Updated By TeckWrap Craft On February 22, 2025
Can You Put HTV On Polyester?
Table of Contents
- Important Tips To Know Before Printing HTV On Polyester
- Can You Print An HTV Design On Polyester?
- How To Put HTV On Polyester?
- Gather All The Tools
- Pre-Press Your Polyester Shirt
- Work On Your HTV Design
- Cut And Weed The Design
- Apply HTV To Polyester
- Is It Better To Print On Cotton Or Polyester?
- Can You Print HTV On Sublimated Shirts?
- How To Avoid Scorch Marks On Polyester?
- Can You Fix Scorch Marks On Polyester?
- Can You Heat Press 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.
Important Tips To 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 when 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.
- Polyester Is Heat-Sensitive: You cannot print HTV designs easily on such a shirt. You will have to use one that can be pressed at a lower temperature, preferably under 270℉. PU heat transfer vinyl is an example.
- 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 in an inconspicuous area.
- Choose The Right Heat Transfer Vinyl: Apply HTV that can be pressed at a lower temperature. It should be of premium quality and durable.
- Use Teflon Sheet When Pressing: When you heat press polyester, the fabric can scorch or burn. The best option is to cover your design completely with a Teflon sheet before applying heat. Parchment paper also works.
- Always Use A Heat Press Machine, Not An Iron: For applying HTV design on polyester, it’s recommended to use a heat press machine rather than a household iron to ensure correct temperature and pressure settings.
- Pre-Press The Fabric: You need to pre-press polyester fabrics to wick away moisture and smoothen the surface when heat-pressing an HTV design onto the garment.
- Correct Temperature, Pressure, And Time: For polyester, you will decrease the temperature, apply high pressure, and increase the pressing time. 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. The recommended temperature should not exceed 270℉ (or 132 degrees Celsius).
Can You Print An HTV Design On Polyester?
Yes, you can print HTV on polyester, but you need to use the right type of vinyl and heat settings. Specialty heat transfer vinyl that requires high temperature for correct application cannot be used. Polyester is a moisture-wicking fabric. Do not forget to pre-press it to get the best results. Also, be mindful of potential heat damage. Polyester can scorch or discolor. Always test on a small area first!
How To Put HTV On Polyester?
Here’s how you can apply your heat transfer vinyl design on a polyester shirt:
Gather All The Tools
The right tools make or break a project. You will need the following to apply HTV on polyester:
- A polyester blank, preferably a shirt.
- Heat transfer vinyl that can be applied at low temperatures such as PU HTV.
- Cutting machine like Cricut or Silhouette.
- Medium tack cutting mat, preferably with a grid.
Weeding tool .- Heat press.
- Teflon sheet or parchment paper.
Pre-Press Your Polyester Shirt
Proper preparation of the blank is important for long-lasting HTV performance. Check the tag of your shirt to see whether it's pure polyester or a blend and how much temperature it can bear. Press it to remove moisture and creases, if any, to allow excellent adherence to your HTV design.
Work On Your HTV Design
Using the software compatible with your cutting machine, finalize your HTV decal. Cricut uses Design Space and for Silhouette, you will have to work on Silhouette Studio. Set the dimensions of your design according to the space on your shirt. You will have to choose the material according to the heat transfer vinyl you are using to get the right cut settings. Mirror the image before cutting.
Cut And Weed The Design
Place a piece of HTV bigger than your design on the cutting mat and load it into the machine. Allow it to cut. When it's done, remove negative vinyl pieces using a weeding tool. You can work with a weeder, tweezer, or a weeding pen whatever you are comfortable with. If your design is intricate, keep its printout in front of you so that none of the extra pieces are missed.
Apply HTV To Polyester
Place the final HTV design on your polyester shirt, put a Teflon sheet on top covering it completely, then apply heat and pressure. Keep the heat low, preferably 270℉ or slightly less, and the pressure high. Apply for ten seconds. If the design has not adhered properly, apply heat and pressure for 5 seconds more. Slowly remove the carrier sheet when the design is still warm. Do it at an angle keeping it closer to the surface. You have successfully transferred your HTV design to a polyester shirt.
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.
Cons Of Polyester Shirts
- More challenging to print HTV on it.
- May scorch especially with a high temperature.
- Holds on to odors.
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.
- Can withstand high heat.
Cons Of Cotton Shirts
- Likely to shrink.
- 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?
Yes, you can print HTV on sublimated shirts. First, you will apply your sublimation image or graphic to the shirt. Print your design on the sublimation paper then transfer it to your polyester shirt. When applying heat transfer vinyl to a sublimated polyester shirt, you need to be careful. 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 Marks On Polyester?
To prevent scorch marks on polyester, place a Teflon sheet or parchment paper on the shirt completely covering the vinyl decal before applying heat. These marks appear as a shiny outline on the edges of the vinyl decal. They are yellowish or brownish burn marks, much like those caused by regular household irons.
Scorch marks are 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. It also 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 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. Also, this might damage your HTV design too. 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 Polyester Blend?
Yes, you can heat-press 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.
