Ok..so last night, I handed out some flyers and with my two magnetic car signs folks were inquiring about t shirts. A few wise ones asked was it screen printed. I said no..I use a heat press and transfer paper. The reaction was ...less than pleasant. Is this prejudice against transfers due to the fact that you can buy the "cheap" stuff at your local Walmart..Staples..etc? Those shirts I've made thus far, the customers were happy with the final product. Any advice on what I should say next time this occurs?
I usually bill it as a more affordable way to do photographic or high-detail reproductions at lower quantities. I inform the customer that there is a minimum quantity per order for screen printing, and highly complex images usually involve a significant amount of prep time and setup fees. Digital transfers, on the other hand, while not as durable long-term as screen printing, allows for lower minimum order quantities, low/no setup fees and less prep time spent on art. In addition, the reproduction qualities of transfers are at times better than screen printing because the final print is an exact duplicate of the scanned image (or graphic art, or whatever is being transferred). Unfortunately, these high quality transfers will only work on white or very light colored garments, whereas screen printing can be applied to any color garment.
This is what I tell my customers, in a nutshell. I don't do transfers on dark garments because the technology has not evolved enough to prevent that rubbery feel to the print. Light garment transfers these days are pretty amazing - you might want to do some samples and show them the print quality in person.
I think people prefer screen printing over heat transfers because screen printed images usually last longer than heat transfers. Don't take it personal though, there are advantages to heat transfers...like making less than 10 shirts, or printing pictures on the shirt! that's my 2 cents
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sure, tell them something along the lines that you are using commercial quality transfers and not the junk from your local office supplier, Maybe have some samples of the same design new..and one that had been washed x amount of times so they can see and feel for themselves and decide if it has the longevity they want.
Peeps around here automatically tune out when I talk about heat transfer images, so i dont even bother anymore.People more or less think it is a short term novelty.
Last edited by gerry; September 23rd, 2009 at 12:15 PM.
Reason: added anoder thought
I think the average joe in the street, buys a tee shirt on impulse, for no other reason than they like the colour, or the design. As long as they don't fall to bits in the first month and the image doesn't disappear after a couple of washes most customers will be happy.
Trouble is there are some really tacky tees out there, printed on substandard garments with low grade transfers attached to them, that simply don't look good. Most will look a whole lot worse if you put them anywhere near a washing machine.
Heat transfers fade a lot quicker but like they said they are good if you are doing a short run of under 20 or so, like I did with my air hockey table league shirts last year.
Heat transfers fade a lot quicker but like they said they are good if you are doing a short run of under 20 or so, like I did with my air hockey table league shirts last year.
Off topic, but is that guy champion because his gut blocks the goal?
something else to consider is that when people think of heat transfer, they might be thinking of the older heat transfers that basically leave a huge square shape "patch" on the shirt. very uncomfortable, and ugly too. so, it depends on what kind of transfers you're using.
you should print a few and take them with you as examples. better yet, where one when you're passing out flyers, so they can see what kind of work you do. people tend to appreciate being able to see and feel the garment they're buying, along with the print that's on it.
I think you all are underestimating Plastisol Transfers, I find that the ones I have used are very durable and some (depending on type and manufacture) have a very soft hand and the average person does not know the difference between Silk Screen and Transfers. It is the basic same procedure except applied differently. If I were you I’d order samples from the different companies that make Transfers and see for your self. Here are a few good posts to check out if you have not seen it…
As far as customers go I tell them it is a world of difference between the transfers that you can get from Wal-Mart and the ones I use, like there is a difference between getting your car painted and painting it at home with spray cans, or when Grandma embroiders something and embroidery that my machine embroiders, there is just a world of difference… Also when you are out handing out stuff wear a shirt witha tranfer on it, I bet 90% of people would not be able to tell if it was silk screened or a transfer.. GL and have a good one...!
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Everyone gave some good points. I think basically, stay away from the term "heat transfers", even though that's what they are. I find people tend to stay tuned in when I say "digital transfer" or "plastisol transfers". Also, samples might come in handy.
Transfers looked down upon? 
