Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
I have a question for those that use Plastisol transfers.
Can this design (minus watermark) and designs similar to it be done using plastisol transfers? If so, what sort of quality loss would I be looking at?
Thanks!
I'm currently harassing multiple plastisol transfer printers trying to get some decent info on halftones and photo quality transfers...so bear with me, I've haven't had any plastisol transfers printed yet.
But to answer your question...yes, it can.
You would have to convert it to halftone though...
this is the only way to create the soft edges, gradients, etc.
As far as loss of quality goes...
it certainly wouldn't look nearly as perfect as the image you have there,
no screenprinting does...but it would probably work alright.
It's the same principle as trying to re-create a photograph...
if you use 4-color process heat transfer printing, then you could make it look almost identical!
I was going to contact F&M Expressions tomorrow to find out what they can do with it and what I need to do for them to make it print-ready.
It's down to inkjet or plastisol transfers right now. I printed that design with IronAll transfers yesterday, but I haven't had a chance to do a wash test with it yet. I LOVE the feel of this shirt with IronAll, but I'm afraid of fading.
I'd love to be able to offer screenprinted designs to my customers, but I also want it to be the highest quality image, so it looks like inkjet transfers it is. I guess that's not too bad because then I'll be able to offer more designs from the beginning and I'll be able to do it at home.
My first order with FM Expressions included some serious gradients and fading.
I did what I could to ensure less effort on thier part to make my images compatible. I sent the images to them and asked for notes to help me make sure the images I sent suited thier process.
I diddn't convert anything to halftones or do anything special aside from making sure I used Corel X3 and converted all text to curves.
What I got back was all is good. I ordered and the images came back flawless!
Thier transfers are a bit thick and come completely off the papers but look very nice.
Bill
ps. I might add that some images where simple drop in bitmap/jpg's, these where the ones with gradients and fading to them.
they came back looking just like the image.
pps.. sorry another edit.
I followed thier instructions about including notes with the cdr file and a copy in .jpg. everywhere I had gradients and fading I added a note to place a white base under the image. Since white is really not a color in design programs (since the background is usually white) I am sure this helped them know where to underlay the images with white.
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Sudden Impact Signs / Sassy Shirts www.sassy-shirts.com - "We print on all kinds of neat stuff"
Thanks! I was planning on contacting them anyway, but I really appreciate your input!
I just did a wash test of this design on IronAll paper, and I'm NOT impressed.
The black is more like a medium grey now and a LOT of detail is gone.
Well, that was after washing. It's in the dryer now.
Just to let you know, I deliberately didn't follow care instructions. I washed it in HOT water, because that's what most people will do with white t-shirts.
I REALLY like the feel of IronAll paper on the t-shirt, but if it fades this much, I just can't justify selling these to customers.
I'd go with DTG, but I don't want to have a bunch on hand. I want to be able to put the shirts together as I get orders.
I've heard that TransJet II is the next-best thing to IronAll. Is this true?
Also, I asked Coastal about getting samples of TransJet II, but they said it was VERY comperable to their Coastal Inkjet paper for lights. How true is that?
Well, I contacted F&M and got a response, but it wasn't really what I was looking for. I wanted their opinion on this particular design, but he gave me a general response.
I hate late Fridays. They're closed now, so I can't get an answer until Monday. I want to get moving on this ASAP.
Zach, if you browse this forum on the weekends, would you mind contacting me?
I'd go with DTG, but I don't want to have a bunch on hand. I want to be able to put the shirts together as I get orders.
Maybe you could find someone in your area with a direct to garment printer who would be willing to print them as you need them instead of printing them all at once. Just a thought.
I would suggest giving Transjet II (aka Magic Jet) a try - possibly try some other papers as well to compare, like Coastal's brand. The feel isn't going to be as soft as IronAll, but the colors should be more vibrant and fade less. Your ink may be a factor here too - if you're using dye-based inks it's going to fade more than pigmented inks will.
You might also consider just working out a different but similar image that WILL work better with plastisol. You can definitely get some halfway decent halftone effects going (some companies are more able to do the fine detail required for this than others; I know Howard Sportswear does a decent job of it and Silver Mountain cannot). Only using a couple of colors can look quite good too =)
If you want the image to look exactly the same, though, your options are going to be more limited. Unless you plan on ordering 5000+ transfers, the price of doing a 4-color process wouldn't be worth it. Your remaining options are heat transfers and Direct-to-Garment printing (which could theoretically be outsourced if you, like most of us, can't afford the $20k machine).
I'll give Coastal's paper a try tonite. I don't have any TransJet II, but as I said earlier, Coastal said their paper is almost exactly the same thing.
I'm really disappointed in IronAll because of fading. I had such high hopes for it.
I have other papers, too, uncluding opaques, adn I might just try that, even tho they'll all be going on white tees. Well, these will, anyway.
I priced these designs out with the Freedom transfers, and they come to about $0.31 apiece in the quantities I'd order (with ganged sheets). Not too bad.
I guess I'm even a little afraid of Freedom transrers because of the plasticky feel that people have mentioned. I wish I could get samples of this particular design printed to see what it would look like.
I do like the idea of using inkjet (or laser, if I had a laser printer) transfers because of the variety of things I would like to do with these designs (not just squares).
Well, I still need to do a wash test with Coastal's paper for lights and JetDark, but it's not looking good for Coastal's paper. It cracked something awful. Then again, I pressed another Everlast transfer tonite on a ladies District Threads tee, and even just slightly stretching it, it cracked worse than Coastal's on a Gildan. I put that tee on and the cracks were VERY visible (it's a tighter fitting shirt). I stretched it a little IMMEDIATELY after I peeled the backing, which I did IMMEDIATELY after lifting the press. (My fingers are starting to get numb. )
I think for these designs I'll most likely go with JetDark opaque transfers, pending an answer from ACE and F&M. Transfers for lights just don't seem up to the task with the shirts I want to print them on.
There's something else I'd like to try with these designs and I was wondering if this was possible with them: can you cut plastisol transfers on a plotter and weed them? Would I be able to have registration marks printed with my designs and then contour cut on our vinyl cutter?
Can This Design Be Done With Plastisol? 
I guess that's not too bad because then I'll be able to offer more designs from the beginning and I'll be able to do it at home.
)
