A vinyl decal is one of the hottest items that you can find in a clothing store. These are also known as iron on transfers, and they are used to get custom designs onto T-shirts or other clothes quickly and efficiently. They’re not just for women either – men love them too! Customizing your own wardrobe with these little stickers will be quite the project, but it’s worth all the time put into it if you want to make some cool new things happen. Let’s delve deeper into what goes into making these amazing accessories that give your shirts a whole new look!
What do you need to make vinyl decals for shirts?
*Get supplies: You will need a vinyl cutter, computer and software to create your design files, printer for the designs on paper or specialty media. We recommend that you use high quality materials as it is expensive to re-cut if your decal doesn’t come out right.
*Designing: Once all of the necessary equipment has been acquired, then you can begin designing your image file. There are many different programs available online but we prefer Adobe Illustrator which comes with our purchase of most printers because Photoshop isn’t always enough when working in large formats like a D200 sheet size (24″ x 36″). To start creating an illustration make sure you have set up guidelines so that everything stays aligned properly even after scaling down – it’s best to work with the ruler visible in Illustrator.
*Cutting: Once you have finished designing your image, it is time to cut out your design on a vinyl cutter machine. First calibrate and set up the program for cutting before dragging over the artwork onto the workspace and assigning material features like thickness (thicker = more durable but heavier), color, etc. Remember that when an image is scaled down there will be less detail so make sure that all of it can fit within one sheet size – this usually means starting at 24″x36″. If not then we recommend using multiple sheets as merging them together afterwards would be difficult or unprofessional looking. Next align everything and start clicking “cut.” This process may take some time and it is best to start with something simpler for your first time.
*Applying: Once the decals are cut out, you can then apply them to whatever surface that they will be adhered too using adhesive transfer tape (usually supplied with a purchase of vinyl) or an iron-on application which has a heat press machine required but is more durable if handled correctly. Keep in mind that there may be some residue on the back after cutting so make sure that it is easy enough to remove before applying or use scrap paper as backing when transferring onto fabric – this also helps protect from sticking prematurely. The easiest way we have found for removing leftover pieces of film/vinyl left behind, especially near intricate sections, is by rubbing alcohol.
*Applying heat: For applications that will be ironed on, you can use a household iron set to the appropriate temperature and press down firmly. You may also want to cover your design with scrap paper or fabric at this point in order not to ruin the surface underneath with adhesive residue from transfer tape. Be sure never to touch any part of clothing as it could catch fire if hot enough!
DIY VINYL DECALS – TOOLS NEEDED
*Vinyl cutter machine (with software)
*Adobe Illustrator or similar program to design file
*Good quality printer, at least an inkjet with high-resolution output (we like Epson and Canon printers but there are plenty of others available on the market)
*Transfer tape for applying decals where there is no heat press machine required. If you have a household iron then use it to apply decals that will be applied by heating from below. Never touch anything hot when wearing clothes as they could catch fire!
These items can all be purchased individually through Amazon, although we recommend buying together in order to save shipping costs because many of these tools come with their own supplies such as transfer tape and printer ink.
STEPS TO FOLLOW
Creating your own vinyl decals is more than just art. You’ll need to set up a proper workspace, as well as understand the following steps in order to create them correctly:
-Mark your design on paper with blue pencil or pen. Keep one of the original sheets for reference when you are cutting pieces from it.
-Cut out the pieces you want and place them face down onto an ironing board cover that has been taped securely at its edges.
-Carefully turn over each piece and start heating up a dry iron until it is hot enough to transfer adhesive without damaging either surface; then fixate cream side down – this will become your top layer .
Can you make vinyl decals without a Cricut?
Yes. You will need to measure and create the design using a program like Adobe Illustrator, which is compatible with most vinyl cutter machines.
What kind of vinyl do you use for shirts?
We recommend using high quality vinyl for your decals. You will also need a vinyl cutter machine, as well as Adobe Illustrator or other design program that works with the type of cutter you have purchased to create the desired image on paper and then cut it out accordingly.
What kind of printer should I use?
*A good quality inkjet printer is best in order to get an accurate print resolution which will be important when cutting out intricate designs from sheets of film/vinyl. We like Epson and Canon printers but there are plenty more available online if needed.*
How much does it cost?
The price varies depending what tools you purchase individually (this means not everything can be bought together) so we recommend looking at the specific items and their prices before making a purchase.
How do you make vinyl decals with Cricut?
*You will first need to create the design using a program like Adobe Illustrator, which is compatible with most vinyl cutter machines. *
-Once you have your desired image on paper and sized accordingly according to what type of machine you are going to use, print it out onto transferable film or matte photo paper (it’s best not to use regular printer ink).
-Cut out all pieces from the sheet of vinyl/film that correspond with each section of the design created in Adobe Illustrator. This is done by laying every piece face down against its corresponding space on the original printed file so they line up perfectly. Once this has been completed, any alignment marks should be visible through both layers if everything was cut correctly.*
-Now you are ready to “iron” on the heat transfer vinyl, which has a sticky back. To do so, line up your design with the top of an ironing board cover that is securely taped at its edges and then place all pieces face down onto it. *
*Start heating up a dry iron until it is hot enough to press adhesive without damaging either surface; then fixate cream side down – this will become your top layer.*
We hope this article has given you all of the necessary information on how to create decals for shirts using Cricut!
How do I make my own decals?
*Create your own decals in a few simple steps.
-First, you will need to create the design using a program like Adobe Illustrator, which is compatible with most vinyl cutter machines. * You can use any type of tool that works best for you; pen and paper work just fine! Make sure to keep one sheet as reference when cutting pieces from it though.*
-Next, print out all desired parts onto transferable film or matte photo printer (you don’t want regular ink). Cut all of these pieces out by laying them face down against their corresponding space on the printed file. Any alignment marks should be visible through both layers if everything was cut correctly.*
-Lastly, take each piece and press it onto the top of a preheated iron for approximately 15 seconds. This will activate the adhesive applied to back and transfer it onto your shirt/surface!
-You can also buy kits that contain everything you need, which is really just printing out designs on film or using matte photo paper, cutting them out by hand with scissors (or an Xacto knife), applying heat from a dry iron and then placing them face down onto clothing.*
*Keep in mind that not all types of vinyl are compatible with Cricut machines so check before purchasing at any retailer.*
How do you make a shirt sticker?
*First, you will need to create the design we want on a program like Adobe Illustrator. You can use any type of tool that works best for you; pen and paper work just fine! *
-Next, print out all desired parts onto transferable film or matte photo printer (you don’t want regular ink). Cut all of these pieces out by laying them face down against their corresponding space on the printed file.*
-Lastly, take each piece and press it onto the top of a preheated iron for approximately 15 seconds. This will activate the adhesive applied to back and transfer it onto your shirt/surface!* Remember not all types of vinyl are compatible with Cricut machines so check before purchasing at any retailer.
How do you make iron on decals?
First, you need to create a design that we want on a program. You can use any type of tools that you like; paper and pens will work too!
Next, print all the desired parts onto transferable film or matte photo paper (you don’t want regular ink). Cut out all of the pieces by laying them face down against their corresponding space on the printed file.
Take each piece and put it on top of the preheated iron for 15 seconds. Then it will tell you where to put them. Some vinyl is not compatible with Cricut machines so be careful when buying them at places like Wal-Mart.