Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
Ok, so some background Info- I have been a member of this forum for about a week or so but haven't posted yet since I've been just reading all the FAQ's etc which took about a week. I have learned a lot. I'm from Southern California. Starting a professional company but with a low budget. I know screen printing is the best process and plastisol is basically the same thing but I need the next best setup. And yes I have read the "Heat Transfer Equipment List" thread (actully that's the only thing I haven't read but skimmed through), but I feel I need some help specifically for my situation.
Ok these are the things I think I need but please let my know if there's other things needed that I'm missing. Also please enlighten me with the best possible product (within budget) I should get for each category. If you can, please give the best combination meaning the best product for use with the other products you are suggesting.
Software: Adobe photoshop CS3, do I still need illustrator and CorelDraw? Inkjet Printer: I have dell printer all in one but know that I need a printer with pigment ink. Ink Refills: For the suggested printer. Transfer Papers: The best transfers (with the combination your suggesting) for-
White/light shirts
Black/dark shirts
Also what is the best self weeding transfer for each? Cutter: I have a craft robo 2, but I am unable to use it successfully because robo master (the software) has a small cutting area, how do I expand it? Shirts: The best shirts (with the combination your suggesting) for light and dark colors. Teflon sheets: cheapest one is preferred on this one unless recommended otherwise. Heat press: I have a low budget so I can't spent around 1000 for one. But can someone show me some light on what I should get? (The preferred style: draw style and it would nice if it had the digital timer and auto open feature but that might be too much to ask for. The size:the bigger the better, but within budget. I don't mind buying a used one.) Spary/Chemicals?: Is there chemicals I can spray on the shirts after being heat pressed for longevity? Tagging Gun/Tags: Cheapest is preferred on this unless recommended otherwise.
Registrations: I'm going to trademark and go to the local chamber of commerces for the required registrations but I will need some help with Formation type etc but that can wait a bit for now.
Anything I'm missing? Please help me out, give the best possible combo in your opinion.
Last edited by thugchildz; March 27th, 2008 at 10:20 PM.
If you're starting a "Professional" company, screen printing is the most preferred service. If you want to do something in house, for companies, I would recommend using an experienced company like F & M Expressions, or Transfer Xpress, to print them for you and then you can press them when the transfers are shipped to you. Otherwise, it would be best from a low budget standpoint to send your shirts and artwork to a screen printer who will give you a good product and a contract price. That way, you can give them the best product possible and not spend a lot of money getting into biz.
Also, the chamber of commerce is more of a networking club than anything else. You need to go to your local court house or wherever it is in your city that you can register your biz name and buy your liscenses. The chamber of commerce could tell you where to go, but can't give you your liscenses.
__________________
Hard labor kills, make t-shirts instead.
Ok, so some background Info- I have been a member of this forum for about a week or so but haven't posted yet since I've been just reading all the FAQ's etc which took about a week. I have learned a lot. I'm from Southern California. Starting a professional company but with a low budget. I know screen printing is the best process and plastisol is basically the same thing but I need the next best setup. And yes I have read the "Heat Transfer Equipment List" thread (actully that's the only thing I haven't read but skimmed through), but I feel I need some help specifically for my situation.
Ok these are the things I think I need but please let my know if there's other things needed that I'm missing. Also please enlighten me with the best possible product (within budget) I should get for each category. If you can, please give the best combination meaning the best product for use with the other products you are suggesting.
Software: Adobe CS3, do I still need illustrator and CorelDraw?
Inkjet Printer: I have dell printer all in one but know that I need a printer with pigment ink. Ink Refills: For the suggested printer. Transfer Papers: The best transfers (with the combination your suggesting) for- White/light shirts Black/dark shirts Also what is the best self weeding transfer for each? Cutter: I have a craft robo 2, but I am unable to use it successfully because robo master (the software) has a small cutting area, how do I expand it?
Shirts:
The best shirts (with the combination your suggesting) for light and dark colors.
Teflon sheets: cheapest one is preferred on this one unless recommended otherwise.
Heat press: I have a low budget so I can't spent around 1000 for one. But can someone show me some light on what I should get? (The preferred style: draw style and it would nice if it had the digital timer and auto open feature but that might be too much to ask for. The size:the bigger the better, but within budget. I don't mind buying a used one.) Spary/Chemicals?: Is there chemicals I can spray on the shirts after being heat pressed for longevity? Tagging Gun/Tags: Cheapest is preferred on this unless recommended otherwise.
Registrations: I'm going to trademark and go to the local chamber of commerces for the required registrations but I will need some help with Formation type etc but that can wait a bit for now.
Anything I'm missing? Please help me out, give the best possible combo in your opinion.
I think the reason why you haven't gotten a response is because you admitted to skimming through info that's right in front of you. Take the initiative and do a forum search; it works wonders , trust me!
Adobe CS3 is the whole suite including Illustrator. If you meant Adobe Photoshop, then i would say yes you will need Illy or CD.
The only things i know about heat pressing are gathered from the forums here. So, once again, a lot of questions are answered by searching.
Maybe Rodney will help you out with some links to specific threads that can enlighten you.
If you're starting a "Professional" company, screen printing is the most preferred service. If you want to do something in house, for companies, I would recommend using an experienced company like F & M Expressions, or Transfer Xpress, to print them for you and then you can press them when the transfers are shipped to you. Otherwise, it would be best from a low budget standpoint to send your shirts and artwork to a screen printer who will give you a good product and a contract price. That way, you can give them the best product possible and not spend a lot of money getting into biz.
well the thing is I know screen printing and and pastisol are the most preferred but I worked at a customizing store at the mall and they would just use transfers. I don't really want to do it with other services including by designs being sent out to 3rd parties to make my transfers. It is possible to be professional using transfers, excluding pastisol, I think.
I think the reason why you haven't gotten a response is because you admitted to skimming through info that's right in front of you. Take the initiative and do a forum search; it works wonders , trust me!
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I know and by reading all the forums I got all the basics down but I just need some help specifically letting me know exactly what I should get or consider getting.
Software: Adobe photoshop CS3, do I still need illustrator and CorelDraw? I would definately get a vector graphics program, either illustrator or corel draw. There is also a free downloadable program called inkscape, its somewhat limited for what it can do but its free.
Inkjet Printer: I would see if you can get pigment ink for your printer, if not alot of members use the C88.
Ink Refills: I dont have the answer to this
Transfer Papers: The best transfers (with the combination your suggesting) for-
White/light shirts ---- jet pro soft stretch seems to be the paper most are using with good results right now.
Black/dark shirts ---- Iron All for darks is what most are using as far as opaque transfers
Also what is the best self weeding transfer for each? I have not idea on this one.
Cutter: I have a craft robo 2, but I am unable to use it successfully because robo master (the software) has a small cutting area, how do I expand it? I dont have any idea as far as cutters either sorry
Shirts: The best shirts (with the combination your suggesting) for light and dark colors. Shirts really depend on what your preference is once you do tests and see what you like. The most common for transfers are Gildan, Hanes and Fruit of the loom. Also some members prefer 100% cotton and some prefer 50/50.
Teflon sheets: I dont know what the cheapest teflon sheet is but just remember sometimes teflon can leave a kind of shiny look to the shirt, silicone treated parchment paper works great and is available at most baking supply companies.
Heat press: I have a low budget so I can't spent around 1000 for one. But can someone show me some light on what I should get? (The preferred style: draw style and it would nice if it had the digital timer and auto open feature but that might be too much to ask for. The size:the bigger the better, but within budget. I don't mind buying a used one.) You will not find a auto open press for that money, you can try to find a good used name brand such as hix or stahls. If you cant afford a name brand you can read the thread about buying cheap presses for more info on this. Just search the forums for cheap press and you will find the thread.
Spary/Chemicals?: Is there chemicals I can spray on the shirts after being heat pressed for longevity? I dont know of any such chemical.
Tagging Gun/Tags: Cheapest is preferred on this unless recommended otherwise. Are you talking about hang tags? if you look on ebay there are some pretty cheap tagging guns on there.
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I think theres only one self weeding ( not sure if thats the correct term as it doesnt actually involve weeding of any kind ) dark transfer material on the market at the moment and thats the WOW material from the magic touch, you will need a colour laser printer to be able to use it though... I use an Epson Acculaser C3000 colour laser for my transfers
As far as shirts go, I would also recommend the Gildan T's as they are nice quality and cheap
I dont think I could survive without Corel Draw & Illustrator as I use them all day every day, but as some others suggest, you can get free alternatives online..
Heat press's you should be able to get fairly cheap from ebay, I recently got a combination one from there which has different attachments for caps, plates, shirts etc... quality isnt fantastic but as it was less then £300 I cant grumble and it does the job as well as my other more expensive flatbed press's anyway !!
I think the reason why you haven't gotten a response is because you admitted to skimming through info that's right in front of you. Take the initiative and do a forum search; it works wonders , trust me!
Adobe CS3 is the whole suite including Illustrator. If you meant Adobe Photoshop, then i would say yes you will need Illy or CD.
Good luck.
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Okay, I feel cheated. My PS CS3 did not come with Illustrator. But I do have Ill. CS2.
Anyway, I think the reason you have not gotten much feed back is because you have listed the things needed. Some of which will be a trail type thing. There's paper, for ex., that you might like and I wouldn't. That is not to say it is not good paper. I might like a clam shell press over swing-a-way. So some of what you want to know will only come from your research and what might fit you.
Your best bet is to look for any post that cover the topic you would like to know. I've seen so many on paper a lone. So as to not blow you off, but you are going to have to jump in and swim in the 100's of post here. We all look for the fast anwer, I know I do, but sometimes it just aint fast.
You don't need a cutter or tag gun. That will waste your money at this stage of the game. I don't have either and I do just fine without them. Never had a customer ask about them.
__________________ I'm getting closer to a new t-shirt.
well the thing is I know screen printing and and pastisol are the most preferred but I worked at a customizing store at the mall and they would just use transfers. I don't really want to do it with other services including by designs being sent out to 3rd parties to make my transfers. It is possible to be professional using transfers, excluding pastisol, I think.
A customizing store at the mall is a completely different ballgame than a shop offering commercial applications. If you want to open up a shop in the mall for the same purposes and products that the shop you worked in offered, then you'll do fine with the list you originally started working up. If you want to get commercial orders and have happy, repeat, customers, you'll have to step it up a bit.
__________________
Hard labor kills, make t-shirts instead.
ok guys I'm getting both illustrator and coreldraw.
Printer, um so, there's no self weeding paper for inkjet printers? 'cause I think self weeding is for me at as far as I know about it. But is there much difference in quality between self weeding transfer and normal transfer? So should I get a (cheap) laser printer instead of a inkjet? Also will having a laser printer instead of a inkjet going to effect in quality (good/bad?) or does laser have pigments too? (sorry i have no idea about these, and can't find info on the forum throught the search)
Go and read the posts about CLC Image clip papers. Go and read the posts about Jet Pro Soft Stretch. I then want you to go and read the posts about custom made plastisol transfers.
Go and read the posts about CLC Image clip papers. Go and read the posts about Jet Pro Soft Stretch. I then want you to go and read the posts about custom made plastisol transfers.
lol k thanks. I'll do the 1st 2 but not letter 'cause I really don't anything done by 3rd parties besides the shirts. Even though I don't really prefer screen printing, I'll make that jump instead of the 2nd step of pastisol, once I have more people working on the company. I could make the pastisols my self I would I just don't want 3rd parties involved.
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