Can You Print On Heat Transfer Vinyl With Inkjet & Laser | Regular Vinyl

Heat transfer vinyl is a thin layer of plastic that can be used to customize blanks, especially apparel or t-shirts. However, a lot of individuals who are new to this crafting field wonder to know the answer of can you print on heat transfer vinyl with an inkjet printer? Well, the simple answer is it depends on the type of heat transfer vinyl and your regular printer.

This means if your HTV is printable then you can print on it with your regular inkjet printer but it should be a wide format printer. Although a vinyl plotter is used to craft the vinyl and printable HTV will also require a Cricut vinyl plotter either maker or explore to print and cut the design using the print then cut feature.

Can You Print On Heat Transfer Vinyl With Inkjet

As stated above, you can use your inkjet printer to print on printable heat transfer vinyl. However, there are various types of HTV and printing compatibility may vary according to the type of vinyl.

Can I Print On Vinyl With A Laser Printer

Yes! Laser printers can also be used to print on vinyl but again here comes the factor of vinyl that it should be printable and heat resistant. As laser printers can get heat up to 400 degrees since vinyl is a plastic layer so you should consider that you’re using the correct type of printable vinyl that won’t melt inside the printer.

Can Any Printer Print On Heat Transfer Vinyl?

While there are various printers that can handle the printing on vinyl. But not any printer can handle the task of printing on HTV. The most commonly used printers for heat transfer vinyl printing are inkjet printers and laser printers. Inkjet printers are versatile and compatible with various paper types, typically more preferred due to their ability to print on various surfaces, including vinyl and heat transfer paper or sublimation paper.

However, laser printers can also be used to print on heat transfer vinyl with certain considerations.

Here you can read more about can you use a regular printer for transfer paper.

Can You Print On Regular Heat Transfer Vinyl

The answer is no! Regular heat transfer vinyl is not designed to handle the printing and ink rather it is designed to make versatile designs with a Cricut cutter or any other. However, if you really want to print heat transfer vinyl then consider printable heat transfer vinyl, because printable heat transfer vinyl has a special layer that can handle the printer ink and printing process.

In addition, when the printer ink is dry on the print HTV, it is ready to heat press on the apparel as well as on other substrates. Printable vinyl can be printed in various colors because it is widely available in different finishes and colors.

Can You Print On Heat Transfer Vinyl With Cricut

You can only use Cricut feature print then cut to print using an ordinary printer and cut that exact design using Cricut’s sensors. The Cricut machine itself doesn’t have the capability to print because it is only a vinyl cutter and thus isn’t equipped with a built-in printer.

Cricut Design Space that comes with the Cricut plotter has the special feature of print then cut which is utilized to print the printable HTV.

As you cannot print with a Cricut but I’m providing you with a trick to print that no one has shared yet to utilize Cricut to print. Here are the steps.

Can You Print On Siser Heat Transfer Vinyl

Yes, it is possible to print on Siser heat transfer vinyl. Because Siser HTV is printable and offers a variety of printable HTVs including Siser EasyWeed, Siser EasySubli, and Siser ColorPrint. Siser is a popular brand known for its high-quality heat transfer vinyl. Due to its compatibility with most of the inkjet printers, Siser HTV is widely used in most of the crafting projects.

All these 3 types are particularly designed to use with their compatible purposes, for example, Siser Easysubli is used to sublimate the dark color apparel and cotton blends.

Can You Print On Any Heat Transfer Vinyl

Not all heat transfer vinyl is suitable for printing. While some heat transfer vinyl is specifically designed for printing, others may not be compatible with the printing process but only cutting and heat pressing. Using the right type of heat transfer vinyl for printing will help you achieve the best results in terms of print quality and durability.

It is recommended to use only printable vinyl for printing tasks regarless of the brands, But Siser is my recommended brand to use for printing tasks. 

Here Are Some Tips For Printing On Printable HTV

Check Best Printer For Heat Transfer T-Shirts & Paper.

Conclusion

While printing on vinyl is a great way to customize various substrates including hats, t-shirts, bags, and other items too. With using the right type of material and printer, you can gift customized items to your loved ones or wear them in your daily life because of their durability. If vinyl printing is a regular part of your workflow, investing in a dedicated inkjet printer for this purpose may provide more reliable and efficient results.

Want to know how much durable is the vinyl? Read the guide on how long does heat transfer vinyl last.