In this tutorial we are not going to learn how to apply a simple single-color logo to your clothes, instead we are going to see how to layer several sheets of HTV to create a multicolor heat-pressed logo!
Learning how to apply heat-transfer vinyl is not easy when you are starting out, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes easier and more fun every time.
If you have landed on this article, you probably already know how to apply heat-transfer vinyl and press it onto your textiles. (If that is not the case, we recommend reading our tutorial on making a textile transfer "like a pro").
The tools you need for layering HTV
To follow this tutorial, you will need:
1 - A design/logo with several colors
2 - A cutting machine (usually Cricut, Silhouette Cameo or ScanNCut)
3 - Different colors of heat-transfer vinyl
4 - Weeding tools such as a spatula, a hook and tweezers (optional)
5 - An iron or a heat press
1 - Choosing your logo
First of all, choose the logo you want to make. In our case, we are going to use this lovely wave (with a black rectangle in the background that will let us do the layering).
2 - Tracing and separating the colors
Above all, make sure you trace your logo properly. Tracing means "removing" the pixels of the logo so your machine can cut it. I invite you to read our blog article on tracing if you do not know how to do it.
Then, separate the different colors of the design so you can cut the parts of the logo one by one and step by step with your cutting plotter.
Here is our logo separated into 3 parts (1 part per color) in the Silhouette Studio software:
3 - Cutting
Cut the different parts of your logo with your cutting machine.
You will normally need to make as many cuts as there are colors on your logo.
For example, if your logo has 5 colors, you will need to make 5 different cuts, one for each color, since each HTV has its own color.
4 - Applying and layering the heat-transfer vinyl
Now all you have to do is apply the heat-transfer vinyl and press it onto the textile one piece at a time.
First apply the part of your logo that corresponds to the background of the design. In our case, we are going to apply the black background first.
Then the second part, and so on!
Tips and tricks for applying HTV with several colors
If your logo has more than 3 colors, we recommend that you do not press the HTV for too long during application, because it could melt and lose its original color.
For example, if you have a logo with 4 colors, we recommend pressing the first 3 parts one by one at 140 to 150 degrees for 10 seconds. The last color should be pressed at 150 to 160 degrees for 15 to 20 seconds with firm pressure.
Let it cool for about thirty seconds with each layer of HTV.
Thanks to these tips, you should now be able to easily layer your heat-transfer vinyl to create logos that are more colorful than ever! 🙂
Not so fast! We still have a few things to tell you:
Do you want to layer heat-transfer vinyl to press colorful logos onto your clothes and those of your family?
That works out well! Our shop offers a wide variety of heat-transfer vinyls that can be layered 😉, such as glitter HTV, premium HTV, neon and even velvet HTV!
⚠️ There is one thing you do need to watch out for when layering:
Avoid layering vinyls that are too thick twice over, as this may give your design a poor finish.
For example, we advise against layering 2 velvet vinyls on top of each other, the result would be too thick. You can, however, place them side by side and the result will be perfect! You can also apply velvet HTV on top of premium HTV. 😉
Finally, after many trials, we have concluded that premium HTV is the best choice for layering. Thanks to its thinness, the layers of the stack are not visible.
We hope these tips and tricks will help you in your never-ending quest for the perfect heat transfer!
See you soon for a new issue!
