wtwb1595

hi everyone. i currently run an infant & childrens novelty apparel company where i screen print all the graphics. i'm expanding my line and adding a design that allows the addition of a child's name.....can't really burn a new screen for every order so i am venturing into heat transfers (i feel like an idiot). i have run a few tests, the color is perfect, but i am having trouble with vertical cracking.

now i should tell you i am using a hand iron.....and my printer is only an HP Inkjet (no big fancy model, but i have used to print watercolor reproductions and they look stellar).....i just don't want to invest in a heat press until i know the shirts are going to sell.

some other details:
i am using the new milford paper for lights. it transferred well and looked great but putting the shirt on my daughter the next day it cracked all over vertically, i could literally hear the cracking.

could i have heated too long? or not enough pressure?

i am printing on 100% cotton, baby rib shirts.....yeah i know but we're talking infants here, all my apparel has stretch. the majority of my inventory comes from American Apparel, although i have few select Rabbit Skins items.

i tried printing on the IRON ALL but what a mess, it's cracking & chipping everywhere. i have to trim out my design, and it's just a disaster. i haven't even tried to transfer it.

i would appreciate any insight, advice, or ideas anyone might have to help me through this. is it even possible to produce a heat transfer that won't crack with a hand iron?

oh not that there is any pressure but my new line is supposed to launch in two weeks.....so i am really stressing.

thank you!!!

 

Reply With Quote

prometheus

I think when it comes to cracking, Ironall is going to be your best bet. I've never used it with an iron, so I don't know if your issue might be with with that. You could also look into getting some already done letters that you apply to the outfit. The only other paper I like is Ironman from Coastal. It has more of a gloss to it, but it holds pretty good.

__________________
The original Thread Killah!™ www.deathisgain.com also "Thread Bully" and the all new "Thread Hijacker"! Soon to be WINNER!

 

Reply With Quote

wtwb1595

thank you for replying!!
my design is actually a stylized chunky render of a skull & crossbones (the text is right on the skull so it doesn't escape the border), so i trim it out by hand. i use an x-acto....every slice and the IRON ALL crumbles debris everywhere, and several pieces then get stuck to the transfer itself leaving white 'spots'. i guess there is no way around that?

as for the iron.....i'm going to try really laying on it....but i fear i may need to purchase a heat press. i don't need anything large because of my apparel size. do you think a small press like the Jetpress 12 or 14 would suffice?
or
do you recommend investing in a small but more controllable press where i can adjust pressure as well?

i guess what i should do is try and transfer the IRON ALL and see what i get. I assume based on the stretchiness of my apparel that is the best paper for the job......at least i got something right

 

Reply With Quote

wtwb1595

one more question.......have you used the new milford paper? it says it's not supposed to crack....is that true...if so then really it's part my technique (probably the iron) and part my stretchy apparel.

i have some jersey tees for toddlers, i assume that paper would work well on them if i could get the pressure and heat right?

i seriously appreciate your input! thank you

 

Reply With Quote

prometheus

Ironall is notorious for the crumbles. Some people use a tool or brush to wipe it clean before they press it. Scissors might give you a better result.

A press is a lot better than an hand iron. There are some small 9x12 out there that are cheaper.

I think I tried NewMilfords light and wasn't crazy about it. Pressure/Time/Temp can all affect the outcome. When I first test Ironall it was horrible, then I adjusted my time and temp and now it's great. I did get a lot of cracking with other brands though.

__________________
The original Thread Killah!™ www.deathisgain.com also "Thread Bully" and the all new "Thread Hijacker"! Soon to be WINNER!

 

Reply With Quote

ballyhootees

I tried to print on that stretchy, ribbed onesie material with a heat press and I couldn't get it work out too well. That could be the problem with those. I would recommend investing in a heat press though.

 

Reply With Quote

wtwb1595

was it a true rib (raised lines in the material)? i am using what's called baby rib...it's smooth on appearance, but if you give it a little stretch horizontally you can see the separation. unfortunately infant apparel doesn't really come in a tight jersey weave.
but good to know, because i think that is part of my problem too, the separation.

i am wondering now if this is going to work on my apparel.

 

Reply With Quote

wtwb1595

ok, so i tried the IRON ALL......let's just say it went down ok, but i have a lot of splotchiness in the black area's where the ink didn't stick to the material. i can see a pattern in the black areas of the paper's texture.....i noticed this pattern in the ink as it lay on the paper after i printed it too.

my graphic is 3 colors - black, orange & yellow. the orange and yellow look great, nice and opaque but not as bright as the milford light paper. the black isn't very opaque.

so i guess that leads me to my next question.....i'm sure inks make a difference, what do you suggest?
thank you thank you for all of your patient help.

 

Reply With Quote

wtwb1595

oh yeah and it cracked vertically. have you ever transferred onto a baby rib?

 

Reply With Quote

prometheus

I haven't tranfered to baby rib. Not even sure that I know what that is (I do have two kids myself though). I did transfer to onsies with some cheap office supply store transfers a while back, and I don't think I ran into any problems.

Black has always been an issue with Ironall. Not so much with blotchiness but usually with it not being dark enough. I use just the stock Epson Durabrite. Usually you'll want pigment inks. It seems that HP mostly uses dye, I believe. You might run into some issue after it gets washed.

__________________
The original Thread Killah!™ www.deathisgain.com also "Thread Bully" and the all new "Thread Hijacker"! Soon to be WINNER!

 

Reply With Quote

ballyhootees

Yeah, it was baby rib. I was trying to press on a onesie for my daughter, like the ones you buy in a 3-pack from Wal-Mart, etc. I've been trying to keep my eye out for onesies that weren't made from that stuff.

 

Reply With Quote

badalou

I ran into the same thing. Durabrite inks (Pigment) were not the greatest on black inks. I use Everlast CIS inks now and I found the black is a darker.

__________________
There is a center to everything.. I found mine at..
www.heatpressessentials.com TEE SQUARE IT, LOGO IT! TEE PAD IT! www.heatpresstransfernetwork.comHeat Transfer Education

 

Reply With Quote

wtwb1595

Quote: Originally Posted by ballyhootees Yeah, it was baby rib. I was trying to press on a onesie for my daughter, like the ones you buy in a 3-pack from Wal-Mart, etc. I've been trying to keep my eye out for onesies that weren't made from that stuff.

American Apparel makes interlock cotton onesies which have a nice smooth surface.....i don't use them because i can only get limited sizes/styles and colors....i offer specific apparel in a wide range of sizes and my colors are olive, black, white and dusty lavender, not exactly your average baby colors and i don't believe the interlock is available in them. but you could try it.

 

Reply With Quote

wtwb1595

Well i have to say a big THANK YOU for all this patient advice and help. Thanks to all the input and other threads and postings i was able to get more information than i ever expected i could.

i have come to a solution. I have decided to purchase a heat press and i believe that i will order plastisol transfers as a solution to my problem since screen printed graphics have been very successful on my apparel. Not only will it save me time in printing multiple colors, but cost wise it will average out the same if not better. this way i won't sacrifice color or quality.

seriously i can't thank you and everyone who contributed enough!!

 

Reply With Quote

ballyhootees

Thanks for the info. I'll check it out.

 

Reply With Quote