Which Way Does HTV Go in Silhouette?

When you’re working with a vinyl cutter, one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is which direction to go in when applying heat transfer vinyl (HTV). HTV is a great way to add a crisp, professional look to your projects, but it can be tricky to figure out which way the vinyl should be applied.

First and foremost, you need to determine which side of the material will be facing outward. If you’re adding HTV to fabric, for instance, the side facing outward will be visible when worn.

On the other hand, if you’re adding HTV to a wall or window, the visible side will depend on how far away from the surface it will be applied.

Once you know which side of your material will be visible, it’s time to decide whether or not your design should be mirrored. This depends largely on the design itself and whether or not it needs to appear “right-reading” when viewed from the intended direction.

If your design features words or text that must appear right-reading when viewed from left-to-right (such as English), then you should opt for a mirrored image. If not, then a non-mirrored image is fine.

Finally, once you know which side of your material will be visible and whether or not your design needs to be mirrored – it’s time to decide which way HTV should go in Silhouette. Generally speaking, HTV should always be applied with its shiny side facing down and its matte side facing up. This ensures that your finished product looks as polished and professional as possible.

Conclusion:

In summary, when applying heat transfer vinyl with Silhouette machines – it’s important to consider which side of your material will face outward and if your design needs to be mirrored before deciding which way HTV should go. Generally speaking – HTV should always go with its shiny side down and matte side up for best results.