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Lnfortun · March 23rd, 2008

I have been testing this weekend with Airwaves Inc. fabric opaque.

First I printed it with un-mirrored image using pigment ink. I let it dry and pressed it for 10 second at 360F hoping that the ink will cure in the polyester fabric. I then tried rubbing off the print with Q-tips and soap. The ink started to come off so I did not press it on a shirt.

Next I pressed a blank laser transfer on it for 15 seconds then peeled it cold. This time I tried the same test I did earlier and the ink did not rub off. The opaque had soft hand and rubbery feel to it. I noticed some of the yellow ink was transferred to the laser paper. It may have been so because I peeled it cold and did not press with recommended dwell time of 30 seconds and did not peel hot. It felt smoother than Inronall for dark. The color had a little shift as pigment ink would normally do. This time I was confident that ink will not bleed or rub off so I proceeded to hand trim it, peeled the backing off and pressed it on a black shirt. I have a little trouble in peeling the backing off since the laser paper transfer that is suppose to hold the opaque fabric was already peeled off.

I did another tshirt using the same laser transfer paper that I used above. I printed it with laser printer with a mirrored image, pressed it on fabric opaque, hand trimmed the combo, peeled the paper backing, pressed on a black shirt and then peeled hot. The color came out very vibrant like dye sub. Had a rubbery and soft feel like above.

I also used the same laser transfer on white. I trimmed it first with my vinyl cutter that has optic registration before I pressed it on the shirt. The color came very vibrant as well.

The laser transfer paper is Cottontrans DT that is sold by Papilio. It has to be trimmed because it leaves a polymer window.

I have not found a way to trim the fabric opaque with vinyl cutter so for now a sharp scissor will do.

Based on the first experiment I would say pigment ink can be used on the fabric opaque provided that the ink is sealed with something like polymer from transfer paper. In my case I used Cottontrans DT. One does not need a color laser printer to print on fabric opaque.

Have not washed the shirts.

mrdavid · March 24th, 2008

Luis where did you order that from I would like to try some of this to please let me know thanks

mrdavid · March 24th, 2008

OK seen where you get it from what was the price on them I will order some

Lnfortun · March 25th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrdavid


	OK seen where you get it from what was the price on them I will order some

Here is where I bought it: Laser Transfer Paper

Somehow Cottontrans DT is substituted with Transflat. MX. I paid $18.00 for 25 sheets of Cottontrans DT. You can ask them about cottontrans. I have tried Transflat MX and it has the same color vibrancy and feel but has polymer window also. So it could be the same product and was renamed.

Do not be mislead with the instruction that states trimming is not necessary because it does have polymer window. The good thing is almost all the toner is transferred to the garment. That is why the color is very vibrant.

If you are going to use it with fabric opaque leave it on the opaque until you press the combo on the shirt. It will keep the opaque from stretching and sticking to itself when the backing is removed. It also makes it easier to reposition the the transfer without damaging the opaque material. The only reason I peeled it cold from the opaque is I wanted to see if the ink will rub off or not.

Transflat MX sells for $43.95 / 100. A pack of 25 is on sale right now for $16.75 Cottontrans was listed for $48.00/100.

Anyway when using it with fabric opaque the papers have to be trimmed anyway so polymer window does not matter. For light shirt I have a vinyl cutter that I use to trim it.

mrdavid · March 25th, 2008

have you wash any yet

Lnfortun · March 25th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrdavid


	have you wash any yet

I have not washed these new batch but I have done Cottontrans on white before and that has been washed some. The color is still vibrant and soft feel. Only thing is I did not contour trim around the image so there is polymer background. The background is starting to fade.

The opaque transfer that I did using Imageclip to put the image on it has been washed 9 times and still looks as good when it was pressed on the shirt.

How about if I send you the three shirts and you can run it through the Laundry Mat test like you did in your other post. That way you have the real thing at your hand before and after giving them a good beating in the wash and dry cycle.

mrdavid · March 25th, 2008

send them I will have fun washing them LOL

Lnfortun · March 25th, 2008

BTW here is how the look before wash. I know it is the image I used in my posts. What can I say the image is my test standard. So bear with me.

mikalopa · July 5th, 2008

beautiful work, but the quality is upsetting.

Lnfortun · July 7th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikalopa


	beautiful work, but the quality is upsetting.

I am sorry I did not mean to upset anyone when I posted this thread. It is an information that I felt that I liked to share. If you mean the quality being upsetting is due to the low resolution pictures then I apologize.

Actually I had mrdavid do a rigorous wash the three shirts in this thread and did not mention about the quality is upsetting. He still have the shirts.

Here is the thread of his testing:
Airwaves Fabric opaque

mikalopa · July 7th, 2008

luis,
im sorry, i didnt mean to sound so arrogant... lol. i didnt mean it like that. what i meant was, the paper from the inkjet one (the quality of the print) seems a bit dull and has sum white scratchy look to the print...

whats so upsetting for me is that i ordered an inkjet printer and i dont like the results of the inkjet print...... it seem like the laser printer did a better job with the color and all. now im thinking of returning my inkjet printer and investing in a laser color printer... what do u think i should do??? in your opinion, would you go laser or inkjet???

thanks!

mrdavid · July 8th, 2008

here is pic of the only shirt that I did not killed lol. It was done with Cotton trans,printed with OKI color laser printer then Pressed on Fabric opaque. it still looks as good as when Luis sent it to me. been washed 15 times and yes I like it.

mrdavid · July 8th, 2008

here it is

Lnfortun · July 8th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikalopa


	luis, im sorry, i didnt mean to sound so arrogant... lol. i didnt mean it like that. what i meant was, the paper from the inkjet one (the quality of the print) seems a bit dull and has sum white scratchy look to the print... whats so upsetting for me is that i ordered an inkjet printer and i don't like the results of the inkjet print...... it seem like the laser printer did a better job with the color and all. now im thinking of returning my inkjet printer and investing in a laser color printer... what do u think i should do??? in your opinion, would you go laser or inkjet??? thanks!

I misunderstood also. But all is well.

I do find the inkjet to be dull on opaque transfers. It is good with light fabric. Sometimes you have to play with the values in the driver to get the best result. I did not adjust my inkjet printer which I could have done to get the saturation a bit closer to the laser printer. So before you give up on your printer try tweaking the values in the driver. I suggest using JPSS for light. It is so far the best I have tried. Very little ink is left on the transfer paper which yileds vibrant result. Very little trace of polymer around the image.

I do prefer the color laser over the inkjet printer but from time to time I use inkjet when the design has very light pastel color. I also use it testing for inkjet opaque transfer paper since nothing there is made for laser printer that I like. If you are going to use laser printer I suggest you use Imageclip transfer paper or Dracotton HT.

The inkjet can get expensive using OEM ink. It gets cheaper using refillable cartridge and third party heat transfer ink. Laser is cheaper per print than inkjet and no clogging problem.

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Airwaves Fabric opaque - using pigment ink and laser toner