Should you use heat transfer vinyl or adhesive vinyl on your next project?
Make your own dazzling custom T-Shirts with Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) from 651VINYL.COM. HTV by Siser is available in a wide selection of colors and finishes such as metallic, glitter, flock, and glow in the dark. There are several methods that can be used to cut heat transfer vinyl, such as desktop cutters like the Silhouette Cameo & Cricut.
While it is pretty clear cut what should be used when, the answer will sometimes depend on what you want to use it for.
For most projects you can use only one or the other, but for a few projects, you have the option to choose between the two.
In this post I’m going to compare adhesive vinyl and heat transfer vinyl and share with you which is used for what!
Comparing Adhesive Vinyl & Heat Transfer Vinyl
I need to mention that Cricut use their own lingo for these materials:
- Cricut heat transfer vinyl is called Cricut Iron-On
- Cricut adhesive vinyl is called Cricut Vinyl
I have made the mistake (a few times unfortunately) of buying Cricut Vinyl when I really wanted Cricut Iron On.
I am used to calling them adhesive vinyl and heat transfer vinyl! Despite the different names, Cricut’s products work just the same, and are a premium vinyl.
Best Place To Buy HTV & Adhesive Vinyl
For those of you who already know the difference between HTV & adhesive vinyl, and just want to know where to get it, check out this table. Here are the best places to buy iron on and adhesive vinyl.
Amazon |
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Michaels |
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Cricut |
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Expressions Vinyl |
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Heat Press Nation |
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Swing Design |
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Happy Crafters |
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You have the option to buy heat transfer sheets or rolls in different widths and lengths.
Because I use the Cricut Maker, I can’t use vinyl wider than 12 inches (unless I want to trim it to size myself, which I don’t). Many HTV sheets are sold in 12 x 12 inch sheets, which is what I prefer. However, for vinyl colors that I use a lot of (black & white heat transfer vinyl, for example), I will buy a 5 foot rolls or larger.
It is best to go with a known brand of premium heat transfer vinyl. The quality of the vinyl will determine how easy it is for you to do your project, and the quality of your finished custom t shirt.
What Is Heat Transfer Vinyl?
Cricut sell a huge range of quality heat transfer vinyl
Heat transfer vinyl, or HTV, is a product that is applied to t-shirts and other substrates by heat. You will have had many t-shirts and other garments with HTV on it! The heat transfer can be done using a heat press machine, a home iron, or the recently released Cricut EasyPress.
HTV vinyl comes in sheets or rolls, and has two parts to it. There is the vinyl and the carrier sheet. They are both joined together and come apart during the heat transfer.
There are different types of heat transfer vinyl, including:
- patterned heat transfer vinyl (my favorite!)
Perhaps the most well known brand of heat transfer vinyl is Siser EasyWeed HTV. I have to confess that this is my favorite brand, just because it is so easy to use, and it looks and feels great.
What Can You Press Heat Transfer Vinyl Onto?
Heat transfer vinyl is most commonly used for t shirts and other clothing. I use it all the time on baby onesies. However, you can press it onto a ton of other surfaces – some of the following I haven’t even tried myself yet!
You can press HTV onto:
- T shirts
- Sweatpants
- Baby onesies
- Sweatshirts
- Hats and caps
- Shoes
- Wooden farmhouse signs
- Swimsuits
- Placemats
- Teatowels
- Baby and children’s clothes
- Canvas tote bags
- Stretched canvas (a reverse canvas project, for example)
- Drink coolies
- And much more!
Heat Transfer Vinyl For T Shirts
If you press HTV onto your clothing correctly (as per the manufacturers instructions), it will adhere well and last many washes.
Adhesive vinyl cannot be used on clothing. This would be like putting a sticker onto your t-shirt and then expecting it to last. Therefore, it’s always best to use HTV for clothing and fabric.
How To Use Heat Transfer Vinyl
Here’s what you need in order to use heat transfer vinyl and make your own t shirts:
- an iron, a Cricut Easy Press, or a heat press
- Teflon sheets or parchment paper to protect your heat platen or iron
HTV Design Example
Here’s a quick example of how to make an HTV design in Cricut Design Space and to press it onto a baby onesie.
1. I chose a free font and arranged the text as you see below.
2. Mirror your image because HTV is applied in reverse.
3. Place the HTV onto the cutting mat and then weed the design (pull away excess vinyl) to be pressed.
4. Pre-press any fabrics to remove moisture and wrinkles before you press your design. Place the heat transfer onto the onesie and press with your iron, EasyPress, or heat press.
Once the design has been pressed onto the garment, the vinyl carrier sheet is removed. For most HTVs (including Siser & Cricut) the carrier sheet can be peeled off while warm.
The final result – see the full Stretch Vinyl Project here
What Is Adhesive Vinyl?
Cricut sell a large range of quality adhesive vinyl
Adhesive vinyl is just like HTV, except it’s not applied with heat, it’s just a great big sticker!
As with HTV, there are different types of adhesive vinyl you can choose from. You can choose one with a temporary or removable adhesive, such as Oracal 631, which is great for things such as wall decals.
Or, you can get vinyl as a permanent adhesive, such as Oracal 651, which is ideal for everything, especially outdoor use on things such as signs and cars. Oracal 651 is also suitable for mugs which will be washed many times. There are also other types of specialty adhesive vinyl available for specific situations. Or, for more info, see ‘what is Oracal 651 used for?‘
What Can You Put Adhesive Vinyl Onto?
You can apply adhesive vinyl onto:
- Walls
- Fridges
- Signs
- Cars
- Cups and mugs
- Pots and vases
- Stretched canvas and canvas tote bags
- Glass (e.g. on photo frames or glass chopping boards)
- Wooden plaques
- Ceramic tiles
Check out this stainless steel water bottle project
Adhesive vinyl is best for things that are not going to be washed or even handled a whole lot (so definitely not clothing!).
It’s fine for cups and mugs – though they say not to use in a dishwasher. However, I do put my mugs with adhesive vinyl through the dishwasher, and they’re totally fine. They’ve been through dozens, if not hundreds, of times and haven’t begun to peel.
It’s not best to apply adhesive vinyl to anything that is rough or porous as it won’t stick well. When applying adhesive vinyl to stretched canvas for example, it’s best to coat the canvas in a layer of acrylic paint or to spray it with clear coat before you apply your vinyl (make sure the paint is completely dry first). This will help the vinyl to stick better.
The same goes for wood, which you can also sand down and stain before applying vinyl.
How To Use Adhesive Vinyl
Or learn how to apply vinyl on glass
Here’s what you need to make your own adhesive vinyl decals:
You will need to cut your design with the backing paper side down and the vinyl facing up, in your cutting machine. Unlike with HTV, you do not need to mirror your design before you send it to be cut.
Here’s how the process goes (also see video on how to use adhesive vinyl below):
- cut your design into the vinyl
- remove the excess vinyl
- apply transfer tape over the top of the adhesive vinyl and burnish
- pull away the sticker paper
- apply transfer to the surface and burnish
- remove transfer paper leaving only the adhesive vinyl on your project
HTV Vs Adhesive Vinyl
Should you use heat transfer vinyl or adhesive vinyl?
Heat transfer vinyl is always best for clothing and for fabric items such as tote bags, cosmetic pouches, drink coolies, mousepads and so on. The use of heat allows the design to firmly adhere to the substrate, making it more durable.
Adhesive vinyl is great for awkwardly shaped objects that aren’t able to be heat transferred. Overall, adhesive vinyl can be a lot more versatile with the things you are able to create with it. It’s great for making wall art, or for decorating things such as glass chopping boards!
This video from Expressions Vinyl shows some interesting and unconventional ways of using HTV (you might get a few new ideas!):
Pros of Using Heat Transfer Vinyl
- It is more durable and lasts a lot longer when used on canvas, wood, ceramic etc.
- HTV is better for business – if you want to sell great, high quality products, then HTV will give a better result (as long as it’s appropriate to be used on the substrate)
- It is more fun doing heat transfers, especially with a heat press!
Pros of Using Adhesive Vinyl
- Likely to be cheaper than using HTV as you need less equipments
- Apply adhesive vinyl to awkwardly shaped surfaces, like wine glasses. You can’t do this with a heat press!
- Easily applied to outdoor surfaces, like vehicles
- It’s quicker to use and less complicated than HTV. You don’t need to buy a heat press, learn how to use it and learn how to use it. Once you have cut your design you can simply apply it with your hands.
HTV Vs Vinyl
I hope you now have a better idea of when to use HTV and when to use adhesive vinyl.
As you see, there are pros and cons to using each, depending on the project you have in mind. You can consider which is going to be more durable and which is going to be more convenient. You can choose which is going to be cheaper and which one is best for the surface.
Thanks for reading! Please leave us a comment down below and tell us about a project you have completed recently!
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Oh my gosh you guys I've been dying to share this huge secret with you...for months I've been sworn to secrecy but finally today I can spill.it.all!!!This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own |
Sparkle Berry Ink just introduced custom printed vinyl and heat transfer vinyl. When I say custom printed I mean like you can design you own designs in Silhouette Studio...then upload it to their portal, they professionally print it out, and a few days later it shows up in your mailbox. Do.you.see.why.I.am.so.excited.about.this.
Literally dying!!
Mandy from Sparkle Berry told me about this months ago and the whole system is up and running and so I was so thrilled to be the first to test it out. I created four custom printed sheets of vinyl and HTV to test a few things including print quality, sizing, and layout.
I'm going to walk you through the entire process because everything you see here I created completely in Silhouette Studio!
Designing in Silhouette Studio for Custom Print Vinyl and HTV
You can create the designs for your custom printed vinyl a number of ways - by designing your own or opening up a file in your library. You could even import a design such as your company logo or photo into Silhouette Studio. Just keep in mind if you're going to be using the vinyl or HTV on items you sell you MUST have the commercial rights to the designs.I created three different patterned vinyls - using designs I previously designed and had saved in my library.
This set was originally created to be used for back to school stickers, but I thought it would be perfect for vinyl as well!
If you don't want your vinyl to have a white background, use the Draw a Rectangle tool to draw out a rectangle or square and fill it with a pattern or solid color. Be sure to 'Send to Back' so it goes behind your design.
Be sure to change all red cut lines to either transparent or the same color as the fill since they will show up when we screen grab the design.
Tip: Once Silhouette Studio V4.1 is released, you will be able to save a selection as a JPEG directly from Studio but for right now it's not possible.
When you screen grab, you want the edges of the screen grab to be very tightly cropped next to the design. This is especially important if you have a colored background. If you are going to make this a repeating pattern on the vinyl, any space outside of the design will show up as a white grid line between the pattern repeats as you can see mine did a tiny little bit. Cropping really tight will help give you the seamless pattern effect.
To screen grab on a MAC Command + Shift + 4 use your mouse to draw out a selection box where you want to screen grab.
To screen grab on a PC use the Snipping tool.
Your screen grabbed design should have saved as a JPEG or PNG, but if it hasn't use an online converter to quickly change the file type.
Once you have your JPEG or PNG file head over to the Sparkle Berry Ink website. From the home page click 'Design.'
This will open up the custom printed vinyl and HTV tool.
Scroll down and click 'Upload File' and find the jpeg file on your computer. You can have up to four uploads in the Sparkle Berry custom vinyl tool.
![Custom Vinyal Heat Transfer Custom Vinyal Heat Transfer](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0312/6537/files/vinyl-transfer-1_1024x1024_1024x1024_1024x1024_babc9143-c2aa-4f33-aa82-53cf8ac6441f_1024x1024.png?v=1528816860)
Before your design will appear in the design portal where you can make customizations to it, you'll need to agree that you are not infringing on any copyrights with the design you're uploading. Then your design will appear in the preview screen.
The entire preview screen represents a 12x12 piece of vinyl or HTV so unless you plan on wrapping your car in sheets of vinyl you might want to scale the design down ;). Think about how you'll be cutting the vinyl - large solid pieces or small intricate designs - when you're deciding on the size of the scale.
If you want your design to repeat across the entire sheet click 'Repeats' and then move the bar to the right. The further to the right you move it the more repeats and the smaller each design will be.
You also have the option to stagger the designs in varying increments. You can do that by clicking the drop down menu and picking a vertical drop.
The final step is to pick whether you want to have your custom vinyl professional printed on permanent adhesive vinyl or Siser ColorPrint heat transfer vinyl. Sparkle Berry prints both the adhesive vinyl and the HTV using eco-solvent ink.
I picked a sheet of each...
Then I waited for it to arrive....
When it did a few days later, I literally could not wait a second longer to cut this stuff!!
I mean seriously, you guys, I was so excited to use this custom printed pattern HTV I made this 40' wide table cloth using a 9' heat press...the day before we moved out of our house. That is what you call excited!!
Oh and I weeded it all on the floor because literally everything was packed...but custom printed HTV is soooo worth it!
It was perfect for my table at the All Thing Silhouette Conference...which in the rush of all things that is All Things Silhouette I forgot to take a picture! BUT here's a close up of the HTV on the table cover...and the adhesive vinyl version on a sign I made!
And here are a few closeups...
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links, I receive a small commission. That's what helps fund Silhouette School so I can keep buying new Silhouette-related products to show you how to get the most out of your machine!
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