HTV vinyl blanks: what to press names and numbers on

Heat-transfer vinyl is cut from colored film, weeded and pressed onto the shirt, which makes it the standard for names, numbers and small runs. The blank needs a flat face and has to handle the press. The eleven styles below cover performance tees, long sleeves and polos, plus a cotton tee and a hoodie for mixed orders.

The shortlist

Most of these are polyester team and staff wear, the classic home for vinyl numbers.

• Team 365 TT11 Men's Zone Performance T-Shirt: 3.5 oz polyester interlock, UPF 40+, sizes XS to 6XL. Best for adult team jerseys.
• Team 365 TT11Y Youth Zone Performance T-Shirt: the same polyester interlock in youth sizes XS to XL. Best for youth rosters that match the adults.
• AllPro 48000 Men's Pro-Lock Performance T-Shirt: 4 oz, 100% polyester, UPF 50+, sizes XS to 4XL. Best for practice and camp tees.
• Gildan 42000 Performance T-Shirt: 5 oz, 100% polyester, modern classic fit, side-seamed. Best for a heavier performance tee.
• C2 Sport 5104 Performance Long Sleeve T-Shirt: 3.5 oz polyester, self-fabric cuffs, sizes S to 4XL. Best for names down the sleeve.
• Paragon 210 Long Islander Performance Long Sleeve T-Shirt: 3.5 oz microfiber polyester, raglan shoulders, UPF 50+ in most colors, sizes XS to 6XL. Best for outdoor teams.
• CORE365 88181 Men's Origin Performance Piqué Polo: 4.1 oz polyester pique, sizes XS to 6XL. Best for coaches' polos.
• CORE365 78181 Women's Origin Performance Piqué Polo: the same pique in a women's cut, sizes XS to 4XL. Best for matching staff sets.
• AllPro 41800 Men's Pro-Lock Performance Polo: 4 oz, 100% polyester, three-button placket, UPF 50+. Best for event staff.
• Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton T-Shirt: 5.3 oz, 100% U.S. cotton, classic fit, sizes S to 5XL. Best for cotton fan shirts.
• Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend Hooded Sweatshirt: 8 oz, 50/50 fleece, sizes XS to 5XL. Best for names on the back of a hoodie.

What does vinyl need from a blank?

A flat, tight face. Vinyl doesn't soak in like ink. Its adhesive bonds to the surface, so the flatter the knit, the cleaner your letter edges sit. The Team 365 TT11 and TT11Y are interlock, a double knit that's smooth on both sides. That gives vinyl a flat bed for numbers.

Pique is textured. The CORE365 polos take a left-chest logo or a name with no trouble. Because the surface is textured, keep small lettering a little bolder than you would on interlock.

Fleece has loft, so press firmly. Gildan says the 18500's finer face yarn gives a smoother printing surface. Keep vinyl clear of the hood seam and pocket edge, or use a pressing pillow to keep pressure even.

Does polyester need a different press setting?

Yes. Polyester softens and can take on a shine under a hot platen, so use a vinyl made for polyester and press at the low end of its range.

Color matters on poly too. Dyed polyester can release some dye under heat. On bright or dark poly colors pressed with white or light vinyl, that dye can tint the letters. A low-temperature or dye-blocking vinyl keeps whites clean. White and light colors are the simplest to press.

Polyester also takes sublimation on white and light colors. C2 Sport and Paragon both call the 5104 and 210 sublimation friendly, and Gildan calls the 42000 an ideal choice for sublimating. The sublimation guide covers that method. For screen print, DTF and embroidery on poly, see decorating on polyester.

What about cotton and blend orders?

Cotton takes a hotter press with less fuss, so the Gildan 5000 is the easy pick for fan shirts. Read the color, though. Gildan lists the 5000's heathers, neons, safety colors and a few others as 50/50 cotton/poly. Press those at blend settings.

The Gildan 18500 is 50/50 fleece, and five of its dark heathers are 60/40 polyester/cotton. Treat those dark heathers like polyester and use a low-temp vinyl when the letters are white.

Which blanks suit names and numbers?

Team tees are the classic use, with a number on the back and a name above it. The TT11 runs adult XS to 6XL and the TT11Y runs youth XS to XL, in the same fabric and nearly the same color list. So you can press a whole roster, kids and adults, on one matching fabric.

For sleeve text, the C2 Sport 5104 and Paragon 210 give you a full sleeve to work with. The Paragon has a raglan shoulder, so plan sleeve text clear of that seam. Polos round out the order for coaches and staff. The CORE365 88181 and 78181 match in color, and the AllPro 41800 adds UPF 50+ sun protection for outdoor events.

There's no screen to burn, so a single custom name costs the same to set up as a dozen. Any of these blanks works for one-offs. Browse more cuts in polos or long sleeve tees.

Will it shrink after pressing?

Cotton that isn't pre-shrunk can move in the first wash. If an order mixes the Gildan 5000 with performance tees, wash and dry one cotton sample and measure it before you lock sizes.

Which blank should I start with?

For a team order, we'd start with the Team 365 TT11 and its youth match, the TT11Y. The interlock face gives vinyl a flat bed, and the pair covers youth XS through adult 6XL in nearly the same colors. Then match the job:

• Heavier performance tee: Gildan 42000
• Practice and camp tees: AllPro 48000
• Names on the sleeve: C2 Sport 5104 or Paragon 210
• Coaches and staff: CORE365 88181 and 78181, or AllPro 41800
• Cotton fan shirts: Gildan 5000
• Hoodies: Gildan 18500

Pressing full-color art on the same order? The DTF transfer guide covers transfers that go on the same blanks.