Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
I started off using my HP Photosmart printer, and I can tell you from experience that unless you're using Vivera ink, your prints won't last. Vivera is pigment ink vs. dye ink that is in regular HP ink cartridges. Dye ink just DOESN'T WORK WELL with garments that are going to be washed -- it can run, wash out, etc.
I did purchase the Epson C88+ because it has pigmented ink and it was only $79.99 new on Amazon (you can get them as cheap as $40 refurbished on Epson's site). The biggest problem with the HP (even if its Vivera ink) is that all colors are combined on one cartridge, so if you're doing say 50 transfers that have a lot of blue in them and you're running out of cyan -- even if all your other colors are full, you'll still need to purchase a whole new cartridge containing all the colors! With the Epson, each color has it's own cartridge, so if you run out of cyan, you JUST replace the cyan cartridge...
The HP ink is most likely dye based, whereas the C88 uses pigment based ink. If you are going to make transfers with the printer, you pretty much HAVE to use pigment based ink because it has a heavier weight and doesn't run like dyes. HP does have a pigment ink called Viveira (sp?) but it is still kind of new to the market and hasn't been tested as thoroughly.
With the Epson you can use Durabrite inks and with some printers, Ultrachromes. These are both decent inks for transfer printing. You can also buy third party inks and CIS systems if you want to print in larger quantities. That will save you a bit of money in the long run.
Thank you as well Anthony. You two both helped me with my decision. I probably would've tested with my dye ink and gotten upset and figured it was all a waste of time. lol.
Melissa, that was precisely what I was looking to know. Thank you for being an awesome replier!
Also, what ink should I get for the Epson if/when I get one?
and Do you find the JetFlex Premium transfers to be recommendable?
Hi Adam! Glad you asked about what ink to get for the Epson. I know many members on here are using the Epson OEM Durabrite ink, and have no problems, however, I have a probably with the yellow ink that seems to pervade every design. Even if I use the Advanced Printer Settings, it still messes with my colors. There are several threads on here recently as other members are having problems with this too. The most recent thread, in which I posted pictures of what was supposed to be a gray swish behind the image of my husband's car, that turned olive gray after pressing. That thread was "Aren't all pigment inks created equal?" or something to that effect. This is called color shifting, meaning it prints the correct color, however, once the transfer is pressed, the colors change. Simply search under "color shifting" and you'll see what I mean.
My suggestion is still to get an Epson printer. There are many Central Ink Supply systems and refillable ink cartridges available for these printers. You can purchase heat transfer ink from a 3rd party such as Magic Mix from personalizedsupplies.com (I think that's the correct site) or from inksupply.com or other sites. I just bought the inksupply.com HT ink, and it just arrived today. When I get the time and the guts, I'll fill my refillable carts and get to work without having to worry about adjusting the colors!
I don't know much about JetFlex, although I think it may be another name for IronAll, Everlast, etc. transfer paper. You see the same paper can be sold by different companies, and sold under different names. I used to use Everlast (sold by Coastal Business) and was VERY happy with the extremely soft hand and no cracking (had that with a previous paper) but I did find that it faded quite a bit. I am currently using the lastest paper out, Jet Pro SofStretch sold by Coastal Business. I believe they are the only ones selling it at this time. It stretches, doesn't crack, has a soft hand AND is supposed to maintain it's color vibrancy without fading or washing out too much. So far, I love it -- although I haven't done all the wash tests I'd like to at this point. Badalou, a very experienced and helped member of the board has a YouTube video showing the printing, pressing and 2 wash tests on the same shirt using Jet Pro SofStretch. You might want to check it out.
Hi Adam! Glad you asked about what ink to get for the Epson. I know many members on here are using the Epson OEM Durabrite ink, and have no problems, however, I have a probably with the yellow ink that seems to pervade every design. Even if I use the Advanced Printer Settings, it still messes with my colors. There are several threads on here recently as other members are having problems with this too. The most recent thread, in which I posted pictures of what was supposed to be a gray swish behind the image of my husband's car, that turned olive gray after pressing. That thread was "Aren't all pigment inks created equal?" or something to that effect. This is called color shifting, meaning it prints the correct color, however, once the transfer is pressed, the colors change. Simply search under "color shifting" and you'll see what I mean.
My suggestion is still to get an Epson printer. There are many Central Ink Supply systems and refillable ink cartridges available for these printers. You can purchase heat transfer ink from a 3rd party such as Magic Mix from personalizedsupplies.com (I think that's the correct site) or from inksupply.com or other sites. I just bought the inksupply.com HT ink, and it just arrived today. When I get the time and the guts, I'll fill my refillable carts and get to work without having to worry about adjusting the colors!
I don't know much about JetFlex, although I think it may be another name for IronAll, Everlast, etc. transfer paper. You see the same paper can be sold by different companies, and sold under different names. I used to use Everlast (sold by Coastal Business) and was VERY happy with the extremely soft hand and no cracking (had that with a previous paper) but I did find that it faded quite a bit. I am currently using the lastest paper out, Jet Pro SofStretch sold by Coastal Business. I believe they are the only ones selling it at this time. It stretches, doesn't crack, has a soft hand AND is supposed to maintain it's color vibrancy without fading or washing out too much. So far, I love it -- although I haven't done all the wash tests I'd like to at this point. Badalou, a very experienced and helped member of the board has a YouTube video showing the printing, pressing and 2 wash tests on the same shirt using Jet Pro SofStretch. You might want to check it out.
Anyway, I hope I've been helpful!
Melissa
Yes, yes yes yes. Very helpful. You are very through with your replies and you are able to show examples and justifications. I appreciate your help. Maybe you should just come set up my pressing room. haha. Just kidding.
One last Q. I checked on inksupply.com looking for the "HT ink" you mentioned and I was not able to find it. Which category is it under?
Wait, I think I found them. One is $60 and the other is $109.75?
Looks like Im gonna have to learn about ink now too! So much and so little time. ha
Thanks again Melissa!
Last edited by AdamnSmith; January 8th, 2008 at 11:08 AM.
Oh, I see here the Epson C88 is discontinued... Is there an equivalent to it? A similar recommended product?
The C88+ is still available on the Epson.com site, although it is refurbished. I've heard of quite a few members on the board that bought the refurbished directly from Epson and were very happy with their purchase. It is only $45 plus FREE shipping and a FREE StoryTeller Photo Book (whatever that is). Here is the link: Epson Stylus C88+ - Refurbished, Overview - Product Information - Epson America, Inc.
I just bought that model because it was cheap enough to solve the wash-out problem with HP's dye ink, and I am primarily doing children's clothing, so the 8.5 x 11 size limitation was fine for me. However, feel free to peruse the different models and see what you'll be comfortable with -- perhaps you want to print bigger than 8.5 x 11... Just be careful and DON'T get any models using the Claria ink -- that's also dye ink.
I've printed a few designs that were bigger than 8.5 x 11 -- I just printed some of the design on one sheet, and some of it on another, arranged them on the shirt, and pressed them at the same time.
Thanks for the compliments, BTW -- I'm blushing! It's just I've "been there and done that", and I don't want someone else making the same mistakes I did! I'm a relative newbie to this too, but I've done A LOT of reading, and have relied upon the members of this board to steer me in the right direction quite often. I'm just glad I'm able to "give back" just the little that I know at this point! Funny how experience always comes with a big price tag attached! LOL...
Melissa
Last edited by angelic_endeavor; January 8th, 2008 at 12:24 PM.
Reason: to add link
Yes, yes yes yes. Very helpful. You are very through with your replies and you are able to show examples and justifications. I appreciate your help. Maybe you should just come set up my pressing room. haha. Just kidding.
One last Q. I checked on inksupply.com looking for the "HT ink" you mentioned and I was not able to find it. Which category is it under?
Wait, I think I found them. One is $60 and the other is $109.75?
Looks like Im gonna have to learn about ink now too! So much and so little time. ha
I got my refillable cartridges at inkjetcart.us, which was one of the only sites left selling for C88+ (probably because of the Epson lawsuit, and not because the C88+ has been discontinued) so if you get the refurbished C88+ from Epson.com, you might want to pick a set of these up. Here is the link: Refillable inkjet cartridge, refillable ink cartridges, ultrachrome printer inks
They also sell pigmented ink (and it's much cheaper than inksupply.com), but I read somewhere on the Forum that someone had some color shifting with it, and since that's WHY I'm going to refillable carts and 3rd party ink, I didn't want to take a chance. I know others on the Forum that are happy with it, however. You'll have to make your own decision on this one
Disclaimer: I have yet to fill the carts or use the ink so I can't really endorse the products YET -- just letting you know where I got the items...
Maybe you should just come set up my pressing room. haha. Just kidding.
I'll set up your pressing room IF you read through all these directions and fill these refillable cartridges for me! LOL... For some reason, I'm scared that I'm gonna screw it up and ink will be flowing everywhere! I wanted to buy them pre-filled just so I wouldn't have to deal with it, believe it or not! How lame is THAT?!?
I figured I would ask you guys.. HP printer, 
It's just I've "been there and done that", and I don't want someone else making the same mistakes I did! I'm a relative newbie to this too, but I've done A LOT of reading, and have relied upon the members of this board to steer me in the right direction quite often. I'm just glad I'm able to "give back" just the little that I know at this point! 
For some reason, I'm scared that I'm gonna screw it up and ink will be flowing everywhere! I wanted to buy them pre-filled just so I wouldn't have to deal with it, believe it or not! How lame is THAT?!?
