature and apply even pressure to your garment on a firm surface.

Ah, yes, the classic home iron; it’s possibly the best alternative for anyone with a fixed budget. Simply trigger the HTV adhesive by pressing firmly on it with your properly adjusted iron for approximately 10 to 20 seconds. Glitter vinyl might take a while longer. Of course, the pressure, time, and temperature will depend on your choice of vinyl. Set your iron to any dial between cotton and wool when using our exclusive vinyl.

Remember to deactivate the steam setting on your home iron and use a parchment paper/Teflon sheet to protect the vinyl and iron from burning. Unless the base of your iron has holes, try not to move the iron around while applying pressure on the HTV. The goal is to use even heat and pressure on the garment. 

As you apply pressure using the iron, ensure you use it on a hard surface. Please avoid doing it on an ironing board. Peel the carrier cold and cover your finished design while pressing for 5 to seconds.

And Voila!

Just like that, you have your finished product! Heat transfer vinyl is easy to use with the relevant equipment and comprehensive information. We hope we’ve provided the latter in a way that you’ll understand and share with someone who needs it. Please get in touch with us in case of any questions about how to use heat transfer vinyl. For now, we leave you handy information about our quality HTV. 

1. HTVRONT heat transfer vinyl comes in finishes such as chameleon, holographic, metallic, glitter, gloss, and matte. All these varieties apply to materials like leather, fabrics, Poly/cotton blends, polyester, cotton, and so on. Please note that black polyester fabric DOES NOT react well to HTVRont heat transfer vinyl.

2. Don't dry clean, bleach, or iron directly on the design. The vinyl is 100% hand and machine-washable. Hand wash your garment after 24 hours when turned inside out.

3. When cutting our vinyl, the smooth side should face down as you cut the white side. The smooth upper side is transfer tape. The only shades without white backs are Black, Brown, Gold, and Silver.

4. Peel a small portion of the vinyl on the edge to avoid wastage and ensure it doesn’t cut through the carrier or transfer sheet. The appropriate cutting tool for our HTV is a cutting plotter with a 30 or 45-degree blade. Always use a Teflon sheet (or any other sheet for that matter) to avoid permanent damage on your HTV, garment, and upper platen.

5. Cut your design in reverse when using our HTV on a heat press. Ensure you preheat your garment for approximately 2-3 seconds, then apply your design at a temperature of 302°F (150°C). Apply light/medium pressure for 10 to 15 seconds and peel the carrier cold (wait about 15 to 30 seconds).