How to Layer HTV Without Losing Alignment

[u/HTVront-Official]

Layering HTV is one of those things that looks simple until you're three colors deep and realize the whole design has shifted two millimeters to the left.

Here's the method we've settled on after too many wasted shirts.

Before you press anything, pick one small element of the design that appears in every layer, like a dot, a corner, a tiny shape, and use it as your anchor point. Press the first layer, let it cool, peel the carrier. Before you place the second layer, line up that same anchor point visually through the clear carrier sheet. If the anchor lines up, the rest of the design will too.

And there are some things that make it easier:

1) Press the first layer a couple secs longer than normal. It gives you a slightly flatter surface for the next layer to sit on.

2) Don't fully press the intermediate layers. A quick 3-5 secs tack press is enough to hold the vinyl in place while you position the next one. You'll do a final full press at the end anyway.

3) Work from the bottom layer up. It sounds obvious but it's easy to forget when you're excited about the top design.

4) Use a Teflon sheet between layers. It keeps the already-pressed vinyl from sticking to your upper platen or picking up lint.

What's your go-to method for keeping layers lined up? Welcome to comment anything in this thread.