Heat Transfer Vinyl

Customizing your apparel or making crafts is one of the best ways that you can express yourself creatively. One of the most popular tools that is used to create customized apparel or other crafts is by using heat transfer vinyl, because it has an easy application process, and it works with most material types. Using heat transfer vinyl will help you create the craft of your dreams and will allow you to express your creativity. Expressions Vinyl has the heat transfer vinyl that you may be looking for so that you can create your projects. We have a large selection of different colors or styles, so that you can get your project to look exactly how you imagined it. We want to help you find the right type of vinyl for you, so your crafts can turn out better than you imagined them!

What is Heat Transfer Vinyl?
Heat transfer vinyl, or HTV, is vinyl that is used to decorate apparel, bags and other soft goods. HTV is adhered onto the item by using both heat and pressure. However, depending on the different types of fabric or material you will be using to put the vinyl onto, will change the way in which you apply the vinyl. Not only are there many different fabric types that you could choose to transfer the vinyl to, but there are also different types of heat transfer vinyl that can be used when creating your project.

Uses of HTV
There are a number of uses for HTV. It has the ability to stick to many fabric types and can be used for many different things. Some of the fabrics that it adheres well to include:

Polyester
Cotton
Poly-Cotton Blend

There are so many different options that can be created with these fabrics. You can create many HTV designs to put on different things such as:

Sweatshirts
T-shirts
Tote Bags
Jerseys
Towels
And Many More!
HTV Application Process

The application process of HTV vinyl is not one that is super complicated, but there are steps that must be done in order to ensure that it adheres to the material correctly. Accurately completing these processes will ensure durability of the vinyl on the item and will ensure that it will look good for as long of a time as possible. There are only a couple of steps that you will need to complete to take your vinyl from the sheet to being adhered to your item. These steps include:

Cutting Out the Design
You are able to fully express yourself creatively when you create a design for your vinyl. The first step you will need to take is to cut out the vinyl in your desired design. You will need a cutting machine to help you accomplish this step of the process. It is important to make sure that the correct side of the vinyl will be face down on the mat of the cutter as well as mirroring or reversing your image before you start cutting out your designs.

Set the Correct Heat 
The heat is an essential part of applying the vinyl to the item. Different types of fabric or vinyl will change the heat that may be used. You will want to read the product description so that you can know what the ideal temperature will be to set your heat press to. Taking this precaution will ensure that the integrity of the vinyl is not compromised and will ensure that the heat does not burn through the material. However, typically, you will use temperatures that range from 275-320 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Preheat the Item
In order for the vinyl to stick correctly to the time, it is important that the item itself is preheated in the area where the vinyl will go. You can preheat your clothing item by ironing it, or by using a heat press. This will help smooth the fabric as well as release any moisture prior to pressing.

Place the Design and Add Heat
Once the clothing item has been pressed, you are ready to place the design on it. It is important to keep the heat on there for the correct time and to make sure that there is a lot of pressure added to the design, as well as all of the corners being pressed down. This will help prevent peeling of the vinyl in the future.

Once the time is up, you want to make sure that you remove the heat immediately. You want to remove it so that the heat does not burn through either the vinyl or even the material of the item. Taking off the heat of the product promptly is something that needs to be done in order to prevent the product from being ruined.

Peel the Backing
Once the heat has been applied and taken off of the vinyl, the backing will be ready to peel off. You will want to make sure that you peel off the entirety of the backing following the directions for the type of heat transfer vinyl you are using.  Some HTV needs to completely cool before the backing is peeled.  Doing so will help the design stay intact while peeling off the backing.

As mentioned previously, this process in and of itself is not one that is particularly complex. However, it is essential that each of these steps are taken when applying HTV to material to ensure that it looks good and lasts a long time.

Why Choose Expressions Vinyl?
At Expressions Vinyl, it is our goal to make sure that you are getting high quality vinyl in a timely manner. We want to give you the best customer service experience to help answer any of your questions that may arise as you go through this process. Whether you are a professional vinyl crafter, or are just getting started, we want to help you get the vinyl that is right for you, for whatever your project may be. So if you have any questions, contact us! Shop now to get started on your crafting journey!