How to use Printed HTV

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Are you tired of just putting solid colors on your shirts and bags? or have you been seeing the prints on the Heat Transfer Vinyl wall, but have been hesitant to use it because it seems complicated? Maybe you picked it up but then realized it was different than normal Heat transfer vinyl when you got home. NEVER FEAR, Craft Closet is here. 

Today, we are going to walk through the steps of cutting and applying the printed heat transfer vinyl. So with the regular styles of HTV, such as EasyWeed and Glitter, you begin by putting the vinyl on your mat with the shiny side down. Then you horizontally flip your image on your design space and cut it out! Easy peesy, right? Well, Printed HTV is a little different. Just follow these steps and you will be on your way to making your designs stand out that much more with printed vinyl.

1. CUT WITH THE PRINT FACING UP

This first step is what throws so many people off, when trying to cut this particular type of vinyl, since usually you cut face down. With Printed HTV, you will place the sheet of vinyl on your cutting mat with the print side facing up.

2. DO NOT MIRROR YOUR IMAGE

Unlike other types of heat transfer vinyl, the Printed HTV does not have to be mirrored, or flipped horizontally, since we are cutting with the print side facing up. Once you design your image, you won't flip it, you will leave it just like it is and begin the cutting process on your machine. 

3. WEED YOUR DESIGN

This step is the same as always. Once your design has finished cutting, you will weed off the pieces that you do not want. After you weed those pieces off, you will see that there is a semi-opaque film on the back of the printed vinyl. This piece simply holds your design together.

4. USING A CARRIER SHEET (MASK)

Because the Patterned HTV does not have the carrier sheet, or HTV mask as some may refer to it,you will need a separate one. This process is very similar to applying transfer tape to your adhesive (sticky) vinyl, however you can not use transfer tape because once heated, it will melt. These carrier sheets are sold by the sheet or by the roll. If you are the type of person that keeps EVERYTHING, then you probably still have the carrier sheet that comes off of the Easyweed vinyl. Yes, it is the same thing, once is just fresh and the other has already been on vinyl, but you can still use it. You will cut the sheet the size of your design and lay it right on top of your design. After you apply it, you want to make sure that you smooth it down with either a squeegee or something thick like a credit card. Once you smooth it down, you will then peel the backing off of the print and carrier sheet. Do this by flipping it over so that the semi opaque sheet is facing up and the print is facing down. Then peel the back off of the print. 

5. PRESS YOUR DESIGN (LIKE NORMAL)

After you have applied the carrier sheet and have removed the original backing to the print you will notice that it looks just like regular HTV with the design mirrored on the carrier sheet. You can now press or iron your design on to your blank item of choice!

 

See that wasn't so hard, was it? We admit that after getting in to the habit of using regular HTV and mirroring your image, this process sounds very daunting and time consuming! Once you get the hang of it, you will be an expert in using Patterned HTV just like when you started using regular HTV!