While a household iron or hobby press may be used, a hot press is strongly recommended to ensure that HTV is properly applied to the garment. Not only does this save time, it also allows the thermal transfer film to be applied at the manufacturer’s recommended temperature, pressure and time to ensure the pattern lasts as long as the garment. A commercial thermal press can be calibrated to meet these needs and maximize efficiency, while a hobby press such as a household iron cannot do anything right.
Most heat transfer vinyl wholesale and special heat transfer vinyl wholesale are manufactured for commercial transfer presses that can maintain a constant temperature and pressure, which wants to offer and is rarely achieved as both are intended for the hobby market. Used for retail / commercial use. Therefore, if you are looking for finished products for retail use, we strongly recommend that you purchase a commercial heat press to ensure that heat transfer is properly related to the intended fabric.
If you’re considering purchasing a thermal transfer press check out our guide to Transfer Presses.
Additionally, the video below explains the advantages of using a heat press over an iron:
What are the types of HTV?
There are many different types of thermal transfer vinyl flooring, including:
HTV T-Shirt: Block standard, pastel and neon colors for standard fabrics.
Stretch HTV: Lock out standard pastel and fluorescent colors with extra stretch.
Subli-Dye Blocker HTV: Blocks standard colors with the property of preventing color migration from polyester fabrics.
HTV silicone: Thanks to its ability to prevent color migration from polyester-based fabrics, it blocks standard colors and provides a silicone-based convex feel for a fashionable finish.
HTV Glitter: specific color shimmering stains that sparkle and glow.
Flock HTV: A velvety surface that is a popular alternative to standard HTV.
Holographic HTV: Add holographic shine to your designs.
Reflective HTV: Highly reflective and compliant with the European safety standard EN471.
HTV foil: Basic adhesive for use with thermal transfer foils to achieve metallic effects.
What is the best thermal transfer vinyl?
Often it is down to personal preference, but the high-quality HTV TVs we provide, such as Stahl Thermal Transfer and Thermal Transfer Vinyl, are mainly made of polyurethane (PU) to keep them thin but opaque and easy to detangle. weeds. It applies quickly and lasts for a long time.
Finding the best thermal transfer vinyl for your needs is often time consuming in the beginning, especially if you plan to produce retail designs. That’s why we created this guide to help you find what you are looking for. I’ll call you again. Overall, the main components of an excellent HTV are as follows:
Quality: Some online retailers offer HTV packages, the quality of which may vary, while established brands offer high-quality vinyl in specific colors per meter, usually in 500mm wide rolls. Good vinyl tends to last much longer and will not peel, fade or tear, as long as it is washed according to the provided care instructions. They are also much thinner as they are made of PU (polyurethane) instead of PVC which is cheaper to produce.
Color Range: Most standard HTV TVs come in either matte or semi-matte block colors, with larger brands available in a wider range of colors. For example, the Sportsfilm Extra T-Shirt Vinyl is available in 40 different colors, including surfaces in fluorescent and pastel colors.
Ease of use: Applying vinyl to your fabric should be quick and easy. However, the use of PVC-based HTV can often lead to problems in practice. By comparison, PU-based HTV has a tendency to peel off when hot, which makes it much faster and should easily withstand at least 50 washes, provided the adhesive is applied at the correct temperature.
Specificity: Different grades are also available in the if you’re looking for a unique finish like Flock HTV or Reflective HTV, but choosing a well-known brand (like Stahls HTV) is a strong benchmark for vinyl. it depends on the job you are buying!