How To Cut Heat Transfer Vinyl?

 Posted By TeckWrap Craft On July 25, 2023

Are you an avid crafter or someone looking to branch out their hobbies during the summer? Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) poses an excellent opportunity for you to get your creative juices flowing and utilize your time efficiently. HTV is a product that can add flair to your existing clothes or help you experiment with accessories. 

In order to get excellent results, it is imperative to know how to cut heat transfer vinyl properly. The best way to do so is to use an automated cutting machine, like Cricut or Silhouette. You will have to follow the right settings so as not to cut too deep or vice versa. This will pose problems when weeding later on, especially if the design is intricate. Every HTV film has a different cut setting. If your design is simple, you can use a pair of scissors or a craft knife as well.   

TeckWrap Craft’s HTV completely transforms your wardrobe making it stand out from the crowd. Moreover, it is an excellent way to start our own clothing brand with unique pieces and enticing designs. While all this seems exciting, you might need to brush up your skills regarding the application process. In this blog, we will go over the fundamentals of how to cut your HTV to give it that professional look.

What Tools Are Needed To Cut Heat Transfer Vinyl?

When working with HTV, having the right cutting tools can make a significant difference in the quality and precision of your designs. Here are some of the best cutting tools for heat transfer vinyl:

• Craft Cutting Machines (Vinyl Cutter): The most popular choice for cutting HTV is a craft cutting machine, also known as a vinyl cutter. These machines can accurately cut complex designs on heat transfer vinyl sheets. Some well-known brands include Cricut, Silhouette, and Brother ScanNCut.
  
  Keep in mind that every machine may cut differently. This is based on many variables such as sharpness of blade, mat quality, weather, and many other factors. Hence use the cut settings provided with the HTV package as a good starting point to find what works with your machine. Do a test cut to be sure or make adjustments to settings as needed.
  
• Rotary Cutter: A rotary cutter with a sharp blade can be used to make straight cuts on the HTV. This is particularly useful when you need to cut large sections of vinyl before placing them in the cutting machine.
• Scissors: A good pair of scissors can be handy for making small manual cuts or trimming away any imperfections in your HTV design. You can also use these to cut simple decals without any details.
• Craft Knife/X-Acto Knife: For small details, a craft knife or an X-Acto knife can be used to make precise cuts on the HTV. You should have a strong grip and steady hand to use it.
• Self-Healing Cutting Mat: To protect your work surface and ensure clean cuts, it is essential to use a self-healing cutting mat. The self-healing feature allows the mat to recover from the cuts made by the blade, providing a smooth surface for future cutting.
• Weeding Tools: Weeding is the process of removing excess vinyl from your design after it has been cut. Various weeding tools like tweezers, weeders, weeding hooks and pens are available to help you easily remove unwanted vinyl.
• Teflon Sheet/Parchment Paper: When applying vinyl onto fabric, a Teflon sheet or parchment paper can be used as a protective barrier between the HTV and the iron or heat press.

A point to note is that different types of HTV may require adjustments to the cutting speed, blade depth, and pressure. Always perform test cuts before cutting your actual design to ensure optimal results and avoid wasting vinyl.

How To Perfectly Cut Heat Transfer Vinyl?

If you are just starting out or wish to refresh your vinyl crafting skills, here is a step by step guide to help you cut the HTV design flawlessly.

Finalize The Design 

Using design software compatible with your craft cutting machine, create or import the design you want to cut on the HTV. If you are using a machine, ensure your design is in the right format for the machine's software. With Cricut, we use Design Space and with Silhouette, the software Silhouette Studio is used. 

Mirror The Design 

This is a very important step and is done when using heat transfer vinyl to get the right cut. Do not forget to mirror the image, that is flip the design horizontally. HTV has a clear plastic carrier sheet on one side and a heat-activated adhesive on the other side.

We mirror the image because it is cut from the back, dull side, which has adhesive. When we place it on the fabric ready for heat application, we flip it and put the shiny side up which is the carrier sheet. Hence mirroring ensures that when you press the HTV design onto the fabric, the adhesive side is against the fabric, and the design appears correctly with the carrier sheet facing up.

Conduct A Test Cut

Conducting a test cut on heat transfer vinyl is important to make sure that your cutting settings are accurate and that the vinyl cuts properly without cutting too deep or too shallow. Simply create a square or circle in your cutting machine's software. Adjust the settings according to the heat transfer vinyl you are using. 

The cut settings encompass both the force and speed of the cutting machine's blade. When you send the design to the cutting machine, you have the flexibility to modify these settings during that stage. For example, if you are using glitter vinyl from TeckWrap Craft, your cut settings will be:

Apply these and check if your vinyl is cutting properly. You might have to try a variation if your blade is old. Blade settings are one of the most important things when it comes to cutting heat transfer vinyl. If the vinyl is cut on the wrong setting, you would not be able to weed it properly. You might even waste the material. 

If the cut is too deep, the HTV carrier sheet might get carved as well, which is again almost impossible to weed. Once you have gauged the right setting, it is time to move on to the next step, which is cutting the actual design.

Cut Your Design

Cut a piece of heat transfer vinyl slightly larger than your design with a pair of scissors. If you are using a craft cutting machine, place the vinyl on the cutting mat with the shiny side down and the dull adhesive side facing up. If you are cutting manually, ensure the shiny side is facing up.

Now load the cutting mat onto the machine. You can get premium quality cutting mats in almost 14x13 inches size from TeckWrap Craft. These have different tacks to suit your needs. The green standard tack mat is perfect for cutting heat transfer vinyl. It comes with a white grid to ensure accurate placement of the vinyl sheet on it.

Once the command is given, let the cutting machine do its job. When it is done, you can unload the cutting mat. On the heat transfer vinyl, you can see the cut marks that help in identifying the negative parts that need to be weeded.

If you are cutting manually, use a scissor, craft knife or X-Acto knife to carefully cut out the design. Be precise, especially with intricate details.

Weed Out The Negative Vinyl 

After cutting, remove the excess vinyl from your design. This process is called weeding. Use weeding tools like tweezers, weeder or a weeding pen to peel away the unwanted vinyl, leaving only your design on the clear carrier sheet. All of these are available at TeckWrap Craft.

Place The Design On The Fabric

Next, place the fabric on which you want to apply the HTV on a flat and sturdy surface. Pre-press the fabric with a heat press or iron to remove any moisture and wrinkles. This ensures a smooth surface for application. Then, carefully position your weeded design on the fabric, ensuring it is centered and aligned correctly. You can use rulers or alignment marks if needed.

Apply Heat And Pressure 

After that, place the fabric in the heat press machine and put Teflon sheet or parchment paper on the HTV design to protect it from direct heat. Apply pressure and heat according to the manufacturer's instructions. Once the time is up, allow the design to cool slightly before gently peeling off the carrier sheet from the design.

If any part of the design starts to lift with the carrier sheet, stop peeling and press it again with the heat press. Your HTV design is now applied to the fabric, and you have a custom garment or craft piece to win praise for!

How To Load Heat Transfer Vinyl In Cutting Machines?

The two widely used machines to cut heat transfer vinyl are Cricut and Silhouette. Here’s how you should load the vinyl in them for cutting:

Silhouette Cameo

• Place the heat transfer vinyl on the cutting mat shiny side down. Press it well so it sticks.
• On the control panel of the Cameo machine, click the ‘Up’ arrow until it flashes.
• Gently hold the cutting mat up with both hands to the rollers of the machine.
• The left edge of the cutting mat should line up with the gray line on the machine.
• The machine will automatically start pulling in the mat.
• On the control panel, select ‘Send As Is’ and the machine will start cutting the heat transfer vinyl.
• Once the design is cut, unload the mat by pressing the ‘Down’ arrow on the control panel.

Cricut Machine

• If using a Cricut machine, place the vinyl on the mat that same way as mentioned above.
• Load the mat onto the machine by pressing the ‘Load/Unload’ button on the control panel.
• Once this is done, press the ‘Go’ button on the machine to start the cut.
• When the cut is done, press the ‘Load/Unload’ button again to unload the mat.

How To Cut Heat Transfer Vinyl With A Scissor?

If you do not have an automated cutter, don’t fret. It is totally possible to cut the heat transfer vinyl design with a pair of scissors. This can be done with simple designs that do not have a lot of intricate details. Here’s what you have to do:

• Print the design that you want on a paper. When printing, you do not have to mirror the image since we will be using scissors.
• Cut all around the design to give it an outline and stick it on the shiny side of the heat transfer vinyl with a tape.
• Now start cutting the heat transfer vinyl along the lines of the design. If there are any tight spots, remove excess vinyl from there using a craft knife. 
• Once the design is cut, remove the paper that you have pasted on the HTV. Your beautiful piece of workmanship is ready for application on your favorite monochrome t-shirt.

Different Types Of HTV That You Can Use For Your Projects

Heat transfer vinyl is a thin, flexible material designed to be applied to various fabrics using heat and pressure. Once properly adhered, it becomes a permanent design element, adding vivid colors, textures, and patterns to clothing, bags, soft accessories, and more. 

Our vinyl boasts incredible durability and allows for ease of application which adds to its popularity. However, the choice of HTV depends on your taste, preference, and usage of the material. Here are some of our best-selling products to help you make an informed choice.

Basic HTV

The foundation of TeckWrap Craft's HTV range lies in its basic collection. Available in an array of vibrant solid colors, this collection is perfect for both beginners and seasoned crafters. Its ease of use and excellent weeding properties ensure you can effortlessly create stunning designs on a wide range of fabrics. 

Glitter HTV

Sparkle and shine with the glitter collection. Ideal for those looking to add a touch of glamor and excitement to their creations, these glimmering vinyl sheets are sure to catch everyone's eye. Whether it's for party outfits, accessories, or celebratory items, the Glitter HTV range lets you make a statement in style.