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Ken Styles · October 17th, 2006

Every once in a while I have trouble getting my heat pressed designs centered on my shirts (Especially the backs of shirts).

I would do about 10-15 shirts perfect. Then mess up 1 or 2 for no reason at all.
they would be a little off centered or a little crooked.

Is there a method for laying the shirts out on the heat press and putting the design down?

I usually go with the tag of the shirt and assume that is the center. It usually is. Sometimes it's not.

Then when I turn the shirt around, once in a while, the designs come out crooked

Any tips, hints, or tricks you can share would be greatly appreciated

badalou · October 17th, 2006

Ken, one of the things I do is draw a line down the center of the back side of the transfer. when I place it face down it is easy to center with the collar then

MotoskinGraphix · October 17th, 2006

I fold the shirt in half and press a center line in the shirt.

Ken Styles · October 17th, 2006

Good tip Lou!!!
Ok that helps with the regular printed transfers.

What about cut vinyl?

After I cut and weed there is only a transparent background. Maybe I'll try the pencil trick anyways. Or maybe just fold in in half backwards to make a centered line with a crease....

For example..here is a design I had to do on some shirts last night. Here is what it looks like while the vinyl is still on the backing.

(Please Excuse the boobidge... my gf was holding it up for me so I can take a pick and send it to the customer)

Ken Styles · October 17th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotoskinGraphix


	I fold the shirt in half and press a center line in the shirt.

never thought of that!

the only problem (for me anyways) is that if I don't press a center line PERFECT. I will get disoriented when laying down the transfer.

But I'll tryin anything twice! (not anything..but you know what I mean)..I'll give it a shot

T-BOT · October 17th, 2006

..hey guys, one way to help the positioning is to have the designs/transfers aligned for printing on shirts etc. in your gangs/yields before the transfers get made, also get the designs/transfers cut so that they are ready and easy to apply. This helps i find.

MotoskinGraphix · October 17th, 2006

For vinyl I use a tape measure and find the centerpoint of the graphic. Lay the tape measure across the shirt just under the sleeve and find the centerpoint of the blank.

T-BOT · October 17th, 2006

with vinyl, you can also position the transfer (sticky) on the shirt, hold the shirt up, look at it (make adjustments if need be) than put it down and press it.

as for ink transfers, for a little more $$$ (500 12x18 and up), you can have the same exact design on the oposite side of the transfer sheet (done via off-set printing) before the transfers are made.

, this way you can see the transfer design when printing shirts.

It would be nice if ink transfers came on a sticky clear paper too, like vinyl transfers.

Ken Styles · October 17th, 2006

good points T-Bot!

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Have some difficulty centering designs