Posted By TeckWrap Craft On May 25, 2022
Can You Put HTV On Polyester? 10 Tips For Printing HTV On Polyester
Table of Contents
- 10 Tips You Should Know before Printing HTV on Polyester
- Polyester Fabric Comes in Different Types
- Check if the Shirt Is a Heat Sensitive Item
- Do Not Pre-wash the Shirt
- Test Print on the Fabric
- Choose the Right Heat Transfer Vinyl
- Use Teflon Sheet When Pressing
- Always Use a Heat Press Machine, Not an Iron
- Pre-Press the Fabric
- Correct Temperature, Pressure, and Time
- Always Follow the Ideal Temperature and Time
- Is it better to print on cotton or polyester?
- Can you print HTV on sublimated shirts?
- How to avoid scorch press marks on polyester?
- Can you fix scorch marks on polyester?
- Can you heat press spandex and polyester blend?
- Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re wondering whether you can print heat transfer vinyl on polyester, the answer is yes! But hold on! It’s not as easy as printing HTV on cotton. If you have a client requesting activewear with vinyl print then you need to read this post.
Just a heads up, printing heat transfer vinyl on polyester needs extra care, longer press time, and less temperature. Read further to learn tips you should know before printing HTV on polyester.
10 Tips You Should Know Before Printing HTV On Polyester
Printing HTV on polyester is not the same as printing HTV on cotton. Honestly, you have to be more patient in printing HTV on polyester. It takes practice and you will have to test the compatibility of the fabric and HTV. Here are 10 tips that’ll guide you in this printing project.
1. Polyester Fabric Comes In Different Types
Polyester is a synthetic fabric known to be durable and inexpensive. It has different types, most of which are heat-sensitive. Several pure and blended polyester fabrics include:
- Acrylic
- Acetate
- Lyca / spandex / elastane
- Microfiber
- Nylon
- Rayon / viscose
- Poly blends
Can you print HTV on all of them? No. Polyester made of acrylic will melt at high temperatures. Also, nylon requires extra care when printing HTV on it. Always check the tag or the product description of the shirt for the type of polyester material you are using.
2. Check If The Shirt Is A Heat Sensitive Item
If the shirt is made of heat-sensitive material, you may have to think twice before pressing HTV on it. In this case, you should use an HTV that can be pressed at a lower temperature, preferably under 270℉.
If it is not heat-sensitive, you can print the HTV design on it. You can use heat transfer vinyl that can be pressed up to 350℉.
3. Do Not Pre-Wash The Shirt
When pressing HTV on polyester fabric, you want the material smooth and dry. That’s why you don’t need to pre-wash the shirt before heat printing.
However, this is not the case for all shirts. Once again, check the tag or product description. Check if the HTV manufacturer has specifically instructed to pre-wash the garment before printing a design on it. If it says that, do so, otherwise leave it. Instead pre-pressing the fabric is needed, which will be discussed later on.
4. Test Print On The Fabric
If it’s your first time printing on polyester, it’s always better to practice at first through test printing. You can either buy an extra polyester shirt or practice on an inconspicuous area.
Try to gauge the perfect combination of time, heat, and pressure settings, which will be discussed further later on. Afterward, wash the HTV-printed polyester. This way you will know if the material has been discolored or if the vinyl has started to peel off.
5. Choose The Right Heat Transfer Vinyl
Other than getting the right type of polyester shirt, you have to choose the right heat transfer vinyl as well. Most HTV films come with their recommended heat and time settings, but this is when you print on cotton.
It’s a different story for polyester shirts. Another piece of advice when choosing the right heat transfer vinyl is to avoid those films that are inexpensive. Chances are they wouldn’t last long on polyester. You should look for an HTV that is durable and of premium quality which will most probably be costly.
6. Use Teflon Sheet When Pressing
When you heat press polyester, the fabric can scorch or burn. The best option is to put a sheet on the whole HTV decal and fabric when using the heat press machine.
How to Use a Heat Press with Vinyl
It is recommended to use a thin Teflon sheet for this as thick ones may affect the intensity of heat when pressing. Parchment paper also works. What’s important is that it should be big enough to cover the entire garment.
7. Always Use A Heat Press Machine, Not An Iron
If you press polyester with an HTV design, it’s recommended to use a heat press machine rather than a household iron. Why? If you use a regular household iron, you will only apply light pressure.
With a heat press machine, you can choose high pressure which will help in applying HTV to polyester. So if you don’t have a heat press machine, you may consider investing in one now.
Heat presses are worth it as you can calibrate the temperature and time settings correctly on them as well. This is something you cannot do with a regular household iron.
Can You Use an Iron Instead of a Heat Press?
8. Pre-Press The Fabric
Just like with cotton shirts, you need to pre-press polyester fabrics too. What’s the purpose of pre-pressing the fabric? It’s to wick away moisture and smoothen the surface when heat pressing an HTV design onto the garment.
If you don’t pre-press the fabric, the HTV decal may not adhere properly. For this, set the temperature at 270℉ using medium pressure for 10 to 15 seconds.
9. Correct Temperature, Pressure, And Time
Perfect temperature, pressure, and time settings are very important. If you heat press polyester while applying an HTV design to it, decrease the temperature, apply high pressure, and increase the pressing time. Here are the recommended heat press temperature and time:
- Heat Settings: Not exceeding 270℉ (or 132 degrees Celsius).
- Press Time Settings: Up to 10 seconds.
When other crafters heat press polyester, they start by pressing for 10 seconds. Then they check if the HTV has adhered. If it has not stuck properly, they press it again for another 5 seconds. You don’t want to press too long as this may lead to scorch marks on the fabric, which we will discuss in the next section. Here are the types of HTV that can be pressed at lower temperatures available at TeckWrap Craft:
- PU Heat Press Vinyl: 266 ℉ to 284 ℉
- PU Rainbow Stripes Heat Press Vinyl: 266 ℉ to 284 ℉
- Galaxy HTV: 266 ℉ to 284 ℉
Patterned HTV : 266 ℉ to 284 ℉
10. Always Follow The Ideal Temperature And Time
When applying an HTV design on polyester, you have to follow the ideal temperature and time. That’s why it is important to test print. If the temperature and time are not enough, the vinyl may not adhere.
On the other hand, if the temperature and time are too much, the fabric may scorch. Or the HTV may not adhere anymore because of too much heat. Overheating HTV may also cause discoloration of the vinyl.
Is It better To Print On Cotton Or Polyester?
Which is the better fabric to print HTV on? Polyester or cotton? Both fabrics have their pros and cons. Which type of fabric you choose for your printing needs also depends on the project you intend to do. The following information may help you decide whether to use polyester or cotton:
Pros Of Polyester Shirts
- Absorbs moisture and sweat.
- Best used in performance shirts (activewear, gym clothes).
- Affordable compared to cotton shirts.
- Lightweight material.
- Wrinkle-resistant.
- Stretchy quality.
- Resistant to shrinking.
- Recommended for sublimation printing.
- Perfect for giveaway shirts or those that will be used once or twice.
Cons Of Polyester Shirts
- More challenging to print HTV on it.
- May scorch especially with high temperatures.
- Holds on to odors.
Screenshot from YouTube: HOW TO IRON-ON POLYESTER! By Makers Gonna Learn
Pros Of Cotton Shirts
- Soft, comfortable, breathable, and non-clingy.
- Widely available or easy to purchase.
- Doesn’t absorb odors.
- Easier to print HTV on them.
- Have a good bond with the heat transfer vinyl design.
- Doesn’t scorch as much when using the heat press.
- Can withstand high heat.
Cons Of Cotton Shirts
- Likely to stretch or sink.
- Not wrinkle-resistant
Your use of cotton or polyester depends on your personal preference, your budget, or what your client wants if you have a business. For business owners, cheaper outsourcing of materials is always better, especially for mass production. That’s why you can make money with polyester shirts.
Can You Print HTV On Sublimated Shirts?
Sublimation is a different printing process, but you’ll need a heat press machine for this as well. You’ll also need an inkjet printer with sublimation ink and sublimation paper. The design is printed on sublimation paper and then transferred to the polyester fabric. You cannot sublimate on cotton shirts as the design will fade over time.
If you’re in the business of printing activewear or polyester shirts, you can go for sublimation printing. The question is, can you print HTV on sublimated shirts? Yes, you can!
However, you need to be careful when applying heat and pressure to vinyl on sublimated fabrics. The pattern from the sublimated shirt may leak into the HTV. Some heat transfer vinyl films may not be able to block dye migration.
How To Avoid Scorch Press Marks On Polyester?
If you designed polyester t-shirts before, you may have encountered scorch or burn marks. That’s why we have recommended placing a thin cover Teflon sheet on the shirt and vinyl decal to avoid heat press marks.
These marks appear as a shiny outline on the edges of the vinyl decal. What does a scorch mark look like? It’s a yellowish or brownish burn mark, much like the one caused by regular household irons.
This is caused by the melting of synthetic fibers when they come in contact with the heat plate. Hence when using a heat press, it’s always important to follow the recommended temperature for polyester.
Once again, do not exceed 270℉. Also, it helps to warm peel the HTV decal. This means to remove the carrier sheet of the HTV while it’s still warm, not hot. If the carrier sheet stays on the HTV decal for a longer period, this may cause burn marks on the polyester fabric.
Can You Fix Scorch Marks On Polyester?
Yes, you can fix scorch marks on polyester. Take note, only scorch marks can be fixed, not melted portions. Once polyester has melted, it cannot be fixed. If you see scorch marks while printing HTV on a polyester shirt, fix them right away by following these steps:
- Immerse the polyester shirt in cold water immediately. This will stop the polyester fabric from burning.
- Spread a generous amount of laundry detergent all over the scorch marks. You can also use color-safe bleach.
- Scrub the scorch mark using a brush or washcloth. You may notice that burn marks are starting to come off. Continue scrubbing until they disappear completely.
Unfortunately, you can’t do anything to fix melted polyester. This means the whole project is ruined. That’s why one of the tips mentioned earlier is to always test print. Once you’ve determined the right combination of heat, time, and pressure, take note of it, and follow it for your future polyester printing projects.
Can You Heat Press Spandex And Polyester Blend?
Yoga leggings and Dri-fit shirts are mostly spandex and polyester blends. You can apply heat transfer vinyl designs to these however, this might be more challenging than printing HTV on 100% polyester.
The poly-spandex blend is also prone to scorching or stretching. That’s why you should use a low temperature as you would on 100% polyester. You can start with 250℉ but do not exceed 270℉.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Thoughts
So the next time you print heat transfer vinyl on polyester, you’ll know the dos and don’ts. Just remember: lower temperatures, longer press time, use a cover, and always test print. As long as you follow the tips mentioned above, and you’ve determined the right combination, you’re good to go.
You can now accept printing projects for gym wear, activewear, waterproof jackets, tents, and so on. Visit TeckWrap Craft now and get several rolls for your HTV polyester projects.
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