printdog77

Hi folks,
I've just got a request for a tee shirt order with a photo of the desert printed on the back and a screen print logo on the front. I've been building my home based screen print business this past year and this is the first request for a photo print. Doing a lot of research in the forum, I've come to the conclusion that having a company like transfer express make transfers from the photo is an option for a white shirt (which I think we'll use). I don't own a transfer press, but would purchase one for this order and then screen the front.
I'm guessing there are other ways to tackle this order and would appreciate any ideas.
Thanks ahead
Joe

 

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Cjoe Design

I don't know how big your order is but you could buy a very inexpensive DuraBrite Epson printer. This printer uses Pigment ink that will work for your Photo transfer. That is how I did my first t-shirts. Now I have an Epson 1400 with special Heat Resistant Pigment ink and bulk system but that was a small investment you might not want to step into right off the bat. If for some reason you do not continue doing t-shirts this way you still have a good printer for making water resistant prints. That was my way of thinking.

If you know you are going to stick to it I recommend the Epson 4880. This is the machine I use for sublimation but it could also be used for Heat Transfer or you can use it as a duel machine running sublimation and Heat Transfer. Or since you do screen printing you can set it up to do your film on one side and heat transfer on the other.

 

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printdog77

Thanks for the reply CJOE,
I actually use an epson 1400 for my films with the ink that came with the printer. My films are great. You mention I could make my own transfers with pigment ink. I've searched around and found epson pigment inks, but am not exactly sure of the hows with the heat transfer end. I poked around best blanks to get a sense of what the costs might be. If you have any thoughts on the best transfer options for that I might consider for a photo on a white shirt.
Thanks ahead for any thoughts.

 

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Cjoe Design

The regular Durabrite inks will work well for t-shirt photos. Some people experience color shifting if theyt don't tweak the color settings. Many people get good results right off the bat. Try JPSS with the Durabrite you will probably like the results without messing around with the color values.

I use a fabric pigment ink called MultInk for inkjet transfers. It is a fraction of the cost of Epson Pigment ink (although slightly more than other pigment ink). It was specifically designed to not encounter any color shift. It was also designed to work with epson printers using the epson drivers, so you are up and running without any special profiles. Just print and press!

 

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