Can You Put HTV On Polyester? (2024)

Posted By TeckWrap Craft On May 25, 2022

If you’re wondering whether you can print heat transfer vinyl on polyester, the answer is yes! But hold on! It’s not as easy as printing HTV on cotton. If you have a client requesting activewear with vinyl print then you need to read this post.

Just a heads up, printing heat transfer vinyl on polyester needs extra care, longer press time, and less temperature. Read further to learn tips you should know before printing HTV on polyester.

10 Tips You Should Know Before Printing HTV On Polyester

Printing HTV on polyester is not the same as printing HTV on cotton. Honestly, you have to be more patient in printing HTV on polyester. It takes practice and you will have to test the compatibility of the fabric and HTV. Here are 10 tips that’ll guide you in this printing project.

1. Polyester Fabric Comes In Different Types

Polyester is a synthetic fabric known to be durable and inexpensive. It has different types, most of which are heat-sensitive. Several pure and blended polyester fabrics include:

• Acrylic
• Acetate
• Lyca / spandex / elastane
• Microfiber
• Nylon
• Rayon / viscose
• Poly blends

Can you print HTV on all of them? No. Polyester made of acrylic will melt at high temperatures. Also, nylon requires extra care when printing HTV on it. Always check the tag or the product description of the shirt for the type of polyester material you are using.

2. Check If The Shirt Is A Heat Sensitive Item

If the shirt is made of heat-sensitive material, you may have to think twice before pressing HTV on it. In this case, you should use an HTV that can be pressed at a lower temperature, preferably under 270℉.

If it is not heat-sensitive, you can print the HTV design on it. You can use heat transfer vinyl that can be pressed up to 350℉.

3. Do Not Pre-Wash The Shirt

When pressing HTV on polyester fabric, you want the material smooth and dry. That’s why you don’t need to pre-wash the shirt before heat printing.

However, this is not the case for all shirts. Once again, check the tag or product description. Check if the HTV manufacturer has specifically instructed to pre-wash the garment before printing a design on it. If it says that, do so, otherwise leave it. Instead pre-pressing the fabric is needed, which will be discussed later on.

4. Test Print On The Fabric

If it’s your first time printing on polyester, it’s always better to practice at first through test printing. You can either buy an extra polyester shirt or practice on an inconspicuous area.

Try to gauge the perfect combination of time, heat, and pressure settings, which will be discussed further later on. Afterward, wash the HTV-printed polyester. This way you will know if the material has been discolored or if the vinyl has started to peel off.

5. Choose The Right Heat Transfer Vinyl

Other than getting the right type of polyester shirt, you have to choose the right heat transfer vinyl as well. Most HTV films come with their recommended heat and time settings, but this is when you print on cotton.

It’s a different story for polyester shirts. Another piece of advice when choosing the right heat transfer vinyl is to avoid those films that are inexpensive. Chances are they wouldn’t last long on polyester. You should look for an HTV that is durable and of premium quality which will most probably be costly.

6. Use Teflon Sheet When Pressing

When you heat press polyester, the fabric can scorch or burn. The best option is to put a sheet on the whole HTV decal and fabric when using the heat press machine.

It is recommended to use a thin Teflon sheet for this as thick ones may affect the intensity of heat when pressing. Parchment paper also works. What’s important is that it should be big enough to cover the entire garment.

7. Always Use A Heat Press Machine, Not An Iron

If you press polyester with an HTV design, it’s recommended to use a heat press machine rather than a household iron. Why? If you use a regular household iron, you will only apply light pressure.

8. Pre-Press The Fabric

9. Correct Temperature, Pressure, And Time

Perfect temperature, pressure, and time settings are very important. If you heat press polyester while applying an HTV design to it, decrease the temperature, apply high pressure, and increase the pressing time. Here are the recommended heat press temperature and time:

• Heat Settings: Not exceeding 270℉ (or 132 degrees Celsius).
• Press Time Settings: Up to 10 seconds.

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When other crafters heat press polyester, they start by pressing for 10 seconds. Then they check if the HTV has adhered. If it has not stuck properly, they press it again for another 5 seconds. You don’t want to press too long as this may lead to scorch marks on the fabric, which we will discuss in the next section. Here are the types of HTV that can be pressed at lower temperatures available at TeckWrap Craft:

• PU Heat Press Vinyl: 266 ℉ to 284 ℉
• PU Rainbow Stripes Heat Press Vinyl: 266 ℉ to 284 ℉
• Galaxy HTV: 266 ℉ to 284 ℉
• Patterned HTV: 266 ℉ to 284 ℉

10. Always Follow The Ideal Temperature And Time

Is It better To Print On Cotton Or Polyester?

Which is the better fabric to print HTV on? Polyester or cotton? Both fabrics have their pros and cons. Which type of fabric you choose for your printing needs also depends on the project you intend to do. The following information may help you decide whether to use polyester or cotton:

Pros Of Polyester Shirts

• Absorbs moisture and sweat.
• Best used in performance shirts (activewear, gym clothes).
• Affordable compared to cotton shirts.
• Lightweight material.
• Wrinkle-resistant.
• Stretchy quality.
• Resistant to shrinking.
• Recommended for sublimation printing.
• Perfect for giveaway shirts or those that will be used once or twice.

Cons Of Polyester Shirts

• More challenging to print HTV on it.
• May scorch especially with high temperatures.
• Holds on to odors.

Screenshot from YouTube: HOW TO IRON-ON POLYESTER! By Makers Gonna Learn

Pros Of Cotton Shirts

• Soft, comfortable, breathable, and non-clingy.
• Widely available or easy to purchase.
• Doesn’t absorb odors.
• Easier to print HTV on them.
• Have a good bond with the heat transfer vinyl design.
• Doesn’t scorch as much when using the heat press.
• Can withstand high heat.

Cons Of Cotton Shirts

• Likely to stretch or sink.
• Not wrinkle-resistant

Your use of cotton or polyester depends on your personal preference, your budget, or what your client wants if you have a business. For business owners, cheaper outsourcing of materials is always better, especially for mass production. That’s why you can make money with polyester shirts.

Can You Print HTV On Sublimated Shirts?

Sublimation is a different printing process, but you’ll need a heat press machine for this as well. You’ll also need an inkjet printer with sublimation ink and sublimation paper. The design is printed on sublimation paper and then transferred to the polyester fabric. You cannot sublimate on cotton shirts as the design will fade over time.

How To Avoid Scorch Press Marks On Polyester?

Can You Fix Scorch Marks On Polyester?

Yes, you can fix scorch marks on polyester. Take note, only scorch marks can be fixed, not melted portions. Once polyester has melted, it cannot be fixed. If you see scorch marks while printing HTV on a polyester shirt, fix them right away by following these steps:

• Immerse the polyester shirt in cold water immediately. This will stop the polyester fabric from burning.
• Spread a generous amount of laundry detergent all over the scorch marks. You can also use color-safe bleach.
• Scrub the scorch mark using a brush or washcloth. You may notice that burn marks are starting to come off. Continue scrubbing until they disappear completely.

Unfortunately, you can’t do anything to fix melted polyester. This means the whole project is ruined. That’s why one of the tips mentioned earlier is to always test print. Once you’ve determined the right combination of heat, time, and pressure, take note of it, and follow it for your future polyester printing projects.

Can You Heat Press Spandex And Polyester Blend?

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts