Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
I'm trying to figure out what ImageClip transfer sheet should look like after the first step (after the red and green side have been pressed together.) Parts of my transfer will have a whitish layer on it, and parts of it does not. When I press those to a shirt, the parts with the whitish layer print much darker.
If there is supposed to be a whitish layer, does that mean I should be pressing the transfer at a firmer pressure to get a consistant layer?
I have checked my temperature of my heat press and that seems to be ok.
Re: What should ImageClip look like after 1st step
Quote:
Originally Posted by cshark
I'm trying to figure out what ImageClip transfer sheet should look like after the first step (after the red and green side have been pressed together.) Parts of my transfer will have a whitish layer on it, and parts of it does not. When I press those to a shirt, the parts with the whitish layer print much darker.
If there is supposed to be a whitish layer, does that mean I should be pressing the transfer at a firmer pressure to get a consistant layer?
I have checked my temperature of my heat press and that seems to be ok.
Thanks for any help you can give!
Carrie
When you see whitish it indicates that there is good polymer transferred. You need to worry when you see glossy part of the print because it would hardly http://www.t-shirtforums.com/heat-pr...68.html#160268 polymer on it or the polymer has lifted off the toner from the red paper.
A good indication of good polymer transfer is the printed area would have even matte finish and the open area should have very little polymer speckle.
Try raising the pressure or dwell time or both when you get uneven polymer coverage. Change one parameter at a time so that you will know which one helped.
Re: What should ImageClip look like after 1st step
Thank you. I had looked at the links before, but I couldn't tell from the pics if there was the matte finish on the transfer, or if that is what it looked like before.
I went to the Coastal web site and they suggested 225 for 20 seconds. Tried that and it worked better, still with some splotches, but much better.
At least now I know what it is supposed to look like and now I can test until it gets that way.
Re: What should ImageClip look like after 1st step
Quote:
Originally Posted by cshark
Thank you. I had looked at the links before, but I couldn't tell from the pics if there was the matte finish on the transfer, or if that is what it looked like before.
I went to the Coastal web site and they suggested 225 for 20 seconds. Tried that and it worked better, still with some splotches, but much better.
At least now I know what it is supposed to look like and now I can test until it gets that way.
thanks again,
Settings are good starting point. Even the temp, time and pressure I suggested in the link. That is what worked for my equipment. It needs to be tweaked to work with yours until you get the best result. Make sure to make a note when you hit the magic numbers.
Re: What should ImageClip look like after 1st step
Quote:
Originally Posted by cshark
Thanks for the link for the manufacturer's instructions. Now if I could tell if I was pressing at light or medium or heavy pressure......
Heavy - turn the adjustment knob until it is very hard to close. Keep count of high many turns to get to that point.
Medium - back off half as much turns from the heavy setting.
Light - Loosen the pressure all the way back. stick a piece of paper on the lower platen. Let part of it hang so you can grab it. Lock the clamp down and adjust until the paper is hard to pull. Then adjust half a turn.
Some claim of using the same pressure for pressing in step 1 and 2 with good result. I press for step 1 at medium pressure. That has changed from light pressure in the link. I press very heavy on the second press.
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Luis MAD Scientist JR. AKA MS2 Digital Artist. My canvas is t-shirt and my paintbrush is heat press.
Re: What should ImageClip look like after 1st step
We use a light pressure for the 1st step, which works great for us. As each press is different, it is something we had to work with after reading different ways to adjust to light pressure. As LnFortun mentioned, you want to be sure your inked areas have that matted finish look. In order for us to get a good matte finish, after the first initial 20 second press, we flip it and press for an additional 5 seconds, and to this day (knock on wood) we get good matte finished pages.
Then, in order to make sure you get the ink into the "grooves" or ribs of the fabric (to prevent the cracking/separating when stretched) our 2nd step press is done at very heavy pressure, 400 degrees for 20 seconds. This process has been very successful for us, with many happy (and repeat) customers.
What should ImageClip look like after 1st step 
MAD Scientist JR. AKA MS2
