What temperature do you iron-on printable?

Printing on shirts using heat transfer vinyl (HTV) is not a walk in the park. It takes dedication, skills, and the proper knowledge. What was once a crafting hobby can turn into a full-blown business and you need to cover all aspects of the business.

One of those is mastering the right temperature and time settings of an HTV. That’s why we’ve come up with this heat press temperature guide for HTV. We featured all HTV products available at TeckWrap Craft with their recommended temperature and time.  

PU Heat Transfer Vinyl 5ft Roll

$8.90

Glitter Puff Heat Transfer Vinyl

$13.99

Puff Heat Transfer Vinyl

$12.90

Glitter UV Color Changing Heat Transfer Vinyl

$14.99

Remember that heat transfer product come in different patterns and textures. Some are thicker, some are thinner, that’s why their heat/temperature and time settings differ. Pin this cheat sheet, print it out, and place it somewhere in your work area.

Without further ado, here’s the recommended pressing time and temperature for TeckWrap Craft’s HTV products.

Heat Press Temperature Guide: Vinyl

TeckWrap Craft HTV

Heat Press Temperature In ℉

Heat Press Temperature In ℃

Heat Press Time (in seconds)

Colorful Camouflage Heat Transfer

290 ℉ to 300 ℉

143 ℃ to 148 ℃

10-15

Flock Heat Press Vinyl

310 ℉ to 320 ℉

154 ℃ to 160 ℃

10-15

PU Heat Press Vinyl

266 ℉ to 284 ℉

130 ℃ to 140 ℃

8-12

PU Rainbow Stripes Heat Press Vinyl

266 ℉ to 284 ℉

130 ℃ to 140 ℃

8-12

Glitter HTV

266 ℉ to 284 ℉

130 ℃ to 140 ℃

8-12

Colorful Splash HTV

300 ℉ to 315 ℉

149 ℃ to 157 ℃

10-15

Galaxy HTV

266 ℉ to 284 ℉

130 ℃ to 140 ℃

8-12

Glow In The Dark HTV

300 ℉ to 315 ℉

149 ℃ to 157 ℃

8-12

Snowflakes Pattern HTV

300 ℉ to 315 ℉

149 ℃ to 157 ℃

10-15

Puff HTV

300 ℉ to 315 ℉

149 ℃ to 157 ℃

10-15

Glow In The Dark Puff HTV

300 ℉ to 315 ℉

149 ℃ to 157 ℃

10-15

Patterned HTV

266 ℉ to 284 ℉

130 ℃ to 140 ℃

8-12

Pre-Press Time And Temperature

Above are the heat and time settings you should take note of when working with TeckWrap Craft’s HTV products. Aside from the heat and time settings on the actual pressing process, you need to also know that pre-pressing the garment before the actual printing of the vinyl is important.

Pre-pressing is the process where the fabric or a piece of clothing is pressed to remove the moisture from the garment before the actual printing. Pre-press the fabric on the recommended settings of the HTV above with light pressure between 10-20 seconds only.

Yes, garments even from the clothing store have moisture trapped on their fibers and it needs to be removed with pre-pressing the garment.

During the pre-pressing process, you can place a cover on top of the garment like a Teflon sheet or parchment paper. The protective sheet protects the garment from scorching or getting dirty, especially for light-colored fabrics.

Setting The Right Time And Temperature Setting For A Heat Press

Heat press machines these days are easy to use when it comes to adjusting the time and temperature settings. All you have to do is press the arrow keys “up or down” for the traditional dial machine. For newer heat press models, you can input the desired number just like a microwave oven.

Make sure to read the heat press guidelines or product guide on how to adjust the time and settings. Some machines come in Fahrenheit or celsius settings, that’s why our temperature chart above indicates both ℉ and ℃ . 

You’ll love modern heat press machines that have an automatic shut-off function where the clam opens on its own when the time is up. The older models of the heat press machine make a beeping noise when the time is over.

What Happens If You Don’t Follow The Ideal Temperature And Time Settings 

The time and temperature chart above serves a purpose to ensure the vinyl sticks properly and you won’t experience any hassle when printing. What happens if you don’t follow the proper press time and temperature? As expected, the vinyl won’t adhere to the fabric properly.

Metallic Pearlescent Heat Transfer Vinyl

$10.99

Metallic Chrome Heat Transfer Vinyl

$9.99

Soft Metallic Holographic Heat Transfer Vinyl Roll

$9.99

Too much heat and longer times may cause the fabric to scorch and the vinyl to melt. While lower temperatures and not enough time may cause the vinyl not to peel off from the carrier sheet. That’s why the best output depends on the right temperature and time settings.

Possibly, you have to press again, or the whole project will come to a waste. Fabric printing using HTV has a huge learning curve. Honestly, it can be a trial and error process especially if you don’t follow the time and temperature guide above.

Common Problems Encountered When Printing Using Heat Transfer Vinyl 

Along the way when you print a lot of shirts and use different types of heat press vinyl, you may encounter problems. As much as you want everything easy and copacetic, dealing with problems is inevitable. Here are the common problems encountered when printing using heat transfer vinyl and solutions on how to solve them.

Problem 1: A part Of Or Even The Whole Decal Comes With The Carrier Sheet When Peeled.

• Possible Reason: Lack of time and pressure when pressing.
• Solution: Adjust the time and temperature and press again (only on the part where the vinyl did not stick on the fabric).

Problem 2: The Whole Vinyl Decal Does Not Stick On The Garment Or The Transfer Is Untidy Even After How Many Presses.

• Reason: There’s a coating on the fabrics, like anti-microbial or water-repellant chemicals.
• Solution: Try removing the coating by washing the fabric. In some cases, the vinyl won’t really stick after several presses, in this case, you can assume that the shirt brand you have is not suitable for heat transfer printing. Try other clothing brands and make sure to read the product description.

Buffalo Plaid Heat Transfer Vinyl 5ft Roll

$6.74

Colorful Splash Heat Transfer Vinyl Roll

$9.99

PU Rainbow Stripes Heat Transfer Vinyl Roll

$9.99

Animal Print Heat Transfer Vinyl 5ft Roll

$8.99

Problem 3: The Fabric Turns Yellow Or Scorched After Pressing, Especially For Light-Colored Fabrics Like Polyester Or Sublimated Fabric.

• Reason: The fabric material is not ideal for high-temperature printing or the press temperature is too high. Probably there are existing oil stains on the fabric.
• Solution: Choose another fabric, reduce the temperature (still within the recommended range), and place a Teflon Sheet over the whole garment while printing. If you’re in doubt that the fabric has dirt, especially oil stains make sure to wash the fabric before printing on it.

Problem 4: The Vinyl Sticks Initially And Then Falls Off After A While, Especially For Multi-Layered Vinyl. 

• Reason: Incorrect application of the multiple layers.
• Solution #1: When printing multiple layers of vinyl on a shirt, make sure all the HTV has the same characteristic. All of the vinyl layers should be hot peel, warm peel, or cold peel.
• Solution #2: Special types of vinyl like glitter or metallic should always be on top. Glitter vinyl cannot be used as the base layer because all the other top layers won’t stick properly.

Problem 5: The Vinyl Falls Off After Washing.

• Reason: Obviously, the reason is incorrect washing of the garment.
• Solution: If it’s for personal use make sure to know the proper washing instructions. If it’s a gift for friends or your clothing line, make sure to attach garment washing instructions with the product. Here are the wash and care instructions for vinyl-printed garments:
• Avoid wearing, washing, or folding the garment 24 hours after pressing the HTV.
• Wash the shirt inside out, the vinyl should be inside.
• Always use cold water. Warm water may cause the vinyl to come off.
• Do not iron directly on the vinyl as this may cause the vinyl to crack or peel off. If you want, you can place a piece of fabric on top of the vinyl when ironing over it.
• Avoid using harsh detergents and fabric softeners.

Other Heat Transfer Printing Methods And Their Heat Press Time And Temperature Guide

Of course there are other heat press printing processes aside from using HTV. But for these processes, you’ll need a high-quality printer, pigment ink, or sublimation ink to complete the process. Unlike the heat pressing using a vinyl where you’ll only need a cutting machine.

In case you’ve decided to resort to these other printing processes, here’s the temperature chart and heat press time you should take note.

Printing Process

Uses

Heat Press Temperature In ℃

Heat Press Time (in seconds)

Light transfer paper

Light fabrics

180 ℃ to 200 ℃

10-15

Dark transfer paper

Dark Fabrics

135 ℃ to 175 ℃

25-30

Sublimation printing

Polyester shirts 
Light fabrics
Sublimation goods

180 ℃ to 200 ℃

40-60

Printable vinyl

For light and dark colored fabrics

165 ℃ to 170 ℃

10-15

Frequently Asked Questions

The ideal temperature to use for heat transfer vinyl is between 260 ℉ to 315 ℉ (130 ℃ to 160 ℃) using medium pressure. It’s important to read the product description of the heat press product before doing any work.

The perfect time to press heat transfer vinyl is between 8 to 15 seconds using medium pressure. Most heat presses have an automatic shut-off setting where the machine sounds when the press time is up.

The temperature used for an EasyPress is between 260 ℉ to 315 ℉ (130 ℃ to 160 ℃), much like a heat transfer machine. An EasyPress and heat transfer machine is recommended for vinyl printing, household irons are discouraged.

There are several reasons why the vinyl comes off after washing it. It may be caused by improper washing or ironing. Make sure to learn the proper wash instructions for vinyl-printed garments.

Final Words

Pin this post and make sure to follow the right temperature and time settings recommended above when using TeckWrap Craft heat transfer vinyl. Of course, you want a vivid and perfect design all the time, and in order to achieve that, you need to follow the tips and recommended settings mentioned above.

Appropriate time, correct temperature, and firm pressure are crucial for a problem-free printing experience. It’s also crucial for the proper HTV sizing on your shirt. Also, you need to mirror HTV before sending it for cutting on your Cricut or Silhouette machine. In case you encounter any problem with heat press printing in the future, backread this post and try to figure out what’s the problem. Hopefully, the solutions above will give answers to your problems.

This post and the photos within it may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Your imagination is the only limit when it comes to printable iron on vinyl! Print out a design on printable iron on using your home printer and adhere to t-shirts, onesies, hats, and more!

If you’ve ever been frustrated by the limited colors of iron on vinyl, or wished you could put a complex, multi-colored image on a shirt or tote bag, you’re going to want to get to know one of my favorite cutting machine materials—printable iron on! With printable iron on, you’ll print once, cut once, and apply once. Easy!

Today we’re taking a closer look at printable iron on and answering all of your questions about this material—then we’re going to make a shirt to show you, step-by-step, how to use it!

Frequently Asked Questions About Printable Iron On

Let’s start out by covering some of the most frequently asked questions about Printable Iron On. Have additional questions? Let me know in the comments!

What is Printable Iron On?

Printable iron on is a heat transfer material on which you can print an image. It has an adhesive on the back that is activated by heat (using a Cricut EasyPress (my favorite) or traditional heat press. You can use it on many types of fabric blanks, as seen below.

You can use your Cricut Explore, Cricut Maker, or other cutting machine with printing/cutting capabilities to cut around the edge of your design. (Note that a Cricut Joy does not do Print then Cut.) If the design is simple enough, though, you can even use scissors and skip the cutting machine step entirely!

What Type of Printable Iron On is the Best?

There are a number of printable iron on brands on the market. I’ve used several, but I always come back to the JetPro Soft Stretch. I have found that because it has a slight stretch to it, it wears really well and resists peeling. Cricut does make a printable iron on, but I haven’t been as lucky with it.

Here are a few brands you might want to try, since each material, base, and heating device is different. These are for white/light fabrics (see the next section for dark/colored fabrics):

Can I Use Printable Iron On on Dark Fabric?

Yes! But you’ll need to make sure that the printable iron on you are using is meant for dark or colored fabrics. Here are a few brands to try, with my favorite listed first:

What Type of Printer Do I Need for Iron On?

To get the best results, most printable iron on uses an ink jet printer. I’m still on the hunt for an ink jet printer that I really like (the current one I have is an HP Envy 6455…it’s decent, but sometimes I can see the printer ink “stripes”)—I actually have a new one coming in the mail soon and I’ll report back!

A laser printer gets to very high temperatures and could melt the transfer inside your printer—nightmare! That being said, they do make laser-safe printable iron on, like this:

What is the Maximum Print then Cut Size?

If you are using a Cricut, you are limited to 9.25″ x 6.75″. I know that other machines, like the Silhouette Cameo, have a larger area, though I haven’t tried it. Learn more about print then cut.

How are Printable Iron On Vinyl and Printable Vinyl Different?

There are two other printable material you may run across—printable vinyl and printable sticker paper.

All of these printable materials use your printer to create your design, but the main difference is how they are applied to your base surface. Printable vinyl and sticker paper applies more like a sticker whereas you’ll need a heat source (like an iron, Cricut EasyPress, or heat press) for printable iron on vinyl as shown in this post.

Printable iron on is primarily used on fabric, while printable vinyl/sticker paper is best for smooth surfaces, like glass, plastic, metal, notebook covers, and even paper.

Want to learn more about printable vinyl? Check out my How to Use Printable Vinyl post!

What Image Types Work for Iron On Vinyl

One of the best things about printable vinyl is that the sky is the limit when you’re deciding on a design, since you are limited to the colors of iron on vinyl you have on hand. You can make projects with beautiful, multi-colored images, like this:

When working with most Cricut materials, I always suggest using an SVG file. But with printable iron on, you can easily use PNG and JPG as well—which are normally more difficult to work with when using a Cricut. Just upload your image, print, then cut as show below.

What Types of Blanks Work with Printable Iron On?

You can use printable iron on with all sorts of fabric blanks, including t-shirts, tote bags, onsies, and more. You can even use it on wood—I have a tutorial for that coming soon!

I have found that the “smoother” the material, the better the transfer. For example, a cotton onesie works better than a tote bag with a wide canvas weave. But with such a wide variety of printable iron on brands and an even wider number of possible blanks, you can find what works for you.

I also recommend pre-washing your item if possible.

Check out my giant Best Blanks for Crafting post for more ideas!

Now that we know A LOT about printable iron on, let’s make a shirt!

How to Use Printable Iron On with a Cricut

Supplies for Printable Iron on Shirt

• Cricut Explore, Cricut Maker, or other cutting machine
• Printable Iron On
• Ink Jet Printer
• Cricut EasyPress, heat press, or household iron
• Teflon sheet or pressing cloth
• Blank
• Craftivist PNG or other PNG design

This Craftivist image was created by the amazing Amber at Damask Love / YayDay Paper Co. One reason she recently started YayDay was to bring more diversity and representation to the crafting world (can I get an AMEN!)! You can find all sorts of awesome crafting projects, stationery, planner ideas, and other resources at YayDay—check it out!

Instructions for Printable Iron On Shirt

To make our shirt, we’re going to use Cricut’s Print-then-Cut feature. This process allows us to print a design on our home ink jet printer, cut around the edge of the image using the Cricut, and then adhere to a blank using heat. Let’s get started!

Setting Up Your Image in Design Space

Start by uploading your PNG to Cricut Design Space.

In the Select Image Type menu on the right, choose “Complex” image.

On the next screen, you’ll be able to erase any parts of your image you do not want (often a white background if you’re uploading a JPG file). In this case, you do not need to delete anything because the PNG is created with a nice border around it. But if you need to delete the background of your image, see my post Uploading PNG and JPG Images to Cricut Design Space.

In the next screen, you’ll be able to choose if you want to Print then Cut or a regular Cut image. In this case, choose Print then Cut.

Finally, bring your image into Design Space.

Finally, you’ll need to resize your image to fit on your shirt. I like using templates when making shirts—they help me determine how big my image should be. You can learn more about Using Templates in Design Space.

In this case, I ended up making my image 9.25″ tall, the maximum size for print then cut, but obviously, you’ll need to resize to fit your blank.

Then click Make It in the upper right.

Cutting Your Image

The next screen will change depending on your material. This is IMPORTANT. Not all printable iron on is the same. Some requires you to reverse your image (this is the case with the JetPro) and some does not. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS for your particular material! The stuff isn’t cheap (and neither is ink) so you want to get it right.

Also note that Cricut Design Space will put a black registration box around your image—the sensors in your Cricut will use that registration box to sense your image and cut around it.

Then click Continue. You’ll be prompted to print your project using your home printer. In most cases, you’ll want to select “bleed,” which puts a bit of a border on your project. This helps keeps your project from having a white line around the edge if your Cricut doesn’t cut exactly around the edge (note that this particular file is designed with a white border, so the bleed isn’t necessary here, though it doesn’t hurt to have it either).

Every printer is different, so make sure you have your paper loaded properly. Then print your image.

Adhering Your Image to a T-Shirt

Then place your printed image on a Cricut cutting mat.

The next steps will change based on the type of printable iron on you are using.

For the JetPro Soft Stretch, you want it to cut all the way through your material. But for others, like the Cricut brand printable iron on, you want to use their Printable Iron On material setting, which will “kiss cut” the material and you will peel it up and place it on your shirt.

For the Jet Pro, place your image face-down on your shirt (this is why you mirrored it before cutting) and iron it on. For other brands, you may place it face up and iron it on. It really depends on the brand, so read the instructions carefully as you are creating, printing, cutting, and adhering your image.

Let’s continue with the Jet Pro instructions, keeping in mind you may need to do things differently. Place your image face-down on your shirt, making sure it’s centered.

Then place a teflon sheet or pressing cloth over the image. This protects the image from the heat of your press.

Then press for 30 seconds on 375° (check and use the settings for your particular brand!).

Let it cool for about 20 seconds and then peel back the transfer paper. Peel it back as smoothly as possible (not in fits and starts) for the smoothest transfer.

That’s it! Look at the huge array of colors on this shirt, all with a single press.

How to Care for Printable HTV Projects

To keep your printable iron on vinyl project from peeling, wait 24 hours before laundering. Wash inside out and line dry.

Stop pulling your hair out and start creating confidently with your Cricut! Finally understand how to use your Cricut with my Learn Your Cricut eBooks!

Get a Cricut!