Printable vinyl (HTV) is a type of vinyl that can be printed on using desktop inkjet and then applied to a variety of fabrics using a heat press. It allows the creation of custom designs and graphics that can be transferred onto clothing, bags, hats and other items.
HTV for printing comes in two types, each designed for a specific type of ink:
This type of HTV is designed for use with an inkjet printer. It has a special coating that allows the ink from the printer to be absorbed by the vinyl, resulting in vibrant and long-lasting prints. The printer you print through is usually a wide format printer that uses solvent or eco solvent ink. In addition, you can print on it with a printer that uses latex technology. The use of this type of ink is due to the durability of the ink (this is the type of ink used for printing on outdoor signage) which allows it to withstand many washing cycles.
This type of HTV is specially designed for use with sublimation printing. It has a special coating that is activated by the heat and pressure of a heat press, resulting in a vivid and durable print that becomes part of the fabric. The print itself is produced by a sublimation printer on a special sheet of paper and then the sheet is attached to HTV at high heat which allows the transfer of the sublimation ink from the sheet to the vinyl.
The main difference is that HTV for printing comes in white – this is the base color on which we print, while HTV for cutting comes already painted in the required color.
A second difference is that HTV for printing arrives when the side containing the glue is adjacent to the carrier, and this is because printing is done on the outside. On the other hand, in HTV for cutting the side of the glue is not attached to the carrier so that it can be attached to the fabric.
When using HTV for printing, after cutting with the cutting plotter, peel off the residue and then lift the print from the carrier using heat-resistant appliqué paper and attach the print to the garment.
It is important to note that using an HTV type that is not suitable for printing may result in the print being erased from the vinyl.
Most prints on printable vinyl are done with wide format printers and eco-solvent inks. These printers allow printing on a larger media area than a home printer, and most of the printing is done on a 60 or 72 cm wide roll.
Eco-Solvent ink is a type of ink used in wide format digital printers. It is called “eco-solvent” because the solvents used in the ink are less harmful to the environment than those used in traditional solvent inks. These inks are made with milder solvents such as glycol ethers, which evaporate faster and have a lower potential for VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions.
Eco-solvent ink provides a good balance between quality, durability and versatility. They are suitable for printing on a wide range of media, including vinyl, banner, film, canvas and paper. They can produce high-quality images with a wide color gamut, and are resistant to fading, water and UV light.
One of the main advantages of eco-solvent inks is that they are less flammable and less odorous than traditional solvent inks. This makes them safer to use in commercial and industrial settings and allows for easier handling. They also produce less VOC emissions, making them a more environmentally friendly option.