Today we want to share with you how to apply Printable Heat Transfer onto dark fabric using a winter bear design. If you need any additional help with this process, check out Silhouette’s YouTube channel. We have a video that shows you How to use Printable Heat Transfer for Dark Fabrics as well as other how-to videos to teach you how to use Silhouette’s software and materials.

Let’s get started!

Supplies Needed:

Step One: Preparing the Design to Cut

1. Open the Winter Bear design (Design ID #240214) in Silhouette Studio®. Ungroup it and delete the bear on the right side. Group the remaining bear design and resize it so that the design will fit on your shirt.

2. Add an offset line to the design. To do that, select your image. Then go to the Offset panel or right-click your image and select “Offset.” If you don’t want a white outline around your image, just skip this step. DO NOT MIRROR THE IMAGE.

3. In the Page Setup window, turn on the registration marks by setting the style to Type 1.

4. Feed the Printable Heat Transfer material into your inkjet printer so that it will print on the blank side (not the grid side).

5. Place the printed sheet on your mat and feed it into your Silhouette machine.

6. In the Send panel, choose “Heat Transfer, Printable (Dark Fabric)” as your material type. Make sure your Silhouette machine will just cut out the outline of your shapes by selecting the Cut Edge option. Adjust your blade if necessary and send your cut job to your Silhouette machine. (Tip: If your machine is having trouble reading the registration marks, try manually moving the blade over the black square using the blue arrows in the Send panel.)

Step Two: Applying the Heat Transfer onto the Shirt

1. Peel the printed image off the backing and place it printed side up on your project.

2. Cover the image with a layer of thicker fabric. With an iron (on the cotton setting) press down on the image for 30–40 seconds.

3. And we’re done with our project! For longer lasting results, wash your clothing inside out on a cold, gentle cycle and tumble dry.

Silhouette also offers Printable Heat Transfer for light fabrics. The application process for that is a little bit different, so next week we will show you what you need to do for that printable heat transfer material.