Heat Transfer Paper Vs. Heat Transfer Vinyl | Cost, Durability & More | Apparel Academy (Ep 64)

In this week’s episode of Apparel Academy, Henry goes over the pros and cons of heat transfer paper and heat transfer vinyl. Each of these custom heat transfer design methods have their advantages and disadvantages, and it’s up to you to decide which one is best for your business.

***PLEASE NOTE: The Ricoma R550 White Toner Transfer Printer is no longer available. We have replaced it with our BRAND NEW Luminaris 200 White Toner Transfer Printer.



The two-step heat transfer method first involves printing a design onto a transparent sheet of heat transfer paper with our Luminaris 200 White Toner Transfer Printer. After printing the design, you transfer it onto an adhesive sheet using a heat press. Then, peel away the adhesive sheet from the transfer sheet and press the design onto a garment. The last step is to peel away the transfer sheet to reveal your heat transfer design on your garment.

To use printable heat transfer vinyl, you must first prepare your design to be cut by using a vinyl cutter. After that, you measure the surface area that you’re printing on so you can scale the custom heat transfer design to the correct size. You then want to mirror the image in the software because heat transfer vinyl has a clear plastic carrier sheet that covers the top of it; the other side has heat-sensitive adhesive. So, you must cut your design on the adhesive side. Then, the clear plastic sheet on the other side holds your design in place until it’s applied to your substrate. Next, cut the vinyl with a cutting machine and pick out the excess vinyl from around your design using a weeding hook or tweezers. After that, you activate the sticky vinyl by applying heat and pressure with a heat press. Once done, peel back the carrier sheet and wait about 24 hours for the vinyl to cure onto the garment.

Investment costs

When comparing the investment costs of heat transfer paper and heat transfer vinyl, vinyl is slightly better. This is because a vinyl cutter is cheaper than a white toner transfer printer. A cutter can be as low as a few hundred dollars to as high as a few thousand dollars, whereas a white toner transfer printer for heat transfer printing is at least a few thousand dollars. When looking at the cost of supplies for each method, they both are relatively inexpensive.

Complexity

The heat transfer vinyl method is more complex than heat transfer paper because you must cut and weed the vinyl. Also, the more complex the design is, the more challenging and time-consuming it is to weed the vinyl. In fact, it’s sometimes it’s hard to see where the cut lines are. So, heat transfer paper is better in terms of complexity because don’t have to do weeding, which saves you time.

Design Variety

With heat transfer paper, there is no limit to the type of heat transfer design or the number of colors you want to do. With heat transfer vinyl, however, you are limited to one color per design layer. To get a multi-colored design, you have to layer vinyl pieces on top of each other to create the main design. Because vinyl is limited to one color and design per layer, heat transfer paper is better for design variety.

Durability & Feel

Heat transfer paper and vinyl will both add a layer onto your fabric, but with vinyl, you can feel the plastic. Also, heat transfer vinyl for shirts needs to cure on the garment for about 24 hours after pressing it, which is a step that doesn't happen with heat transfer paper. And while both methods last about 30-40 washes, vinyl garments have to be washed inside-out to prevent cracking. So, heat transfer paper wins this category due to its lower maintenance and better feel.

Heat transfer paper and heat transfer vinyl both have their strengths and weaknesses. If you want a fast method with more heat transfer design variety, then go with heat transfer paper. But if you have simple designs and are getting small orders, then heat transfer vinyl is your best bet.

[tonycordovatc]

I paused mid video to write this comment. This is a GREAT video. I just recently bought a heat press and had no clue on what to use to make my design. Wasn't sure what to buy next! This has been very helpful thank you man! God bless 🙌

[adam-]

I just wanted to say that I really appreciated this thorough breakdown. Extremely helpful for me. Thanks a lot!!

[specta]

this is good, basically once you can expand on your business and be able to do both methods, you can use both to yield even better results and even better designs and even better pricing, for me i chose to start with transfer paper, for the moment i invested in a sublimation printer and a heat press, i wish i had enough money to buy a vinyl cutter or plotter cause it can be used with transfer paper, giving even better edges and a better finishes rather than just a square or a rectangular image to be transferred, i am personally having fun with it, doing shirts and hoodies, but i hope to expand on it and even learn to do screening to cut the prices even further, this is a very nice and very fun business plan if someone is willing to to take the risks, which are not really that big, even though i spent a lot of money, if i put it in dollars people might think it isn't even believable, but to me it is quite a lot since i live in a third world country with monthly salaries of $200 and 300 , i had to work for a whole year to gather this amount of money, and tbh i don't care if the business fails, i rather start as my own boss and fail and not let the chance slip without trying, all i have to do now is take an order, make the design, print it, cut it out, transfer it on the shirt, deliver it, and get paid, that is it

[JOKERFACE]

And all the items i need for the 2 step

[boxoffisa]

This guy is a good salesman. I like him already.

[stockpicksbytim]

Extremely valuable info plus laid out so that someone new like me can understand it, this is great!

[dingdingdng]

7:56 name of the software/application pleaser

[JOKERFACE]

Transparent heat transfer paper and adhesive sheet links also

[nathanielc.bustillo]

Hello! Can we use inkjet printer in printing for Heat Transfer Paper? Thank you!

[sandracc]

Thank you so much I been looking for this kinda video to understand the difference and what machines thank you 🙏🏽

[perrymiguel]

I live in Nigeria abd need the printer for staters. How much for it without the monthly payments? Can it be shipped to Nigeria?

[DoittheLord]

How much does it cost to replace the ink in the heat transfer toner ?

[MrCrazydogy]

I'm sorry if it's a dumb question but couldn't one use a regular printer to print their design onto a transparent sheet? Or do I have to get one of these expensive printers for this job?

[gokufujison]

your series helped really helped to get a good overview

[sugardarling]

how much is the toner? How big are the cartridges or pouches that fill the cartridges?

[conniemann]

I know this video is a few years old but just found it. Was wondering if I can use a an HP Envy Photo printer to print on vinyl or does it need to be a special printer. Thanks

[edselmartinez]

What’s the best heat transfer paper I bought ppd and it didn’t stand up to the washing machine.

[zekedixon]

So you can’t use an inkjet with transparency paper?

[carolinavargas]

I love Apparel Academy Episodes! Always have such great insights and ideas.

[YungCones]

what about inkjet heat transfer?? Trying to learn as much as possible so i know what to do regarding my investments.