If you’re looking to take your t-shirt game up a notch, you’ll want to read this guide on the best heat transfer vinyl to use. We know it can be hard to choose between all of the awesome heat transfer vinyl brands out there, so we’ve put together this detailed guide with all of our favorite options as well as instructions on how to achieve the highest quality possible when applying your designs. We hope this helps!
Transfer, Then Cut
If you’re looking to put a design on a shirt without using screen printing or embroidery, then this is one option. The first step is transferring the design onto the shirt with a wax paper stencil. Once it’s transferred, you can cut away any excess material that is not part of the design. This method works well if you are interested in adding graphics onto an existing shirt, but it does require that you have access to a cutting machine like a plotter cutter or laser cutter.
Quality Vinyl Matters
Heat transfer vinyl is a material that can be applied to t shirts in order to create some really cool and unique designs. The great thing about this material is that you can use it over and over again, so it’s an economical option. But not all HTVs are created equal – there are a variety of different products on the market, and their quality varies greatly.
Use a Heat Press
When it comes time to apply your design, you’ll need a heat press. This is a machine that applies pressure and heat to transfer the design onto your shirt. It’s very easy: just place the shirt on top of the heated platen, press down, and wait for it to cool. The whole process usually takes about 15 seconds per shirt.
Always Test First
No matter what your experience level or how much you’re willing to spend, it’s always a good idea to test any and all materials before committing. The process is quick and easy: lay down a piece of fabric on top of whatever type of surface you’ll be using (we recommend using old shirts), apply the HTV in a design you like, peel off the backing paper, press it onto the shirt and voila! You now have a new product that looks professional and high quality.
Clean Your Iron Regularly
Heat Transfer Vinyl can be applied in two ways: with an iron or a heat press. If you use an iron, make sure you clean it regularly so that it doesn’t leave any residue on the vinyl. Plus, there are many different types of cleaners for irons and all of them will work just fine.
Experiment with Different Colors & Designs
Have you ever wanted a customized t shirt, but didn’t want to pay the hefty price? With heat transfer vinyl, you can get what you want and have it for much cheaper. Vinyl is an adhesive backed material that can be cut into any shape and applied using an iron or dryer. The great thing about this is that with one sheet of vinyl, you can make a whole bunch of shirts with different designs and colors.