What are the different types of vinyl?

There are 3 main different types of vinyl, used for different purposes:

• Self-adhesive vinyl

• Heat-transfer vinyl

• Rigid vinyl

Self-adhesive vinyl

Self-adhesive vinyl comes in many different types which vary in thickness, colour and finish. Adhesive vinyl is cut with the vinyl facing up and the paper carrier sheet down.

This can be used for signage and branding in both indoor and outdoor environments.

Heat transfer vinyl

Heat transfer vinyl (commonly called HTV) is not sticky and instead is fused with heat to fabrics, such as shirts, tote bags, coats, scarves, blankets, stuffed animals, etc.  It is designed to be applied with a heat press or an iron.  HTV is cut with the clear shiny side facing DOWN and the duller back of the vinyl facing up.

Rigid vinyl

Rigid vinyl can come in a range of thicknesses from 70- 500 microns. Most commonly made from PVC, this clear vinyl has a range of applications.

Which Vinyls can I use?

CNC Stylus has been designed to be used with thinner vinyls such as self-adhesive and HTV. You can potentially cut thicker vinyl but this needs to be taken with a slightly different approach.

Where can I buy vinyl from?

You can buy vinyl with a wide range of colours and types from most online stores, for example this site.