Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
Hi there everyone... I have a few questions about PLASTISOL TRANSFERS and how it all works. I am new to all of this and am interested in providing this service for my design customers.
QUESTIONS:
1. What equipment do I need to begin using this process?
2. What economical equipment brands are out there that I should be looking at?
3. Can you do a full color process with this procedure? I have alot of customers that I design full color comics for their companies and then they want them on shirts. So I am wondering if this is possible... Also most of the shirts are black or of dark color.
4. What is the best and most economical company for ordering these transfers from? I am in Minnesota if that makes a difference.
5. What form do the graphics need to be in to have the custom transfers made? I use photoshop cs
6. Is there a tutorial or video available that shows you how to transfer these on to cotton shirts?
7. What fabrics are best for using these transfers on?
I think that is it for now, I am sure I will have MORE questions once these are answered.
Thank you ahead of time for your help and I look forward to being a member of this forum.
I will try to give you the answers to your questions:
1.You need a heat press (15x15 size or larger) and a teflon sheet.
2.If cost is a factor buy used ,but buy name brand equipment for the durability and depenability.
3.You can do large prints and many colors.
4. I use www.acetransco.com. they have always helped me and have never not met a deadline.
5.Some will take jpegs , but most want them converted to curves.
6. search youtube for videos by Badalou
7.If you tell them what type of garment you are using,they can be made to work with them.You can also ask for hot or cold peel( this is when you take the paper of after it has been pressed. You have some that requires it to be done hot and others to be done after they cool.
I hope this helps,I just want to add, when you buy equipment Don't skimp.I suggest buying the biggest press and get a name brand. ..... JB
1. Do you some brands of heat presses you think are better then others?
2. You stated to purchase a press at least 15 X 15, then stated purchase the largest on I can. can you or someone else explain to me why you need the largest one I can afford? Why would need one that big vs. the 15 x 15?
3. Are full color prints possible with this type of transfer and are they expensive?
4. What would be the two leading companies to start with to request samples from and request pricing for transfer purchases?
5. What is the difference between cold and hot peel and which gives you a better product that resembles screen printin the most?
So here is a few more questions for you. I have been reading through the heat transfer pages on here and have learned a few things. This is a great forum.
I can only theorize on the size of the press based on my experience, here's why you want to go with the biggest you can afford.
1. the bigger the heating platten, the more stable the temperature. Its like having a glass of water at 212 degrees, versus having a drum of water at the same temperature, I can dip a piece of ice in the drum with out it changing its temperature much, dip that in the glass of water, and it cools down drastically. When using the press in a commercial application, i would imagine you will be producing more than one shirt at a time. Having a stable temperature in your press means your production is faster since you will not have to wait for the press to come up to temp whenever you press ashirt.
2. In a commercial setting, chances are, you will encounter orders of 2xl and 3xl. Having a big press means having a bigger working area, easier to center your shirts and designs. Woud you rather work on small table or a big one ?
3. Also look for features like built-in timers, automatic release, ( digital is definitely a good thing)
cool, I checked out that company... Have you used them. Are they pretty good to deal with?
Also what would you suggest for less then full color... like 1 and 2 color process and things like that.
Also any brand names on the heat transfers that are better then others iyo?
Traci
I use them all the time and I think they are great. Customer service is excellent. The Freedom 4-color transfers do have a heavy hand but I have not had any complaints. I also use F&M for 1 and 2 color custom transfers. I have also used First-Edition with no problems. I have never used Ace that JB mentioned, but there are lots of people here who have.
Sorry but I don't know what you mean by heavy hand? Do they still feel and look like silk screen process or do you get that heavy plastic feel from a heat transfer?
I don't want that... my customer would hate that I know it.
heavy hand simply means that the ink ( or material that actually transfers unto the shirt) is thicker and that if you clsoe your eyes and run your hand across the shirt, you can actually feel the presence of the ink. Plastisol however,depending on the the maker is pretty much like screen printing, except the ink(or paint) is deposited on a piece of paper (or other media) in mirror image, for the customer (you) to apply to the shirt. Therefore it is very much like screen print except you apply it using heat instead of squeegee.
The comment you made regarding paper transfer about the plastic feeling is only true if 1. the material is the cheap kind you get from office depot and walmart and 2. the person actually doing the application was not doing it properly (not weeeding unwanted elements and background, not proper temperature and dwell time). There are new and advanced transfer paper out there now that is quite good, take for example jetprosofstretch affectionately known as JPSS...
Sorry but I don't know what you mean by heavy hand? Do they still feel and look like silk screen process or do you get that heavy plastic feel from a heat transfer?
I don't want that... my customer would hate that I know it.
The Freedom transfers have a plastic feel, but the spot color transfers do not.
Thank you for all your help on this... I am reading this forum like crazy and trying to figure out things. I have one more question:
If I am going to do a full color print on a shirt (50/50 or 100 cotton) and I do not want the feel of heavy plastic or heavy weight, I want it to be smooth to the touch is this my best option for the transfers or would you recommend something different all together to have the end product feel nice and smooth
Thanks for all your help it is so much appreciated.
Traci
PLASTISOL TRANSFERS-Newbie Questions 
