HTV Vinyl Heat Press Temperature Chart and Time Guide

Heat press machine is one of the best ways to print on the surface, they can be used to produce a large number of prints in a short time.

But Beginners may have not allowed the appropriate time, or the heat press temperature was too low or too high. The problem is that different types of fabrics have different temperature and time settings.

HTV Heat Press Settings:

Printing on shirts with heat transfer vinyl (HTV) requires skills and proper knowledge. One of these is mastering the correct HTV Heat Press Settings. That's why we designed this heat press temperature guide for HTV.

To help you avoid these frustrations, we have compiled heat pressing time guides and temperature charts for some of the most popular fabrics used in this machine. All you need to do is keep reading this heat press guide and you will learn more.

Heat Press Temperature Chart (HTV Temperature Chart)

Here's the time and temp char you can copy & tips:

Tips:

• Pre-heat the fabric to make them flat before you start to press.
• Don’t touch your heat press machine untill it cools down after use.

 

How to Set the Time and Temperature Settings of the Heat Press

Setting Time

Setting the time is not difficult. Most heat presses have digital time display settings, which you can adjust by pressing the "up or down" arrow keys or buttons. Some have a more traditional dial , you just need to turn it to the time you like to adjust.

     

      

Setting Temperature

How to set temperature time pressure for heat press machine? It's like setting the time. The only difference is that the dial has a Celsius or Fahrenheit sign. It's almost like using a microwave or oven.

The quality and clarity of the transfer depends on some factors. These factors are time, pressure and temperature. In order for the graphics to be transferred successfully, the values of these factors must be set to the value required by the fabric used.

Light-colored and dark-colored fabrics have different values. Light-colored fabrics are better at lower temperatures, and darker ones are used at higher temperatures.

Before proceeding, we want to explain another thing is to use dirty or crumpled shirts would hinder or make your transfer untidy. Therefore, please make sure that the shirt is free from dirt, especially oil stains. Also, make sure that the shirt is pressed and has no creases.

Polyester or Sublimated Fabric

This type of fabric is very soft and does not require much heat. When heat press it, it is essential to apply the right amount of heat, and the heat should not stay in the machine for too long.

The ideal temperature for the fabric is 270°F, and the appropriate time is 10 seconds. The best time to peel off the transfer paper is 10s later.

    

 

Heat Transfer Vinyl

HTV Vinyl also known as heat press vinyl, is the simplest and cheapest item to start with a heat press. In order to get the best output of vinyl, you will need a higher temperature than polyester.

The ideal temperature for HTVRONT htv vinyl is 315°F. Apply strong pressure for 10-15 seconds to get a vivid and perfect design.

In fact, preheating the fabric before pressing decals will make the design on the shirt better.

  

Common problems and solutions of htv heat press settings:

In the process of heat pressing a lot of shirts and using different types of heat pressing vinyl, you may run into problems. Although you want everything to be light and pleasant, dealing with problems is inevitable. Below are common problems encountered when printing with thermal transfer vinyl and solutions on how to fix them.

Problem 1: When peeled off, a part or even the entire decal comes with a carrier sheet.
Possible cause: There is no time and pressure when pressing.
Solution: Adjust time and temperature, press again (only on the part where the vinyl is not sticking to the fabric).

Problem 2: The whole vinyl decal is not sticking to the clothes or the transfer is not neat even after many prints.
Cause: There are coatings on the fabric, such as antibacterial or water repellent chemicals.
Solution: Try to remove the coating by washing the fabric. In some cases vinyl won't really stick after multiple prints, in which case you can assume that the brand of shirt you have is not suitable for heat transfer. Try other clothing brands and be sure to read product descriptions.

Problem 3: Fabrics yellow or burn after pressing, especially light-colored fabrics such as polyester or sublimation fabrics.
Reason: The fabric material is not suitable for high temperature printing or the printing temperature is too high. There may be oil stains on the fabric.
Solution: Choose another fabric, lower the temperature (still within the recommended range), and cover the entire garment with a Teflon sheet while printing. If you suspect that the fabric is soiled, especially oil stains, be sure to wash the fabric before printing.

Problem 4: Vinyl sticks initially and then peels off after a while, especially multi-layer vinyl.
Cause: Incorrect multi-layer application.
Solution 1: When printing multiple layers of vinyl on shirts, make sure all HTVs have the same characteristics. All vinyl layers should be hot peel, warm peel or cold peel.
Solution 2: Special types of vinyl, like glitter or metal, should always be on top. Glitter vinyl cannot be used as a base layer because all other top layers will not stick properly.

Problem 5: Vinyl comes off after washing.
Cause: Apparently, the cause was improper washing of the clothes.
Solution: If it is for personal use, be sure to know the proper washing instructions. If it's a gift for a friend or your clothing line, be sure to include laundry instructions on the product. Here are the washing and care instructions for vinyl printed garments:
1. Avoid wearing, washing, or folding clothing for 24 hours after pressing HTV.
2. Wash the shirt inside and out, the vinyl should be on the inside.
3. Always use cold water. Warm water may cause the vinyl to peel off.
4. Do not iron directly on the vinyl as this may cause the vinyl to crack or peel. If desired, you can place a piece of fabric on top of the vinyl while ironing the vinyl.
5. Avoid harsh detergents and fabric softeners.

HTV Heat Press Temperature Guide FAQs:

1. What temperature are you using for the heat transfer vinyl?

The ideal temperature for heat transfer vinyl is between 260°F to 315°F (130°C to 160°C), using moderate pressure. It is very important to read the product description of the heat-pressed product before doing any work.

2. How long do you press heat transfer vinyl?

The best time to press heat transfer vinyl with medium pressure is 8 to 15 seconds. Most heat presses have an automatic shut-off setting, and the machine will make a sound when the printing time is over.

3. What temperature should I set my Easy Press to?

EasyPress uses temperatures between 260°F and 315°F (130°C and 160°C), much like a heat transfer press. EasyPress and heat transfer machines are recommended for vinyl printing, household irons are not recommended.

4. Why does my vinyl come off my shirt after washing?

There are several reasons for vinyl to come off after washing. This can be caused by improper washing or ironing. Make sure you know the proper washing instructions for vinyl printed garments.

 

Conclusion

This information could be overwhelming, especially if you are a novice. But don't let that stop you. You don't have to understand all of this. Recording them on a piece of paper can work miracles.

Another way to do this is to bookmark the page and check when it is needed.

Remember, the first step to get a good transfer is to get the right materials. Then there are temperature and time settings. We are confident that if you follow this guideline, you will make the most of heat transfers.