Vinyl cutters such as Cricut, Silhouette and Brother machines open up a world of decals, stickers and custom shirts. The machine is just the start, though. Here's the shopping list that actually matters.
Choose the right vinyl
- Permanent (outdoor) vinyl is for cars, mugs, tumblers and anything that gets washed.
- Removable vinyl is for walls, windows and temporary decorations.
- Heat-transfer vinyl (HTV) is for T-shirts, tote bags and caps, applied with heat.
The tools that save your sanity
For shirts and bags
Tips from the studio
- Always do a small test cut on new vinyl before your real design.
- Mirror your design for HTV, because it's applied face-down.
- Weed on a light box or near a window to see the cut lines more easily.
Next: how to apply a vinyl decal without bubbles. Or let us cut it: see our vinyl decal prices.
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