Cutting Vinyl Rolls

If you’re in the business of creating advertising materials, it’s important to use quality material that is durable and will stand up to wear and tear. One excellent option is PVC cutting vinyl rolls.

Load the roll into your Silhouette or Cricut machine. Make sure that the pinch rollers are adjusted to the width of the roll.

PVC Vinyl Rolls

PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a versatile material that can be used to make many different things. It is commonly found in piping, roofing, and electric wire insulation. It is also used to create flooring for commercial and residential buildings. It is easy to install and offers a variety of color options and surface textures. It can even mimic the appearance of hardwood floors, allowing you to get a classic, professional aesthetic at a fraction of the cost!

Before you cut your vinyl, it is important to ensure that the surface of your project is clean and dry. This will help the vinyl adhere better and prevent any peeling or bubbling later. You can use rubbing alcohol or a lint-free cloth to remove any dust, dirt, or oil from the surface. It is also helpful to place your project on a piece of cardboard or foam to protect it from any accidental scratches during the cutting process.

To cut your vinyl, start by removing the paper liner from the back of the roll. Then, position the vinyl onto a blue or green Cricut mat and make sure that it is aligned with the grid lines on the mat. Select Vinyl from the Set Base Materials screen in Design Space to set your blade settings. You can also choose a Kiss Cut, which is a cut that only goes through the vinyl and leaves the paper liner backing intact.

Heat Transfer Vinyl Rolls

Heat transfer vinyl, also known as HTV, is a special type of vinyl that can be applied to fabrics like t-shirts in just seconds with a heat press machine or an iron. This type of vinyl is available in individual sheets or large rolls that can be cut with a craft cutter like a Silhouette, Cricut or any other vinyl cutter. Siser HTV is available in a variety of colors and textures including smooth, puff & glitter, plus metallic, printable and even holographic options! If you are new to working with HTV, we suggest starting out Cutting Vinyl Rolls with something simple like a t-shirt that has a big open area. This will give you the opportunity to get a feel for what works and what doesn’t with your specific cutter.

Whether you are using an individual sheet or a roll, be sure to check your cut settings in your software program before cutting. Also, it is important to make sure your design is mirrored as it will be cut on the backside of the vinyl.

Once your design is cut with the vinyl cutter, you can then use a sharp hook or other weeding tool to remove the unnecessary parts of the design (also called negative space) that will be peeled away from the carrier sheet. This step is called “weeding.” Once you have weeded the excess vinyl, you can now apply it to your desired fabric or surface!

Gloss Vinyl Rolls

This self-adhesive brown gloss vinyl is great for crafting projects such as custom mugs, wooden signs and decals. It is easy to cut, weed and apply to round or curved surfaces and offers a high shine that will brighten up any make! It is also permanent but can be removed with a cleanser such as Goo Gone or rubbing alcohol.

Standard adhesive vinyl works great for signs, glass, metal, plastic, paper, canvas and other smooth indoor or outdoor surfaces. It is typically used to create monograms, school logos, names and other custom designs for personal use. You can even use it to label items like pantry boxes, pencil boxes or craft supplies.

When applying your vinyl to a surface, it’s important that the base material is clean and dry before you start. If there are any oils, dust or lint on the surface it can prevent the vinyl from adhering well and can potentially scratch the finished project.

To prepare your vinyl to be applied, first mirror it in the cutting machine software by selecting ‘Flip Horizontally’. Next, cut the design a little bigger than your desired decal size to ensure you have enough space around it for weeding. Place the vinyl on a piece of transfer tape (I prefer R.Tape AT60 for it’s low tack and clear backing with grid lines to help with lining up) and rub over the vinyl with your scraper tool to burnish it on to the tape.

Matte Vinyl Rolls

Unlike gloss vinyl, matte vinyl has a dull finish that’s perfect for indoor projects and walls. It’s also Cutting Vinyl Rolls great for temporary stencils and short-term outdoor applications. This adhesive backed vinyl works well with all personal hobby and craft cutters like the Cricut Expression, Silhouette Cameo, Xyron, and Craft ROBO.

Before cutting, place the vinyl on your mat with the paper liner side down. Then, place a weeding box around your design (see how to create a weeding box here). This makes weeding easier and allows you to save the full vinyl sheet rather than just cutting off a corner of it.

If you’re using a patterned or glossy vinyl, be sure to flip the mat over before pressing Cut. This will protect the vinyl from tearing or curling when you peel it up off the mat.

When you’re ready to cut, head back to Design Space and click the Make button. Then, select the correct material settings for your vinyl type. Don’t forget to mirror your design! This ensures that the vinyl will be cut correctly and will stick to your project surface. Finally, load the mat into your machine as prompted. When it’s finished, you can remove the vinyl design and apply it to your project surface. Make sure your project base is clean and free of dust, lint, and oil before applying the vinyl.