Need to Register?

1stimpressions · August 22nd, 2007

HI, My husband and I have made the decision to purchase a DTG printer. He runs a graphics and printing company and we have the equipment(heat press, plotter,etc.) to use for heat transfers also. Is it something I should consider? When would I do transfers as opposed to using DTG?
Is this a silly question? Sorry I just want some opinions as when I mentioned transfers to my hubby he said something about quality, time, something something...
Thanks~LA

splathead · August 22nd, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1stimpressions


	HI, My husband and I have made the decision to purchase a DTG printer. He runs a graphics and printing company and we have the equipment(heat press, plotter,etc.) to use for heat transfers also. Is it something I should consider? When would I do transfers as opposed to using DTG? Is this a silly question? Sorry I just want some opinions as when I mentioned transfers to my hubby he said something about quality, time, something something... Thanks~LA

Depending on the brand of your dtg printer and what you intend to use it for, there could be a big cost difference. Printing larger designs on a dark shirt, for example, can easily cost you several dollars worth of ink. You'll have to compare that to the cost of your heat transfers.

Another factor is time. Again on the dark shirt example, a dtg could take as long as 3 to 4 minutes to print. So if you have a large order of the same design, heat transfers would be faster to complete.

That's the extent of my limited knowledge.

debz1959 · August 22nd, 2007

Heat transfers can be applied to other items, and since you already have the equipment....

I'd say to go for it

printchic · August 22nd, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1stimpressions


	HI, My husband and I have made the decision to purchase a DTG printer. He runs a graphics and printing company and we have the equipment(heat press, plotter,etc.) to use for heat transfers also. Is it something I should consider? When would I do transfers as opposed to using DTG? Is this a silly question? Sorry I just want some opinions as when I mentioned transfers to my hubby he said something about quality, time, something something... Thanks~LA

Hi,

I own a Brother DTG 541 Garment Printer and it doesn't print white ink therefore I use plastisol "heat transfers" when i need to print on "dark shirts".

It really depends on which printer you buy. There are DTG Printers out there that print "white ink" but the amount of maintenance involved and the quality issue you need to consider if you are considering one that prints white ink.

I owned a t-jet (that prints white ink) and sold it and bought the Brother GT-541 (doesn't print white ink) because the white ink process was time consuming, the machine required a lot of maintenance and there was clogging issues.

Since i have had my Brother GT-541 i haven't had any problems. When i get a job i am confident i can do it. When i had my t-jet i held my breath until the job was done as I never knew what issues would arise.

If you are considering a machine please make sure you are not "swayed" solely by price as you may regret it later.

I have lost nothing by going with a DTG Printer that doesn't print white ink. Instead i have become more productive, have been able to print some awesome shirts i never knew possible and soon will be releasing my own t-shirt line.

If you have questions feel free to email me.

Signed,
Printchic

1stimpressions · August 22nd, 2007

Thank you for your replies. We've discussed the white ink factor and because of the fact that some of the job orders we will get require white ink and can't be done with heat transfers we will have to buy a DTG that can use the white ink. We have an appt. with an Anajet distributor and this will be our first machine that we will be checking out. Besides the Anajet we will be considering Flexi-jet and the Kiosk HM-1.
With that said, I guess it would it be more cost effective to use heat transfers when possible right? The quality is as good?
~LA

treadhead · August 22nd, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1stimpressions


	HI, My husband and I have made the decision to purchase a DTG printer. He runs a graphics and printing company and we have the equipment(heat press, plotter,etc.) to use for heat transfers also. Is it something I should consider? When would I do transfers as opposed to using DTG? Is this a silly question? Sorry I just want some opinions as when I mentioned transfers to my hubby he said something about quality, time, something something... Thanks~LA

We have a T Jet II and still use inkjet heat transfers for things like mousepads and totes. Also, for larger jobs, basically anything over 2 or 3 dozen, we use plastisol transfers which are much faster to apply than printing using a DTG.

I love our T Jet but it requires alot of baby sitting and is slow for larger runs of shirts.

We also use thermoflex / spectracut II for one or two color jobs using lettering and "open" designs.

Hope that helps.....

DAGuide · August 23rd, 2007

On a side note, think about using a combination of a DTG print (using waterbased ink) and a light transfer paper. If you cut the transfer paper to a certain design and press it to the shirt after the DTG print is cured, you can apply heat transfer foil to it. The foil will stick to any adhesive on the shirt (i.e. the light transfer paper, but not the waterbased ink). Thus, you can do mixed media and create a different looking shirt than what most t-shirt shops are doing. Just a way to make your shirts stand out over the others.

dodank · August 23rd, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAGuide


	On a side note, think about using a combination of a DTG print (using waterbased ink) and a light transfer paper. If you cut the transfer paper to a certain design and press it to the shirt after the DTG print is cured, you can apply heat transfer foil to it. The foil will stick to any adhesive on the shirt (i.e. the light transfer paper, but not the waterbased ink). Thus, you can do mixed media and create a different looking shirt than what most t-shirt shops are doing. Just a way to make your shirts stand out over the others.

hello,
did i hear u say heat transfer foil? i didn't kow that there was one. where do u get it and how does it work

DAGuide · August 23rd, 2007

Call The Paper Ranch (Heat Transfer, Dye Sublimation and Engraving Equipment & Supplies Source) at 877-777-2624. I know they sell it as I was demonstrating the process at the NBM Shows this past summer for them. I am not sure if it is the same roll foil that is used in screen printing or not. If it is, you might be able to find it from a closer distributor. I know that it comes from Crown Roll Leaf. Hope this helps.

Mark

dodank · August 23rd, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAGuide


	Call The Paper Ranch (Heat Transfer, Dye Sublimation and Engraving Equipment & Supplies Source) at 877-777-2624. I know they sell it as I was demonstrating the process at the NBM Shows this past summer for them. I am not sure if it is the same roll foil that is used in screen printing or not. If it is, you might be able to find it from a closer distributor. I know that it comes from Crown Roll Leaf. Hope this helps. Mark

thanks da,
u know i posted a question to the forum about glitter and imageclip. i didn't get any response. being that this was on my mind since discovering imageclip and gettin no response from forum members. i call mike at the paper ranch and asked him. he didn't know. but said it sounded interesting. so he said he would try it for me to see if it worked. well he did it and was so excited and thanked me for the idea. he said the customers went crazy when they say it. he sent me pictures. and application instructions. he used some kind of foil to do the processed and he was so amazed.

Need to Register?

Resources

T-Shirt Sites

If I have a DTG is there any need to use heat transfers?