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jki540 · June 6th, 2007

Hi All! I'm a COMPLETE and UTTER newbie to tshirt printing. I cannot tell you how amazing this forum is. It's also extremely addictive

I wish every industry had a forum as informative as this one. It's really a gold standard.

I'm just starting off on selling/making/printing t-shirts. I'm about to pull the trigger on purchasing my set-up. Here's what I was considering:
1) Everlast Transfer Papers (from Coastal)
2) Mighty Press 11 X 15 Clam Heat Press
3) Cannon inkjet i9900 printer (I already have this, so I don't want to buy a different printer just for shirts)
4) All graphics will be done in Photoshop and Illustrator.

My goal is to make decent quality, full-color t-shirts printed in very low quantities. 1 or 2 shirts per design. Thus, I prefer the heat press approach.

Questions:
1) IS THIS ENOUGH TO GET STARTED OR IS THERE ANYTHING I'M MISSING?
2)WILL MY CANNON PRINTER WORK WITH MOST TRANSFER PAPERS OUT THERE? Or will I need to break-down at some point and buy an Epson with special ink (like most veterans recommend)?

I plan to test a lot, and I'm aware of the steep learning curve. I promised myself to be patient. But please weigh-in and let me know if I'm missing something really obvious!

Thanks all!

Darklight · June 6th, 2007

I am only slightly ahead of you in "newness", but among the hundreds of things Ive learned from these great people seems to be in the area of paper. Plan on experimenting with different paper, and the settings on all your equipment. Request Samples!

Best of Luck,
Dark

Rodney · June 6th, 2007

Quote:


	2)WILL MY CANNON PRINTER WORK WITH MOST TRANSFER PAPERS OUT THERE? Or will I need to break-down at some point and buy an Epson with special ink (like most veterans recommend)?

Like you've probably read, your Canon printer uses dye inks which don't last as long on the shirt and will fade faster than the pigment based inks that most epsons use.

If you can find a pigment based ink for your canon printer model, it might work.

Quote:


	1) IS THIS ENOUGH TO GET STARTED OR IS THERE ANYTHING I'M MISSING?

Keep in mind that your current list only accounts for printing on white t-shirts.

If you plan on printing on dark/black t-shirts, you'll need to look into opaque transfer paper (lowest quality), vinyl transfers (need more equipment like a vinyl cutter) or plastisol transfers (highest quality screen printed transfers).

The everlast paper will work on light colored shirts (like light yellow and light blue), but keep in mind that no white ink will be printed from your printer, so any white in the design will be the shirt color.

jki540 · June 6th, 2007

Thanks guys! I wasn't aware of the "white" ink issue, which is why i plan to start slow and build the experience as I go. I'm taking the slow-steady approach to learning this.

This info is very much appreciated. I'll keep everyone updated in case there's a chance someone can learn from my mistakes

jki540 · June 6th, 2007

Thanks Dark....I will definitely be ordering samples. That's the right approach!

Darklight · June 6th, 2007

From one noob to another, glad to share my mistakes if it helps!

COEDS · June 6th, 2007

As for your choise of heat press. I suggest the minimum you should purchase is 15x15. This will allow you to press a larger area. I know the cost is more,but in the long run you will be glad. I would also you check out the www.teesquareit this tool will save you time and money by helping you get the proper placement. Good luck. .... JB

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concerns about my set-up...please weigh-in!