What are the different types of heat transfer vinyl? There are many different ones on the market. With so many options, it can be hard to decide which type and brand is right for your project. In this blog post, we will discuss the different types and their characteristics, and provide information on some of the most popular brands and types of HTV available today. And at the end of the post, grab a copy of “The Different Types of Heat Transfer Vinyl” cheat sheet!
Maker’s Corner Crafts is reader-supported. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I can drink more coffee at no additional cost to you. Thank you for the coffee! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more here.
What is heat transfer vinyl?
Heat transfer vinyl is type of material used to transfer a design or graphic onto another surface with the use of heat. This type of vinyl is available in both matte and gloss finishes, as well as a variety of colors and types. HTV can be applied to fabrics like cotton, polyester, and blends, and it’s also great for creating detailed designs. Cricut’s brand of HTV is called “Iron-On”.
Types of Heat Transfer Vinyl
Standard HTV
Regular heat transfer vinyl is the main staple of the HTV (heat transfer vinyl) world. There are many brands and colors available at different price points. This type of vinyl is great for a base, for layering and for sentiments (sayings) and design.
Stretch HTV
Stretch heat transfer vinyl is a great choice for projects that need flexibility and durability. It’s a type that’s made for activewear, so it’s a good option for performance-type apparel from shirts to spandex. It’s available in different colors and patterns, including metallic and neon from a number of brands. Cricut has Sportflex that is stretch HTV also.
Glitter HTV
Another popular type of heat transfer vinyl is Glitter HTV. This type is made with a special adhesive that helps the glitter stay in place. It comes in a variety of colors, including metallic and neon. Glitter HTV/Iron-On is also available in other subtypes, such as stretch and holographic. It is more expensive due to its makeup but it makes for beautiful and fun projects.
Holographic HTV
Holographic heat transfer vinyl is a color-changing vinyl that has a special effects look. It gives your project a beautiful shine and it looks amazing alone or layered. It can even look like rhinestones! Holographic HTV is available in different colors, including silver, gold, and pearl.
Flock HTV
This type of heat transfer vinyl is very popular. Used in place of embroidery, it feels like textured suede in 3-D. It’s great for an old-school look from the 70s and works great with layering.
Fluorescent and Neon HTV
Many brands carry a fluorescent or neon type of heat transfer vinyl in several colors. They look fabulous while adding brightly colored designs to shirts, socks and many other fabrics and blanks. Like other HTV, they come in various widths and lengths depending upon the brand.
Metallic HTV
Metallic heat transfer vinyl is a type that gives colors a touch of shiny chrome. It’s flashy and fantastic for celebrations, cheer and fandom, and other types of high-energy events. Some are stretchy and most are soft. A couple come in matte if the shiny look doesn’t work for your design.
Glow-in-the-Dark
Siser EasyWeed carries a glow-in-the-dark vinyl called Glow. It’s white in the light and glows green in the dark. It cuts and weeds as easily as regular EasyWeed, and needs to be “charged” in the sunlight. It’s great for night identification (dog collars, leashes, vests), or even Halloween costumes!
Patterned
Patterned HTV is common in HTV/Iron-on and adhesive vinyl. This type of heat transfer vinyl can be printed in holiday themes, in your favorite team’s colors and designs, in animal prints, vacation themes; you name it! Pattern vinyl can be found at almost all online and physical retail stores, and each shop carries lines that you may not find at other shops. So look around. You will definitely find quite a bit of patterned vinyl out there!
These types of heat transfer vinyl are some of the most popular. There are many other types out there. Check out Expressions Vinyl to see all of their patterned HTV. There are so many to choose from and experiment with!
Brands of Heat Transfer Vinyl
Siser Easyweed
Siser EasyWeed is easily the most popular and most used brand of heat transfer vinyl out there. It is thin, easy to weed and cuts nicely. It adheres well and is long-lasting. About 3/4 of my stock is Siser EasyWeed in one of its various types.
Cricut Iron-On
Cricut Iron-On is its brand of heat transfer vinyl. It comes in several different types and is available through its website. If you have a Maker 3, Explore 3 machine or a Joy, Cricut you may also choose Cricut’s Smart Iron-On. If you buy through Amazon, make sure you are getting genuine Cricut products and that it’s through a reputable seller.
WALAKut
WALAKut is a brand of heat transfer vinyl that comes in many different types. It’s a low temperature application HTV, and its regular HTV has a matte finish. It comes in rolls and sheets and can be found at Heat Transfer Warehouse.
Thermoflex Plus
Thermoflex is touted to be stronger than the garment it is applied to. It comes in sheets and rolls, and it has a lot of different colors and types. Many people really like it. It’s available at Heat Transfer Warehouse.
There are many other brands to choose from. These are just a sample of a few higher quality brands. What is worth knowing is that Siser EasyWeed is the most popular of them, and for good reason. However, that’s doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider other brands of heat transfer vinyl, to practice with and see how they do, and use for projects. Though I would test them out thoroughly if you plan on selling products with any of them that are unknown to you. You can also read up on other makers’ testing; just make sure they’ve done wash testing if you are looking for fabric HTV recommendations.
As with adhesive vinyl, what you choose to practice with comes down to personal preference and what you can afford. Each HTV works differently. Therefore, if you can, practice with what you plan on using. If you can’t, then practice with less expensive HTV, but know that the heat transfer vinyl you will most likely use in your final products may behave differently.
I hope this information has helped you with the different types of heat transfer vinyl. If you’d like to learn about adhesive vinyl, check out my guide to The Different Types of Adhesive Vinyl. Also, don’t forget to grab a copy of The Different Types of Heat Transfer Vinyl Quick Reference! If you have any questions or if I’m missing information, please leave a comment. I always love hearing from you!
Happy, happy crafting!
Leave a Reply