Tips and Tricks for Layering Heat Transfer Vinyl
, by Abbey H, 4 min reading time
Hi there RQC Supply Crafters!
Today we are going to talk about layering Heat Transfer Vinyl, also know as HTV! Layering HTV may seem impossible for beginners, but with a little practice it will become second nature. We are going to answer some of the commonly asked questions about layering and provide you with some tips and tricks along the way.
Can I Layer Regular Heat Transfer Vinyl?
Of course, you can. Smooth HTV, also referred to as as traditional HTV can be layered up to four layers thick.
Pro Tip: Plan from an image and create your files, working from background to foreground.
Can I Layer Glitter Heat Transfer Vinyl?
No, sadly Glitter HTV cannot be layered. Don't let that get you down though, we can still achieve this look.
If you have your heart set on using the Siser Glitter HTV, then you will want to use the knockout method. Knockout refers to cutting out the glitter area of your design from all additional layers. This ensures that the Glitter layer is directly adhered to the blank and no other layers will stack on top. It can be helpful to offset the design and add some space between the glitter portion of the design and other elements, preventing any accidental overlap.
Another great option would be to use Siser Sparkle HTV. Unlike Glitter, it can be layered. Best of all, it has all of the shine but is soft to the touch compared to Glitter which has coarser texture.
What About Other Specialty Vinyl?
All specialty vinyl (Flocked, Holographic, Metallic, etc.) can only be the last layer of your design. HTV will not adhere to the tops of these materials.
How Can I Create A 3D Effect?
Create a raised 3D effect by using Siser Brick HTV, a thicker HTV that has a rubberized look and feel. It can be used on its own, or you can take your design to the next level and layer Siser Stretch HTV overtop of it. White is a popular colour for the Brick HTV to allow the other colours to pop.
What Are Some Tips for Creating A Layered HTV Design?
The most important tip I can give you is; keep your file organized and your colours grouped. This way, it is easier to separate them for cutting.How Do I Group My Colours?
Depending on what program you are working in, you can select the colour to "group it" or "attach it." In Adobe Illustrator, you can do this via Select> Same> Fill Colour. In Cricut Design Space, use the Attach function.Should I worry about the temperature when layering HTV?
Yes! When you are using two different materials, you'll want to use higher temperature vinyls first (as a bottom layer). This prevents your vinyl lesser temperature vinyls from discolouring, burning, or shrinking. Sometimes that simply isn't possible though, especially if you're using Glitter HTV or other Specialty Vinyl. In those cases using a "two-second tack" will save you!
If you like learning visually, check out the video below by Siser.
There you have it, the most frequently asked questions we've heard from our customers learning to work with layered HTV.
If you can think of anything that we didn't touch on, email us at info@rqcsupply.com. Please share your work on social media and tag us! We love seeing what you come up with. I hope you have an excellent rest of the day and HAPPY CRAFTING!
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