What is Transfer Tape?

Transfer Tape is used in textiles and arts and crafts projects. Transfer paper is a thin piece of paper coated with wax and pigment. Often, an ink-jet or other printer is used to print the image on the transfer paper. A heat press can transfer the image onto clothing, canvas, or other surface. Transfer paper is used in creating iron-ons. Transfer papers can also be used for the application of rhinestones to clothing and other arts and crafts projects

Transfer Tapes are transparent because they’re made from plastic face films instead of paper. The clear plastic construction provides the transparency that is needed for our customers easy placement stickers. With the car windshield, water bottle, laptop or any other substrate surface clearly visible, the installer can clearly see how the sticker will look when placed. Due to the non porous plastic material of the transfer tape, we recommend applying the stickers on a clean and dry surface.

Transfer Tape was specifically designed to make transferring vinyl designs to project surfaces a cinch. The clear film with grid makes it simple to position your design right where you want it.

Double Sided Transfer Tape

How Do You Apply and Use Transfer Tape?

If you’re looking to use and apply transfer tape yourself, you’ll need to follow a set of rules to ensure that the transfer tape is used properly for the most visually appealing final product. Below you’ll find the proper steps to install transfer tape:

1. Create the Design and Cut the Vinyl
The first step to using transfer tape is to have a graphic that you want to apply to a surface. Once you have a graphic you want to use, you’ll typically print it out on vinyl. Often, cutting machines have a kiss-cut feature that only cuts the vinyl, rather than cutting the backing paper as well. This sort of cut makes the vinyl decal peeling process much easier.

2. Weed Any Excess Vinyl
After you’ve printed out the decal that you want to use and had it kiss cut, you’ll need to weed the transfer tape.

Weeding refers to the process of removing the unnecessary parts of a design that you don’t want to use. Essentially, weeding is the process of removing the material that you don’t want with your design. Just like weeding a garden, you are getting rid of the unattractive parts that distract from the main elements.

To complete the weeding process, you can remove the excess vinyl by peeling it off of the vinyl liner. After peeling, if there are any extra pieces of vinyl remaining, you can carefully cut them off. While weeding the excess vinyl, it’s important to note that the vinyl’s backing should remain intact.

3. Place the Transfer Tape
Next, you’ll cut out a piece of transfer tape slightly larger than the decal. You’ll place it over the vinyl graphic, making sure that there are no air bubbles in it. Once the tape is over the image, you’ll then want to rub, or burnish, the tape onto the vinyl. You should begin burnishing the tape in the center of the tape, slowly working outwards until all of it is securely placed on the graphic.

4. Place the Vinyl Graphic
After the transfer tape has been placed on the graphic, you can then peel the decal from its backing. With the decal’s adhesive now activated, you can then place the vinyl graphic onto the proper location.

Finally, you’ll place the transfer tape and graphic onto your desired surface. Start with the edge of the transfer tape to make sure you are in the proper position before fully placing it on the location. To complete the installation process, burnish the decal and tape, starting in the center and moving outward. When it’s fully burnished, you can pull the tape off of the decal, leaving it firmly attached to the substrate.