Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
Is there a transfer paper which gives you "no hand" or very little? I am getting a large order 300-500 long sleeve shirts. I am putting an intricate design on a white shirt. It will take way too much time to cut transfer by hand.
Is there a transfer paper which gives you "no hand" or very little? I am getting a large order 300-500 long sleeve shirts. I am putting an intricate design on a white shirt.
Dye sublimation gives no hand at all.
I also felt Lou's t-shirt (that sounds weird) at the tradeshow that he printed with IronAll (from newmilfordphoto.com) inkjet transfers and it did have zero hand. It was probably the nicest "inkjet" transfer I've seen.
For 300-500 shirts though, I'd probably find a water based ink screen printer (or a screen printer that can decrease the hand on their shirts) and sub out the job. 300-500 shirts with a heat press sounds like a lot of work.
With a white shirt, it's pretty easy to get a very soft (if not zero) hand with screen printing. Dark shirts is where it gets trickier.
Thank you very much for all the suggestions! More questions,
1. Will plastisol do full color? I am putting artworks from an art contest on the shirts. What about cost compare to transfer?
2. Same goes with screen printing, on both the print quality and cost.
3. I know DTG will do. Do you know any one in the L.A. area? Cost?
4. I know dye sub will do, but the shirt cost will way to high for my client.
5. Will a vinyl cutter cut transfer paper? If I can trim the excess off the transfer, it will be acceptable to my client. They don't want to see a "box" around the art.
1. Will plastisol do full color? I am putting artworks from an art contest on the shirts. What about cost compare to transfer?
Yes, plastisol transfers will do full color. The cost will depend on how many you need. If you give the companies a call, you can get the pricing based on your design and the quantity of transfers you need them to print.
The quality will be much better than an inkjet transfer
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2. Same goes with screen printing, on both the print quality and cost.
The cost will depend on the same factors. How many you need and the design to be printed. It's very easy to get pricing from a screen printer. Just show them a sample of the design you need printed and let them know how many shirts you'll need and they should be able to give you a cost. Screen printing quality is top notch.
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3. I know DTG will do. Do you know any one in the L.A. area? Cost?
If you contact the sellers of the various DTG machines (DTGAmerica.com, screenprinters.net, etc) and ask them if they have any customers with a machine in your area, I'm sure they'll be able to give you a lead (or two).
You would need to contact the DTG printer to get the costs.
5. Will a vinyl cutter cut transfer paper? If I can trim the excess off the transfer, it will be acceptable to my client. They don't want to see a "box" around the art.
"no hand," is there such a thing? 
