Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
Im currently printing my own designs on shirts and hoodies etc but im only using a "tesco" branded transfer paper and although im not having massive problems with the quality the main things i have a problem with are:
*The papaer seems quite thick and unflexible on the shirt
*It can crack on the hoodies quite quick
Ive started giving my clothes a lil pull, tug and stretch before printing (is this a good thing por bad im unsure)
But im wondering any ideas of an easy use thin natural looking transfer paper out there?
Im based in the UK
Ive had a look around but i get confused with weights, thicknesses and stuff - i just want something that is easy enought to use with an iron and its thin enough to look like its melted into the shirt and flexible so it wont crack!
I've never used the Tesco stuff so i don't know what it's like.
I use a transfer paper from xpres, they do a few, darkjet etc. I use a press but have ironed it on in the past and it looks like it's pressed into the material. It stretches a long way before cracking but not sure if it's the same when it is ironed on, the pressure and temp are never high enough with an iron.
Contact them and ask for a sample pack ( it's free and you get quite a few A4 sheets ), if you are selling your designs i would think it would be better to use professional papers and a press. They only come in boxes of 100 sheets if you want to buy.
Where do you live? If a box is too much and you need a sheet or 2 send a message and i could post to you.
Lee
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trying to help, sometimes i don't!
I live just outside of manchester. Do you have a website for xpres?
Also im having a struggle working out how to print a solid white design? Do i buy coloured transfer paper? Its just a solid white design i want to put on a grey t shirt?
Looking for the highest quality really because sooner or later im gonna be selling my designs
What is plasticol?
Alex
Stand and stare
Last edited by standandstare; September 18th, 2007 at 03:35 PM.
What do you mean when you say you want a solid white design? The paper is white and unless you have white ink in your printer you can't print white anyway.
Do you cut out designs from the paper after you print? What printer are you using?
To do a solid white design i would suggest white vinyl cut on a cutter and heat pressed on. The vinyls i use will outlast the t-shirt and are good enough quality to sell. You do need a press if you are going to sell your designs and want a quality finish, there is quite a difference between a press and an iron.
Do you have a cutter? If not we could sort something out to get this white design done.
Plasticol is a screen printed transfer that is then heat pressed onto the garment. You would use this method if you had a run of t-shirts to do. Have a look at targettransfers.co.uk, they have all the info on different transfers.
Hope this helps
Lee
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trying to help, sometimes i don't!
Im basically designing something, scanning it on comouter, editing using pohotshop, mirror imaging it then printing it onto the transfer paper. Then im cutting using a scalpel and irong on.
Im still learning a lot but as far as i can gather vinyl cutter is a machine that prints and cuts for you is that correct?
As far as the white image goes its just a solid white design that will go on a grey t shirt. the problem im forseeing though is if i print that it will just print blank and see through as it ignore white but i am now possible leaning towards printing it in an off white shade possibly beige or cream so it gets printed!
I havent put out a massive outlay into it yet as im still learning but also want to expand into embroidery on my clothes (probably start off by sending the garments off to save inital expense - as im not running massive numbers of shirts yet) and i also want to invest in a heat press but dont know how much i can pick one up for
Lot of questions i know but im slowly picking things up and self learning!
The cutter i have is just for cutting vinyl/flock, it does not print however you can get printer/cutters that do just as you say, very expensive to buy! I've also got sublimation equipment but don't use it much.
A cutter needs a vector file to cut a design, i use a sign making software to design my t-shirts and cut. It won't cut a photo or scanned image unless it's changed/re-drawn.
A heat press can cost from £300 - £1400 from what i've seen so far. I got a used one off ebay for £180. It's a digital one, no problems so far and heat is ok and even. When i can afford it i'll get a new one and keep this as spare.
If you want your design in white why not just print the outline in hairline and cut out without any colour printed, it would be white then.
If you want it in white vinyl send me the design and i'll change it and cut if it's suitable.
have a look at xpres, themagictouch and graphityp for info on vinyl and cutters.
Lee
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trying to help, sometimes i don't!
whats the best out there? 
Re: whats the best out there? 
