Cricut transfer tape is an important Cricut accessory that is used to transfer your desirable designs onto the material, especially when you are using adhesive vinyl. The material can be anything like a mug, wall, or picture frame. In short, Cricut transfer tape is a carrier for your design that is removed once the design sticks to its place. However, you may not have used it. But you don’t have to worry, as it is so simple. We are providing you with a full guide on how to use Cricut transfer tape. So, if you were wondering how to get the design from backing paper onto your final project, read the blog till the end.
Why Is Cricut Transfer Tape Used?
Transfer tape or transfer paper is essential to transfer your vinyl decals to your final projects, such as a mug, water bottle, phone cover, and a few other projects. The cut vinyl pieces are hard to move without transfer paper. It prevents your decal from damaging or sticking to the wrong place. Transfer tape also ensures that the cut vinyl has a correct placement on your final material.
When Should You Use Transfer Tape?
As we know, transfer tape is typically used for cut vinyl Cricut projects. When you cut a vinyl pattern with your Cricut machine, the design is on the backer paper. Hence, the aim of transfer tape is to place that cut design to the final material surface safely. A transfer tape prevents your final design from being damaged or ruining the structure of the design. A transfer tape can be your best companion while using adhesive vinyl. So, when you are cutting a piece of vinyl to move it to your project’s surface, a transfer tape can help you do it effortlessly. Especially when you are working on a large project, this can be your best accessory.
How to Use Cricut Transfer Tape?
The first and foremost step is to prepare a design from adhesive vinyl with your Cricut machine. Then, remove the excess vinyl from the design. Now, when you have the final design that you want to transfer, you will use transfer tape. We break down the steps involved in using a Cricut transfer tape and follow them for a better transfer of the design.
- Start by cutting a piece of transfer tape a bit larger than your actual design. Transfer tapes are reusable, and you can use them many times before disposing of them.
- Peel off the backing paper and stick its corner to the edge of your vinyl. Then, slowly peel off the backing while sticking the rest of the transfer tape to prevent the formation of bubbles in projects.
- Place the transfer tape onto your design and burnish it. You can use a scraper, or an old gift card can also be used.
- Then, you can choose to turn the piece, then remove the backing paper, or you can lift up the transfer tape. Your design should stay on the tape. If it doesn’t fix, press down and use the scraper. After that, again, try to lift.
- Finally, your design is on the tape, and now you can fix it on your project.
- Now press down the vinyl, and you have to burnish it again.
- After that, peel off the transfer tape. Ensure that the vinyl sticks well to the project’s surface. If you notice that it isn’t stuck well, then take out the tape and burnish it again.
- Then, try again and place the tape on your vinyl project.
Which Transfer Tape Should You Use?
Although there are plenty of transfer tapes available in the market of different brands, to find which one is best, you will have to experiment with different types of transfer tape and decide which one works best. The Cricut transfer tape is best for your regular vinyl projects because it is clear and has grid lines that make it easy for you to put it on your final projects.
What to Do if the Transfer Tape Isn’t Working?
Whenever you have a problem with your transfer tape, there may be two causes- the tape is too sticky or not sticky at all. So, if the tape is non-sticky, you will not be able to pick up the vinyl. Hence, when you observe that the vinyl isn’t lifting up, burnish it from the paper side and the transfer tape side. Don’t lift the transfer tape away from the paper; instead, lift the paper from the transfer tape.
But if the transfer tape is too sticky, it will not release the vinyl. If it happens to you, try to tap it on a clean and flat surface to take out its stickiness before you place it on the vinyl. Or else you can use a hairdryer. Place the design on the transfer tape and give it heat for 10 seconds. Then burnish it with your hands until it cools, and then again try peeling off the transfer tape.
