Heat-Transfer Vinyl (HTV)

Heat-transfer vinyl (HTV) cuts a design out of a sheet of colored vinyl along its outline, then heat-presses it onto fabric. Unlike heat transfer printing (print first, then press), HTV is cut into shape first and pressed afterward — well suited to text and simple shape designs, and especially useful when a special surface finish is needed.

Why choose HTV

• A wide range of surface finishes — metallic, reflective, velvet, transparent — that ordinary ink can’t achieve.
• Material imported from Korea and the US, ensuring color fastness and adhesion through repeated washing.
• Works well as an accent combined with other printing technologies on the same product.

Limitations to know

• Not suited to gradients or photo-level detail — vinyl is cut per solid color block, so more colors mean more cutting and layering work.
• A large applied area can make the fabric stiffer than the surrounding surface.
• Not a substitute for DTG on detailed imagery — HTV works best for text, numbers and simple shapes.