Heat Transfer Vinyl · Decals

HTV & Custom Vinyl Decals

Crisp, solid-color names, numbers, text and simple logos — cut on our Silhouette Cameo 4 and heat-pressed onto apparel, or made into adhesive vinyl decals.

In short

HTV (heat transfer vinyl) is a colored vinyl film that is cut into letters or shapes, weeded by hand and heat-pressed onto fabric. It is ideal for names, numbers, text and simple one- to three-color logos, and it comes in specialty finishes like glitter and metallic. Adhesive vinyl is cut the same way to make decals for windows, cars and hard surfaces. Crafty Media cuts and presses both in-house in Westlake, FL.

Best For

What people use HTV & Vinyl for

Player names and numbers
Simple text and one- to three-color logos
Glitter, metallic and specialty finishes
Personalized shirts with a different name on each
Window, car and hard-surface decals

Works On

Materials & products

How It Works

Our HTV & Vinyl process, start to finish

Prepare the cut

Text or a simple vector design is set up and mirrored for HTV.

Cut

The vinyl is cut on our Silhouette Cameo 4 cutter.

Weed

Excess vinyl is removed by hand, leaving only the design.

Press or apply

HTV is heat-pressed onto fabric; adhesive decals are applied with transfer tape.

At a Glance

HTV & Vinyl details

Colors: Solid colors; each color is a separate layer
Finishes: Standard, glitter, metallic and other specialty vinyls
Best artwork: Text or simple vector shapes
Cutter: Silhouette Cameo 4 (designs up to about 12 inches wide)
Care (HTV): Wash inside out in cold water; avoid high dryer heat

Honest Advice

When it’s not the right choice

Designs with many colors, gradients or photos aren’t a good fit for vinyl, since every color must be cut and layered. Those designs print better with DTF (fabric) or UV DTF (hard surfaces).

Artwork requirements by method →

Not Sure Which Method?

Compare decoration methods

Method	Best for	Works on	Colors	Not ideal for
Embroidery	Logos on uniforms, polos, caps	Most fabrics, caps, jackets	Thread colors	Photos, gradients, tiny text
DTF	Full-color designs on apparel	Cotton, polyester, blends — light or dark	Unlimited	Hard surfaces
Sublimation	All-over prints, jerseys, mugs	Light polyester, coated items	Unlimited	Cotton, dark garments
HTV	Names, numbers, simple text	Cotton, polyester, bags	1–3 solid colors	Detailed multi-color art
UV DTF	Tumblers, glass, hard goods	Glass, metal, plastic, wood	Unlimited, glossy	Fabric
Laser engraving	Gifts, awards, signs	Wood, leather, slate, coated metal	Single tone	Full-color designs

Local Service

HTV & Vinyl across Palm Beach County

Made in-house in Westlake, FL, with drop-off and pickup by appointment for customers in Westlake, Wellington, West Palm Beach, Royal Palm Beach, Loxahatchee, The Acreage and nearby communities.

Westlake Wellington All of Palm Beach County

Common Questions

HTV & Vinyl FAQ

What is HTV?

HTV stands for heat transfer vinyl — a colored vinyl film that is cut into letters or shapes, weeded and heat-pressed onto fabric. It is the go-to method for names, numbers and simple text.

HTV vs. DTF: which should I choose?

Choose HTV for simple solid-color text, names, numbers or specialty finishes like glitter. Choose DTF for multi-color logos, gradients or detailed artwork, because DTF prints any number of colors in a single transfer.

Can you make custom vinyl decals for my car or business window?

Yes. We cut custom adhesive vinyl decals for windows, vehicles and other smooth surfaces. For larger vehicle graphics, see our vehicle wraps and lettering page.

How do I care for HTV shirts?

Wash inside out in cold water, avoid bleach, tumble dry low or hang dry, and don’t iron directly on the vinyl.

See all FAQs →

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