Can You Print On Heat Transfer Vinyl With Inkjet?

Do you want to create your own designs for t-shirts and other merchandise? Then you can give heat transfer printing a try. 

For budding artists and printers, heat transfer printing serves as an efficient method for creating attractive designer merchandise. It is a versatile printing method that is convenient and cost-effective. 

For starters, you will need a top notch printer for heat transfers, along with some high quality heat transfer papers. 

But if you are not savvy with heat transfer printing, you might have a lot of questions about it. And one of the most common questions is – can you print on heat transfer vinyl with inkjet printers? 

Well, you can’t directly print on heat transfer vinyl with inkjet printers directly. But that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to do so. If you keep certain aspects in mind, you can actually do it, an epic attempt that we have addressed in this brief guide. 

While you’re here, you should check out another article that answers another common question associated with heat transfer printing, how to use a heat press for t-shirts? 

So, without any further ado, let’s jump right in! 

Can You Print On Heat Transfer Vinyl With Inkjet?

What Is Heat Transfer Printing?

Before we address the primary question raised in this article, let’s delve a little bit into what heat transfer printing is. It is a method of printing that transfers an image or design onto a target surface by using heat and pressure. 

The target surface can be anything, ranging from paper or fabric to even wood, ceramic, or metal. But it is most commonly used for printing on apparel. 

In this regard, the image or design that is to be printed is not directly transferred onto the clothing. It is first printed on a special type of paper known as heat transfer paper. After that, the paper is pressed against the apparel or any other object using a heat transfer press. 

The high temperature and pressure applied on the press subsequently transfer the design on the paper onto the surface. This transfer process will need some time to complete so that you can get a durable and high-quality impression. 

Heat Transfer Paper Vs. Heat Transfer Vinyl

Based on the above discussion, it can be said without doubt that the heat transfer paper plays a crucial role in the whole process. In this regard, many people confuse heat transfer papers with heat transfer vinyl, due to which they are often used interchangeably. However, there are some differences between them that you need to keep in mind. 

Both the heat transfer paper and vinyl have a waxy covering, which transfers the imprint onto the target surface. And that’s where the similarities between these two materials end. A typical heat transfer paper is relatively thin and small, similar to ordinary paper. And like regular paper, it is pretty flexible and convenient to print on. 

On the other hand, heat transfer vinyl is thicker and larger in size, thanks to the synthetic resins that it’s made from. It requires specialized printers since it is not as flexible as heat transfer paper. Nonetheless, the prints made with heat transfer vinyl are more durable and vivid compared to the ones made with regular heat transfer paper. 

Can You Print On Heat Transfer Vinyl With An Inkjet Printer?

Usually, it is not possible to print directly on a heat transfer vinyl with an inkjet printer due to the reasons stated above. They require specialized printers that can handle vinyl sheets, so the inkjet printer that you use for your everyday printing tasks will not work. 

There is a specific type of heat transfer vinyl that is smaller and more flexible than the conventional option. However, even this printable heat transfer vinyl requires a wide format printer. Therefore, a regular inkjet or a laser printer will not be able to print on it. 

These wide format printers operate quite similarly to a conventional inkjet printer. If you purchase them, you can use them for your everyday printing purposes. And most wide format printers are based on inkjet printing technology. So, from a technical standpoint, you can print on heat transfer vinyl with an inkjet printer. 

But such printers are expensive compared to regular inkjet printers. Thus, if you are a small artist or operate a small printing business, this won’t be very feasible for you. 

How To Create Heat Transfer Prints With Regular Inkjet Printers?

Heat transfer vinyl isn’t the only medium for making heat transfer prints. As we have discussed before, you can use conventional heat transfer papers for this purpose. These heat transfer papers can be used on any regular inkjet printer. The only trade-off is that the prints will not be as high quality as a heat transfer vinyl. 

To make heat transfer prints using an inkjet printer, you first need to determine the design that you are going to make. Then print it on the heat transfer paper using the inkjet printer. Simply load the paper into the tray, and the printer will take care of the rest. 

Once that’s done, you can put it in a heat press, and voila! You have your own t-shirt design that can be sold or used for yourself. However, you can only print small volumes of items with the method. 

Nevertheless, using heat transfer paper is a great way to start up your print business. Once you have established it enough, you will have the funds to switch to wide format inkjet printers for printing on heat transfer vinyl. 

Can You Print On Heat Transfer Vinyl With Inkjet Final Words

If you are thinking of starting up a print business, then going with heat transfer prints is indeed a wise choice. It is one of the easiest printing methods available today. 

Even if you don’t want to start a business, you can use this method to create your own t-shirt designs. So, if you’ve got an inkjet printer, then go ahead and show off your swagger with some custom-designed t-shirts. 

And with that, we have arrived at the end of this brief guide. We hope that it has been able to satisfy your curiosity. 

It’s time for us to bid you adieu. Till next time, take care!