Alright like I have said, me and my friend are about to take out a loan to buy some tshirt equipment. We decided on the ChromaBlast due to the fact that we can cut cost by buying cotton tees. Now the day before we take out the loan I have read that you have to cut out the image and it leaves a ring around the image. Just today I was messing with some "generic" transfer paper. I dont know what you guys call it but it is the **** that you can get at Walmart. On that stuff too you have to cut out the image and with advanced lettering and graphics I have noticed that it is just about impossible. So now I have no idea what to do! I have read that it washes out, then I have read that I need to look into a 'laser cutter' that will cut out the image for me. Can anyone shed some light on this topic before I take out a loan. Thanks.
Re: ChromaBlast PLEASE HELP(ABOUT TO TAKE OUT A LOAN)
The whole concept of ChromaBlast is that you get bright colors and very little to no hand. Saying this, I have seen this work on white shirts pretty well - they pass white shirts out at the trade shows. When you put it on color shirts, you can see the rest of the sheet of paper if you don't cut the paper. I have not seen if the entire window comes out on the color shirts. AdriaticBlue has a post that shows the window on a color piece of fabric (bamboo fabric, but it would be the same on cotton) going on in this forum. She is going to post her was test in a couple of days. If you can wait till then, you can see what happens. I would also ask whoever you are buying the equipment from to send you a sample of a print on a bright yellow shirt that has a design that is not a complete square or something that can't be easily cut. This way you can do your own wash test. I also believe that the ChromaBlast paper is not a transfer paper that you can use an optical registration cutter (i.e. Roland GX-24) to cut the design out. The Joker designs on the post mentioned above is done using the print-cut application.
Which ChromaBlast system are you going with? Another thing I heard was to get the best results possible, you really need to have a swing away press that can provide even, uniform pressure (and lots of pressure) on the transfer. Hope this information helps you. Best wishes in whatever
Re: ChromaBlast PLEASE HELP(ABOUT TO TAKE OUT A LOAN)
Quote:
Originally Posted by DAGuide
The whole concept of ChromaBlast is that you get bright colors and very little to no hand. Saying this, I have seen this work on white shirts pretty well - they pass white shirts out at the trade shows. When you put it on color shirts, you can see the rest of the sheet of paper if you don't cut the paper. I have not seen if the entire window comes out on the color shirts.
I'm holding a white shirt in my hand right now that they were giving out at a trade show and I can see the clear box around it.
Re: ChromaBlast PLEASE HELP(ABOUT TO TAKE OUT A LOAN)
Rusty,
What I was trying to say is after the shirt is washed, the window (i.e. the rest of the paper) is not really visible on a white cotton shirt. You can still kinda see it, but it really does not have a hand like most transfer paper. I have seen a pre and post wash and it was not that bad for being a transfer. Here is a link to a post that shows a pre & post wash picture. Pictures From The Printwear Show Charlotte NC
It definitely is not dye sub. However, I have not seen the window come out in a color cotton shirt. I guess this is why all the samples at the show are on white shirts.
If you really want no window, you need to look at one of the special laser transfers (i.e. Image Clip), do a print-cut with an inkjet transfer, a dye sub transfer on polyester or a dtg print in my opinion. In a best case scenario, you might want to consider a hybrid printer (i.e. 1/2 dye sub, 1/2 transfer on dark transfer paper).
Re: ChromaBlast PLEASE HELP(ABOUT TO TAKE OUT A LOAN)
Quote:
Originally Posted by DAGuide
What I was trying to say is after the shirt is washed, the window (i.e. the rest of the paper) is not really visible on a white cotton shirt.
Yeah I understand. I'll probably cut the shirt I have in half and wash half of it and see how it turns out. However for me, the "new product" is more important to me than a "washed product". I would be giving it to the customer new, and that's their first impression of my work.
Re: ChromaBlast PLEASE HELP(ABOUT TO TAKE OUT A LOAN)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Act
Alright like I have said, me and my friend are about to take out a loan to buy some tshirt equipment. We decided on the ChromaBlast due to the fact that we can cut cost by buying cotton tees. Now the day before we take out the loan I have read that you have to cut out the image and it leaves a ring around the image. Just today I was messing with some "generic" transfer paper. I dont know what you guys call it but it is the **** that you can get at Walmart. On that stuff too you have to cut out the image and with advanced lettering and graphics I have noticed that it is just about impossible. So now I have no idea what to do! I have read that it washes out, then I have read that I need to look into a 'laser cutter' that will cut out the image for me. Can anyone shed some light on this topic before I take out a loan. Thanks.
What is your business model?
What kind of garments (color) are you going to be printing for yourself or customers?
Re: ChromaBlast PLEASE HELP(ABOUT TO TAKE OUT A LOAN)
Quote:
Originally Posted by rusty
Yeah I understand. I'll probably cut the shirt I have in half and wash half of it and see how it turns out. However for me, the "new product" is more important to me than a "washed product". I would be giving it to the customer new, and that's their first impression of my work.
Rusty,
I understand completely what you are saying. We just have to work with what we have got available to us. Hopefully, there will be a 1-step process that goes on to cotton that we will not have to cut or do anything else to in the near future. (Keeping fingers crossed, but not holding my breath).
Re: ChromaBlast PLEASE HELP(ABOUT TO TAKE OUT A LOAN)
Mark,
We should be getting samples of just a product this week. It is billed as a self-weeding inkjet transfer. You are supposed to be able to even foil over the print. But as with all new products to throw $$ at...I will wait and see.
Re: ChromaBlast PLEASE HELP(ABOUT TO TAKE OUT A LOAN)
Quote:
Originally Posted by DAGuide
Rusty,
We just have to work with what we have got available to us. Hopefully, there will be a 1-step process that goes on to cotton that we will not have to cut or do anything else to in the near future.
Mark
There is a product called KissCut where you transfer the image to the garment that just dyes the material and not a pressed transfer.
Check out thetransferpress.co.uk and click on the kisscut link.
ChromaBlast PLEASE HELP(ABOUT TO TAKE OUT A LOAN) 
