How to Use Heat Transfer Vinyl?

vinyl for shirts

Getting started with heat transfer vinyl may seem very hard, and when you enter the world of vinyl crafting, it can quickly become confusing. But please don't give up; we are here to help you! How to Use Heat Transfer Vinyl? How to use HTV?

Today, we will discuss everything needed to start with heat transfer vinyl. This simple step-by-step tutorial will teach you how to use heat transfer vinyl in all projects!



What is Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)?

Heat Transfer Vinyl is commonly shortened as HTV. There are several varieties: smooth, puff htv vinyl, glitter htv vinyl, and so on. HTV also comes in all sorts of colors, textures, finishes, and sizes. Most HTV comes in length sizes, starting with a sheet (12x12 inches) all the way up to large vinyl rolls. HTV also usually comes in varying widths. The most common include 12", 15" and 20”. When choosing the HTV width, keep in mind how big the vinyl cutter is!

HTV vinyl is usually used for shirts, pillowcases, blankets, etc. But you can also use it on wood! With the help of heat transfer vinyl, you can easily customize it to make it a personalized product. It's a great way to personalize gifts to friends. We understand that, as a beginner, selecting a brand of HTV can initially be a hard decision. As the most trusted supplier, HTVRont has been committed to providing customers with high-quality and affordable products.


How to Use Heat Transfer Vinyl for HTVRONT?

Are you ready to make crafts with heat transfer vinyl? There are a few basic steps to working with heat transfer vinyl. Prepare to cut files, cut, weed, and apply heat transfer vinyl. That's all! Let's put it all together in terms of how to successfully complete an HTV application!


How to Cut Heat Transfer Vinyl?

The first step in using HTV is to cut out your desired design. To do this, you must prepare your cut file to be cut in the cutting machine software you are using. A cut file is the design that you want to cut and put on your shirt or other surface. The most common cut file type is probably SVG, but you might be using a.Studio,.png,.dxf, or.jpg file depending on the software you are using. You can download our SVG file for FREE. Once you have your design and surface picked out, you need to measure your surface to determine how big you will need to cut the design.

We are now ready to load our heat transfer or iron on vinyl into the cutting machine. Heat transfer vinyl has a carrier sheet on top. Whenever you cut heat transfer vinyl, the carrier sheet will be facedown on your mat. Make sure you mirror your design before you hit-cut. It will transfer backward from what you cut. Otherwise, your design will be backward when you go to place it on your shirt. The cut settings vary depending on the HTV you use and the vinyl cutter you have. Load your cutting mat with the vinyl shiny side down into your machine, and cut.How to cut heat transfer vinyl


How to Weed Heat Transfer Vinyl?

After you have cut out your design with your cutter, the next step is called weeding. This refers to removing the excess material to reveal your final design. You can use a sharp tool like a weeder to help if needed. Peel until you have removed everything except what you want to transfer. Once you find your cut lines, use your hook or other weeding tool to grab one of the edges and lift up the excess vinyl or negative space from the carrier sheet. You can start by removing the vinyl from around design first and then remove the pieces from inside letters and other parts of the design.

How to weed heat transfer vinyl

How to Apply Heat Transfer Vinyl?

Once the HTV is weeded, it's time to apply it! There are three ways to apply heat transfer vinyl:

HTVRONT Auto Heat Press – This is the largest and most expensive (depending on the type you use) choice for vinyl. It is a machine craftsmen use to adhere their HTV designs to garments. Your garment is placed between the pattens and utilizes the firmness and even pressure of the clamping mechanism to adhere your design. If you have a business or just do a lot of shirts, I recommend looking into a heat press because it can do designs up to 15×15, and it’s very rare that you’ll ever need to make a design bigger than that. You also get even pressure with a heat press, and that’s really important!

Mini Heat Press Machine to a heat press, but if you are limited on space, it is smaller and easier to store.

Iron: If shirts are not something you'll make a lot of, then your home iron will work just fine! ! Or if you have a limited budget when shopping for all your equipment, iron will be fine.

In the following introduction, we choose a home iron to apply heat transfer vinyl. To activate the adhesive on the heat transfer vinyl, you need to do two things: heat and pressure, both of which we can get using an iron.

Speaking of pressure, it is very important in the world of heat transfer vinyl. Without it, your designs may not last very long and could peel off after one wash. Make sure you are using enough pressure with your heat press and home iron when crafting with HTV. You can adjust the pressure on your heat press, but if you're using a home iron, you will need to ensure you’re pressing firmly.

When working with HTV, you will need to know the settings to apply the material with a heat press or home iron. Start by plugging your iron in and putting it on the cotton setting with the steam turned off. Next, position your design on the surface with the clear plastic carrier sheet on top so the design reads correctly.

Press down on the iron and apply pressure to each part of the design for about 10–20 seconds. The heat, pressure, and time settings all vary with the HTV you used. If you're using glitter vinyl, it might take a little bit longer. After the temperature, time, and pressure are all set, you are ready to press! It’s also good to be aware of holes in the bottom of your iron. If your iron has holes on the bottom, be sure to move it around as you press to make sure each part of the design is getting heat and pressure. When you have given heat and pressure to each part of the design, let it cool for a few minutes, and then you can slowly start to peel up the carrier sheet.

Once the iron on the vinyl has been properly applied, it is ready for wearing, using, and laundering. Allow the adhesive to cure for at least 24 hours before washing. Once it has cured, it can be washed and dried. For best results, wash inside out with cold water and hang to dry or tumble dry on low.

Here is the final application! And you’ve got a finished product! Seriously, it's so easy and fun! We hope this post was helpful for you to get started with HTV! If you have any questions about vinyl and how to use it, we are happy to help! Below are the htvront heat transfer vinyl instructions, which htvront customers can refer to for use.


How to Use HTVRONT Heat Transfer Vinyl?

Applies to: 100% cotton, 100% polyester, Poly/cotton blends, blends, Clothing, fabrics, leather, etc. Note: Not suitable for black polyester fabric.

Cutting: Place the HTV with the smooth side down. Cutting the white side. Black, Gold, Silver, and Brown don't have white backs; the smooth side is transfer tape.

Directions:
・Suggest making a test to make sure it is not cutting through the transfer or carrier sheet; just peel a little on the edge. This will prevent wasting any full sheets!
・Cut vinyl with cutting plotter using a 30 degree or 45 degree blade at appropriate pressure.

Cut Heat Transfer Vinyl 

Craft Cutter Settings:

Craft Cutter Settings

Heat and Transfer: Place the sheet with your design on to your shirt and place the Teflon sheet on top of your design; make sure it is lined up correctly.

Always use a Heat transfer cover sheet.

• Protects HTV
• Protects garments
• Protects upper platen

Application instructions (Home Iron):

• Set an iron dial between cotton and wool.
• Cover design with a cover sheet (Teflon sheet).
• Place on a flat, hard surface (ironing board not recommended)
• Press the iron with medium or firm pressure (do not slide iron)
• Press each section of the design for 10–15 seconds.
• If areas of the design lift after application, apply cover sheet and press for 10–15 seconds.
• Peel carrier cold.
• Cover the completed design and press for 5–10 seconds.

Application Instructions (Heat Press):

• Cut in reverse.
• Weed excess material.
• Preheat garment for 2-3 seconds.
• Apply design at 302 ℉.
• Use light or medium pressure for 10–15 seconds.
• Peel carrier cold.

Click here to learn more about the heat press temperature chart and time guide.

Cool Peel:

• Peeling the clear pet film after the vinyl turns cold causes a matting effect (it is recommended to wait 15–30 seconds for the vinyl to cool down).
• If any part of the iron on the vinyl lifts off, repeat the steps above until you can peel off the clear backing without lifting up the vinyl.

Care Instructions:

• Do not dry clean.
• Do not bleach.
• Machine Washable.
• Hand wash inside out after 24 hours.
• Do not bleach and do not iron directly on design Hang dry or use low heat in dryer.

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Customer Reviews

Shirley Eidson

Thank you for this information

Carol Ashworth

Am I missing it ? When do you remove it from the board or mat. Before you begin weeding?

LAKEILAH

I am trying the holographic HTV on cardstock/notebook cover and it I followed the instructions above and doing a cold peel however I am still getting bubbles. Not smooth at all, what am I doing wrong. 305 degrees pressing for 3-5 secs and still not getting smooth results. Help please! Thank you :)

Ann Smith

Followed instructions, 302 temp for 10-15 seconds. Image was very pale. Shirt is 65/35 poly cotton blend. Any advice please.

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