Hi all, and some questions. Full Color Designs, etc
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Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
Hi all, and some questions. Full Color Designs, etc
Hi all, and some questions. Full Color Designs, etc
Hi all, I've been reading these forums for a while, alot of good info.. Basicly, I've been wanting to do shirts for a while, and have pretty much decided on everything I want to get and do..
I have a few questions.. My biggest worry is, my artwork has ALOT of color, and when I look at everyones shirts, they seem to be either 1 or 2 colors, mainly.. If they have more colors, theres not really any shading, etc.
Im worried my designs may not print well ( ink jet transfers ). So to help anyone who might answer some of these qauestions before I go and buy, heres some pics..
The printer I decided on is the Epson Stylus Photo R1800 Inkjet Printer, average price is around $550. Is this a good printer for producing nice transfers? Epson Stylus Photo R1800 Inkjet Printer - C11C589011
I have picked out a web host, and planned to use paypal cart. Im even juggling the idea of having a business print my transfers for me?? If I could get really good transfers at a good price, maybe that would be better than the printer and the worry?
Here are some of my designs, like I said, Im worried about the colors..Plus, 90% of my designs I have so far, are for black shirts, I think I read transfers didnt look as good on black? I could be wrong..
I just tossed those on a black shirt, so those arent the final product. I understand there will be fading, Im just curious if anyone has any info on the quality of the colors, with shading etc.
I havnt decided on paper yet, but Im still reading suggestions.. Thanks for any info you can tell me..
If you want to use inkjet transfers for dark fabrics, you will need to cut around the design or it will have a white box. If you don't want to do that, you should consider getting plastisol transfers. They are going to be a little more expensive, and you have to custom order them rather than printing them yourself. However, the quality is going to be better (similar to screenprinting) and you will not have to cut around the design.
If you want to use inkjet transfers for dark fabrics, you will need to cut around the design or it will have a white box. If you don't want to do that, you should consider getting plastisol transfers. They are going to be a little more expensive, and you have to custom order them rather than printing them yourself. However, the quality is going to be better (similar to screenprinting) and you will not have to cut around the design.
When it comes to plastisol transfers where would you order them from? and, how would you go about tranfering them into a shirt?. will a home iron work? thanks.
I agree - for the designs you have posted it would be better to use plastsisol. I have used a lot of different types of opaque papers on black shirts & they all leave a thicker plastic type feel to the design. They also can wrinkle or crack or peel after washing- just my experience
A 16x20 heat press maybe necessary, 15x15 might be undersized for your designs.
Thanks for the replies everyone.. Im drawing my designs at 13.5x14 inches@200dpi is this going to be to small, say for an xlarge shirt? I have about 15 or 20 finished designs at that size, I could go back and make them larger if I have to, I save like crazy in photoshop, so I wouldnt be to far behind I guess..
The size has always bothered me, I went around measuring shirts and this is the size that most designs seemed to be. I just want the design to cover a decent amount front or back..
Looks like plastisol is the way to go for me. Thanks for the help..
Thanks for the replies everyone.. Im drawing my designs at 13.5x14 inches@200dpi is this going to be to small, say for an xlarge shirt?
When you are working in a raster format, remember that you can always make the design smaller, but you can't make it bigger without losing quality. So if you have any doubts about the size you should be designing it a little bigger than you think you need. Also, for best results you should be using DPI 300 or higher.
m drawing my designs at 13.5x14 inches@200dpi is this going to be to small, say for an xlarge shirt?
I think that will be fine for an XL shirt.
If you have the ability to create your designs in vector format, that will allow them to scale as small or as large as you need them.
I agree with the other posts...you don't want to use inkjet printed transfers from your computer for the designs you have. You'll probably want four color process screen printed (plastisol) transfers. I saw some really nice ones at a recent tradeshow done by Airwaves, Inc. You may want to contact them and see if they can reproduce your art as quality screen printed transfers.
Then all you would need is the garment and a heat press and you would be set.
If you have the ability to create your designs in vector format, that will allow them to scale as small or as large as you need them.
I agree with the other posts...you don't want to use inkjet printed transfers from your computer for the designs you have. You'll probably want four color process screen printed (plastisol) transfers. I saw some really nice ones at a recent tradeshow done by Airwaves, Inc. You may want to contact them and see if they can reproduce your art as quality screen printed transfers.
Then all you would need is the garment and a heat press and you would be set.
Thanks for the info Rodney... I'll contact them asap..
Do you think that press will be fine or am I going to need to look into a 16x20? Thanks..
Re: Hi all, and some questions. Full Color Designs, etc
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodney
if your designs are all smaller than 15" x 15", then it seems like a 15x15 press will work fine.
Until your designs stop all being smaller than 15"x15"
Some people also find it easier to line the shirt up on a larger press.
That said... 15"x15" isn't tiny and plenty of people are happy with that size press. For growth a 16"x20" would be better most of the time, but that's not always possible (or necessary).
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This is a discussion about Hi all, and some questions. Full Color Designs, etc that was posted in the Heat Press and Heat Transfers section of the forums.
Hi all, and some questions. Full Color Designs, etc 
Heat Transfer Paper Price List
and make them larger if I have to, I save like crazy in photoshop, so I wouldnt be to far behind I guess..
