Heat Press Guide

Heat press machines are great for creating a large amount of prints in a short amount of time. While easy to use, many beginners struggle to give their heat press machine enough time to fully transfer their material onto its new surface, resulting in poor adhesion and failed products.
To help you make the most out of your heat press machines, we’ve created some charts that you can use to quickly change your settings when starting a new project. Follow our heat press temperature guide for the perfect product every time!

1. Auto Heat Press

Released in August of 2022, the HTVRONT Auto Heat Press Machine is a very user-friendly machine that automates much of the process of working with heat transfer vinyl (HTV). You will need to use the right settings for your products to get a good transfer, however. Getting the right HTV heat press settings can be difficult, which is why we have created an easy-to-follow chart for you! This chart goes over the recommended temperatures and heat pressing times for all of the most popular materials you will come across.

Tips:

• It is recommended to pre-heat your fabric before you begin pressing to ensure it is flat.
• Do not touch your automatic heat press machine until it has completely cooled down after use.

2. Auto Tumbler Heat Press

For creating personalized mugs and tumblers, the HTVRONT Auto Tumbler Heat Press Machine is what you need. Our Auto Tumbler Heat Press Machine was released in October of 2023. It has a work size of 2.67in ≤ Sublimation blank ≤ 3.48in diameter, with a length of ≤ 10.6in, allowing you to work with mugs and tumblers ranging from 10oz all the way up to 30oz!

 

Tips:

• Be sure to check that your mug/tumbler is an appropriate size for the Auto Tumbler Heat Press before attempting to press it.
• Always wear the included heat-resistant gloves when handling the machine to prevent burns.

3. Hat Heat Press

• Be sure to use the ironing hat to give your hat a solid base so that it does not shift around while pressing.
• Keep a firm press on your hat during operation, with small movements to evenly heat your HTV.

4. Manual Heat Press

While similar to the HTVRONT Auto Press, our newer manual heat presses, released in June of 2024,  will require a bit more of a hands-on approach to achieve the same effects. The temperature is easily adjustable and the built-in press timer will help you get the perfect press every time!

Below, you will find our HTVRONT heat press settings for every material.

Tips:

• The top plate of the manual heat press can swivel 360°. Be sure to keep an eye on the cable so that it does not get tangled around the frame.
• Be sure to properly adjust your pressure knob before starting to press.

Tips of Using Heat Transfer Materials and Fabrics

When working with Polyester or Sublimated Fabric, remember that it is very soft and does not require much heat. You do not want to leave these materials in the heat for too long. Be sure to dial in your heat settings accordingly before pressing for the best results. 

Having a nice, clean surface on your material is also very important. You do not want to use an old or dirty shirt when heat pressing, as the oils and grime will cause your transfer to look unappealing. Make certain that your shirt is pressed flat with no creases.

Heat press vinyl, also known as HTV, is one of the cheapest and easiest materials to work with on a heat press. HTV requires a higher temperature than polyester, with an ideal temperature of about 315°F. You will want to apply strong pressure when working with HTV. typically about 10-15 seconds of pressure is needed for your design to transfer. We recommend preheating your fabric before pressing to speed up the process.

Common Problems and Solutions

There are a lot of variables in the HTV heat pressing process, with different materials and machine settings reacting differently from each other. Problems will come up. That is why we have created this list of common occurrences that should quickly help you find the answer to any issues you might be having with your heat press.

Problem 1: When peeling the sheet, some or all of the decal comes with the carrier sheet.

Possible cause: There wasn’t enough time for the design to transfer or the pressure wasn’t enough to transfer the design.

Solution: Adjust time and temperature, and press again (only on the part where the vinyl is not sticking to the fabric).

Problem 2: The whole vinyl decal is not sticking to the clothes or the transfer is not neat even after many prints.

Cause: There are coatings on the fabric preventing the decal from sticking, such as antibacterial or water-repellent chemicals.

Solution: Try to remove the coating by washing the fabric. In some cases, vinyl won't stick after multiple prints, in which case you can assume that the brand of shirt you have is not suitable for heat transfer. Try other clothing brands and be sure to read product descriptions for clothing labeled as HTV compatible.

Problem 3: Vinyl sticks initially and then peels off after a while, especially multi-layer vinyl.

Cause: The multi-layers were incorrectly applied.

Solution 1: When printing multiple layers of vinyl on shirts, make sure all HTVs have the same characteristics. All vinyl layers should be hot peel, warm peel, or cold peel. Mixing will cause issues.

Solution 2: Special types of vinyl, like glitter or metal, should always be on top. Glitter vinyl cannot be used as a base layer because all other top layers will not stick properly.

Problem 4: Fabrics yellow or burn after pressing, especially light-colored fabrics such as polyester or sublimation fabrics.

Reason: The fabric material is not suitable for high-temperature printing or the printing temperature is too high. There could also be oil stains on the fabric.

Solution: Choose another fabric, lower the temperature (still within the recommended range), and cover the entire garment with a Teflon sheet while printing. If you suspect that the fabric is soiled, especially oil stains, be sure to wash the fabric before attempting to print.

Problem 5: Vinyl comes off after washing.

Cause: Improper washing of the clothes.

Solution: If it is for personal use, make sure that you understand the proper washing instructions. If it's a gift for a friend or your clothing line, make sure that you include laundry instructions on the product. Here are the washing and care instructions for vinyl-printed garments:

1. Avoid wearing, washing, or folding clothing for 24 hours after pressing HTV.
2. Wash the shirt inside and out, the vinyl should be on the inside.
3. Always use cold water. Warm water may cause the vinyl to peel off.
4. Do not iron directly on the vinyl as this may cause the vinyl to crack or peel. If desired, you can place a piece of fabric on top of the vinyl while ironing the vinyl.
5. Avoid using harsh detergents and fabric softeners.

Final Thoughts

While this definitely seems like a lot of information, especially to a beginner, don’t let it overwhelm you. You don’t need to learn everything all at once! Take notes on the sections that apply to your machine and come back to this guide if you forget anything.