HTVRONT DIY Tutorials - A Complete Beginner’s Guide

This HTVRONT guide is poised to guide you in every step in preparing custom T-shirts, cool-looking stickers, and even beautiful cards. From choosing proper materials, such as HTV and adhesive vinyl, to perfecting a cutting machine and heat press, you will get well on your way to becoming a professional crafter.

We'll go over some of the basics, helpful tips, and introduce some cool tools along the way. Now, let's get creative and grab our vinyl!

A cutting machine is an all-around gadget that can cut various materials making it suitable for home uses. Here are some HTVRONT materials to use with the cutting machine and their detailed descriptions:

Adhesive vinyl are self-adhesive sheets that you can instantly apply to various surfaces.

HTVRONT stickers are mainly made from PVC material which is safe for use with a PET backing and liner to prevent damage. We provide both roll and sheet formats to meet diverse demands.

What's more, you need to understand what transfer tape is. This tape always comes along with adhesive vinyl. Transfer tape is used to apply an adhesive vinyl image off the vinyl release paper onto whatever surface it can be placed. Contact paper for vinyl transfer enables easier transferring of designs to projects.

Most adhesive vinyl will require some type of transfer film or tape. The transfer tape attaches itself to the release paper side of the vinyl for a moment and helps remove the release paper exposing the sticky side of the vinyl. It is useful for maintaining everything in position to assist in the moving of the entire design from the backing to the surface. After applying the vinyl, the transfer belt is to be removed.

Adhesive vinyl ensures effective prevention of damage to the back and loss of the adhesive film during cutting. It also possesses aggressive adhesion and excellent water resistance helps in well bonding to smooth surfaces and even using it outdoors does not peel the bond off.

Plus, HTVRONT adhesive vinyl can be used indoors or outdoors but has an indoor maximum service period of 3 years and one year for outdoor use.

When using HTVRONT vinyl adhesive, please ensure you distinguish between the front and back during cutting to avoid damaging the PET layer. It’s also worth noting that uneven surfaces will affect the vinyl’s adhesion effect. Ensure you store the material in room temperature. Excessive cold or heat can affect the viscosity and thus affect the cutting effect.

To craft your design using adhesive vinyl, you’ll need these materials:

Use a Cricut or Silhouette to cut your design. Trim away excess vinyl for future use.

Peel away excess vinyl, starting from one corner. Use a weeding tool to remove small pieces, revealing the full design.

Place transfer tape over the design. Burnish with a squeegee or credit card to transfer the vinyl to the tape.

Peel the transfer tape from the backing. Apply it to a clean surface, starting from the middle to avoid creases or bubbles.

Rub over the design to ensure it sticks. Carefully peel off the transfer tape.

And there you have it - a clean vinyl print that’s sure to last for years to come. On the other hand, if you’d like to remove your adhesive vinyl sooner, here’s an easy-to-follow video tutorial  to guide you through it:

Printable vinyl (also known as printable stickers or printable vinyl sticker paper) is a versatile material that you can print with any design using a standard printer. Compared to normal sticky notes, printable vinyl can be produced in various colors and intricate patterns.

The thickness of our printable vinyl is neither too thin nor too thick therefore it can be used in the majority of printers and is less susceptible to tearing or getting stuck while printing. The HTVRONT printable vinyl has a one-year shelf life and a quick-drying feature that allows for rapid ink absorption.

Please print the design directly onto the adhesive side. Also, avoid applying to soft, dirty, or uneven surfaces. The product is waterproof but should not be submerged in water.

Use the "Other photo inkjet paper" setting in your printer for better results and water resistance. Note that different print modes may result in slight color variations. For complete waterproofing, consider laminating the printed material.

Here are the materials you’ll need to apply printable vinyl:

Insert your printable vinyl into your printer and use the recommended printing parameters to print your design. Leave it for about 2 minutes after printing.

Use scissors to cut the printed vinyl according to your specifications.

HTVRONT printable vinyl includes laminated paper in its packaging. Take the laminated paper and cut it to fit the size of your design. Use the scraper to push out the air bubbles.

Place the laminated print in the cutting stone and get rid of the exterior frame for a clean finish.

Stick the clean-cut laminated vinyl to your object and use the scraper for a more permanent and bubble-free stick.

Wash the design and wipe it with a clean cloth to remove any fingerprint traces, and voila! A polished and beautiful vinyl design.

Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) is a composite material made up of a polyester film (PET), a film layer, and a hot melt adhesive backing. When heated, the hot melt adhesive melts, creating a bond that adheres the design firmly to various surfaces.

HTVs can be made from polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials. HTVRONT specializes in PU HTV. Compared to PVC, PU is more environmentally friendly, heat resistant, flexible, and less prone to peeling. HTVRONT offers HTV in both roll and sheet formats.

Our high-quality heat transfer vinyl is easy to cut, weed and transfer. It is compatible with most cutting machines and measures 12" x 3ft which is suitable for beginners and creators. Our heat transfer vinyl is made of soft PU material, which is lighter and thinner.

Make it a point to always use a heat transfer sheet in between the material and the heat press in order to avoid any damages to your materials. Do not hastily remove the PET, in order to achieve the best results allow the material to cool only a tiny bit so as to ensure complete melting and bonding of the hot melt adhesive.

While the typical shelf life of HTV is between one and two years, it's advisable to use it within one year. This is due to the instability of the hot melt adhesive in the base material over time.

We have six different types of heat transfer vinyl: regular style, glitter style, puff style, flocked style, soft metal style, and chameleon style.

A heat press machine is a fundamental device that makes use of heat as well as pressure to transfer designs on different surfaces. HTVRONT provides various helpful heat presses like Auto Heat Press, Manual Heat Press & specific heaters such as Hat and T-shirt presses and mini models for smaller projects.

This section will explain these heat press machine printing material and printing technique:

Heat transfer paper is specifically designed for 100% cotton or cotton/polyester blend fabrics. HTVRONT currently offers both dark and light-colored heat transfer paper. We exert the utmost care and attention to detail when developing our heat transfer paper. This includes using high-quality materials that are compatible with most inkjet printers to achieve excellent prints. It has a superb stretch and durability allowing multiple machine washing without fading, wrinkling, or peeling.

Heat transfer paper can be used on dark and light colored cotton fabrics. For optimal results, it is recommended for fabrics with a cotton content exceeding 60%. Its primary application is in the customization of textiles, including clothing and canvas bags.

Be cautious with low heat ironing, as it may cause color fading. After ironing, wait 48 hours before washing in cold water. The product is recommended for up to 30 cold water washes. Before wearing or storing, make sure to wash the item.

You will need the following supplies for your project.

Position your printed design at the center of the cotton T-shirt. Adjust the heat press between 150 to 165 degrees Celsius or 302 to 329 degrees Fahrenheit.

When your design is well placed, take your heat transfer paper and place it over the design.

Allow the design to heat for 15 seconds. Avoid interfering with your press while it transfers your design.

Once the 15 seconds are up, open the press to release the finished design. Wait for at least 10 to 20 seconds to allow it to cool, then take it out. You’ll notice that the design has a similar texture to heat transfer vinyl (HTV).

Sublimation is a printing process where dye-sublimation transfer ink is applied to paper or plastic film. Using heat and pressure, the printed image is transferred to fabric. During this process, the dye turns into gas and bonds with the fabric, creating a permanent, vibrant print.

Sublimation supplies are essential for creating vibrant, long-lasting prints on various items like mugs, T-shirts, and more. These supplies include:

You’ll need these items for a successful sublimation process:

Having printed your design on the HTVRONT sublimation paper, position it at the center of your T-shirt and place it on the heat press for printing.

Set your heat press to 180-200°C (356-392°F), then let it heat for 40 seconds.

Once printed, peel out the sublimation paper to reveal the finished result.

Here’s an enhanced version of the "Sublimation on HTV" section that incorporates your additional details about the advantages of thermal sublimation lettering films:

Sublimation on Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) is an excellent method to apply detailed, colorful designs to cotton fabrics and dark-colored garments.

Normally, direct sublimation works only on light-colored polyester fabrics, and sublimation paper cannot be applied directly to cotton because the ink does not adhere well, resulting in poor-quality transfers.

Similarly, traditional heat transfer vinyl typically comes in single colors, limiting its design possibilities. By using sublimation HTV, or thermal sublimation lettering films, you can bypass these limitations and combine the vibrant, full-color designs of sublimation with the versatility of HTV.

Sublimation HTV is known for high color saturation, producing vivid and detailed designs, and excellent adhesion, which ensures durability even after multiple washes.

It is easy to weed and cut, making it ideal for intricate designs. After pressing, the protective film peels smoothly without causing wrinkles or blistering, ensuring a clean finish.

HTVRONT Sublimation HTV can be used on a wide range of cotton-based fabrics, including T-shirts, bags, pillows, and socks. This method allows you to apply colorful, durable designs onto fabrics that would otherwise be unsuitable for direct sublimation, such as cotton or dark materials.

Here’s what you’ll need to apply sublimation HTV:

Edit the design you want using your desired image editing software. Extract the contours you’ll use for the cutting process.

Print the image on sublimation paper using the sublimation printer. Ensure you match it with the sublimation ink. Mirror the design before printing to prevent reverse imaging on the T-shirt.

Use the same software and a cutting plotter/craft cutter with a blade to cut out the contours on the sublimation HTV. Trace out the printed image using the machine’s ‘print-then-cut’ setting.

Ensure the heat press is set to 380-400℉ (180°C and 200°C). Take your T-shirt and spread it on the heat press.

Set the heat press to the desired temperature then place the HTV Vinyl on the T-shirt and heat press it for approximately 5 to 15 seconds. Allow it to cool, and then peel off the carrier. Heat-press your design on top of it once the sublimation medium is set.

Carefully align the printed sublimation paper on top of the HTV Vinyl. Set the heat press temperatures to 380-400℉ and heat press it on the T-shirt for 40-60 seconds. Once it cools, take off the carrier.

Here’s a quick summary of all the printing options covered in this article:

With the knowledge you’ve gained from this guide, you’re ready to dive into crafting custom T-shirts, eye-catching stickers, and beautiful cards. Our products are designed with quality in mind, ensuring you achieve the best results every time. HTVRONT’s materials and equipment will make your projects easier and more fun.