How to press Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV):
1. Use a vinyl cutter to cut your heat transfer vinyl material. Remember that unless
otherwise instructed by the manufacturer, you will want to MIRROR the design so that
when it cuts, it appears backwards.
2. 2) Use a pair of scissors or cutting tool to trim around the image to make it a manageable
size.
3. Weed your design, removing the excess material. Remember to remove any material
inside cavity such as the inside of the letters O and A. (Tip: If you heat up the material
using the bottom platen or your un-closed heat press for 2 to 3 seconds, it will be a lot
easier to weed most materials.)
4. Find the appropriate heating instructions for the material you are using either on-line
or in the chart in this manual, and set your heat press time and temperature using
manufacturer recommended settings. (See info in this manual about setting your heat
press temperature and time.)
5. Use the Pressure Adjustment knob on the top of the press to adjust the pressure as
recommended. (See info on this manual about how to adjust pressure on your heat press.)
6. When the heat press heats to the target temperature, place your garment on the bottom
platen so that it is flat and there are no wrinkles in the material Warning: The platens will
be very hot. Be careful.
7. Pre-press the garment for 2 to 3 seconds to remove wrinkles and moisture.
8. Position the heat transfer vinyl on the shirt so that the colored vinyl on the liner is touching
the shirt. (Your design should appear through the liner un-mirrored.)
9. Lay a sheet of Teflon paper over the design to keep the top platen clean and avoid
scorching the surface of your heat transfer vinyl.
10. Press the material at the time/temperature recommended by the manufacturer.
11. Open the press and remove the Teflon sheet. Set it aside as it can be re-used a limited
number of times.
12. Next peel the liner sheet off the top of the garment based on manufacturer instructions.
Note: After removing the garment, resist the urge to stretch, crumple or otherwise manipulate
the pressed garment until the material has had a chance to rest for 24 hours or so. (The
chemical composition of the vinyl and adhesive are still reforming as the material cools.)
•
Using Sure Cuts A Lot, this option will appear on your Cut Setting menu as a
click box.
•
With Vinyl Master, when you send your design to the cutter, you will find the
selection for the “Mirror” option in the Send to be Cut window.
