Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
I'm a visual. I've searched everything I could in these forums. But I'm still confused with the quality I can hope to acheive with a heat press and transfer papers (the current setup I'm looking at for printing a single shirt, customized to one buyer).
The problem is that, altough there's much information, I don't know if one solution is good, or still up-to-date or how it ranks compared to others.
I'd like to see "real" shirts (selling today) printed with various method (well, various transfer papers as it's the current option I consider). What I want to see is actual stores that carry shirts printed with transfer papers. Or very good pictures of the actual results. I'll probably order some of the best shirts, to see where I can go with that simple, inexpensive solution.
If you answer, I'd like to know exactly what you used to acheive a particular result : printer, inks, transfers, heat press, settings, shirts, if trimming is required, etc... I want to buy the equipment, but I want to see first-hand what kind of result is possible. I also want to make I purchase the right equipment and I cannot test with many different papers : I don't have the budget right now.
welcome to the forums. I would suggest searching on youtube for badalou, he has a whole bunch of videos on there showing different heat transfer papers and his results. You should be able to learn alot from his videos.
Hi Patrice, T-shirt printing is a really big field. It includes start-ups that print a few custom digital prints at at time to screen printers and DTG printers who print hundreds or thousands. Most who seriously market their shirts don't print hundreds of shirts using digital prints. They usually choose to make small runs and prototypes using their equipment. For larger runs I think they would use professional companies to either print the shirts or to print plastisol heat transfers that could be then be used as needed. Most here seriously recommend testing samples of heat transfer paper before ordering large quantities. Welcome to the forums.
lewis is correct. heat transfer that are printed with your printer are not the greatest type of transfer for a retail store. Not the best quality. Then there is plastisol heat transfer and companies sell stock design that are great for retail stores. remember that these are screen printed. Then also as explained above DTG prints. I still see this in the advancing stage and is getting better, For that it is all about having the right equipment. badalou
lewis is correct. heat transfer that are printed with your printer are not the greatest type of transfer for a retail store.
I didn't mean "retail stores" I just want to see, and maybe purchase, actual t-shirts from stores online. I want to get a feeling of what's possible before setting on a type of equipment.
As for trade shows, where could I go? I leave in Quebec, so ideally on the east coast.
I believe there is an Imprint Show in Toronto (or some other location in Canada) in early January. Might want to try and do some research on that show on the internet. Hope this helps.
millepattes (centipede and millipede in the US... Muhahahha)
...new thread for me. Fits my scenario... the original question from millepattes is pertinent to a startup setup. (Take note, I am not saying a startup!)
...but millepattes question is loaded and encompasses just about all the threads that exist on this forum... so my suggestion is that you attack all the threads systematically... I may take you 2 weeks to come to enough of an understanding to decide what fits your business model... sorry, it is not as easy as it would appear... you have a lot of homework to do!
Here are some keywords you may want to try in the search in the navigator at left side of screen. One at a time( , ... , ): plastisol, sublimation, digital ink transfer, heat transfer, ink transfer, DTG, screen printing, screen print, natural fabric, polyester, hand, durability, wash fastness, washfastness, whashability, border, ghost, pigment, OEM inks/toner, Laser, inkjet, ink system, raincoat,...
or go to each thread in the forums that have those words
Hope I am not scaring you... by visiting all of the above, you will be able to have an idea of how to jump in... and then you will have to jump in to get the real answers... you are now on the top of the rail of the bridge looking down 60 feet into the river/lake waters... make sure there are no rocks close to the surface, or a hidden wreck lurkin in the murky waters...
Hope I am not scaring you... by visiting all of the above, you will be able to have an idea of how to jump in... and then you will have to jump in to get the real answers... you are now on the top of the rail of the bridge looking down 60 feet into the river/lake waters... make sure there are no rocks close to the surface, or a hidden wreck lurkin in the murky waters...
Thanks Nic, altough you really scare me ;-) I see that you understand my question. But, to make things easy, I'll reformulate my question : Does someone sells t-shirts online that were printed with a heat press and transfer paper? I may want to chose tu purchase some samples before throwing in a few thousand bucks on equipment. Hey! Free sales!
P.S. Yes, I've searched the forums and I'm still confused... Someone's best solution can become others worst nightmare. That why I want to see by myselft what kind of result can be acheived. I'll decide for myself if the quality is good enough for my purpose or if I need to investigate an other solution.
I had taken that approach on the onset, and found I would be blowing most of my startup money in samples... and still I would have to educate myself thoroughly about the business...
I know where u are coming from... but my advice is till the same... I can almost guarantee you that even when u have had these samples in your hands you will have to back it up with solid knowledge and understanding of each scenario for each item you got... + you are inviting all the hustlers to dump their failed works on you for real money...
Once you educate yourself you will be able to see thru the fog and know without seeing. I don't want to be confrontational, just let you know what I truly feel and know. Do you homework...
I do not have time now to help someone else. I am too busy lifting every rock in the imprinting business to see what lies under...
At some point in the future I will be able to help you directly... but by then, if you have read the threads here and crossed that with other forums, you will not need me. There are some good knowledgeable people here... heed their words. Each has a piece of your puzzle.
There are just too many variables... you could get a T-Shirt that sucks, but is in fact the best process for you... the T-Shirt was simply not done correctly.
You could get a perfect one, but the process is very inconsistent and hard to replicate profitably...
I thought on the onset that I could luck up, it would be that easy... but once I dug in to the details I found out that I had better educate myself thoroughly... the key words I gave you, I wish I had had when I started... let me tell you, they are a can of worms, many which will turn out to never 'butterfly' in your scenario.
I found no blanket approach works... this is a many legged animal.
Seeing is believing 
