zensan

Hi guys, I have a newbie quetions for all the experts out there. I just bought my first Heat Press last week(yipeee!), bought some sample blanks, Super Soft Transfer Paper (for light color) from Starline Pacific and tried some heat tranfer on those shirts to see what type of design/shape of Ts works best for my new brand that I am trying to create.

After I tried Heat transfer using transfer paper and checked out the actual feel of the print for the first time (I never owned t-shirts with transfersheets, I only have screen printed ones ) I decided that either custom plastisol transfer or outsourcing screen printing will be my choice for my online biz and use transfer sheets for very small qty of custom design that I do for some events.

My question is, if I use transfersheet (either Super Soft or custome plastisol transfer), do I need to adjust temperature on each different brand T-shirts I got Gildan 2000 Ultra Cotton, Hanes Beefy T, Alstyle 1301 and noticed that even with the same pressure (mid-high), same length of time (22 seconds, hot peel) and same temperature, the printed area has different "feel" for each shirts.

It seems that Gildan took the print really good and feel soft on the design area and when I pinch the printed area, it has some elasticity to it. I found that Beefy T gets more "plasticky feel"(as if I slaped the sticker on the shirt) and when I pinch it, shows cracks. AAA is in between... I really like the shape and thickness of Beefy T but I am not sure of the print result. If you use thicker shirts, do they take print different way? Do I need to adjust temp?

Minimum order for the custom plastisol is 100 (I can gang up the design off course) so, for that number, I just want to know if Beefy T is right choice for any transfers. And, what about the result with screen printing? Is there difference in terms of ink going into the fabric? I am OK with Gildan but they seems little too thin and XL looks even thiner feel(maybe just my imagination??) and much wider/not good shape. I've read Beefy T shrunk a quite a bit and neck tend to be tighter and neckline didn't hold after 3 washes... Also M & O is close to Beefy T but less price... I really appreciate if people could give me input on how Beefy T takes print and if you are happy with results .

I've read many of Gildan vs Beefy T thread but I could not find difference on the feel of print itself. If it is already discussed, please direct me to the right thread. Thanks, Michelle

 

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splathead

You are going to get different results with the various tee manufacturers. But you are doing it the right way; order samples and see how each one reacts. You should do some wash tests too. It really is a trail and error between the transfer paper & shirt.

Not all plastisol transfer companies have 100 piece minimums. In fact, I have seen some as low as 6. So shop around. There is an excellent comparison thread here done by Rodney that compares the various transfer companies. It is a must read.

 

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brentonchad

The beefy t's are ring spun cotton. It gives the shirt a softer feel than the Gildan. As to why it doesn't print the same i am sure that has something to do with it. However I use Plastisol transfers and haven not noticed the difference. We use Gildan 99% of the time unless the client ask for the beefy.

Not sure where your getting your plastisol from, but Ace and First Edition do mimimums as low as 6 sheets - I think First Edition is 15- but 15 are cheaper than 6 due to the quantity discounts.

 

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zensan

Thanks for all the info. Yes, I have actually "printed out" all the content/picture of Rodney's comparison thread when it was posted for a quick reference for the future! I really liked all the details/pictures and how the companies were compared. I live in Ontario Canada so I am planning to get custom plastisol from Spot98 (either Spot Pro or Stretchy kind...). I am not sure if I want to order from the States although the you guys have many more companies/products to choose. I always wish that I had more those companies here... Anyhow, I will keep trying the samples (oh, I might get M & O for a trial too) and see what works best.

I have another question... I am keep adjusting my EpsonCX7450 printer to C +5, M +5, Y-10 to print the color (I read about the thread reagarding the color shifting on Epson printers). When I want to outsource screen printing and I give my corel file to printer, am I going to get same color as adjusted printer color???
More I adjust the printer, more I get confused... the color I see on screen is totally different on the transfer sheet and then, when I heat press it, the color on the shirts sometimes changes from the color on the transfer... How everyone with Epson printer keep up with that??? I read many thread regarding to Epson printers so I don't want to through very general question but just for the outsourcing, can you check with the screen printer for the color beforehand or do I have to wait and get the actual t-shirts order done and find out later (that is very scary!).

Thanks, Michelle

 

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