HTV ORDER
HTV layer order and why mirroring matters
The two mistakes that ruin a heat-transfer shirt, and how to avoid both.
Reviewed by the AISVG Pro editorial team · Updated 2026-10-23
Mirror before you cut, not before you press
Heat-transfer vinyl is cut face-down. If the file is not mirrored before cutting, the design transfers backwards — and there is no fixing it after the press.
Press the largest layer first
Large areas need more time and pressure. Pressing them first gives the smaller layers a stable surface instead of a stack of half-adhered vinyl.
Watch the temperature per colour
Different vinyl brands and finishes have different press settings. A layer pressed at the wrong temperature either lifts or scorches, and both are visible.
Related reading
- How to turn a picture into an SVG cut file — Two routes from a photo or a logo to a file a blade can follow: trace it, or redraw it.
- How to cut an SVG file on a Cricut — The upload-to-weed sequence in Design Space, the settings that actually change the result, and the four failures that account for most ruined sheets..