Guangzhou Haoyin New Material Technology Co., Ltd.

Is printable vinyl the same as HTV?

Jul 22, 2020

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Is Printable Vinyl the Same as HTV? No, printable vinyl and heat transfer vinyl (HTV) are not the same—they serve different purposes in crafting and printing.

Key Differences

Feature Printable Vinyl Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)
Purpose Designed for inkjet/laser printing (e.g., stickers, decals) Designed for heat-pressing onto fabrics (e.g., T-shirts, tote bags)
Adhesion Self-adhesive backing (peel-and-stick) Requires heat and pressure to bond to fabric
Printing Accepts ink directly (coated surface) Usually not printable (except specialty "printable HTV")
Finish Often glossy/matte, waterproof Flexible, fabric-like finish
Use Cases Stickers, labels, car decals,Apparel, bags, hats Apparel, bags, hats

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When They Overlap: Printable HTV

A few specialty products (e.g., Haoyin HTV) combine both:

  • Printable surface for designs + Heat-activated adhesive backing.

  • Still requires heat pressing to adhere to fabric.


Which to Choose?

  • Need stickers/decorations? → Use printable vinyl.

  • Making custom shirts? → Use HTV (or printable HTV for full-color designs).

  • Want no-heat fabric transfers? → Consider UV DTF (Direct-to-Film) as an alternative.

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