Have you ever made a heat transfer vinyl mistake?

We have, in fact, more than once…and it usually goes one of two ways. You weed your design, it looks good, you press it and BOOM you see the mistake….You forgot to weed a section!  Or maybe you create your design, you think it looks perfect, you press it and… it’s crooked! Well, fear no more, you can fix your HTV mistake with VLR Vinyl Letter Remover, and it is so simple to use.

To remove Heat Transfer Vinyl you need:

Vinyl Letter Remover (VLR)

Directions on how to use VLR:

1 – Take your garment and go to a well-ventilated area.

2- If it is your first time using VLR you will need to take off the cap and puncture the base. Then shake the VLR solution.

3- Turn the garment inside-out and apply the solvent to the underside of the heat applied material. This will release the vinyl from the garment.

4- Once you have applied the VLR, it is best to stretch or pull the area with the mistake. This will make the heat applied material start to peel off of the garment.

5-Pull off the remaining heat transfer vinyl.

6 – If there is any residue left, remove it from the front side of the garment by applying the Vinyl Letter Remover to a clean white rag and rubbing it off.

7 – Repeat if necessary.

Do you want to get the most out of your sublimation projects? Here are seven tips for sublimation success:

1 – Take the correct measurements
To sublimate the image correctly on your item, you must measure precisely. When you purchase products from Pro World we have the dimensions and instructions on the product page. And if you use Sawgrass Creative Studio you will be able to use the design template which will help ensure a proper fit!

2 – Remove The Protective Covering
Some sublimation blanks have a protective covering, be sure to check your blank to remove it before printing.

3 – Check heat press temperature
To cook your item correctly, it is essential that your heat press temperature is correct. Use the help of a digital thermometer to make sure that your heat press is the proper temperature. If the temperature is too low, your item will be undercooked, and if the temperature is too high, you are going to scorch your project.

4 – Be careful of moisture
If you work in a damp area be cautious of humidity. Moisture on your project can cause flashing which removes the ink from the predetermined area. We recommend that you store your paper in a dry place. You could store it in a container or a re-sealable bag. If you are working with a garment, you can also pre-press your item for 10 seconds which will help remove moisture and remove the wrinkles. You can also set up a dehumidifier within your workspace to help lift the moisture from the air.

5 – Always secure your paper to your product
It is crucial for your sublimation paper to stay in place during the pressing process. The slightest movement could cause ghosting, which is a shadowy effect. We recommend that you secure your sublimation paper to your blank. You can do this with heat resistant tape or an adhesive spray.

6 – Cover your product
We suggest that you use a nonstick sheet or blank copy paper to protect your product and avoid the ink from dying any other surface.

7 – Read the blank instructions before pressing your project
Review the instructions for your product to ensure that you have the correct settings before getting started. Once you have completed sublimating your image, it is essential to follow the transfer removal instructions. If the directions say Hot Peel, that means you need to remove the transfer quickly so that it can cool. Be prepared for a hot peel by having your heat resistant gloves on so that you do not burn yourself. The sublimation paper, product, and heat press surface will be HOT.

Are you looking to use your equipment to get into the party market? Great idea! Whether it is decorations, apparel or birthday gifts, there are plenty of opportunities for you to use your favorite products and make a bit of money or just use your machine for your own personal, festive fun.

Ready to get this party started? Here are a few ideas using Pro World products. 

Use Adhesive Vinyl to create:

• Personalized banners
• Invitations
• Temporary decorations using 631
• Signage
• Personalized/themed favors

Use HTV to create:

• Party Apparel
• Favors 
• Gifts 

Use Custom Transfers for:

• Family reunions
• Team Parties
• Bridal Parties

Use Sublimation for:

• Birthday Bibs
• Favors
• Apparel

Use Heat Transfers:

• Use a heat transfer to make a shirt 
• Combine heat transfers with HTV to create personalized creations

Do you want to take your party creations and offer them to the masses? We’ve had customers having great success on Facebook, Etsy, local specialty shops and direct selling on their own website. What is your favorite party product to personalize?

Regardless if you create items for fun or for profit, we all have our go-to tools and accessories that are essential to completing our beautiful projects. So we were curious… what is your “go to” tool? After a lot of research, we have found that the following items are the tools that our customer always have on hand:

1 – Weeder/Hook/Tweezers: Removing vinyl can be tedious which is why you need a sharp point to grab your hard to get pieces.  We personally like the Siser Weeder tool. It’s durable and will not bend or break and will allow you to weed with speed and accuracy.

2 – Squeegee: The best way to eliminate air bubbles and smooth adhesive vinyl is with a squeegee. The advantage to using a tool over a credit card is 1) the weight, it applies the appropriate amount of pressure onto your project and 2) your sanity. Nothing is worse than using your credit card to scrape your project, forgetting to put it away and then being out at the store only to realize you forgot your card! Make life simple… buy a squeegee.

3 – Thermal Tape: Thermal tape safely secures images onto the product you are sublimating (mugs, tiles, etc.) and keeps it from moving during the pressing process. The tape is heat-resistant up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and does not leave any sticky residue.

4 – Teflon Sheet: These non-stick sheets come in handy for just about any project that is going in your heat press. You can use it to cover already pressed vinyl, put it underneath your product to keep the platen clean, you can even place it inside your garment to avoid bleed through to the other side.

5 – Gridded Application Tape: Transferring adhesive vinyl is a whole lot easier with gridded application tape. Our selection of application tapes can be used with any of our adhesive vinyl.

6 – Pressing Pillows: These pillows will even out pressure and protect your garments from the heating process.  They come in a variety of sizes depending on your needs.

Do you have a favorite tool that we didn’t mention? Tell us! Go to our Facebook page or Instagram page.