Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
Hi, I've just ordered my heat press, still have to get everything else. I'm just trying to figure out if it's possible to print a picture with white in it onto a dark shirt using an inkjet printer. I understand you can do blocks of text with vinyl, but what about a multi colour design? Sorry if this is a stupid question.
yes- unfortunately your options with your inkjet printer are limited to opaque transfer papers.
there are many people who do opaque transfers onto darks but most heat transfer people here seem to avoid it.
probably because they have a stiff rubbery hand to them.
So when you use opaque paper, does it look white, or can you see the colour of the shirt through it?
It will look white only becasue the opaque paper is white. In other words, it will be white where no color is applied.
You will not see the t-shirt color through the opaque transfer as the transfer is thick enough to not show through. However, this thickness (heavy feel) can be a negative also.
If you want a better (less hand- soft) transfer on darks, and are going to do more than 15 or so, you may want to consider plastisol transfers.
__________________
VeloTees.com: Where the BAD cycling T-shirts hang! www.velotees.com
Thanks everyone. I'm really looking forward to getting this business off the ground. I've been searching for a business since I left college (8 years ago) and I've never been so enthusiastic about something than this. Can't wait.
Hi
I need help to get my t-shirt business started. I am thinking about getting a heat press but when I went inot a shop, the guy told me I could only print one colour at a time? How do I print a multicoulour design using a inkjet printer and cutter and a heatpress?
Please could you tell me what do I need to buy to get my homebusiness started if I want to print not only one colour designs, but multi colour ones as well?
I've done my research but still can't understand how I can print designs with more than one colour onto dark colour t-shirts...
Thanks
you can print on dark using an opaque paper...it will print any color and you will press on the dark garment BUT if you have an image that does not fill the paper, the white borders will show so you have to trim around the image to make sure you only have the image press. You can do this by hand or if you have vinyl cutter with and optic eye or other registration mark you can contour cut with the vinyl cutter
thanks for that.
so basically i can use an epson printer and inkjet transfer paper (opaque if the t/shirt is dark) or i can print using vynil (only one colour at a time) if I buy a vynil cutter? Also, using an epson printer do I always need to use sublimation ink or regular ink? I saw you have an A3 epson 1400. What heat press and cutter do you recommend to a start-up like myself?
Thanks
I would recommend a branded heat press size 16x20, and at least a 24" wide branded cutter. You could also do a forum search as there have been a lot of discussion on this already. Good luck with your new venture.
I don't really make recommendations...only tell you what I use...For Opaque papers, I use an Epson c120. and pigment ink. For sublimation I use an Epson 1400 with artainium ink in a CIS. For color laser prints, I use Duracotton paper and an Okidata 5800 color laser printer. For cutting vinyl I use a GCC Puma III, For engraving I have a Roland EGX 350 desktop engraver and also use the Digital Art Solution Rhinestone system. I am sure others do just as well or better with other equipment
Printing white on dark shirts 
Heat Transfer Paper Price List
