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Transfer Paper

What is heat transfer vinyl?

Heat transfer vinyl is a film used to personalize fabric items such as T-shirts, sweatshirts, tote bags, and caps. It consists of two main parts:

1. A clear carrier sheet (polyester film) that holds your design in place during cutting and application.

2. A thin, stretchy layer (polyurethane) that bonds to the fabric when heat is applied, creating a durable, washable design.

The process is simple: cut your design or text with a cutting machine, such as a Cricut or Silhouette, then apply the vinyl to the fabric using a heat press or an iron. This technique, known as heat transfer application, makes it easy to personalize clothing, whether you’re working on a personal project or starting a business.

How to apply heat transfer vinyl?

Create your first custom fabric project in 4 simple steps.

Cutting

Cutting

Use a cutting machine, such as a Silhouette Cameo or Cricut, to cut your chosen design from the vinyl.

Weeding

Weeding

Remove the excess vinyl around your design and any unwanted pieces inside it.

Pressing

Pressing

Place your design on the textile and press at 150°C for 15 seconds with a heat press or an iron.

Finished result

Finished result

Peel off the transparent plastic carrier and admire your personalised creation!

Frequently asked questions

Heat transfer vinyl is cut with a cutting machine such as the Silhouette Cameo 5, Cricut Maker or any similar machine. These devices use a very fine blade that slices only the heat-bonding layer while leaving the transparent carrier film intact. This type of cut, called a "kiss-cut", keeps the design perfectly in place until it is applied to the textile.
Heat transfer vinyl is applied to the textile with an iron or a heat press (for the best result). It needs to be heated to around 150 °C for 15 seconds so the material bonds durably into the fabric fibres. These settings can vary slightly depending on the type of vinyl used. That is why the precise instructions (temperature, duration, pressure…) are always listed in the product description of each of our vinyls.
Premium heat transfer vinyl is considered one of the best choices for textile customisation. Its main quality is its high elasticity, which lets it follow the movements of the fabric perfectly without cracking or peeling. With an ideal thickness of 80 microns, it delivers a soft, pleasant feel while guaranteeing excellent colour hold. Made of polyurethane, it bonds perfectly into the textile fibres and withstands more than 60 machine washes.
Yes, of course. Our heat transfer vinyls have been tested and withstand at least 60 machine washes while keeping their look and colours. We recommend washing customised clothes at 30 °C, inside out, to best preserve the design.
To remove heat transfer vinyl, simply use an iron. Place the iron inside the garment, on the side opposite the vinyl, and let it heat up to soften the material. Once the vinyl has softened from the heat, use a weeding tool to peel it gently off the textile.