How to Heat Press Heat Transfer Vinyl Films

Learn how to heat press heat transfer vinyl films. In this story, Jim Hingst outlines the step-by-step process in properly setting up and operating a heat press.

By Jim Hingst

Successful application of heat transfer vinyl depends on three primary variables: time, temperature and pressure. Not all heat transfers heat press at the same setting. Hotter is not always better. In fact, higher temperatures can make matters worse. Before heat pressing, refer to the manufacturer’s literature for the recommended time and temperature settings.

Pressure is equally important.  Many times a heat transfer will not adhere properly because of inadequate pressure. Increasing the temperature setting or dwell time usually will not help. The manufacturer of the heat transfer material will have recommendations for the correct settings in their technical bulletins.

Heat Press Warm Up.

Heat presses take time to warm up to the optimal temperature.  About thirty minutes prior to production allow your heat press to warm up.  Set your controls for the time, temperature and pressure settings recommended for the heat transfer vinyl films that you will use.

Preheating the Garment. 

Prior to heat press transfer of the graphic, always press the garment for three to five seconds. This serves three important functions. First, it drives off moisture, which could inhibit adhesion of the heat transfer material. Second, it presses the garment smooth, eliminating wrinkles so the heat transfer has a smooth surface to adhere to. No wrinkles in the garment, means no wrinkles in the graphic applique. Third, preheating the fabric will cause it to shrink.  That’s a good thing, if you are layering several different materials. Without preheating, the shirt and the first layer of graphics will shrink together.  That will make registration of subsequent layers impossible.

Will preheating prevent further shrinking as the garment goes through multiple heat pressings?  Not always, so there are other fixes that may work, such as allowing for overlaps when you are designing the graphics.  

How to Register Graphics. 

After you weed the matrix of plotter cut heat transfer vinyl films, you will turn the graphics over to position the graphic on the garment.  The clear liner allows for accurate registration, which is critical when doing layered graphics.  With the material in position (the carrier should be on top now), the graphics should now be “right reading”.  For printed appliques, using a clear HotMask will facilitate alignment.

Be sure to carefully measure the graphics, to prevent misalignment of graphics. To aid registration, several tools and templates are available on the market, such as the Tee Square It™ tool or alignment grids.

After you position the graphics on the garment, you can cover the graphics with a Teflon® blanket (optional).  While this blanket will evenly distribute the heat, the main purpose is to protect the top platen. If you use a Teflon® blanket, you will likely need to increase the time for pressing.

After pressing the material, peel off the carrier or HotMask transfer tape as shown in the photo below. Whether you should do a warm peel or a cold peel depends on what type of heat transfer film used. Refer to the manufacturer’s application information for recommendations.  

Proper Prior Preparation. 

Most of the standard heat transfer films are designed for application to cotton, polyester and cotton/polyester blends.  Prior to production, refer to the manufacturer’s literature regarding compatibility of the film to the fabric. Some fabrics, such as the popular performance fabrics or nylon, required either a low temp film or an adhesive designed for coated fabrics. If you have any questions, call your supplier. Usually they will have the information you need. Of course, since the manufacturer cannot possibly test and evaluate every film/fabric combination for compatibility, you may need to test the film yourself to ensure its adhesion.

Note: When applying heat transfer materials to thicker garments, you may need to increase the dwell time and/or pressure to achieve good adhesion. 

How to Layer Heat Transfer Vinyl Graphics. 

Combining different materials in apparel design creates visual excitement, which can be your competitive edge in selling heat transfer graphics. Think of the possibilities of combining colored flex films with a metallic film or a flock film.  You can create designs that are unique and different and difficult to reproduce using other techniques, such as screen or digital printing.

The layered graphic shown below combines a black polyurethane base film with a silver metallic flex film and a red flock film overlaying it.

Layering multiple color designs involves cutting, weeding and heat pressing each color of film separately.  In heat pressing one color over another, make sure that the carrier covers and protects all of the different layers which have been applied. 

• When overlaying multiple layers of film, heat press each layer for four seconds except the last layer which you should press for 15 seconds. Avoid exposing heat transfer films to protracted periods of heat, which can compromise the adhesion of the applique to the garment.  

•   Limit the total number of layers of heat transfer films to four films.

ARTICLES ABOUT HEAT TRANSFER FILMS

Printing Heat Transfer Films with Latex Inks

Changing Printer Settings in Roland Versaworks

Tips for Cutting Flock Material

Heat Transfers on Neoprene

Stretching Garments Prior to Heat Pressing

The Differences Between Polyurethane and Vinyl Films

How to Flash Press FlexCut StickyLT  

Laminating Application Tape and Hot Mask Films
Stretching Garments Prior to Heat Pressing
The Differences Between Polyurethane and Vinyl Films
Printing Tatoo with Seiko Fluorescent Inks
Reflective Heat Transfer Films
SEF Heat Transfer Films Instructions
Introducing Tatoo Printable Heat Transfer Films
HotMask Polyester Transfer Tapes
Correcting Plotter Cutting Problems When Cutting H...
Which Films Stick to Coated Fabrics? 
The Difference between FlexCut Sticky and FlexCut ...
Heat Transfer Films Product Application Chart
Rules for Overlaying Heat Transfer Films 
Comparing Heat Transfer Films with Screen Printed ...
Peel Recommendations for Heat Transfer Films
Heat Pressing Appliques on Leather 

Heat Pressing on Dye Sublimated Fabrics

Heat Transfer Films: Hot, Warm or Cold Peel

Processing Printable Heat Transfer Films

Shopping for a Heat Press 

Pressing Heat Transfer Films

Evaluating Heat Transfer Films

Plotter Cutting Heat Transfer Films
Cutting & Weeding Tips for Heat Transfer Films
The Trouble with Shrinking Shirts
Caring for Garments with Heat Transfers

PRODUCT RECOMMENDATION

Hotronix Air Fusion 16"x20"

 Hotronix Air Fusion 16"x20" Heat Press Swing-Away Table Top features the following:

● Heavy-duty version of the FUSION® Heat Press is designed for high volume work.

● Powered by an air compressor. Pneumatic regulator which auto-adjusts pressure.

● High-tech power with hands-free auto-swing for superior ease of use.

● Touch screen controller.

● 16"x20" platen.

 

About Jim Hingst: After fourteen years as Business Development Manager at RTape, Jim Hingst retired. He was involved in many facets of the company’s business, including marketing, sales, product development and technical service.

Hingst began his career 42 years ago in the graphic arts field creating and producing advertising and promotional materials for a large test equipment manufacturer.  Working for offset printers, large format screen printers, vinyl film manufacturers, and application tape companies, his experience included estimating, production planning, purchasing and production art, as well as sales and marketing. In his capacity as a salesman, Hingst was recognized with numerous sales achievement awards.

Drawing on his experience in production and as graphics installation subcontractor, Hingst provided the industry with practical advice, publishing more than 150 articles for  publications, such as  Signs Canada, SignCraft,  Signs of the Times, Screen Printing, Sign and Digital Graphics and  Sign Builder Illustrated. He also posted more than 325 stories on his blog (hingstssignpost.blogspot.com). In 2007 Hingst’s book, Vinyl Sign Techniques, was published.

© 2015 Jim Hingst