Which vinyl to use? indoor, outdoor or HTV

How to choose between indoor vinyl, outdoor vinyl or HTV? What are they? Check this out!

There are many different types of vinyl. Each of them works perfectly on a specific surface. That is why it is important to know the functions of each type of vinyl to choose the right one. To clarify many brands sell each type of vinyl. Here are some recommendations to know which one to choose.

All of these types of vinyl are adhesive vinyl that uses glue and pressure to adhere to surfaces. Depending on where it is possible to use the vinyl, there are three categories:

Indoor vinyl

Indoor vinyl is a type of vinyl that has a removable water-based adhesive. It has a lifespan of 3 years and to apply this vinyl it is necessary to clean the surface beforehand. Above all, it is not for outdoor use. Indoor vinyl needs to be kept away from sunlight, moisture, or air, otherwise, it will not last as long as it should.

It is possible to use indoor vinyl on painted surfaces without causing any damage, this is due to its water-based adhesive. It also works well for making stencils. Oracal 631 indoor is an indoor vinyl that works perfectly and works with any vinyl cutter. It also has its transfer tape, the ht55.

Outdoor vinyl

There are several brands, but in general, they are divided into two types: calendered vinyl and cast vinyl.

Calendered vinyl is the least expensive type of outdoor vinyl. It will last 2 to 5 years depending on the color. When it is reaching the end of its lifespan it will begin to peel and crack. The best and most commonly used calendered types of vinyl are, Oracal 651 sign vinyl or Oracal 6510 fluorescent.

It is possible to use Oracal 651 to create signs, and decals for vehicles, trailers, or hard surface sports equipment. It also works for interior or exterior decorations. This outdoor vinyl adheres to any flat surface and has a permanent adhesive that is water-resistant.

Here are some tips for using Calendered outdoor vinyl:

• Above all, when using it, be sure to let it set for at least 24 hours before exposing it.
• Make sure the surface is not too cold because it will not adhere well.
• Apply a strong squeegee action to make sure it adheres to the surface.

On the other hand, there is Cast vinyl. This vinyl lasts a long time outdoors. Cast vinyl will never shrink, peel or crack. It also works perfectly on curved surfaces. Two cast types of vinyl work well. 

First, there is the Oracal 751. This has two types: The “751C” which is the standard vinyl type with a normal adhesive. And the “751RA” has small channels that help air escape and prevent bubbles. Both Oracal 751 can last from 5 to 8 years depending on the color.

Secondly, there is Oracal 951. This outdoor vinyl can last up to 10 years. This Oracal vinyl is the only one with metallic colors.

Clothing vinyl

Clothing has a specific type of vinyl that is designed to withstand the environment for which the clothing is made. Vinyl for clothing is heat transfer vinyl, also known as HTV or iron-on vinyl. It needs heat to adhere to the surface properly. With HTV it is possible to do all kinds of projects like adding HTV to shoes, making coloring t-shirts, and it is also possible to use scraps of HTV to create a decal!

In addition, it is important to know that there are several types of heat transfer vinyl and for each of them the heat settings are different, HERE is a post with all that information!

Indoor vinyl, outdoor vinyl and HTV are the most commonly used types of vinyl, each of them has its own properties, so knowing them helps us to choose wisely. Leave me your comments below.