STAHLS' CAD-CUT® Basic Film – Matt and cost-effective heat transfer vinyl for large designs
STAHLS' CAD-CUT® Basic Film is an economical and reliable heat transfer vinyl for businesses, clubs and creative producers who want professional textile printing without paying for features that are not necessary for simple designs. The polyurethane-based flex film has a smooth, matt finish and high opacity, providing clear colours and a consistent result on the textile.
Basic Film has been developed especially for larger designs, numbers, letters and simple logos. The film has a non-adhesive carrier, making it very easy to weed when working with designs that have large connected areas. It is therefore a great choice for player numbers, back prints, company names, text and graphic designs where production needs to be simple and efficient.
At Signproduction.co.uk, STAHLS' CAD-CUT® Basic Film is an ideal choice for textile printers, sports clubs, sign makers, associations and businesses looking for a cost-effective flex film for professional textile printing.
What is STAHLS' CAD-CUT® Basic Film?
CAD-CUT® Basic Film is a thin, cuttable PU flex film that is processed with a cutting plotter and transferred to the textile using a heat press. The material thickness is only 80 microns, giving a relatively light and flexible print on the garment.
The film’s matt finish gives a classic and professional look, making it suitable for workwear, sportswear, club clothing and promotional garments. Its high opacity also ensures that the colour appears clear and even on the chosen textile.
Unlike heat transfer vinyls with a self-adhesive carrier, Basic Film has a non-adhesive carrier film. This makes the film particularly easy to weed for large and simple designs. It is less suitable for very small lettering or complex designs with many loose elements, as these are not held in place by an adhesive carrier.
Ideal for large designs, letters and numbers
STAHLS' CAD-CUT® Basic Film has been developed with simple and efficient production in mind. The film is especially suitable for:
- Large logos and graphic designs
- Player numbers and names on sportswear
- Company names on workwear
- Text and lettering
- Back prints on T-shirts and sweatshirts
- Simple designs with large connected areas
The manufacturer recommends a minimum line thickness of approximately 1.5 mm to achieve stable processing. Always carry out a test cut, as the correct blade depth, speed and cutting force depend on the cutting plotter, the condition of the blade and the design itself.
Application at 160 °C for 10 seconds
For standard single-colour designs, STAHLS' CAD-CUT® Basic Film is applied using the following settings:
- Temperature: 160 °C
- Pressing time: 10 seconds
- Pressure: Medium
- Hotronix® level: Approx. 4–6
- Carrier removal: Cold Peel
After pressing, the design and textile must cool down before the carrier film is removed. The carrier must therefore not be peeled away while hot. Once the design has cooled sufficiently, remove the carrier film carefully with a smooth motion.
Use a heat press with stable temperature and even pressure across the entire platen. It is always recommended to test the material on the chosen textile before series production, especially on polyester and other materials that may be sensitive to heat or dye migration.
Suitable for popular textile types
STAHLS' CAD-CUT® Basic Film can be used on several common materials for clothing and textile decoration:
- 100% cotton
- 100% polyester
- Cotton blends
- Polyester blends
The broad material compatibility makes Basic Film suitable for T-shirts, sweatshirts, sports jerseys, workwear, club clothing and promotional garments. On polyester, it is recommended to perform a test before production, as textile dyes and heat resistance can vary.
Benefits of STAHLS' CAD-CUT® Basic Film
- Cost-effective flex film: An economical choice for standard and simple textile prints.
- Matt finish: Provides a classic and professional appearance.
- High opacity: Ensures clear and consistent colours on the textile.
- Thin construction: The material thickness is only 80 microns.
- Easy weeding: The non-adhesive carrier is ideal for large designs and letters.
- Suitable for layering: Can be used for multi-colour textile prints.
- Wide application: Can be used on cotton, polyester and various blended materials.
- Good wash durability: The finished textile print can be washed at up to 60 °C.
- Efficient production: Suitable for both individual jobs and larger production runs.
Multi-colour and layered textile prints
CAD-CUT® Basic Film can be used for multi-colour designs where several film colours are combined in the same design. For layered prints, each layer must be positioned precisely, and the textile’s overall heat exposure should be limited.
For multi-colour designs, the manufacturer recommends the following process:
- Press the first layer for approximately 3–5 seconds.
- Allow the layer to cool and remove the carrier film with Cold Peel.
- Repeat the process for each additional intermediate layer.
- Press the final layer for approximately 18–20 seconds.
- Allow the design to cool and remove the final carrier with Cold Peel.
The process above applies to multi-colour and layered designs. For standard single-colour designs, use the standard setting of 160 °C for 10 seconds.
Applications and target users
STAHLS' CAD-CUT® Basic Film can be used for many types of professional and creative textile decoration:
- Sportswear and club clothing
- Player numbers and names
- Workwear and corporate clothing
- Promotional clothing and branded garments
- T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies
- Merchandise and fan products
- Event and campaign clothing
- Large logos and back designs
- Text, numbers and simple graphic designs
The film is suitable for both beginners and professional textile printers. Its simple processing and easy weeding make it especially attractive for productions where the designs mainly consist of large areas, numbers or letters.
Efficient and user-friendly workflow
Working with STAHLS' CAD-CUT® Basic Film follows the standard process for cuttable heat transfer vinyl:
- Create the design in your design software.
- Mirror the design before cutting.
- Cut the film with a suitable cutting plotter.
- Remove the excess film around the design.
- Place the design on the textile with the carrier side facing upwards.
- Press the design at 160 °C for 10 seconds.
- Use medium pressure corresponding to level 4–6 on Hotronix®.
- Allow the design to cool.
- Remove the carrier film cold using Cold Peel.
For weeding, STAHLS' Weeder®, EZ Weeder®, LED Weeder, LED Pin or a suitable pair of tweezers is recommended. When heat pressing, a Grip cover sheet or non-stick coated cover sheet can be used to protect the textile, the design and the heat press.
Washing and care
Textiles decorated with CAD-CUT® Basic Film can be washed at up to 60 °C, provided that the textile’s own care instructions allow this temperature. Garments should be turned inside out before both washing and ironing.
The finished textile print is not suitable for dry cleaning or tumble drying. The manufacturer also advises against the use of liquid detergent, bleach, fabric softener and laundry capsules, as aggressive ingredients may damage the film.
Avoid ironing directly on the front of the design. Instead, iron the garment inside out and always follow the textile manufacturer’s washing and care instructions.
Film specifications
Multiple layers
Can be used in multiple layers
Feature
Thin and matt PU film
Weeding
Easy to cut and weed
Carrier
Non-adhesive
Cold Peel
Washing temperature
Up to 60 °C
Application
160 °C – 10 sec.
Pressure
Medium, level 4–6 on Hotronix®
Material thickness
80 microns
Cost-effective quality for professional textile printing
STAHLS' CAD-CUT® Basic Film is an excellent choice when you need an economical and user-friendly film for larger and simple designs. The combination of matt finish, high opacity and easy weeding makes the film efficient in production and suitable for many standard textile applications.
The film is especially relevant when the design consists of large letters, numbers or graphic areas where a self-adhesive carrier is not required. For very small and detailed designs, a film with an adhesive carrier is recommended.
Order STAHLS' CAD-CUT® Basic Film from Signproduction.co.uk
At Signproduction.co.uk, you will find STAHLS' CAD-CUT® Basic Film for professional and creative textile production. The film gives you a cost-effective solution with a matt finish, high opacity and easy processing.
Need advice on choosing flex film, a cutting plotter, heat press or accessories? You are welcome to contact us.
Contact us at [email protected] – we are ready to help you find the right solution for your textile production.
