Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
I guess my other post was just way too long. I have had 2 problems with my first plastisol transfer job and am wondering if anyone else has, or knows what is going on:
- tiny dot flaws, either the plastisol pulling away from the shirt, or maybe caused by nubbies on the fabric
- some sort of vapor given off by the plastisol after transfer; not steam, has a slight smell to it and it hangs in the air like smoke (but does not smell like it)
Thanks, I hope someone has heard of any of this stuff going on.
No, they were custom ordered from First Edition and arrived 1 day before I started pressing. FE thought I was letting them cool too much (hot split), but I was pulling off the paper as soon as the platen was clear. The flaws happened about once in 15-20 shirts.
No, they were custom ordered from First Edition and arrived 1 day before I started pressing. FE thought I was letting them cool too much (hot split), but I was pulling off the paper as soon as the platen was clear. The flaws happened about once in 15-20 shirts.
Trish
Trish, I do not have first hand experiance with FE transfers.
Also, I have not used the so called "Hot Split" type transfers since the 90's.
I think, that once you are on a roll they should all work fine. But there is a possibility that the odd transfer in the batch was not made exactly like the others etc..
So, I would recommend looking at each transfer with a back light before you press. If there is something wrong with a particular transfer you might be able to see the flaw before pressing and ruin a shirt. I always do that.
I have had great luck with Ace Transfer Company. They have never failed me. I order from them several times a month. The designs are done in a timely manner and the quality is always top shelf. Good luck. .... JB
I had problems with transfers from Boo-z. I still have a few left, but dont want to waste anymore tshirts.
I will try Ace Transfer and if that fails, no more plastiol transfers for me.
Yeah, I agree with JB, dont give up just yet.
Its funny, people who print shirts with transfers sometimes squeeze them selfs towards the lowest price is the law when buying/ordering transfers but fail to account for the fact that cheap transfers will cost you more because of booboo shirts that turn out bargain bin bound.
I mean, pay a little extra and get what the peeps in the know get. Transfers that work everytime....easy to apply and extremely durable.
so yeah, "Don't Give Up" (Remember the Peter Gabriel son "Don't Give Up" with that female singer, can't remember her name now ).
...anyways!
Best of all, you will sleep at night knowing the extra pesos you pay for good transfers are well worth it.
In the other hand, running a dozen transfers is cool but, in order to fully get something that will work perfect with all the variables involved with "Custom Transfers", like what fabrics will you be printing them on ? jersey, rib, both, other etc., the actual art, is fine art, light colors, light and dark colors, % shading ???? are the transfers for printing on all colors, what end finish is required and so on................
then YOU still need to print the shirts yourself.
Heck, why not just ask the transfer maker to print the shirt on Demand for you ?
I actually went with boo-z because of teh artwork online..not particularly due to cost. I met some of the represents of Ace Transfer while at the ISS in LBC and was plz with the free tshirt. I will definitely not give up on the plastiol. Thanks all.
I do not have first hand experiance with FE transfers. Also, I have not used the so called "Hot Split" type transfers since the 90's.
To be honest, I don't really understand the effective difference between hot split and hot peel, both of which are offered by First Edition. I forgot to specify in the first order and got hot split. All I really know is that there is more left on the transfer paper with hot split than hot peel. Is there a reason that you stopped using hot split?
Quote:
Originally Posted by T-BOT
I would recommend looking at each transfer with a back light before you press. If there is something wrong with a particular transfer you might be able to see the flaw before pressing and ruin a shirt. sorry i can not be of more help.
No, actually the suggestion to examine with back light is one I had not thought of. It was very helpful. I should have done that to begin with but was under the gun due to delays in getting proper artwork from the customer (imagine that). Also, I wouldn't have known what to look for, but do now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by T-BOT
Its funny, people who print shirts with transfers sometimes squeeze them selfs towards the lowest price is the law when buying/ordering transfers but fail to account for the fact that cheap transfers will cost you more because of booboo shirts that turn out bargain bin bound.
I admit that First Edition was very attractive on price, but Lou has spoken so highly of them in the past that I didn't feel I was sacrificing quality for cost.
Ultimately I suppose I will just have to experiment with different t-shirt brands and different transfer companies, and draw a conclusion from that as to what the source of the flaws was. Sounds like no one else has really had these specific experiences. But thanks to everyone who commented.
Problems with plastisol transfers 
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