Overview
Reflective HTV built for screen printing rather than cutting. The thicker plastic carrier does not curl during printing, so fine lines and small graphics hold their shape.
Curl is the failure mode that matters on a thin carrier: the sheet lifts at the edge on press, the registration drifts, and the fine detail that was approved on screen arrives distorted. A 0.14 mm carrier keeps the sheet flat through the print cycle, which is why this grade can be printed rather than only cut.
Specification
- Code: RS-F-HT-05
- Colour: Silver, or clear liner for colour printing
- Carrier: 0.14 mm
- Reflectivity: >260 cd/(lx·m²) (silver grade)
- Process: Screen printing, then heat press
- Width: up to 140 cm
Silver printing or colour printing: two different builds
On the silver grade the film itself is the reflective surface, so the print sits on top and the graphic reflects. On the clear liner the reflective behaviour is carried differently and the print supplies the colour — which is the route when the design calls for a colour that the silver film cannot provide. They are not interchangeable: choose the route from the artwork, then match the adhesive to the base fabric so the transfer survives the wash cycle rather than the first press.
Typical use
Printed logos, small graphics and fine line work on reflective garments where the detail is too fine to die-cut and sew.
It is also the practical route for multi-colour brandmarks on technical outerwear, where cutting each colour from reflective tape would mean several pieces and a skilled operator to align them.
What to confirm before ordering
- Silver or clear liner: silver for a reflecting graphic, clear liner when the print has to supply the colour.
- Adhesive match: the transfer has to bond to your base fabric — send the shell fabric so it can be matched.
- Press parameters: temperature, pressure and dwell are set per build; confirm against your own press before approving artwork.
- Artwork line weight: fine detail holds better on this carrier than on a thin one, but there is still a floor — agree it on the proof.
- Wash cycle: domestic or industrial, stated up front.
Compliance note
EN ISO 20471 requires at least 330 cd/(lx·m²) from the retroreflective material. The silver grade stated above sits below that line, so it is specified where visibility matters but a 20471 claim is not being made — or a higher-brightness grade is selected instead.
The standard certifies the finished garment, not the material, so a compliant element is necessary but not sufficient. Construction, background material, and the area and placement of the reflective elements are assessed together.
Related formats
For heat transfer without printing, see Reflective Heat Transfer Vinyl; for segmented iron-on tape, Segmented Iron-On Reflective Tape.
Samples and lead time
A4 swatches are free so your team can check the effect, hand feel and colour under your own lighting before committing. Standard lead time is 2–4 weeks from order confirmation.
