Samantha Baker

Vinyl is our absolute favorite product to use these days, it is incredibly versatile, truly affordable and comes in a wide range of types and colors. You get two main types of vinyl, one is a heat transfer vinyl and the other is adhesive vinyl. Today we will be discussing two types of adhesive vinyl.

The questions we have seen most people asked are:

• “What is permanent vinyl?”
• “What is removable vinyl?” and
• “Is there any difference between the two?”

We want you to use the right type of vinyl to match your project purpose.  So today, we are here to clarify and help you understand when you should be using removable vinyl and when you should use permanent vinyl.

Removable vs. Permanent Vinyl: What’s the Difference?

Below we are going to look closely at both removable self-adhesive vinyl, as well as at permanent vinyl. Once you understand what each of these types of vinyl is used for, you will understand how they are different.

What is Removable Vinyl?

I think people most often assume that is they are creating something like a vinyl sticker, you would want it to last forever. So we often have readers who are really confused about why you even would need something like a removable vinyl.

But removable vinyl is a FABULOUS product and I am about to give you loads of inspiration on how to make use of this great product.

The beauty about removable vinyl is that it can be peeled off with ease and it won’t leave any adhesive marks on the surface. It won’t damage the paint on your walls and won’t leave residue on your windows.

What Can You Do with Removable Vinyl?

So that is nice and all, but why would you want to use removable vinyl? Here are a few examples of when you will find yourself reaching for the removable type of vinyl.

• Removable Vinyl Stickers: Removable vinyl stickers are commonly used for bumper stickers, temporary decorations, food packaging, containers, calendar stickers, and bottles. For instance, when we need to reuse containers/bottles, a removable vinyl sticker is more preferable. And if we wish to switch these containers, we can use removable stickers as identification tags.
• Removable Vinyl Decals for Cars: You can also use removable vinyl decals for cars, that is, if you have to remove it afterwards. The best example for this is a wedding car sticker for recently married couples.
• Removable Wall Decals: Another example is when you want to decorate a room without having to paint your designs time and again: removable wall vinyl comes to the rescue! You can change them as many times as you want to.
• Vinyl Stencils: Another fabulous way to use vinyl that is removable is by using it as a stencil. You can then use the stencil together with some paint or spray paint to create a unique product – such as a sign.
• Nail Decals: Want to get super creative? We have a reader who cuts tiny adorable nail art with her cutter. She applies these to her nails and then simply pops some clear nail polish over the top to keep them in place.
• Themed Parties or Special Events: Have a special party or event coming up? You can literally transform your entire house for the day when you can create removable wall decals, window stickers, removable jar labels and more. Removable vinyl is the best products for days such as Easter, Christmas, St Patrick’s Day, Thanksgiving and so much more!

Besides this, there are other countless events and reasons for the use of removable vinyl stickers and decals.

Where Should You Use Removable Vinyl?

Removable vinyl is best used indoors. It is best when you apply it to most smooth surfaces such as walls, glass and ceramic. The adhesive on this vinyl is not strong enough to endure a variety of weather conditions that it will be exposed to outdoors.

How Long Does Removable Vinyl Last?

Most people only use removable vinyl for short durations of up to a month (for example at Christmas time), but your removable wall decals should be fine on the wall for around one year.

Which Vinyl is Removable?

So now that I have you excited about the possibilities of removable vinyl, which brands are the best and where can you get some from?

1. Cricut Removable Vinyl

Is Cricut vinyl removable? If you are a Cricut fan, you will be happy to hear that Cricut does indeed have some beautiful removable vinyl on offer. All of their ‘basic’ vinyl is removable and they also have some removable vinyl in their ‘premium’ range.

Their removable vinyl can last 1+ years and they currently have 17 colors available.

• You can purchase Cricut Removable Basic Vinyl directly from Cricut here, grab some removable premium vinyl from Cricut here, or
• Grab your Cricut Removable Sample Vinyl pack online from Amazon here.

2. Oracal Removable Vinyl

Oracal is one of the best brands if you want to use adhesive vinyl (they don’t make HTV). Their vinyl is superior in quality to most brands. The Oracal 631 vinyl is their removable vinyl, whilst Oracal 651 is their standard permanent vinyl.

Due to the fabulous quality, you can get 3+ years use out of their removable vinyl, and they come in a massive 69 colors.

• You can purchase Oracal 631 Removable Vinyl directly from Swing Designs here, or
• Grab some Oracal 631 Removable Vinyl online from Amazon here.

3. Craft E Removable Vinyl 

Never heard of this brand? Yeah, I’m not surprised. We all know that if we stay clear of brand name products we can still pick up great quality product for lower prices. This is one of those cases. Craft E vinyl has a very popular removable vinyl pack for sale.

The pack contains 2 x 20 different color 12 x 12″ sheets. So you get 40 sheets in total.

• You can grab this affordable pack of removable vinyl from Amazon here.

4. Other Brands and Types

Other than that, you can also find removable adhesive vinyl in speciality type vinyl such as:

• Cricut Foil Removable Vinyl
• Cricut Removable Patterned Vinyl

What is Permanent Vinyl?

Permanent vinyl, on the other hand, contains much stronger adhesive on it. It is a long-lasting vinyl and whilst you can remove this vinyl it will often leave the adhesive residue behind (which can be hard to remove) and it also might rip paint off the walls/cars etc.

What Can You Do with Permanent Vinyl?

• Drinkware: Want to personalize a glass, a cup, a tumbler or a mug? You need a strong vinyl adhesive that can survive water and detergents. Permanent vinyl is your best bet.
• Car Decals: If you want to add logos, pictures or decorative features to your car, I would highly recommend that you use a permanent vinyl. This type of vinyl is ideal for surfaces that have to endure harsh outside elements. You can read more about vinyl for car decals here.
• Signs: Most people make signs that will last, so we typically use permanent vinyl to ensure that it will stick properly. Most signs are also used outdoors, and permanent vinyl will be able to handle weather conditions better than removable can.
• Welcome Mats: Want to make a personalized welcome mat? You need a strong adhesive vinyl to stay put whilst people rub their feet clean.
• Themed Decor: This year I decided to decorate some Easter eggs with sweet words. I used permanent vinyl because I want these eggs to be usable each Easter.

So, Does Permanent Vinyl Come Off?

Let’s face it. What lasts forever? Of course, nothing. So, yes, it comes off eventually, but after quite a long usage. The idea of permanent vinyl is to make it last longer than removable vinyl.

Note: This type of vinyl has a stronger adhesive and whilst it can be removed, you will most likely destroy the surface if they try to pull it off.

How Long Does Permanent Vinyl Last?

It depends on the surrounding environment they’re used in. The Oracal Permanent Vinyl, for example, is built to endure harsh weather conditions for 6 years. Some of the more expensive types of permanent vinyl can last 8+ years.

Which Vinyl is Permanent?

So now that I have you excited about the possibilities of permanent vinyl, which brands are the best and where can you get some from?

1. Cricut Premium Vinyl

Which Cricut Vinyl is Permanent? You can find permanent vinyl in their ‘premium’ range.Their permanent vinyl can last up to 3 years. You can also find the permanent vinyl is speciality types such as shimmer, pearl, frosted and more!

• You can purchase Cricut Premium Vinyl directly from Cricut here

2. Oracal 651 + Oracal 751

Oracal is one of the best brands if you want to use adhesive vinyl (they don’t make HTV). Their vinyl is superior in quality to most brands. Oracal 641, Oracal 651, Oracal 751 and Oracal 951 are all permanent vinyl.

Most people tend to use Oracal 651 (glossy) or Oracal 641 (Matte) because it is the cheapest and works for most projects.

The Oracal 641 will last up to 3-4 years, whilst the Oracal 651 can last up to 6 years.

• You can purchase Oracal 641 matt vinyl directly from Swing Designs here, or the Oracal 651 glossy vinyl here.
• Grab some Oracal 641 matte vinyl online from Amazon here, and Oracal 651 glossy vinyl here.

3. Siser EasyPSV Vinyl

Siser is well known for the high-quality heat transfer vinyl, so we were all super excited when they recently started producing their own adhesive vinyl range called Easy PSV.

Their vinyl is top notch quality, they are easy to weed and easy to apply.

• You can grab Siser EasyPSV from Expressions Vinyl here.

4. EZ Craft USA

Another brand that you might not have heard of, but they have some great quality vinyl available for a lovely low price. You can pick up this permanent vinyl pack.

The pack contains 40 different 12 x 12″ sheets. You will get 30 different colors.

• You can grab this affordable pack of permanent vinyl from Amazon here.

5. Other Brands and Types

Other than that, you can also find permanent adhesive vinyl in speciality type vinyl such as:

• Patterned Permanent Vinyl
• Permanent Glitter Adhesive Vinyl
• Holographic Permanent Vinyl
• Metallic Permanent Vinyl

Summary: What is the Difference between Removable and Permanent Vinyl?

In a lot of ways, you will find that removable and permanent vinyl is similar. Both of these types of vinyl are:

• Waterproof
• Writable with a permanent marker
• Microwave safe
• Dishwasher safe

The difference between these types of vinyl mainly lies in the permanence and strength of the material’s adhesive.

• Due to the fact that removable vinyl has a weaker adhesive, it is best to use this type of vinyl indoors, whilst the strong adhesive on the permanent vinyl makes it suitable for both indoor an outdoor use.
• Whilst you can expect the removable vinyl to last for around 1 year (for Cricut) or 3 years (for Oracal), your permanent vinyl should give you at least 3 years (for Cricut) and up to 8 years (for Oracal) of use.
• If you want to use it in water, whilst both are waterproof and dishwasher safe, the removable vinyl will start peeling way too soon.

So basically, the only difference between the two types of vinyl stickers/decals is their durability.

It is important to match your style of project with the right type of adhesive vinyl. Once you know which vinyl to use, cutting it with your vinyl cutter and applying it should be easy. Make sure you have the right tools for adhesive vinyl to make your life simpler.

And that’s all we have for this post! We hope this has helped you clarify a few questions.

Till later,

Sam xxx

Car decals are typically used in business situations and so it comes as no surprise that those business owners want to invest in the best vinyl for cars to ensure that looks professional.

We want our car decals to turn heads for all the right reasons, not because the vinyl is fading in the sun and peeling from exposure to harsh weather conditions.

There aren’t a lot of types of vinyl on the market that meets all the needs that are required from an oudoor vinyl such as car vinyl. It can be pretty complicated to pick the right vinyl for car decals.

Today we wanted to outline a type of vinyl that is brilliant for car decal use. We’ll take a look at a few criteria you need to consider before understanding why this vinyl is the best vinyl for car decals. 

What Kind of Vinyl to Use for Car Decals

So before we talk about which vinyl is the best for cars, let’s focus on some really important criteria:

• How durable does the vinyl have to be? Is this a temporary decal or one that you would expect to last for many years?
• Which part of the car do you wish to adhere the decal on?
• What kind of surface is it?
• What sort of conditions will the vinyl need to be able to withstand? Is it parked undercover or does it stand outside in the sun all day long? Do you drive on dirt roads or gravel roads?

There are a lot of vinyl varieties and brands, some types of vinyl are expensive but don’t really last. It might be because of an unsuitable surface, the quality, or a couple of other reasons.

It is really important to invest in a vinyl that was designed for outside use and one that can withstand harsh weather conditions of snow, cold, heat and rain. We don’t want a vinyl that will start fading too quickly and we need a vinyl that has a strong adhesive so that it doesn’t peel.

We also need the vinyl to be able to withstand detergents that will be used when you need to wash the car.

Vinyl for Car Decal Buyers Guide

So let’s get straight into answering your question, what vinyl should you use for DIY car decals?

Oracal 651, 751 or 951

Oracal 651, 751 and 951 vinyl ticks all the boxes that are required from a car vinyl decal. This brand makes superior-quality vinyl.

• All three of these types of vinyl are permanent outdoor vinyl.
• They all have a strong adhesive and has a silicone-coated surface, which means that it can withstand harsh weather conditions easily.
• It is also water-resistant which makes it perfect for cars.
• It also comes in a range of colors and is easy to work with.
• Your vinyl cutter will be able to slice through this vinyl easily, the vinyl is easy to weed and easy to wrap around corners.

Even though these vinyl is permanent vinyl, you should still be able to remove the vinyl without leaving adhesive marks behind (or damaging the paint finish of your car) if you follow the correct procedures.

The differences between these types of vinyl really down to their price points and how long you would expect the vinyl to last.

Oracal 651 is the most affordable option, so if you are only getting started with car decals, you might wish to start here.

• You can purchase Oracal 651 vinyl from Swing Designs or from Amazon.

How Long Will the Car Decal Last?

The duration of the life you will get out of the vinyl decal depends on where you live, which type of weather conditions it will be exposed to and what sort of heat it will have to withstand.

• Oracal 651 is meant to last 6 years
• Oracal 751 (which is at least 2 x more expensive than 651) is meant to last for 8 years
• Oracal 951 (the most expensive vinyl) is meant to last for 12 years

I have seen Oracal 651 used on boats, trailers and cars and after 4 years the decals still look close to new.

The beauty is that you need to remember that most businesses update their logos as time goes by and many people choose to refresh their logos by choice (even before the vinyl starts to show wear and tear).

Can you Use Oracal 651 on Car Windows?

If you’re also wondering what vinyl to use for car window decals, don’t worry. You can use this vinyl for car windows as well. The Oracal 651 vinyl is quite versatile. It will stick perfectly on any window surface.

What are the Negatives About Using Oracal Vinyl on Cars?

Whilst Oracal vinyl happens to be one of the best vinyl to use on cars, it is not perfect.

The best way to preserve the vinyl decal would be to ensure that your car is parked undercover and does not stand outside in the full sun all day long.

Cars that tend to be outside in full sun every day, will often see the vinyl shrink over the years. Which means that you might have to remove your decal and replace it with a new one to freshen it up (at least it is an affordable vinyl so this is not the worst news).

The vinyl might also create small cracks where the heat seems worse, such as on windows.

If your car will be standing outside in full sun each day, I would highly recommend steering clear of vinyl and looking towards using paint for your decal instead.

However, I love using vinyl, because you can remove it an replace your decals with newly updated decals.

I have seen Oracal 651 vinyl looks like new after 4 years on cars that were used for business purposes, however when used on an industrial truck it lasted only 18 months – it really comes down to how you use your vehicle.

The Best Vinyl for Car Decals

The best vinyl for your car will truly depend on your own individual situation. Each situation has its own needs and merits, opportunity costs and requirements involved.

If you can foresee changes in your business in the near future, or if you typically sell and purchase new cars for your purchase every 5 years – I would highly recommend that you grab the most cost-effective option.

1. Oracal 651 Car Decal Vinyl

Oracal 651 is the cheapest vinyl to apply on cars. Whilst it is a short-term vinyl (6 years), we find that most people have to do repairs to their cars, update the decal or even sell their cars during that period of time, so short-term vinyl is perfect for most customers.

I would also typically choose to use Oracal 651 on car windows as this type of vinyl is easier to remove in comparison to 751 and 951.

This is the most popular option and it is a great vinyl to get started with.

• Grab your Oracal 651 from Swing Designs
• Grab your Oracal 651 from Amazon

We love transferring our Oracal 651 decal designs with R-TAPE. R-Tape is a high tack rubber adhesive application tape which works perfectly with Oracal 651 vinyl.

2. Oracal 751 Car Decal Vinyl

If your car really goes through hard work, stands outside in the sun, has to handle gravel worksites etc. you might wish to upgrade to the higher-quality Oracal 751 vinyl. It comes at a premium price but will withstand harsher conditions better than the 651 does.

• Grab your Oracal 751 from Swing Designs
• Grab your Oracal 751 from Amazon

3. Oracal 951 Car Decal Vinyl

Oracal 951 is really for permanency, it is a super pricey vinyl and it is really hard to come by. We are thinking REAL long term here and most businesses have changes way too often for the cost of this vinyl to be viable. We don’t bother with 951 as we really feel that 651 and 751 are long-lasting enough for our needs.

I hope you know have a better understanding about what type of vinyl is used for car decals.

If you are still feeling confused, I would urge you to purchase Oracle 651 for your first car decal. The 651 is the most affordable type of vinyl that is suitable for DIY car decals. It is easy to use, easy to weed and wraps around corners beautifully. It does a fabulous job of withstanding harsh conditions and has an outdoor life of 6 years.

It is the vinyl we use 80% of the time when we design car decals and I know that you will be happy with it too.

Look out soon for a post that we will share on how to apply your car vinyl, as well as how to correctly remove the vinyl when it is time for a refresh.

Till later,

Sam xxx

What is flocked HTV vinyl? Flocked HTV is a special type of heat transfer vinyl that has a lovely raised soft and fuzzy texture.

But let’s back up a section and talk about heat transfer vinyl.

HTV or Heat Transfer Vinyl is a type of vinyl that can be ironed onto any t-shirt, sweatshirt, blanket or other cotton or polyester-based fabric.

There are different types of heat transfer vinyl. The most common type is standard smooth vinyl, but you can also find HTV vinyl in glitter, holographic, glow-in-the-dark, flocked and even more.

Today we want to zone in and focus on a common question that we get asked all the time: “What is flocked heat transfer vinyl?” And I also want to talk about how you can use flocked HTV.

Let’s get started!

What is Flocked HTV?

Flock heat transfer vinyl is the type of vinyl that feels like suede. It has a soft, fuzzy, raised feel and is a great way to add more dimension, thickness, and texture to your designs.

Do you remember those embroidery patches on your favorite jeans when you were little? Well, flocked vinyl is very similar to those, except that it’s much more affordable and easy to apply.

Like regular vinyl, you will need a vinyl cutter to cut your vinyl. You will also need either an iron or a heat press to apply this onto your fabric.

Flocked vs Smooth Heat Transfer Vinyl

The main difference between flock and smooth heat transfer is the texture and material.

Flocked vinyl is fuzzier and it pops up for dimension, whilst smooth vinyl is flat and you guessed it … smooth. Smooth vinyl is more delicate, whilst flocked vinyl is tougher.

These types of HTV vinyl are so different that they each require different cut settings. With smooth vinyl, you can just go ahead with the normal cut vinyl settings but when cutting flock vinyl, you need to increase the depth for your blade to cut through the textured flock.

What Kinds of Surfaces Can I Apply Flocked Vinyl On?

Flocked vinyl is fabulous on kids clothing because it adds a level of softness and cuteness to their clothes.

We also love flock vinyl to create some professional logos on staff uniforms. The texture of the vinyl helps divide the logo from the clothing – you want your logo to jump out and be seen right!? Flock vinyl is one way to achieve exactly that.

Flocked HTV is also fabulous for sports-lovers, it looks flash on sports hoodies, sports caps, as well as team shirts.

From experience, we have found that flocked vinyl works really well on certain surfaces and fabrics such as:

• 100% cotton
• Poly/cotton blends
• 100% polyester
• Leather

Where Can You Get the Best Flocked Vinyl?

Below you will find a list of the best flocked vinyl companies, together with ideas of where to buy them from. You can typically buy them in either individual flocked vinyl sheets or you can buy bulk in rolls.

1. Siser StripFlock Vinyl

If you want the best of the best, we would recommend the Siser Stripflock which comes in 10 different colors plus your standard white and black.

Siser has a fabulous reputation and most professional vinyl crafters often announce that Siser manufacturers the best HTV vinyl on the market.

Why we think this is the best vinyl for use is because it is the only kind of flocked vinyl that you can use in multiple layers for creating different designs. Siser vinyl applies easily and it peels easily – it is overall just a really easy vinyl to use.

• You can purchase your Siser Flock HTV from Swing Designs here (our preferred store).
• You can also find Siser StripFlock HTV on Amazon here

2. Firefly Craft Flock Vinyl

Firefly flock vinyl is favored by many designers and DIYers. This vinyl comes in 6 colors, and is slightly more expensive than Siser. Important to note that you can not layer this flock vinyl, so best to use it for single color designs.

• You can grab Firefly Flock Vinyl from Amazon here.

How to Use Flocked Heat Transfer Vinyl

It’s not really hard to use flocked transfer vinyl once you get the gist of it.

If you want to create multiple fancy designs, flocked vinyl works pretty good. You can layer it with smooth vinyl as well. Just lay down a sheet of smooth vinyl and heat press it, followed by a layer of your cut flocked vinyl (also heat pressed).

Moreover, with the Siser Stripflock, you can even layer one sheet of vinyl on top of another sheet of flocked vinyl to create multi-color designs.

But let’s jump into the tutorial on how to use flocked vinyl.

1. How Do I Cut My Flocked HTV?

As we have mentioned before, you will need a vinyl cutting machine to cut your flocked vinyl. Also note that flocked vinyl requires more blade depth than smooth vinyl.

However, this varies from one manufacturer to another. They will likely put instructions about the cutting requirements on their packaging.

Also, it depends on which kind of cutter you use.

Here is a general guideline that you can try out – best to try it one a small sampler size to see if your machine cuts correctly.

I personally use the latest Cricut Maker Fabric Cutter to cut my flocked vinyl and have never had an issue with the settings. Do remember that if you cut your vinyl and you realize it didn’t cut through properly you can always ask the machine to do a re-cut.

Next, simply weed and peel your design as you normally would in order to prepare it for the application.

More info on weeding vinyl in our post here.

2. How to Iron or Heat Press Flocked Vinyl

The first step, make sure you read the instructions that come with the vinyl you bought. Each brand is different to the other and they will typically provide you with the temperate and time settings that are required to apply their vinyl brand.

You can use either an iron or a heat press (read about the differences between an iron and heat press here). I prefer using a vinyl heat press for my designs.

Remember to do an initial press before laying it on the fabric. This will remove any moisture and will remove wrinkles from the fabric.

After that, set your temperature at 320-degrees Fahrenheit, add pressure for about 15 seconds, check the corners carefully to see if it applied properly if it lifts up simply apply more heat and pressure.

With iron, you can follow the same steps except you have to set it at ‘cotton’ or ‘high’. Apply pressure for 20 seconds, before moving onto the next section of your design.

Make sure to follow the vinyl instructions on whether to peel the plastic when it is cold or when it is still hot. The Siser StripFlock should only be peeled once the plastic is cold to touch.

And that’s it! You’re done. It’s as simple as that.

Don’t forget to wait 24 hours before your 1st wash. Always set the machine wash to warm or cold and use mild detergent. You can tumble dry your clothing, but I recommend turning your shirt inside out to protect the vinyl. Tumble dry on cool or normal but avoid hot.

Finally, we have come to the end of today’s article.

What we have given you are the important basics one needs to know about flocked heat transfer vinyl. And we hope you enjoyed it!

Don’t Forget to Pin this Post for Future Reference

See you again next time!

Sam xxx

Would you like to learn more about how to use heat transfer vinyl for your next craft project?

Heat transfer vinyl is a brilliant product. My favorite way to use HTV is to create customized t-shirts for my children, but you can also use it on canvas bags, shopping bags, canvas shoes, hats, caps and so much more.

It is fairly easy to work with heat transfer vinyl, but you do a really clear tutorial to follow when you try to use HTV for the first time because if you do get a few steps wrong, it will totally ruin your design.

Today we share our ultimate beginner’s guide to customizing t-shirts using heat transfer vinyl.

So, get ready to manifest your graphics and witty tees!

What is Heat Transfer Vinyl?

Before we start, let’s first take a look at what heat transfer vinyl is.

Heat transfer vinyl, which is also known as ‘HTV’, is a special type of vinyl (or material) that can be used on certain fabrics and materials to create unique designs. This type of vinyl comes with an adhesive backing that melts with the application of heat.

Just in case you’re wondering, this method is not only for creating customized t-shirts with designs. It can be done on bags, notebooks, dresses, caps, and other possible surfaces you can imagine.

It’s perfect if you want your clothes to reflect your personality and your tastes, or if you wish to created themed clothes for special events, such as birthdays or Easter.

So, what are we waiting for? Let’s read along for more HTV instructions!

Supply List

• Heat Transfer Vinyl (any type)
• Your Design File (Check compatibility with your software)
• Iron/Cricut EasyPress/Heat Press
• Vinyl Cutting Machine
• Silhouette Studio Software/Cricut Design Space/Other Cutting Software
• Cutting mat (Preferable sizes 12″ x 12″ and 12″ x 24″)
• Weeding Tools

How To Use Heat Transfer Vinyl

There are 3 main steps involved in using HTV vinyl. Firstly you will need to learn how to cut heat transfer vinyl, next you will learn how to weed and prepare your design and lastly, you will learn how to apply the design to your product.

1. How to Cut HTV

Wondering how to use HTV vinyl with your vinyl cutter? Here are some basics steps to follow. Please note that the steps will be slightly different depending on which brand vinyl cutter you use.

Step 1: Get your Design Ready

For this first step, you need to prepare your design using design software (we recommend using Silhouette Studio or Cricut Design Space for beginners because it is easy to use).

There is a range of files available for designs. For instance, SVG files are mostly graphic designs while .jpg files are photo-quality files.

Some files are more compatible and work better with designing software and cutting machines, while some don’t, so do check compatibility with your chosen software.

Side Note: How to Get a Design File?

• Basically, you download free ones if you’re just starting out and practicing. You can find a list of free SVG File Websites here.
• If you’re planning to sell your creations, make sure you get royalty-free designs in the initial stage to be on the safe side.
• You can also get your design customized by a designer online. There are sites selling good-quality cut-files, starting from $2 and above. It mostly depends where you get it from.

When the design is prepared, you now need to measure the area (on the shirt/product) where the design will be.

Then, open the software and check for a cut-file option. Adjust the size of the image as measured on the shirt by using the pointers on each of the four corners.

After you have finished measuring, make sure you select mirror image (on the software). This is because the cutting side is done from the back of the design (the area where you apply the design on the surface).

You can do this by clicking on the “Flip” option in Silhouette Studio and selecting “Flip Horizontally”. Or if you are using Cricut Design Space, simply select “Mirror-Image”

Step 2: Cutting Heat Transfer Vinyl

In this section, we’ll show you how to cut the heat transfer vinyl. Cutting HTV is not very complicated, but you really will need a good quality vinyl cutting machine in order to do a good job.

Note: Should you Have the HTV Shiny Side Up or Down?

First, place your vinyl upside down (shiny side down) on the cutting mat and adjust the size before you start.

Before kicking off with the cutting process, remember that there are different cutting adjustments for different types of vinyl you use, as well as different settings for each type of cutting machine.

Load up the mat in your cutter and next select the current type of vinyl from your options. This step will differ depending on the machine you use, some machines have a dial that you need to turn and adjust, others have settings to choose from in the software itself.

Also make sure you have selected the right blade for the job.

You will often find a handy sheet that comes with your vinyl that can help you out with the right settings, or you could do a simple google search as many brands list the settings for both Silhouette and Cricut machines on their websites.

You are now ready for cutting! So step aside and let your machine work its magic.

2. How to Weed and Prepare HTV Vinyl

Following you will find the heat transfer vinyl instructions on how to weed and prepare your design prior to the heat application stage.

Step 1: Peel off the Extra Vinyl

After cutting, you are required to peel off the excess vinyl so you can finally get to the design you want.

If you’re working on a small design, chances are, there will still be enough space on the vinyl for another project.

It would be a waste if the whole sheet is to be discarded. What you can do is cut off the rest of the usable vinyl before weeding the excess.

Step 2: Weeding

Also, for weeding, you will require a sharp/pointed pick. This will ensure that the design won’t get damaged. There are hooks you can check out that are made specifically for weeding. I love the Cricut Weeding Tool Set.

You can the sharp points of these tools to pick out all the remaining vinyl, such as in the “o” of a letter.

Remember not to remove the design – you are removing all the vinyl that you don’t want. The design should stay on with the plastic carrier cover (which is meant to keep the design intact) and it will be used for the ironing process later.

3. How to Apply Heat Transfer Vinyl with Heat

In order to get the design to stick to your material, you will need to apply heat and pressure.

The heat melts the frozen adhesive, allowing it to stick firmly on to the t-shirt.

In order to do this, you can use an iron (not really recommended), or a heat transfer vinyl press (preferred).

Step 1: Prepare your Work Surface

Before pressing the design, prepare your workspace, you need a sturdy surface (not an iron-board) and you will also need a towel or a heat press pillow that you will use to protect your work surface.

Next, I also highly recommend that you give the shirt a quick 10-sec pre-press to remove wrinkles and moisture.

Set the temperature and timing on your press (the HTV vinyl will come with instructions and info on these settings).

Step 2: Press the Design onto the Shirt

Once your press is hot enough, place your design onto your shirt face-up and simply press the design (set at the correct temperature, with the correct time setting and whilst applying pressure).

If the design surface is large and you are using an iron or a small heat press, you might have to repeat the process to all areas in order to ensure that every area gets equal heat and pressure distribution.

Next, flip over the shirt and apply a little heat on the reverse side of the shirt.

Check your HTV vinyl and read the instructions to see if your type and brand of vinyl is a “cold-peel” or a “hot peel”. This just refers to whether you should peel the plastic when it is cold or hot.

Slowly and carefully lift up the corner of the plastic sheet. Check if the vinyl stays or peels along with the sheet. If it stays, that means it’s working great. If it sticks with the sheet, you will have to lay it back down gently and apply more pressure.

Peel away your plastic. And wha-la look what you just created!

Note: If you use smooth vinyl, the final result will also appear very smooth. On the other hand, if you use flocked vinyl, you will notice that it gives out fuzzy effects when you’re done.

One last thing, let the t-shirt rest for a day before you decide to wash it. And always wash your t-shirts inside out. Steer clear of tumble dryers.

And well, that’s everything! We have finished the last step. Your t-shirt is now ready to hit the snazzy streets!

We sure hope that our tutorial on how to make heat press transfers was beneficial to you.

Till later,

Sam xxx

The popularity of vinyl art has soared in recent years thanks to an increased demand for vinyl stickers, wall decals and customized t-shirts!

In fact, dozens of vinyl cutting home businesses pop up every day, and thousands of passionate vinyl artists are grabbing on to this opportunity in order to make some money out of their art.

If you’re someone who’s intrigued by this wonderful emerging art form and wish to get started with your own vinyl cutting business, you’re at the right place!

Since you’re reading this, it’s safe to assume that you’re a beginner who’s just starting to learn the tricks of this trade.

So, in order to help you get started, we’ve made a little guide that will equip you with all the necessary knowledge you need to get underway with your first vinyl art project.

So let’s get started!

Vinyl 101 – The Basics of Cricut and Silhouette

Working with vinyl doesn’t necessarily require you to have an electronic vinyl cutting machine, but having one does help a lot if you’re looking to get precise and high-quality designs!

Having a pair of scissors or a craft knife is usually enough if you’re just getting accustomed to this art. But if you’re looking forward to starting a serious Crafting Vinyl Business, you’re going to need a good quality Cricut cutter or Silhouette cutting machine (or any other brand, but these are my favorites for those getting started).

I’ve been using vinyl for crafting projects for quite a long time now, and I personally use a Cricut Maker, but the Silhouette Cameo 3 is also really popular.

These type of electronic cutting machines are a godsend when you need to cut highly complicated designs that have a lot of detail. In fact, some designs are nearly impossible to cut with regular scissors, or even crafting knives!

So if you’re looking forward to working with vinyl for craft, consider getting yourself one of these machines!

Types of Craft Vinyl

With so many kinds of vinyl out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed if you’re a beginner.

However, with the right knowledge and some hands-on experience, it won’t be long before you figure out what matches your style.

There are two general types of craft vinyl:

1. Adhesive Vinyl and
2. Heat Transfer Vinyl

These two broad categories have a lot of sub-types, and each has its own style and standards.

1. Adhesive Vinyl

These type is also known as ‘sticker vinyl’ and has a pressure-sensitive adhesive on a thin material which can be cut into all sorts of designs and shapes.

You can choose either a temporary removal vinyl or a permanent adhesive one. You can find out more about what the best adhesive vinyl is here.

2. Heat Transfer Vinyl

This type of vinyl is extremely popular when it comes to making customized t-shirts and other kinds of fabric printing. It uses a heat-activated adhesive that can be used to transfer the design on to fabrics.

You can find all sorts of types of HTV vinyl. My favorite is glitter HTV, but you can also find holographic, flocked HTV, metallic HTV, Glow-in-the-Dark HTV and so much more!

Find out what the best HTV vinyl is here.

What Tools & Supplies Do You Need to Get Started?

Apart from an electronic vinyl cutter, there are a few other tools that you’d need in order to get started with vinyl crafting.

Here are a few of the things you’d need to get started:

1. Software

Most of the time when you buy an electronic vinyl cutting machine, you also get a software along with it that’s supposed to help you with cutting out your designs.

It is always worthwhile doing some tutorials to get to know your software really well.

2. Cutting Mats

These things help you to cut out highly accurate designs. Different types of materials require different types of cutting mats.

The cutting mat will have an adhesive on it, to help keep your vinyl in place whilst the machine blade cuts your design. You can learn more about the types of Cricut Mats here.

3. Blades

The blades on your vinyl cutting machine get worn out with time, and hence need to be replaced periodically. So get yourself a couple of extra blades!

Click here to learn more about Cricut blades here.

4. Weeding Tools

Once you have cut your design with your machine, you will need to weed the excess vinyl away.

On our website, we explain what weeding is:

Weeding is a process in which the unnecessary excess vinyl is removed from a design sheet. See full post here.

To remove vinyl, you will need special tools.

• Tweezers to lift and secure delicate material
• Weeder to remove tiny negative cuts
• Micro-tip scissors with protective blade cover
• Spatula to lift cuts from the mat
• Scraper to burnish material and clean all cutting mats

Apart from these, you’d also need a few other supplies depending on what type of vinyl you’re working with.

5. Transfer Tape (for Adhesive Vinyl only)

Getting yourself a transfer tape is a must if you’re working with adhesive vinyl. These things allow you to transfer your design from the paper backing of your vinyl to the final surface.

6. Iron/Heat Press/Cricut Easy Press (for HTV)

If you’re working with heat transfer vinyl (HTV), you’ll need to get an iron/heat press/Cricut EasyPressCricut EasyPress in order to transfer the design to the final surface.

That’s about it!

We’ve covered almost everything you need to know in order to get started with vinyl crafting. If you’re serious about this art form, we recommend you get yourself the required equipment and start practising.

We hope we’ve been able to help you out with this guide, and we wish you all the best!