Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
I have been trying to expand the use of my heat press by attempting heat transfers, (I normally do sublimation). When I use IW Inkjet for Darks, everything works well right up to the point when I should peel. I cannot find the edge of the cover layer. Everything is so well bonded that if I try to pick or lift the edge, I usually damage the shirt. I have followed the enclosed instructions, pressing at 375 deg, for 50 seconds at heavy pressure, but after the cool-down period, I’m done……I can’t peel. Should I try hotter, longer, harder….I know some of you have the answer, so I am asking for your guidance.
Everything is so well bonded that if I try to pick or lift the edge, I usually damage the shirt. I have followed the enclosed instructions, pressing at 375 deg, for 50 seconds at heavy pressure, but after the cool-down period, I’m done……I can’t peel.
Also, I am not aware of any dark transfer paper that you use heavy pressure as you will push the white backing through the fibers of the shirt and the fibers will alter the color of the white background.
If you continue have problems, try contacting the company that sold you the paper. I am sure it is something pretty simple that will solve your problem.
Yep....you need to peel the transfer before pressing...making sure to keep it from sticking to itself during the application process.
__________________ Big Daddy Screenprinting -Affordable contract Heat Press Services & Low Volume Screen Printing up to 4 spot colors with no setup or screen fees
I follow the instructions inculded. Print the graphic (rough side up), trim to the edge of the graphic, peel off the paper backing, pre-heat the shirt, place the graphic on the shirt (graphic up), cover with protective sheet (teflon), press, allow shirt to cool completely, remove the protective sheet (teflon) then peel cold.
Everything works great up to the "peel cold". I realize I printed on this top surface when I printed the graphic, but doesn't the heat transfer process transfer the graphic below the top layer where it becomes a water protected permenant graphic after the top layer is removed?
When you take the teflon sheet off your image should be on the shirt and your done.I don't remember peeling anything after pressing a dark transfer. .... JB
The instruction sheet says the last step is to peel when cold. If the top layer does not come off, what is to protect the inkjet image from damage when washing or handling?
There is nothing to peel after you have pressed it. With dark transfers you print them, trim around the graphic, remove the backing paper, place on garment and cover with a teflon sheet and press, then removed the teflon sheet and you are done The ink will stay on the transfer, there is nothing else to do.
Hope this helps
__________________
Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest. ~~~Mark Twain BobbieLee
What John and everyone else said, peel first, press, then you're done. Basically you're pressing a piece of printed vinyl to the shirt. Perhaps it was a typo in your instructions.
Hi.I use sublimationtoo, so can see the point you are trying to get across.
With sublimation the print is absorbed into the fabric itself, by a chemical process. With transfers for dark fabrics, it is the tranfer itself that holds the inks, not the garment.
Although transfers give you the ability to get images onto dark fabrics, the trade off is that the transfer can be prone to cracking, peeling and fading. You do not have these problems with sublimation, but are limited to light fabrics with that process.
There is a sublimation transfer product called subli-dark, which I understand is laid face down on the fabric and the image rises to the surface. A few people have commented on this product, but I have not seen any long term wash results for this product, so don't know how it holds up in comparison to conventional inkjet transfers.
The thing your removing at the end is the teflon sheet you use for any of your transfers even your dye prints should be using a teflon protection sheet.
IW Inkjet for Darks (looking for an expert) 
The ink will stay on the transfer, there is nothing else to do.
